About the Campaign
Are you part of the debate?
Women’s political representation in the UK is appallingly low. In the House of Commons only 19% of MPs are women. Local government is doing better but still only 30% of local councilors are female. The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly are closer to equal representation of men and women but there is room for improvement. Overall, the UK is 60th in the international league table of women’s representation.
We think this needs to change…….do you?
The Women and the Vote campaign aims to create a network of organisations and individuals who want to change this. We believe that much more still needs to be done to improve women’s access to political power.
And this is how you can be part of the debate
one Sign up to the campaign!
two Get your friends to sign up too!
three Add this website to your Facebook page!
four Write to your MP asking him/ her to sign up to the campaign! (A list of all the MPs/ MEPs and Peers already signed up can be found on the sign-up section of the website.)
five Organise your own Women and the Vote event! For further information on this email info@womenandthevote.com or call Beatrice on 020 72028600.
Latest News
Operation Black Vote launches BAME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme
Beatrice Barleon
8th June 2009
The representation of Black and other minority ethnic (BAME) women at every level of governance from the Houses of Parliament to local government is woefully low. Of the 646 MPs in Westminster, two are BAME women and out of 20,000 Councillors, 149 are BME women, representing less than 1% of Councillors nationally.
Operation Black Vote in partnership with the Government Equalities Office is launching the country’s first national BAME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme. The aim of the project is to address the national deficit of Black and minority ethnic women councillors, and to ensure that BAME communities engage with the council in all areas and at all levels of local governance.
They are looking for fifty BAME women to shadow high level councillors for a minimum of six days over a six month period. The cross-party initiative will focus on giving participants first hand knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of councillors, serving officers and an insight into the Authority’s systems and procedures. The aim is that upon completion, this leadership programme will equip and motivate participants to engage in party politics. Participants will also be encouraged to become Community Ambassadors, explaining and promoting the benefits of civic engagement and encouraging others to also become involved in community affairs. The scheme will also give Councillors the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of BME communities. OBV view this process as essential to involving BME communities in the wide scope of activities within the decision making process.
If you feel you have the conviction, enthusiasm and determination to become a city councillor or more politically engaged then stand up, be counted and be part of this unique opportunity.
Applications are invited from BAME women who have attended the BAME Taskforce seminars in the following areas:
Birmingham, Chilterns, East of England, Gloucester, Leicester,
London (see below), Newcastle, North West, Scotland,
Wales, Windsor and Maidenhead, York and Humberside
London: Camden, Harrow, Islington, Lambeth/ Southwark, Tower Hamlets
Regional deadlines apply. Please contact OBV for deadline information and to obtain a Councillor Shadowing Scheme application on: Tel: 0208 983 5471 / Fax: 0208 983 5492/ Email: councillor@obv.org.uk or download the information from their website: www.obv.org.uk
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Parliamentary Outreach Programme
Beatrice Barleon
8th June 2009
Ever wanted to know more about how Parliament works and how you can get your voice heard? The Parliamentary Outreach office offers advice and training to community groups, campaigners and non-governmentalb organisations. For more information, please visit:
http://www.parliament.uk/getinvolved/outreach.cfm
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Speaker’s Conference takes evidence in Cardiff
Beatrice Barleon
4th June 2009
8th June, 2pm
Committee Room 3, Senedd, Cardiff Bay
The Conference will take evidence from representatives of the National Assembly for Wales, of the political parties and of community groups. The details are as follows:
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Speaker's Conference Meeting
Beatrice Barleon
4th June 2009
The Speaker's Conference has announced a meeting at the Cheltenham open to everyone. For further details go to the events section on this website.
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Next Speaker's Conference oral evidence session announced
Beatrice Barleon
15th May 2009
Time and Date: 11.00 am on Tuesday 19 May 2009
Location: Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses:
Saghir Alam, Yvonne Stewart-Williams and David Stocks, RADAR’s Leadership Scheme (at 11.00 am)
Abigail Lock and Paul McCarthy, Scope.
Speech to text technology will be available.
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Speaker's Conference launches online forum
Beatrice Barleon
15th May 2009
The Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation is today launching an online forum, seeking views from the public on the following questions:
Why do people think that to succeed in public life they have to hide aspects of themselves?
