Parliament to mark women’s suffrage centenary with landmark event on Thursday

More than 100 female politicians from around the world will gather in the House of Commons chamber on Thursday for a conference to celebrate the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK.

Female parliamentarians will come together to acknowledge the historical landmark in a bid to address some of the issues facing women around the globe.

The fundamental aim of the event, according to the minister for women and equalities, Penny Mordaunt, who will make a speech on the day, is to “make women’s empowerment a global priority”.

The event, named the International Women MPs of the World, will gather prolific politicians from across the globe, including Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the first female speaker of the Bangladeshi parliament and Ya Kumba Jaiteh, who is a leader of the Gambia’s female lawyers’ association.

British MPs expected to be in attendance include the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, the leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom and Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities minister.

In her opening speech, Mourdant will highlight what needs to be done at a governmental level in order to achieve gender equality.

The day will then split into morning, mid-morning and afternoon sessions, the first of which will pay tribute to women who have helped shape the political agenda in recent years.

In the mid-morning session, participants will address different issues facing female politicians, such as bullying and harassment.

This will be followed by an afternoon policy session which will examine tackling gender inequality through promoting women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women and girls, championing access to voluntary family planning, and breaking the barriers to girls’ education.

The event almost wasn’t allowed happen, after the Tory MP Christopher Chope shouted “object” when it was first mentioned in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Mims Davies in July, however, he was overruled after a spokesperson for Theresa May voiced support for the conference.

Chope’s objection came just a few weeks after he sought to block a bill that would see upskirting - whereby someone takes an unsolicited photograph up a woman’s skirt - become a criminal offence.

After Chope was widely criticised by campaigners, the government announced it would be taking on the bill and it’s expected to pass through parliament “soon”.

But the International Women MPs of the World isn't the only parliamentary event celebrating women's suffrage this month.

On 21 November, an event named Ask Her To Stand, will see women across the UK flock to Westminster in a bid to inspire others to stand for elected office, marking 100 years since the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 was passed, which allowed women to be elected into the House of Commons.

The event will be co-hosted by Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham and Labour’s former deputy leader.

The trained solicitor has been a prolific campaigner for women’s rights throughout her political career and is the longest-serving female MP.

It has been organised by a number of women's rights groups, including the Jo Cox Foundation, 50:50 Parliament, Fawcett Society and Centenary Action Group.

It will take the form of a conference with a full programme of events to discuss issues such as bullying, harassment and the need to empower female MPs.

One panel event, hosted by activist Helen Pankhurst, Conservative MP Vicky Ford and Labour MP Rosie Duffield, will give attendees the opportunity to meet female MPs and discuss how women are making a difference in Westminster.

Other sessions will examine topics such as family planning and ending violence against women.

Women can apply to attend as delegates by contacting their MP and asking for an invitation.