On Monday 6th March 2023, the International Women’s Day – Women’s Policy Summit was held at City Hall in London. The event was hosted by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr. Debbie Weekes-Bernard. The agenda focused on the achievements of women in the city and discussed the challenges that still remain towards gender equality. The event was attended by various women from different organisations, including Dulia Prado, the Chairman of the Filipino Women’s Association UK (FWA-UK).
The Women’s Policy Summit started with a welcome speech from Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Debbie Weekes-Bernard. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, then gave an introduction and opening speech, followed by a keynote speech by Sara Reis, the Acting Director of the Women’s Budget Group.
After the keynote speech, the summit broke out into four sessions: Cost of Living, Housing, Skills and Employment, and Challenges that the women’s sector is experiencing. These sessions were facilitated by Deputy Mayors and representatives from various organisations. In the Cost of Living session, Deputy Mayor Joanne McCartney and Kimberly McIntosh, a Councillor and Women’s Budget Group Board Member, discussed the challenges women face with the rising cost of living. In the Housing session, Deputy Mayor Tom Copley and Anna Kear, from Tonic Housing, discussed the challenges women face in accessing safe and affordable housing. In the Skills and Employment session, Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe and Janet Gardner, from Waltham Forest College, discussed the challenges women face in accessing education and employment opportunities. In the Challenges that the women’s sector is experiencing session, Deputy Mayor Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Vivienne Hayes, from the Women’s Resource Centre, discussed the challenges faced by women’s organisations and how to address them.
After the breakout sessions, the summit went into a plenary session, which was chaired by Maggi Ferncombe, the Director of Executive Office at Unison. The plenary session provided an opportunity for all attendees to come together and discuss the key themes that emerged from the breakout sessions. The summit ended with a closing remark and an invitation to lunch and networking.
Dulia Prado’s attendance at the Women’s Policy Summit highlights the FWA-UK’s commitment to advocating for women’s rights and addressing the challenges that women face in the UK. The summit provided an opportunity for Dulia Prado to network with other women and organisations, exchange ideas, and learn about the challenges faced by women in other sectors. It also provided an opportunity for the FWA-UK to share their experiences and contribute to the discussion on how to address the challenges faced by Filipino women in the UK.