EALING Southall MP, Virendra Sharma, has hosted the second British South Asian Youth Summit workshop on combating violence against women and girls.

He hosted youth delegates who presented their policy ideas to high profile female activists and change makers.

This included Nobel Peace Prize winner, Tawakkol Karman, who was the first Arab woman and the youngest person at that time to win the award.

She first led campaigns for press freedom, and it was her role in the Yemeni Arab Spring that was instrumental in making women's issues a key part of the process.

The youth delegates also presented their ideas to Anuradha Koirala from Nepal, who founded Maiti Nepal, dedicated to helping victims of sex trafficking.

She was named CNN Hero for her work in combating gender-based violence in Nepal.

The delegates covered the importance of tackling the issue of violence against women and girls in education both for children but also for adults, along with working with third sector and the legislative branch.

Speaking during the workshop the Labour MP said: "This event came from the need to build networks of activists, supported and inspired, by friends, allies and comrades in other countries around the world.

"Maybe too often in the UK we think of ourselves as role models for other countries, the tragic and shocking murder of Sarah Everard shows that is not always the case.

"We are all here to learn more, challenge ourselves and develop skills and knowledge to help in the struggle for equality and justice."

Speaking to the delegates Anuradha Koirala of Maiti Nepal said: "Trafficking of women and children is a huge problem in our country.

"The lack of education systems in the South Asian region is why the girls are taken.

"We have rescued 45,000 children and girls in Nepal, and we have sent 1,600 trafficking criminals to prison.

"Our girls who are survivors of trafficking stay at the borders between Nepal and India together with the police and intercept and stop girls from being trafficked because they have been through the same."

Tawakkol Karman, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said: "When women are not excluded, it greatly helps to bring peace and make process in areas of sustainable development.

"When the energies of young people like you in the summit are not marginalised and wasted, it helps countries and societies overcome many problems.

"The young people are the positive force that must be maintained and any nation that wants to rise must take care of women and youth enabling them to play the essential role in driving the path to development."

The next workshop will be on Saturday, April 24 between 2-3:30pm and those who are interested can sign up HERE.