International Parliaments

This section of Women's Parliamentary Radio will feature interviews with men and women from international parliaments.

Baroness Jay and Laura Moffatt MP help VSO tackle global poverty

Baroness Jay of Paddington and Laura Moffatt the Labour MP for Crawley have both done stints working as volunteers for VSO in a bid to help tackle global poverty.

VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.

Baroness Jay was among six parliamentarians to participate in the Parliamentarian Volunteering Scheme this summer, where they helped to advise community organisations on matters relating to advocacy and campaigning.

In South Africa Baroness Jay ran a workshop on reducing the burden of HIV and AIDs care on women and girls. Last summer former nurse Laura Moffatt MP spent three weeks immersed in the health system of Sierra Leone, the poorest country in the world.

Linda Fairbrother spoke to them both with Katy Peach, Policy and Advocacy Manager at VSO.

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File size 18MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL

Philippa Reiss Thorne - Gone Rural in Swaziland

Philippa Reiss Thorne is the Managing Director of Gone Rural in Swaziland. She is a 30-year-old social entrepreneur with a mission who has led a community of 700 women from 13 different communities throughout Swaziland, marketing and selling their Fair Trade products all over the world and to top fashion designers and stores.

These rural communities now find themselves under more financial pressure than ever, having to pay for transport to clinics, school fees and to support more children. 80% of their women rely on Gone Rural as their sole income; each woman supports an average of 8 dependents; 82% of their husbands and partners are unemployed. Although extremely poor by western standards, these families will often take in neighbours children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Here Boni Sones spoke at length to Philippa about Gone Rural, its ethos and how it had managed to treble the daily wage of the women who work with it in just three years.

You can find out more at: http://www.goneruralswazi.com

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File size 12MB approx 2.5 mins Cable/DSL

Dolma Gyari and Ngawang Lhamo, Tibetan Parliament.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile is located in the hill town of Dharamsala in northern India. Formed by the Dalai Lama less than a year after the uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule that led to his exile, the Parliament looks after the Tibetans across the world and provides a model for their homeland.

Dolma Gyari is the first woman to be elected as Deputy Speaker of the parliament-in-exile, and has since been re-elected three times. She has been a political activist for a number of years, and believes passionately about the power of women to make change.

Member of the Tibetan parliament Ngawang Lhamo was born in Tibet, escaping into India as a child. Originally a teacher, she became General Secretary for the Tibetan Women’s Association before founding a school for children with special needs.

Lucy Fairbrother spoke to the two women MPs about why their roles are so important to them as they visited the UK parliament.

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File size 9MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

Lesley Abdela MBE
Shevolution

Lesley Abdela, of Shevolution, has been working with other British based NGO groups to ensure that the UN Security Council Resolution 1235 is implemented, to help women's rights to be put top of the international agenda in conflict zones like Afghanistan, Congo, Nepal, Northern Ireland, and Sri Lanka.

Lesley has helped write a report for the Associate Parliamentary Group on "Women, Peace and Security", which draws up a global checklist for women in these conflict zones. Lesley has looked closely at what is happening in Nepal. Boni Sones spoke to her.

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File size 8MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

Janet Hanson
CEO and founder of 85 Broads

The title might seem slightly disrespectful but Janet Hanson's global network of women called "85 Broads" was named after the office address of Goldman Sachs where she worked in New York, not the other type of "Broads"! As global CEO and founder of "85 Broads" Janet Hanson has built up a global network community of 20,000 trailbazing women who want to create greater success for themselves, each other and the communities in which they live to affect change for women globally.

"85 Broads" recently launched its Cambridge Chapter at Judge Business School at Cambridge University where Boni Sones met up with the ebullient, entertaining and wise Janet Hanson. Thanks to Judge Business School for letting us broadcast this podcast. Do listen, you'll learn alot. www.85broads.com

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File size 15MB approx 3 mins Cable/DSL

Betsy Kawamura – international campaigner against gender based violence

Betsy Kawamura, is an international campaigner against gender based violence. She was herself a victim of gender based violence in Okinawa during the Vietnam war, and Betsy believes the voice of past victims of gender based violence can help heal others. She has told her story in the USA, Japan, Europe, Sri Lanka and now to various UN related agencies, to help raise awareness of all those exposed to GBV, including militarized GBV, prostitution and trafficking on an international level.

Writer Barbara Gorna first asked Betsy why she was a fierce champion of gender based violence

Then Barbara spoke to Betsy about the representation of women in International Parliaments.

The interviews took place in the House of Commons by the permanent exhibition to the suffragettes and the scarf of Emily Wilding Davison who died staging a protest after being knocked down by the King's horse at Epsom races.

Part One

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File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL

Part Two

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Lucy Changme

Lucy Changme, is the deputy minister for gender and women in development in the Zambian government. She is passionate about improving the education of girls, and getting more women into politics. Our wpradio.co.uk reporter Georgie Hemmingway caught up with her recently at a One World Action event to celebrate International Women's Day 09. Lucy told Georgie how she was pushing ahead with a gender based violence Bill in Zambia this year.

