A new annual week of action which will put the spotlight on
democracy and boost participation has been launched by the
Government.
The inaugural National Democracy Week will be held next summer,
,the Minister for the
Constitution, announced today (Friday).
It will be themed on the Suffrage Centenary, as we celebrate two
significant anniversaries next year - 100 years since women won
the right to vote and 90 years since women won equal voting
rights to men.
Making the announcement, Minister Skidmore told the Cabinet
Office International Democracy Day celebration that the pursuit
of democratic participation, particularly among underrepresented
groups, must be a continuous goal.
Next year’s event, to be held between 2-6 July, will bring
together organisations from across the public, private and
charity sectors for a week of unified national action.
The aim is to engage with under registered groups, better
understand the barriers they face, and work with partners to
ensure that every member of society who is entitled to do so has
an equal chance to participate in our democracy and to have their
say.
Minister for the Constitution, said:
“This Government is committed to building a flourishing,
inclusive democracy that works for everyone.
“I want as many people as possible to engage in our democracy
which does not begin and end with an electoral event.
“That is why I’m delighted to announce that we are introducing an
annual National Democracy Week to help boost democratic
participation amongst under registered groups in our society.”
Matthew Harrison, Royal Mencap Society, said:
“People with a learning disability have a huge appetite for
politics yet often struggle to feel part of the democratic
process. We welcome the announcement of National Democracy Week
and this recognition by Government that action is needed to
better understand the barriers that can too often prevent people
with a learning disability from participating fully in
democracy.”
Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women's Aid, said:
“For too long survivors of domestic abuse have been silenced
because it was too dangerous for them to sign up to an electoral
register, which would reveal their location, and too difficult
for them to register anonymously.
“Following our Right to Vote campaign, we worked with the
Government to bring about decisive action on this issue. The new
measures have sent out a clear message to all survivors of
domestic abuse: that their voices matter, and their right to vote
should never be taken away.
“The Cabinet Office’s announcement that next year there will be a
National Democracy Week to raise awareness of the barriers some
people may face when it comes to voting is a welcome step in
giving all eligible voters, especially survivors of domestic
abuse, an equal right to have their say.”
ENDS
NOTES
â— National Democracy Week events will take place on a national
and local level to reach under-registered groups including young
people, BAME communities, British ex-pats,and people with
disabilities to ensure Britain has a democracy which works for
everyone.
â— The week will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the
Representation of the People Act 1918 when the first British
women over 30 (who met a property qualification) won the right to
vote and the 90th anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act 1928
which granted equal voting rights to men and women.
