Last week, Parliament held the first ever Women MPs of the World Conference in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

The conference was attended by MPs from over 80 different countries, as part of the events to celebrate the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK.

Rushanara Ali MP said:

“I am honoured to chair the final session of the conference in the chamber, at this historic event.

In the UK a hundred years ago women couldn’t sit here on these benches nor did they have the right to vote. Today we saw a different image – a truly inspiring one, with over 100 female MPs from all over the world.

We have so much to celebrate in women’s rise to political power and representation in parliaments, but there is so much more to do. We must continue to push for progress on women’s equality and economic empowerment.”

You can view my opening speech from the session here -