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File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL

Dawn Butler MP

The President of the United States, Barack Obama, is soon to visit Britain. The MP for Brent East, Dawn Butler, will be sure to meet him.

As one of only two black women MPs in Westminster and the first black woman Minister, Dawn is at the forefront of championing equal rights in Britain and has just launched "Bernie's List" an initiative to get more Black and Ethnic Minority MPs into Westminster. In this special 30 minute documentary podcast, Boni Sones spent a day with Dawn and other Parliamentarians on the very day that Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America.

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File size 13MB approx 3 mins Cable/DSL

Thanks to our sound engineer Pete Cook of www.screen-space.co.uk for this brilliant interpretation of the material in this documentary.

Mary Honeyball MEP "Women In Power"

A new book listing all the elected female representatives in the European Parliament has discovered that the typical profile of a woman MEP is white, single, aged 52 and she has never had children. She holds a postgraduate degree in a science related subject and has worked in various scientific posts prior to her election. Like most political institutions across the world, women remain underrepresented in the European Parliament. Only 246 out of 785 MEPs are women – just 31 per cent, but this is still higher than the UK Parliament were women MPs make up 19.8 per cent of the total. "Women in Power: A Guide to Women Members of the European Parliament" has been written by Mary Honeyball MEP. Boni Sones spoke to her.

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File size 14MB approx 3 mins Cable/DSL

Britain's youngest MP Jo Swinson interviews Malalai Joya, the youngest person in the Afghanistan Parliament

Malalai Joya defied death threats to travel on London's underground to be interviewed by 28 year old Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire, Jo Swinson for Women's Parliamentary Radio at the House of Commons recently. She has just been given the Anna Politkovskaya award by the charity RAW on War in memory of the Russian journalist murdered two years ago in Moscow. "She lives a life of courage and truth-telling in the face of grave danger as Anna did," said Mariana Katzarova of RAW in War.

Malalai, now 30 years old, is currently suspended from the Parliament for saying: "A stable or a zoo is better than the legislature". She continues to campaign against the warlords. In this special documentary podcast Jo Swinson talks to Malalai and Boni Sones reads from the words of her friend, the campaigning journalist Glyn Strong who uses her family name "Joya" in her article.

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File size 20MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL

Tebereh Woldegabriel Mums for Mums, Ethiopia

90 years since women in Britain first got the vote the UK Parliament still has only 20 per cent of women as MPs. In the United States, expectations for women to be in the very top jobs in politics are at the fore of the Presidential race. However, in Africa, some countries have achieved gender balanced parliaments after long internal struggles and wars. Ethiopia is working towards gender balanced parliaments at a regional and national level. It is one of the few countries in the developing World to be on course to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for the education and health of girls and women.

A project in the northern Tigray Region "Mums for Mums" is helping young single mothers in Mekelle, learn work based skills to provide for their children. It is run by Tebereh Woldegabriel, the Voluntary Executive Director. Her husband, Dr Solomon Inquai, is the retired Parliamentary speaker and head of social affairs in the Tigray region. Boni Sones spoke to them both. You can make a donation by going to www.mumsformums.com

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File size 27MB approx 5.5 mins Cable/DSL

Women in Business

Lorely Burt, the Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull, has just come back from an international conference in America to study how public procurement policies are helping to advance women in business and the equalities agenda. Lorely is her party's spokeswomen on Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and is the first female Chair of the Parliamentary party. She wants to see a big increase in women in business over here. Boni Sones spoke to her about the trip.

www.weconnect.org.uk will tell you more.

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File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL



Lesley Abdela Lesley Abdela needs no introduction in the world of women and politics. She has worked in over 30 countries advising on gender and democratic development. She is now Vice-President of the Electoral Reform Society and is a partner in Shevolution and Chief Executive of Project Parity. In 1980 she co-founded the 300 group, to get more women into the UK parliament, has received a UK Woman of Europe award, and written and broadcast on the subject of women in politics. 90 years since women achieved the vote Boni Sones asked her how she rated the UK's progress on female representation in our parliament against other countries. Lesley began by talking about Rwanda and Sweden which have the highest number of women in their parliaments of any country, and she's convinced that Britain needs both a proportional voting system and quotas to achieve change here. Thanks to the Electoral Reform Society for sponsoring this interview.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL



Sandra Gidley MP Sandra Gidley is the Liberal Democrat MP for Romsey and the Health Spokesperson for her Party. She has used her professional training as a pharmacist to champion all kinds of health issues here and globally. In the UK she has been at the forefront of getting men to take health prevention seriously, improving alcohol awareness, and she is working across party on mental health issues. As a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Aids, she has visited Africa. Boni Sones asked her what could be done to further the Millennium Development Goals on health for women.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 12MB approx 2.5 mins Cable/DSL



