Suffragettes gave British women a voice – now we want to honour today’s heroines

One hundred years ago today, British women were given a voice. For the first time, many mothers, daughters and sisters could have a say in how their country was run.

Back then suffragettes up and down the country would stop at almost nothing to get their voices heard in parliament. The struggle to win the vote was long and arduous, but in 1918 these brave women won a partial victory.

Since then, women around the world have channelled the suffragette spirit to campaign for progress. They have stood up to racism, sexism, homophobia, corruption and much more.

Last century’s suffragettes

are today’s women human rights defenders, and Amnesty International campaigns to help protect them around the world. These brave campaigners often face surveillance, intimidation, threats, imprisonment and some even risk their lives.

But you don’t need to travel thousands of miles to meet women fighting for justice and equality. This is why Amnesty and this newspaper want readers to nominate the incredible women who are making a real difference in their local area.

Ordinary women from all walks of life – from students to shopkeepers, office workers to OAPS – are doing extraordinary things. They might have stood up to bullies, helped the homeless, aided refugees, worked to protect the environment or campaigned for better access to healthcare. Every time these women have spoken up, they’ve helped make life better for others.

The amazing achievements of these often-unsung heroes deserve to be celebrated, and Amnesty wants to put them on its Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain.

The interactive map, which will launch on International Women’s Day, 8 March, will be a symbol of the suffragette legacy, proudly displaying how far we have come over the past century, but highlighting how much lifechanging work is still being carried out today.

So, over to you: Which 21st century suffragette deserves to be put firmly on the map?

To nominate an amazing woman in your local area, please visit: www.amnesty.org.uk/suffragettespirit. All women must have carried out work within the past ten years. All successful nominees will be contacted to give their consent.