§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department is taking to address women's poverty. [137636]
§ Hilary BennThe majority of the world's poor are women. Women's empowerment and equality are central preconditions for sustainable poverty elimination.
The elimination of women's poverty, and the pursuit of gender equality in all areas of development, lie at the heart of DFID's work. The focus is on supporting changes in policy, laws and attitudes, while maintaining links with work at the grassroots. This combines specific activities aimed at empowering women with a commitment to put concerns about gender equality into the mainstream of development programmes. DFID supports action through three channels; support to government, civil society and the private sector; collaboration and coordination with international development organisations such as the United Nations; and through building capacity and information through research and knowledge development.
More details about DFID's strategy and programmes are set out in the DFID publication Poverty Elimination and the Empowerment of Women'. I shall send a copy to my hon. Friend.