Celebrate all the women who have Suffragette Spirit
M.E.N. AND AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TO HONOUR THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT
THE Manchester Evening News is collaborating with Amnesty International to celebrate extraordinary women in our communities.
We want to highlight the work of the Greater Manchester women who epitomise the spirit of the Suffragettes by giving a voice to the most vulnerable. They may have helped to tackle the problems faced by refugees, stood up to bullies or worked to highlight homelessness or racism.
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, explains why the Suffragettes Spirit is still vital: “Last year was a bad year to be brave. At Amnesty we know of 281 people around the world who were killed for standing up for what they believed in, but this figure is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
“From Heather Heyer who died while protesting against a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese anti-corruption journalist who was killed in a car bomb in October - the world felt like it was an increasingly treacherous place to live in if you are a campaigner.
“But the dangers faced by human rights defenders are nothing new.
“Since the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders 20 years ago, we know of at least 3,500 activists who have been killed – an average of 180 deaths a year – and the annual death toll shows no sign of diminishing.
“But next to these depressing statistics I have recently witnessed a chink of light that has filled me with hope: and it’s in the form of the Suffragette Spirit campaign.
“Since Amnesty called on Britain to nominate the women continuing to campaign for change 100 years after winning the vote, I have been bowled over by the incredible cases put forward - all of whom are working to make very real, positive changes in their communities. Women embodying that fighting spirit a century on are using their powerful voices to help the vulnerable, stand up to bullies, fight racism and tackle abuse.
“You might not have heard of these women until now because they are on the ground, busy effecting change for the people they care about most. But together these women - and countless others - are doing big things to champion human rights for all. They deserve to be celebrated. So what are you waiting for? Nominate the amazing women in your community before 9am on Monday February 26 to ensure that your local Suffragette Spirit get the recognition they deserve.”
To nominate visit www.amnesty.org. uk/suffragettespirit. They must have carried out work to help others within the last 10 years. All successful nominees will be asked for consent prior to being placed on the Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain.