SE1 schoolgirls meet Prime Ministers of Canada and New Zealand

The Mayor of London invited young people from secondary schools in Lewisham, Southwark and Haringey to City Hall for the event with the prime minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and the prime minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.

Southwark was represented by pupils from St Saviour's and St Olave's School, a Church of England girls' secondary school at Bricklayers Arms.

The young people discuseds gender equality and issues affecting young people at a workshop run by the Fawcett Society, before they took part in a question and answer session with the two prime ministers.

The event is part of the Mayor of London's #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign, which celebrates 100 years since the first women secured the right to vote in the UK.

"This year I have redoubled my efforts to fight for gender equality, with the launch of our "Behind Every Great City" campaign," said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

"I am thrilled that both Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Ardern have agreed to come to City Hall for a special town-hall event with young Londoners.

"I look forward to hearing them discuss the huge strides that have been made towards gender equality, as well as what we can all do to remove the barriers to success which many girls and women still face."

Justin Trudeau said: "This anniversary is a major milestone – but it also throws into sharp relief the work we still need to do to make gender equality a reality. Everyone benefits when women can participate freely, fully, and equally in society – and today's youngest leaders are bringing us closer than ever to that goal."

Jacinda Ardern added: "The timing couldn't be better, with 2018 celebrating 100 years since women in the UK first won the right to vote and 125 years for New Zealand women."

The two Prime Ministers were in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Elsewhere in SE1, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi returned to Albert Embankment to lay flowers at the bust of Basaveshwara he unveiled in 2015.