Women’s Parliamentary Caucus of the States Assembly to host inaugural event
States Assembly
20 February 2026
The newly established Women’s Parliamentary Caucus of the States Assembly is holding its inaugural event on 5 March to mark International Women’s Day.The Caucus has been set up following recommendations made by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association following a gender sensitive parliament assessment in 2024. The Caucus will serve as a platform to support, empower and advocate for the interests and advancement of women parliamentarians and provide a supportive space to share challenges faced by women in politics.
Current and past women States Members will be joined at the event in the States Chamber by women who are considering standing for election in June and other invited guests. Members of the public are invited to observe via Microsoft Teams. The link to join the meeting is available across States Assembly social media platforms.
Welsh Labour politician Joyce Watson, who chairs the Senedd Women’s Caucus and is a passionate proponent of the need to hear women’s voices at the tables of power, will speak at the event alongside best-selling author, presenter and flexible working campaigner Anna Whitehouse. Having been included in The Independent’s ‘Most Influential Women’ list of 2023, Anna actively uses her platform as a positive force for good, to ignite change and speak up on subjects that often impact on women’s lives. She is best known for her Flex Appeal movement that has shone a light on the need to implement flexible working for all across the UK.
The event is being funded by a grant from the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Gender Strengthening Fund.
Deputy Lucy Stephenson, interim chair of the Jersey Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, said:
‘Four years ago, a record number of women were elected to the States Assembly and the establishment of a women’s caucus is a celebration of that milestone but also recognition that often women in politics can face added challenges. By providing a supportive forum and mechanism for women to get together to share those experiences with each other and work together to address the challenges it is hoped those women who are elected in June and in future will face fewer barriers to being effective parliamentarians.
‘While much of the work of the caucus will happen behind the scenes, among women States Members, this inaugural event felt like the perfect link with International Women’s Day and opportunity to celebrate the power that can exist when women work together to support one another and to make change happen. To have two fantastic campaigners like Joyce and Anna join us to discuss this subject and share their insights and experiences is a real privilege.’
