The 10^th British Islands and Mediterranean Regional (BIMR) Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference provided an ‘international community experience’ for delegates exploring gender-sensitive issues across the Commonwealth, Sarah Maltby MHK, has said.

Mrs Maltby, together with Hon Daphne Caine MHK and Ann Corlett MHK, represented the Isle of Man at the conference held from 6^th to 9^th March and hosted by the Parliament of Malta in Valletta.

She continued: ‘Topics covered included the issues and challenges affecting women across the Commonwealth such as crimes against women, lack of women in leadership, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and cultural and societal inequality and discrimination. At this conference I met many other politicians from across the Commonwealth whom, without this event, I could never have hoped to get in one room at the same time.’

Mrs Caine said: ‘I had previously eschewed participating in Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentary conferences as I would like to consider the need is reducing for an all-female group, however, the content of “building resilient young women” appealed greatly and I was pleased to be selected to take part.

‘The highlight would have to be hearing directly from young women across the British Islands and Mediterranean Region, especially students from Ballakermeen High School making us aware of their concerns over period poverty and school uniform.

‘I found the opportunity to network and discover there are similar challenges faced by other participants – politicians from Guernsey, Wales and Scotland for instance – was hugely helpful. It also prompted some reflection on the impact of social media and potentially may result in additional training from the CWP on dealing with threats of physical and online abuse.’

Mrs Corlett said: ‘I have the privilege to be the Isle of Man’s representative on the CWP British Islands and Mediterranean Region Steering Committee.

‘The committee meets virtually – usually every other month – to discuss CWP’s regional and international work and future activities. The BIMR conference is the opportunity to meet and network with other regional members in person, to listen to and engage with some really influential guest speakers and also to be invited to speak as a representative of the Isle of Man.

‘This year the conference took place over International Women’s Day on 8th March. A number of students from Ballakermeen High School celebrated the occasion by taking part in an online plenary session hosted from Malta alongside representatives from other countries in the region.

‘Our students highlighted the important issues that they would like politicians to listen to including period poverty, working conditions for young people, cat calling and school uniform policy.

‘We were incredibly proud to hear our young women speaking so eloquently and with such passion about the issues that are so important to them. We are listening and we will be following up.’

-ends-

Costs to the Isle of Man will be published in due course on the Tynwald website.

For further information contact:

Joann Corkish
Deputy Clerk of Tynwald
Legislative Buildings
Douglas
IM1 3PW
Tel: 01624 685511
j.corkish@tynwald.org.im