Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her strategic objectives are in relation to women and girls in developing countries.

DFID’s Strategic Vision for Girls and Women, published in 2011, sets out four, interlinked game-changing ‘pillars’ critical for empowering girls and women:

1. Girls’ completion of primary and secondary education

2. Economic empowerment

3. Ability to live free from violence

4. Universal sexual and reproductive health and rights.

DFID is committed to delivering the Prime Minister’s promise on tackling modern slavery and the 2015 government manifesto. ‘We will promote girls’ education, encourage equal access to property rights and work to achieve access to family planning for everyone who wants it. We will continue to lead efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, end FGM and combat early and forced marriage, both at home and abroad’.