For over 100 years International Women’s Day has offered us the opportunity to celebrate the contributions made by women many countries.

Over the last two years the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements have driven a welcome shift in society’s approach to gender equality.

There is much more to do to address inequality

As a society we have made great strides in the battle for equality, but there is more to do. This year’s theme Balancing for Better urges us all to demand better gender balance at all levels – be it in Parliament, the boardroom or our education system.

This year we also celebrate two Liberal Democrat initiatives on women’s rights – my colleague Wera Hobhouse has succeeded in creating a new criminal offence to outlaw upskirting, with the bill about to become law. And Jo Swinson has fought tirelessly for the introduction of proxy voting for MPs on parental leave, and won the campaign.

Yet there is much more to do.

Our own society is still too unequal, and around the world violations of women’s human rights occur on a shocking scale.

It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure each International Women’s Day represents a stepping stone to a better future for women and girls around the world.

We’re very proud of the many strong online communities that have sprung up around the party. Online groups are a great way to make friends and discuss topics with people you might not see otherwise.

This is an ecosystem that is incredibly powerful – and we want to do everything we can to support it. Which is why in the next few weeks, we’re planning to launch a new online tool – the Directory – to help connect Liberal Democrats with like-minded groups.

Hand in hand with that, we’re today launching a new policy for online groups that use Liberal Democrat branding.

Conference will be debating the following motions.  The following are summaries of what is proposed.  They are intended to be neutral descriptions of some of the main points made in the motions and are not arguments for or against any of them.  

This week, after 32 years of political passiveness and one month after becoming a British citizen, I joined the Liberal Democrats.

I arrived in the UK on a cold, rainy Thursday afternoon in March 2013 with two suitcases and a job offer from a London-based media agency. I was born in Germany and had lived, studied and worked there most of my life up until that point. My decision to come was a professional one at the time, and I had no clear concept of how long I might stay.

I was in tears that morning as newscasters called the result of the referendum

I have since fallen in love with this island and its people. Most importantly, I met my wonderful wife Caroline – but I’ve also met some of the most remarkable people from every corner of the world, I am privileged to call them my friends.

Then came the referendum. I was in tears that morning as newscasters called the result.

Suddenly, my future and that of millions of others were in question.

My decision to become a British citizen was one both of the head and the heart. It was more than a move to safeguard my immigration status.

For me, it was a firm commitment to the place I now call my home.

None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines

It is easy to forget how privileged I have been throughout it all: growing up in a peaceful

and prosperous union of European nations. Enjoying the freedom to work and live wherever I want, to fall in love with whoever. I have enjoyed it all thanks to the work of generations before me who created the European Union.

The time to be a bystander is over.

None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines as the rights of future generations are under assault by forces that want our island to be a smaller, more divided, less welcoming place.

That is why I have joined the Liberal Democrats: to fight for Britain’s place in Europe. To demand better for my home. To play a part in solving the many challenges facing our society, from homelessness to climate change.

My time as a bystander is over. From here on, expect to hear my voice in this fight.

Women and girls are still paying more for basic products like razors and deodorant. It’s entirely unacceptable. Worse, it’s a double whammy – 3 out of 4 UK companies still pay their female employees less than they do men.