{"id":89668,"date":"2018-03-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=362f8ea9b0d1e211ec4fed484c5decde"},"modified":"2018-03-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-07T00:00:00","slug":"press-release-international-womens-day-penny-mordaunt-pays-tribute-to-jo-cox-and-calls-for-gender-equality-to-be-made-a-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=89668","title":{"rendered":"Press release: International Women\u2019s Day: Penny Mordaunt pays tribute to Jo Cox and calls for gender equality to be made a reality"},"content":{"rendered":"
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International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has paid tribute to MP Jo Cox\u2019s humanitarian work and called for everyone to \u201craise their game\u201d to make gender equality a reality, ahead of this year\u2019s International Women\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

Speaking today (7 March) at the headquarters of mobile technology industry association the GSMA, in the City of London, Ms Mordaunt will announce new UK aid support to help grassroots organisations working on issues that were close to Jo\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

Ms Mordaunt will also call for everyone to step up and make gender equality a reality, as part of the Department for International Development\u2019s (DFID) new vision to make sure the voices of women and girls in the world\u2019s poorest countries are heard.<\/p>\n

The International Development Secretary will say that if progress on gender equality is not sped up, the Global Goals will not be met by 2030.<\/p>\n

Ahead of her speech, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:<\/h3>\n
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Jo was a dedicated humanitarian who fought for gender equality at home and in developing countries and her passion and commitment will continue to support the world\u2019s most disadvantaged and disenfranchised women through these new UK aid grants.<\/p>\n

The MeToo movement has sent shockwaves around the world and given a voice to millions of women, but the majority of women and girls in the poorest countries are still not heard.<\/p>\n

We all have the power to change this injustice and that\u2019s why UK aid is keeping girls in school, stamping out violence and giving a voice to women both at home and in shaping the future of their countries.<\/p>\n

It is only by everyone raising their game and making gender equality a reality that we will build a more peaceful, safe and prosperous world for us all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Jo Cox Memorial Grants will be given to projects in developing countries that are working to get the voices of girls and women heard when holding power-holders to account, helping them find jobs and become financially independent and making access to family planning services easier. The fund will also help strengthen grassroots organisations\u2019 capacity for predicting identity-based violence earlier.<\/p>\n

Jo Cox\u2019s sister Kim Leadbeater said:<\/h3>\n
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It\u2019s wonderful to have the Jo Cox Memorial Grants being launched today – for every life that is touched by these grants, they will make a real difference and they will be money well spent.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so fitting to have these grants created in Jo\u2019s name, which will reach a range of different countries and projects that encompass Jo\u2019s passion for both women\u2019s empowerment and bringing local communities together.<\/p>\n

Jo spent 20 years working in the voluntary sector and working overseas. These grants are a reminder of that and a reminder of her passion and her determination to hopefully inspire others with similar desires. Jo would be over the moon.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In her speech, Ms Mordaunt will set out that DFID has taken the lead in tackling sexual abuse and exploitation within the aid sector and acknowledge that these incidents would not be so widespread if women and girls had an equal place at the table.<\/p>\n

There are three areas in Ms Mordaunt\u2019s call to action that DFID will focus on through the new Strategic Vision for Gender Equality:<\/p>\n