Baroness Uddin on Muslim Women Empowerment in the House of Lords

Baroness Uddin on Muslim Women

Economic Empowerment in the House of Lords

Dr. Mozammel Haque

On Tuesday, 16^th of June, 2020 there was a debate on Manifesto commitments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the House of Lords. Baroness Manzila Uddin (Non-Affl) participated in the debate. Following was her contribution on the economic empowerment of Muslim women.

Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl) [V]

Baroness Uddin said, “My Lords, in February this year my noble friend Lady Kennedy of The Shaws launched in Parliament a report called Empowered Employment: Unlocking the Workplace for Muslim Women. With support from Oxford, Yale and SOAS universities, Dr Suriyah Bi surveyed 500 women at work, 84% of whom were highly qualified. They nevertheless face barriers to progression, including discrimination, Islamophobia and challenges from families and partners.”

Baroness Uddin asked the question to consider the economic empowerment of Muslim women. She said, “In the light of the emerging information on socioeconomic disparities, in particular among Bangladeshi women, will the Minister say whether the Government will consider the economic empowerment of Muslim women in any reviews of their manifesto commitments?

Lord True (Con)

The Minister of State,

Cabinet Office

Lord True (Con), The Minister of State, Cabinet Office, replied, “My Lords, the noble Baroness makes powerful points. The Government campaigned on commitments to tackle prejudice, racism and discrimination of all sorts and to improve the quality of evidence and data about the types of barriers faced by all people from different backgrounds, to help drive effective and lasting change. I undertake to the noble Baroness that this will remain an important and central aspect of the Government’s work.”

Lord True

In reply to another question by another peer of the House of Lords, Lord True said, “My Lords, I can add little to the previous answers I gave to the noble Baroness, Lady Uddin, and my noble friend Lady Eaton. Of course, the Government attach the highest importance to tackling diversity and disadvantage of all sorts, and that remains our objective.”