The Mothers' Union The Christian organisation "The Mothers' Union", is a formidable campaigning organisation globally with 3.6 million members in 78 countries. It is asking governments to give financing to help achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goal 3. This uses the elimination of gender disparity in primary and secondary education as the indicator of the empowerment of women. Boni Sones spoke to three MU members about the Mothers' Union work. Rachel Aston, Social Policy Officer, Vivian Kityo from Uganda, and Elizabeth Brown from Cantebury.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 20MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL



John Bercow MP The Conservative backbench MP for Buckingham John Bercow is a supporter of human rights and women's rights internationally. A former backbencher of the year, Mr Bercow sits on the International Affairs Select Committee and chairs a committee looking into Genocide. He is a supporter of All Women Shortlists for his party, something others oppose, to get more women into Westminster and talks movingly of his visits to a Darfur refuge camp where he believes women and the love of their children, have been instrumental in rebuilding their war torn communities. Boni Sones asked him why he has championed women's rights here and internationally with such commitment and passion.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 28MB approx 5.5 mins Cable/DSL



Women Matter : Andrew Selous the Conservative MP for South West Befordshire has signed a motion in Parliament calling on the government to help women affected by HIV and AIDS in the developing world. The Women Matter campaign, has been launched by the leading international development charity VSO. It is asking the UK's Department for International Development to put women at the heart of its new global HIV and AIDS strategy. Brian Shallcross of GCap Media spoke to him. Thanks to GCap for the interview.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL



International challenge on women's health: Women's Parliamentary Radio is teaming up with Diana Wallis, Vice President of the European Parliament to progress women's health issues. Our new International Producer, Daisy Ayliffe is going to be interviewing women in the EU about the implementation of Millennium Development Goals 5 and 6. Millennium Development Goal 5 aims to “improve maternal health”, and to reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio. Millennium Development Goal 6 sets out to “Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases”. Daisy will be asking MEPs to debate these goals in their respective domestic parliaments throughout this year. Daisy will be reporting back on their progress. You can listen to her reports on wpradio International. Diana Wallis, Vice President of the European Parliament said: "I am delighted to be working with Women's Parliamentary Radio to ensure the Millennium Development Goals 5 and 6 are met. There is not enough reporting of the work that goes on in the EU and parliaments all over Europe to progress issues on behalf of women and children. It is fantastic that a new web platform such as wpradio.co.uk can be listened to anywhere in the World and is a truly international broadcaster. "Meeting these Millennium Goals is essential to ensure women and their families receive all the protection that a civilised state would wish. The explotation of women in all walks of life is still one of the most pressing problems the developing world faces. I wish Daisy luck with her series of interviews on Millennium Development Goals 5 and 6."



Diana Wallis MEP - Liberal Democrat Vice President of the European Parliament The British Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, Diana Wallis is Vice President of the European Parliament. Diana is the first British female of any party to be elected to this position. Her roots in politics began in 1994 as a councillor on Humberside County Council. She became an MEP in 1999. In Europe Diana, a solicitor, is a spokesperson on the Legal Affairs Committee, she is also a full member of the Petitions Committee, in which she has championed citizen friendly legislation. On a flying visit to Westminster, she snatched a few moments to talk to Boni Sones and admitted her early fears of chairing those huge committee meetings.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 12MB approx 2.5 mins Cable/DSL



A New Year wish for "Disarmament and Globalisation" from Baroness Williams of Crosby Shirley Williams is an unofficial advisor to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on Nuclear Proliferation and Safety. She was a member of the Wilson and Callaghan Governments in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1981 she co-founded the Social Democratic Party, becoming the first MP elected for the SDP in 1981. Here she tells Boni Sones, why disarmament is the most pressing problem the World now needs to address.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 8MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL



Rhoda Kalema Rhoda Kalema, the “Mother” of the Ugandan Parliament, tells here in her own words her story of imprisonment in Uganda before going on to become an MP herself and helping to set up a Commission to help women and their families. She talked to Boni Sones.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 8MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

A Rising Tide Women in the UK have been at the forefront of helping women internationally to progress their careers in politics. Many have to struggle to get their voices heard and suffer at the hands of oppressive regimes. No more so than in modern Uganda. A book "A Rising Tide", tells the histories of modern women politicians there from the 1940s through to the present time. "A Ugandan women's Struggle for a Public Voice 1940-2004" is published by Forwode. Here Sue Woodsford, tells how she supported one of those women, Rhoda Kalema, when she was in prison. Sue begins by reading Rhoda's story. Other stories in the book are read in this one hour radio documentary by Patricia Lashely, of Momentum Arts, and Boni Sones.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 19MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL



The Record:Europe a special TV debate. Shirin Wheeler of the BBC asks what needs to be done to get more women into European politics? You can watch this special debate online here.
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