What would persuade you to represent your community?
What is the best way to increase the representation of under-represented communities at Westminster?
The forum can be accessed at:
http://forums.parliament.uk/speakers-conference/index.php?index,1 or via the main website, www.parliament.uk/speakersconference . It will run until 23 June 2009.
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Fawcett Society launches Democracy Toolkit
Beatrice Barleon
8th May 2009
Fawcett has launched 'Your Voice', a guide to democracy with useful information about how ethnic minority women can access political power.
You can download the toolkit in PDF format from their website.
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Speaker's Conference announces next evidence session
Beatrice Barleon
6th April 2009
The Speaker's Conference has announced that the following public hearing will take place on 21st April 2009 at the Boothroyd Room:
Witnesses:
Janet Gaymer CBE QC, Commissioner for Public Appointments (at 10.15 am)
Peter Riddell and Dr Ruth Fox, The Hansard Society and Lewis Baston, Electoral Reform Society (at 10.35 am)
Ray Collins, General Secretary, Labour Party, Rt Hon Theresa May MP and Lord Rennard, Chief Executive, Liberal Democrats (at 11.00am)
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Centre for Women and Democracy publishes new report
Beatrice Barleon
20th March 2009
The Centre for Women and Democracy recently published a new report 'Changing Faces?' looking at political parties, women and the local elections in 2008. For an executive summary of the report, have a look under resources/ reports on this website or visit the Centre for Women and Democracy website. A copy of the full report can be ordered from the CFWD website.
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Speaker's Conference announces next evidence session
Beatrice Barleon
10th March 2009
The Speaker's Conference has announced another evidence session, which will take place on 31st March from 10.20am onwards. The witnesses on the day will be:
Baroness Uddin, Chair, Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Women Councillors Taskforce
Dame Jane Roberts, Chair, Councillors Commission
Councillor Anjana Patel, Lead Member for Equalities, London Councils
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Speaker's Conference announces latest public hearings
by Beatrice Barleon
12th February 2009
3rd March 2009, 10.20am
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Trades Union Conference
Unlock Democracy
10th March, 10.20am
Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses
UK Youth Parliament and UpRising
Citizenship Foundation and The Association for Citizenship Teaching
Parliamentary Education Service and Department of Information Services, House of Commons
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Government Equality Office Outreach Events
by Beatrice Barleon
9th February 2009
Calling All Women!
Make A Difference in your Community!
Interested in local issues? Have you got the commitment and drive to make change and champion issues in your area?
Community representatives and local councillors play a vital role in their communities and we want to encourage more women, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds, to get involved.
Find out more about how you can get involved. Hear from inspirational women like Baroness Uddin, Chair of the Women Councillors Taskforce, Carol Francis JP, Taskforce Member and others about how they got involved in public life.
There are 2 free events - see below:
Friday 13 February 2009 from 10.00am - 2.00pm at Glasgow City Chambers, 80 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DU
Thursday 19 February 2009
6.00pm – 8.30pm at Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucestershire, GL1 2TG
To register please go to: www.livegroup.co.uk/BAME
or: telephone 020 8481 3375
Email: BAME@livegroup.co.uk
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Women and the Vote: Looking to the Future Event
by Beatrice Barleon
5th February 2009
Last night the Women and the Vote campaign held their Westminster 'Looking to the Future' event and despite adverse weather conditions we had a good turnout. More info about the event will follow.
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Speaker’s Conference: Second Oral Evidence Session
by Beatrice Barleon
5th February 2009
Due to adverse weather conditions the oral evidence session was postponed.
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Speaker’s Conference: Second Oral Evidence Session
by Beatrice Barleon
2 February 2009
The next public hearing will take place on 3rd February 2009.
Time: 10.20 am
Location: Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses: UK Youth Parliament and UpRising (at 10.20 am), Citizenship Foundation and The Association for Citizenship Teaching (at 10.50 am), Parliamentary Education Service and Department of Information Services, House of Commons (at 11.20 am)
The venue is accessible by wheelchair and has an induction loop. If you wish to follow the work of the Conference and have other particular requirements please contact the secretariat on 020 7219 0654.
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