INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND MICROFINANCE

Early day motion 1764, tabled 7 March 2006 by Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 48 members.

That this House acknowledges the significant impact that microfinance loans have on women and their families in the developing world; congratulates the vital work of Opportunity International and other organisations in their commitment to supporting microfinance facilities and business training for poor but entrepreneurial women; recognises that over 37 million women have already gained access to finance due to microfinance projects but that many more remain financially excluded; notes that women are highly motivated savers and where microfinance programmes exist, especially within the credit union framework, they repay their loans at a very high rate as well as re-investing their income on their families, particularly children; especially welcomes the importance of microfinance in meeting the Millennium Development Goals; further notes that microfinance reduces hunger and poverty, has been shown to widen access to education as women invest in their children's education and improves the health and nutrition of women and children; welcomes the fact that microfinance empowers women to be more involved in family and community decisions; and on International Women's Day wishes to promote microfinance as a tool to improve gender equality and increase sustainable development.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 19, DUP 3, Conservative 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1.