All women should be heard

Unite delegate Cecile Wright, attempted to get into the debate on a Women in politics motion but was unsuccessful. Here’s what she’d hope to say. We’ve included it as a comment piece.

“Conference, women being threatened for speaking out and speaking up should never happen – but it does.

“When women decide to become candidates, campaigners, activists, trade unionists or elected representatives, they put themselves into public life. Women want to represent. It’s not just about public life, it’s about their work and workplace.

“The evidence laid out in this composite is truly alarming. Around 70 per cent of councillors have experienced abuse. Shamefully I have also seen this in the trade union movement.

“Behind every statistic is a woman’s experience. Reports of intimidation, death threats, personal details on the internet – like where you live, stalking and physical violence…all because of the work you do. 

“There are very real considerations of whether to get involved and, for those women experiencing it, whether to carry on. And that’s an issue for all of us.

“The line ‘It’s just part of the job’ should never ever be uttered or considered.

“We need stronger protections for activists, elected representatives and for anyone in public life. Employers, political organisations, councils. Parliaments, the police, social media companies should take abuse and harassment seriously and act when threats are made. 

“There should be stronger reporting mechanisms and security support.

“If one woman feels driven out of public life because of abuse, then we are poorer for it because democracy itself is weakened.

“In the labour and trade union movement, we understand the power of collective action. We organise, we stand together, we fight for safer workplaces. Because public life is a work place.

“We want more women to enter politics, to participate, to lead without fear. All women should be heard.”

Compiled by Amanda Campbell

Photo by Mark Thomas