British High Commission marks International Women’s Day with a call to end gender gap in digital access

Islamabad: The British High Commission Islamabad commemorated the International Women’s Day by celebrating the UK’s support to women and girls in Pakistan, with an affirmation to increase digital access for women. Earlier in the week, similar events were held at the British Deputy High Commission, Karachi and the British High Commission office in Lahore.

UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London marked this day by launching its first women and gender strategy. This new approach puts women and girls, in all their diversity, at the heart of everything FCDO does, using its diplomatic and development capabilities to improve lives, embolden and amplify women’s organisations, and stand up to those intent on holding back women and girls.

Chargé d’affaires, Andrew Dalgleish, while speaking at the reception held at the High Commissioner’s residence said: “Women and girls are at the heart of everything we do here in Pakistan and globally. The International Women’s Day is a reminder to reiterate this commitment. The UK will do everything it can to ensure all girls and women, in all their diversity, have the freedoms and capability to fulfil their potential and dreams in Pakistan and everywhere else through education, empowerment, and protection”.

Pakistan Minister of Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, the UK’s Trade Envoy for Pakistan, Mark Eastwood (MP), and Maheen Rahman, Chief Executive officer of Infrazamin also spoke at the occasion and emphasised on ending gender gap in digital access.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on 8 March to focus on the achievements of women all around the world: to look back on past accomplishments; and forward, at the opportunities which await future generations of women. It is also a day to reaffirm the cause of equal opportunities for women; and to tackling discrimination and violence against women in all its forms. IWD theme for 2020 is: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.