The United Kingdom commends the Working Group's latest report.
We are witnessing increasing global threats to the rights and freedoms of women and girls. Supporting and empowering women and girl activists to assert their rights and fulfil their potential is critical to achieving fairer, more equal and prosperous societies.
All forms of violence against women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence, leave profound and lasting scars on survivors, their children and their communities. Discriminatory legislation and policies, harmful social norms and practices, such as FGM and forced marriage, and restricted access to resources and health services are all major barriers to female empowerment.
The UK is championing 12 years of quality education for girls which empowers them to have control over their own lives and bodies, get better jobs, plan their families and fulfil their potential. As members of the Alliance for Feminist Movements, we will work with others to increase support for women's rights organisations and movements at a local, national and global level.
We look forward to exploring with the Working Group how to further empower women activists and human rights defenders around the world, and ensure that they can assert their rights without fear of intimidation or violence.
