Baroness Sandip Verma, Chair of Empower
Higginson Strategy’s gender equality campaign group, EMPOWER, has today announced the appointment of Baroness Sandip Verma, former Ministerial Champion for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, as Chair.
EMPOWER’s new chair will support the strategic development of its campaign to tackle period poverty across the UK.
As a former Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State for International Development and Chair of the UN Women’s national committee, Baroness Verma brings a wealth of experience, strategic business expertise and global connections to EMPOWER.
According to Action Aid figures, period poverty has risen from 12% to 21% in the past year, as a result of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
The UK Government previously pledged a fund in 2019 to tackle period poverty around the globe but it has still not announced a plan for delivery.
EMPOWER is campaigning for the UK Government to follow progressive policymaking in Scotland, through providing free period products in all public buildings, such as libraries and GP surgeries.
The campaign kickstarted with Baroness Verma joining an expert panel webinar, which discussed how the UK can change the cycle of inequality by tackling period poverty.
This was followed by an open letter, which received over 50 signatories from cross-party MPs, academics, and business leaders, calling for the Government to address the reality of period poverty in the UK.
Baroness Sandip Verma, Chair of EMPOWER said:
“It’s a pleasure to join EMPOWER as they embark on this vital campaign to address period poverty in the UK.
“As a former Ministerial Champion for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls and Chair of the UN Women’s National Committee UK, I am looking forward to bringing my global perspective and connections to the group.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that we address the inequalities faced for a fairer future for women and minority groups.”
Launched in 2019, EMPOWER’s aim is to accelerate female and minority empowerment by promoting worthy causes that are helping to reshape the rules to achieve gender equality.
The group has previously launched campaigns against online misogyny and promoting gender equality in the workplace through job-sharing and flexible working.