Today I went to an event organised by Amnesty International in support of women's rights in Afghanistan.

This is something many constituents have contacted me about, including volunteers and customers at our local Books for Amnesty on Sydney Street.

As a passionate campaigner for women's rights and a proud feminist, I think that the UK must do more to promote equality in Afghanistan and have always argued that the withdrawal of international forces must not result in any reduction in hard won rights for women.

Earlier this year, as a founder of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Afghanistan Withdrawal, I helped organise a visit to Parliament from Horia Mosadiq, an Afghan woman and civil rights activist who spoke very powerfully about the challenges facing Afghan women.

I have also written to the Foreign Secretary to urge that practical steps are taken to ensure women like Horia play an equal role in the future of Afghanistan, politically, economically and socially.