No Women No Peace

On Monday I went to support the launch of a new campaign for women living in conflict called No Women No Peace. It is a campaign by Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS UK), a network of 14 human rights and development organisations.

All over the world, women are prime targets during conflict. Rape, displacement, torture and kidnap are common experiences of women - yet when it comes to negotiating and building peace, women are often excluded.

The No Women No Peace campaign, launched to mark the 10 year anniversary of an important UN resolution, highlights the fact that without women's involvement peace will fail to meet the needs of 50% of the population.

The campaign launch in the House of Commons included a speech from the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, and women's rights activist Wazhma Frogh.

I am proud an delighted to be able to lend my support to such a worthwhile cause. With women constituting half the world's population, it seems abundantly clear that they must be involved in peace making on both a local and global scale. I wish the campaign every success.

To get involved with No Women No Peace, visit http://www.nowomennopeace.org/

Support Hitz Rugby!

Hitz is a social inclusion project run by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), operating in Redlees Park, Isleworth. It is designed to encourage young people who could otherwise potentially be at risk of exclusion and anti-social behaviour to get involved in constructive activities through the sport of Rugby Union. The project also aims to help break down barriers with the police and direct young people towards relevant training and volunteering opportunities. Hitz has been running since January 2010, across six London boroughs (Croydon, Ealing, Hackney, Hounslow, Islington and Southwark), and aims to reach 3,000 young people in the first year.

However, Hitz is in desperate need of further funding in order to continue its excellent work. The RFU has applied to the Mayor of London Sports Participation Fund, and last week I wrote to Mayor Boris Johnson to lend my support to this worthwhile project.

I will be attending a Hitz rugby match on Saturday 30th October to see the project in action.

Please visit their website, at http://hitzrugby.com/

Life at Westminster

On Wednesday 8th September, I was interviewed by Jonathan Sheppard, Editor of toryradio.com.

I had a great time discussing life in Westminster, although, as you may know, since the interview was carried out, I have had to leave the Home Affairs Select Committee as I have been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to The Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP, Minister of State for Police Reform and Justice.

If you want to listen to my interview, please click on the following link:

http://toryradio.podbus.com/marymacleod.mp3

Boris standing for Mayor in 2012

Great news that Boris Johnson is standing again for Mayor of London in 2012.

I think he has done a great job. He has been focusing on cutting crime, protecting green spaces, improving public transport, building more affordable housing and supporting London through a difficult recession. Much progress has been made...but there is more to be done, which is why we need Boris for another term as Mayor. This is after all as Boris says "the greatest city on earth"!

Try out his website on www.backboris2012.com

Support for Anti-Trafficking Campaign

On Friday, two members of my staff and I visited The Body Shop store in Chiswick to show our support for a campaign by ECPAT UK and The Body Shop UK to combat child trafficking. We met and chatted with staff (including the manager of the store), and discussed their new campaign. It was a great opportunity to hear more about the campaign and learn how they are supporting it. We had a wonderful time trying all The Body Shop lotions and potions, including a new limited-edition handcream called "Soft Hands, Kind Heart" - the profits from which will be going towards funding the campaign.

ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) is a leading children's rights organisation campaigning against the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the UK and on its international aspects. In particular, it focuses on the protection of trafficked children and children exploited in tourism and the prevention of such crimes.
ECPAT and The Body Shop have partnered in a three-year global campaign to stop the trafficking of children and young people, uphold their rights to be protected from exploitation and inspire long-term change to strengthen the protection offered to these children and young people. Together, they are spearheading an international petition calling on governments across the globe to put child trafficking on their agenda and banish this modern-day slave trade.

In the UK, ECPAT UK and The Body Shop UK are specifically calling on the Government to offer greater care and protection to child victims of trafficking by ensuring every child is provided with a guardian to look after them.

I was really heartened to hear about the excellent work ECPAT UK and The Body Shop UK are doing to tackle the trafficking of children and young people for exploitation of many kinds. This appalling form of modern-day slavery must be stamped out and I am very happy to support such efforts by putting my name to the petition. I also call on people in my constituency to sign the petition too, which can be found at www.ecpat.org.uk or in any The Body Shop store. It will be delivered to the UK Government in 2011.

Don't forget to buy your handcream!

Visit to Flooded Residents in Isleworth

On Saturday 14th August I went down to the site of the burst water main in London Road, Isleworth, to see first-hand the effects of the massive flooding in the area.


Residents of 65 nearby homes have been temporarily re-housed at a local hotel, including 40 sheltered flats at Fenn House. I took the opportunity to visit these residents on Saturday, at their temporary hotel accomodation. I wanted to find out how they, and Thames Water, were coping with the devastating water damage and to offer help and support.

I was glad to meet local residents who have had a very difficult few weeks as a result of the water damage to their homes and it was useful to hear first-hand about the difficult situation in which they find themselves. A number of issues arose from our meeting, and we will work hard to help as much as we can to support residents as much as possible during this distressing time.

Playday Celebrated in Brentford

Yesterday I took part in the local Playday, which was held in St Paul's Recreation Ground, on Lateward Road, Brentford. Locally coordinated by Alix Reeves of Westplay, the event saw a wide range of fun and engaging activities for children of all ages. Amongst other things, youngsters enjoyed participating in face-painting, t-shirt decorating, hat-making, steel drum playing, bubble blowing and real-life table football. Catering was organised by the Cafe of St Paul's Church in Brentford.

I met a team from Chiswick and Brentford Your Extended Services (YES), who were on hand to give information on Hounslow Council's Extended Services scheme (past events have included yoga for exam-age children, paediatric first aid courses and a Healthy Cooking Club). I also enjoyed lunch from the St Paul's Church Cafe, where I hold regular surgeries.

Playday is the annual celebration of children's right to play, coordinated by Play England. It is an annual campaign where, each year, thousands of children and young people get out and play at locally organised events, encouraging the development of community feeling in the process.

I think this is a wonderful initiative. Play is an essential part of every child's life and is vital to their development. When I was a child, we were able to play freely in the streets and in the parks, and enjoy the great outdoors. Many children now do not get that opportunity.

The event was a chance for children to have a wonderful time together in a safe environment, and gives the community an occasion to come together. I look forward to seeing similar events locally in the future. Well done to the Playday team and the local volunteers!