This month, I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Africa Day of Celebration organised by Active Horizons. I was honoured to support an organisation who do so much to foster leadership and promote the voices of the African diaspora.
As Shadow Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health, I was also pleased to speak at this symposium focused on how Black Men are disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act.
The law as it stands is not fit for purpose, with Black people four times more likely to be sectioned than White people and eight times more likely to be placed under a Community Treatment Order (CTO).
My speech emphasised the urgent reform needed to the Mental Health Act and how that can be achieved. I would like to thank Policy Connect and Lord Bradley for inviting me to join as the keynote speaking at this vital event.
This month, I had the opportunity to give the Keynote speech at the Black Maternal Health Conference hosted by the Motherhood Group.
In my speech, I spoke about how we can and must improve Black maternal health. Most importantly, I spoke about the shockingly high rates of maternal mortality and the stark disparities that mean Black and Asian mothers are much more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth.
I was also pleased to join the Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, Anneliese Dodds MP, in a visit to the Motherhood Group’s community hub to hear from new mothers directly. The stories we heard were truly shocking. Some mothers are too terrified to have another baby and others are just happy to be alive.
Unfortunately, earlier this year, we found out that the Government’s Maternity Disparities Taskforce met just twice last year. In contrast, I’m pleased that Labour have committed to set targets to close the maternal mortality gap.
You can read more about our plans here.
I was delighted to attend the recent Black History Month Dinner at Cambridge University alongside Naomi Campbell and friends, old and new.
The dinner was a great celebration of Black Britons and Black British History, and I was so pleased to meet so many inspiring people there.
I want to thank the hosts of this event – Simon Wooley, the Principal of Homerton College and also the President of the Cambridge University African Caribbean Society, Michael Lawson-Falomo for hosting such a fantastic evening.
At the end of September, I was so pleased to chair the launch of the landmark survey on Black British Voices by The Voice Newspaper in the Houses of Parliament.
This ground-breaking report and its findings are shocking but to many they will not be surprising. The report details the results of the largest ever survey of Black Britons – surveying over 10,000 people. It reveals the concerns felt by so many about racism across our country and within our core institutions.
Following this report, I’ve been pleased to share the findings with my colleagues in Parliament and with the Government. I hope that everyone can take on board this vital research and raise awareness of racial injustices wherever it is found.
You can read the full report here.
I was delighted to be a guest at the very first Bexley Pride event in July held on Erith Pier. This event has been a long time coming, and it was truly a historic and heartwarming moment for our community. I would like to extend my thanks to all the stakeholders who worked tirelessly to make this incredible celebration of diversity and inclusion a reality.
It was not only a joyous occasion but also a testament to the power of unity and acceptance. Meeting so many locals, partners, and small businesses that came together to support this event was inspiring. It demonstrated the strength of our community and the shared commitment to fostering a more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone in Bexley.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Councillor Nicola Taylor for her exceptional leadership and dedication. Her unwavering support for Bexley Pride has been instrumental in bringing our community together and creating an event that will be remembered for years to come. Additionally, I’d like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated volunteers who poured their time and energy into making this event a resounding success. Your hard work and passion truly shone through, and it was evident in every aspect of the event.
Bexley Pride’s inaugural celebration was a powerful reminder that love, acceptance, and unity can overcome any obstacle. I look forward to witnessing this event grow and evolve in the years to come, continuing to celebrate diversity. Thank you once again to everyone who made Bexley Pride a reality.
Really enjoyed seeing in the Nepalese New Year 2080 with the Royal Borough of Greenwich Nepalese Society and Greenwich Mummies. I want to thank Cllr Jit Ranabhat for the kind invitation.
I hope that everyone celebrating across Erith and Thamesmead had a great celebration with family and friends.
It was lovely to meet participants of the Pathway To Success Leadership Programme at the House of Commons earlier this month.
The Pathway to Success Leadership Programme is a 5-day residential programme at the University of Oxford organised by Operation Black Vote (OBV) in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and Magdalen College, and the House of Commons to nurture the country’s future Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic leaders.
I really enjoyed hearing about the stories and aspirations of the participants and how they are involved in civic society and business. Visit OBV’s website for more details of their work.
Like many of my constituents, I am deeply concerned to hear about Jagtar Singh Johal’s detention and torture.
I attended an urgent question in Parliament to ask the Government to make a statement on its actions in the case of Jagtar Singh Johal. I was disappointed that the Minister stated he was unable to comment due to legal proceedings. I believe it was in the Government’s gift to fully explain to the House what measures were in place to remedy this appalling situation.
You can watch my questions asked by following link here, and you can read my speech here.
I sat down with Hend Kheiralla, host of the Ladies of the Lakes radio show, to discuss my journey into politics, getting started as a new MP after my election in 2019, my experience representing Erith and Thamesmead so far, and advice for those interested in politics. I also spoke about the importance of allyship, networks and mentorship.
Abena said:
I think female representation is important in Parliament as well as diversity… because I think it is important to have people from all walks of life.
Ladies of the Lakes is a series of interviews exploring stories of women who grew up and lived in Thamesmead.
You can listen to the full interview here.
