Derek is supporting an international campaign to press for women's rights in Afghanistan.
He took part in an event in Parliament on Wednesday 23rd November which saw a cross-party group of MPs and peers having their photograph taken in front of hundreds of handmade kites designed by campaigners from around the country to symbolise their support for women's rights in Afghanistan.
The campaign - led by ActionAid UK, Amnesty International UK, CARE UK, GAPS, Womankind Worldwide and Women for Women International - has seen 18,000 campaigners petition the UK Government to support Afghan womens rights, with more than 8,000 kites designed.
Campaigners are using the kite symbol because in Afghnistan, women and girls make kites but are effectively prevented from actually flying them because of cultural attitudes that make it socially unacceptable.
Derek said:
"This is an important campaign which I am very pleased to support. If the human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan are not front and centre of peace negotiations, it will be an absolute tragedy.
I will be following up on this issue with the Foreign Secretary William Hague at the earliest opportunity."
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:
"We'd like to see all parliamentarians support this campaign for women's rights in Afghanistan.
There is a clear and present danger that the rights of Afghan women and girls could be sacrificed in deals with elements of the Taliban as the international community looks for the exit sign in Afghanistan.
Many MPs have been vocal on the issue of Afghan women's rights during the past decade. Now's the time for them to stand up and be counted." |