Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East and Shadow Housing Minister, has strongly supported the “Girls Matter” campaign by Girlguiding and their eight-point plan to improve the lives and rights of girls and young women.The “Girls Matter” campaign calls for girls voices to be heard and made to count, for example by guaranteeing women are equally represented in Parliament. The eight-point plan demands a zero-tolerance approach to sexual bullying and harassment, the teaching of body confidence and gender equality in schools, and the modernisation of sex and relationship education to keep girls safe. It also wants to empower girls to speak out against media sexism and stop children’s exposure to harmful sexualised content in the media.

“I have pledged my support to this important campaign. Women’s and girls’ rights have been a key issue for me since I was elected in 2010. I fully back the demand that women are equally represented in Parliament. The Labour party has made the most progress and one third of Labour MPs are women, other political parties are way behind. Labour has 26 more female MPs than all the other parties combined. There is still a long way to go. At the 2010 election for every woman MP there were roughly 4 men.”

“I recently met a young member of Girlguiding called Ellie Dibben. The Girls Matter campaign aims to give girls and young women like Ellie a safe and supporting environment in which to achieve their full potential. A zero-tolerance approach to sexual bullying is vital. Improving girls’ body confidence and relationship education are also important steps forward.”

“I urge everyone, and my fellow MPs, to pledge their support to this campaign.”

February 2015