By Azera Rahman, IANS
New Delhi : Terming her life after 10, Downing Street, as being “very busy” Cherie Blair, wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, said inequality is the biggest challenge that women face today, be it in London or Delhi.
“Everywhere, be it in London or Delhi, inequality is the biggest challenge which women face today. As a human rights lawyer and otherwise, this is what we are trying to ensure to women – equal rights. They deserve this,” Blair told IANS in an exclusive interview.
Dressed in a bright pink dress, Blair, who is president of Britain-based entrepreneur Raj Loomba’s trust, which works for the benefit of poor widows and their children, was in the capital Sunday to spread awareness about the issue.
Talking at length about her strong support towards the cause of women, especially widows and their children, Blair said this is because of her childhood experience.
“I was brought up by my mother single-handedly, not because she was a widow but because she was abandoned by her husband. She strove and always wished that her children were well educated and empowered.
“My priority in life, therefore, through my career as a lawyer and thanks to mine and my husband’s position, is to support women’s causes,” she said.
Blair said that based on her 10 years’ experience as the wife of the prime minister of Britain, she continues her work for the benefit of society at large.
“I am trying to put my experience of 10 years as the wife of the prime minister of the UK into good use. I am working for the benefit of society and for women in particular, and I hope to continue it for at least 10 more years,” Blair, 53, said.
All praises for Deepa Mehta’s film on widows, “Water”, for which the Loomba Trust had organised a special premiere in London last year, she said that in order to reach out to the masses more such movies should be made which do not corrode the sensitivity of the issue.
“A lot can be done for the cause of the widows who, for no fault of theirs, are deprived of a lot of things in life. Because they are vulnerable, they are cheated and, due to financial constraints, are sometimes forced into prostitution, or their children end up working in factories.
“Islam, for instance, recognises the rights of a widow but in many Islamic countries a widow is denied her rights. Be it the East or the West, a lot has to be done for the cause of the widows and for the overall cause of women,” she said.
Also the ambassador for Unicef, Blair has ensured the body’s support to the Loomba Trust for the launch of a campaign to improve toilet facilities and basic sanitation in schools, especially for the benefit of the girl child.
“Most of the girl students are forced to drop out of school because there are simply no basic toilet facilities there. This campaign will hopefully stop this trend. Small things, after all, make a big difference,” she said.
Blair has also visited a film set along with some poor students while in Mumbai and the Golden Temple in Punjab.