Brown needs to consider the context of UK politics more when discussing third world rights for women...

If this isn't political opportunism, I don't know what is. Gordon Brown acting like he is a true promoter of women's rights? What, when his own female cabinet members say that he promotes a 'ladette culture', uses them as 'female window dressing', and fails to realise the extent of reform that needs to be done to Parliament in order for women to have equal representation.

Whilst this double standard is important to bare in mind, it is important to focus on the crucial points about universal women rights Gordon Brown and Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf highlight in their article, even if Brown fails to properly address these important issues in the UK political system. They are right to state that a fundamental human right, that of respect and self worth, is undermined significantly for women all over the world. Women are often treat like nothing more than objects, as we have gradually seen the sexulisation of women and sex impeding on women's life's more and more.

The article, whilst being applicable for women around the world, has a third world focus. However, the fact Brown has accredited his name to this article, just makes me feel a bit uncomfortable reading it as he calls for "boys and men...to join our cause [promoting women's rights] and therefore change their lives and our world," knowing that he is hardly the promoter of women's rights himself. For example, the article refers to Wangari Maatha, who has helped draw attention to climate change. But it was only yesterday that I read an article damning the British government for failing to have enough women in discussions around the environment and climate change, and actually referred to women as endangered species themselves within the environment debate.

It is important to give recognition to the various schemes outlined in the article that will be implemented to help women around the world, but the context of the argument cannot be forgot. A context of a UK political system, submerged with males, and any female who happens to raise her concerns around the set up is slammed for being a raving feminist. Thus, whilst women in the UK have more rights than those in third world countries, and there are some useful policies being suggested for promoting women's rights around the world, we cannot forget the struggle for women's rights in the UK either, as this battle is far from over.