Today is international women’s day.
Yesterday, in Parliament, Richard spoke to those campaigning to support victims of domestic abuse and learnt about all the great work they are doing in Durham. To help domestic abuse victims nationally has been more than £450 million from the Government to support victims and tackle perpetrators.
In Parliament, Richard has been a champion for women’s rights by leading landmark legislation. For example, pioneering the ban the abhorrent so-called virginity testing and hymenoplasty for which he was awarded a ‘True Honour Award’ last year. To have wielded the law to ban this abhorrent practice - a horrendous violation of the victim’s human rights - is one of his best achievements. He also argued passionately to the raise the age at which people can get married to 18 and tackling so called “religious marriage” which isn’t backed in civil law.
Commenting, Richard said:
"Another unexpected but undeniable highlight for me as your MP has been spending Parliament Week with Guides and Brownies in North West Durham telling them about my work in our Parliament. I want to help inspire the next generation’s interest in politics who will in their time drive forward more positive change.
"Fighting for the rights of women and girls wherever it presents itself has been a personal mission of mine ever since you elected me as your MP."