Summit marks voting milestone – but looks to future for women
A MAJOR summit in Leeds today will celebrate 100 years of votes for women – and how the city can continue to make strides for gender equality.
Leeds has recently won a £150,000 government grant to support a variety of projects for the #Vote100 celebrations and today’s commemoration at Leeds Civic Hall will kick-start a host of activities.
As well as a commemoration of the Representation of the People Act 1918 – which allowed some women to vote for the first time – the event will give women working in a variety of fields the opportunity to discuss with policymakers and service providers the key issues that they still face, and a chance to help to shape the future agenda.
The day has been organised in partnership with the Women’s Lives Leeds project and the council’s internal staff network Women’s Voices.
Participants today will feature in round-table discussions on a variety of themes, with the aim of drawing together an action plan on improving services for women and eradicating barriers they may face.
Coun Julie Heslewood, the council’s lead member for women’s issues, has led a working group which is organising a series of events for the #Vote100 campaign. She said today’s event would aim to reach out to women working in various fields, including many working in traditionally male-dominated environments.
Coun Heslewood said the idea was to reach out to “real women” and those who might feel “disenfranchised”.
Coun Judith Blake, the first female leader of Leeds City Council, who will host today’s event and deliver the keynote speech, said: “Whilst recognising this hugely important event in our history we also must acknowledge that our society still has a long way to go before women are truly equal.
“Events like this are one way we can ensure that the voices of women and girls in our city are not only heard but priorities and their views acted upon.”