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More women than ever before

 

Reaction from Shelaine Green, Chair of Women in Public Life as nominations close for Election 2020.

 

“Only 12 women were nominated for election in 2012 and 19 in 2016 so it’s really pleasing to see the number increase to 28 in 2020, particularly as we are now operating under a completely new electoral system.

“Of course, with 119 candidates in total, that’s means only 24% are women and 76% are men so the candidate pool is still far from balanced and Guernsey is losing out on talent and representation as a result.  But we are realists and we know removing the barriers that hold women back from standing for Deputy will take time and continued effort.

 

“Looking at the detail, it’s striking that 10 of the 12 current female deputies are re-standing, plus a further four from previous States terms [Correction 9/9/20: this figure is three. Ann Robilliard is a new candidate, not the Deputy who served from 1998-2004].  It seems female States members are keen to carry on putting in the hard work on behalf of our Island – that’s reassuring.

“However, we are losing two of the Assembly’s best. Deputy Michelle Le Clerc and Deputy Emilie McSwiggan were both dedicated and determined States members who will be deeply missed.”

Media coverage:

Bailiwick Express

Guernsey Press

ITV Channel TV

 

Guernsey’s iconic women of the future?

Thank you for nominating a young woman or girl for our future iconic Guernsey women campaign to celebrate International Women’s Day!

Nominations close on Sunday 6 March at 17.00.

Please fill in the details below.

miriam-makeba-SA

Miriam Makeba - South Africa

Nominated by: Christine James

Zenzile Miriam Makeba (1932 to 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, United Nations goodwill ambassador, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa. In 2020 she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 women of the century. 

South Africa is ranked 12th in the world for percentage of women in national parliament: 45.8% (source: data.ipu.org) 

Are you from South Africa? Please email hello@womeninpubliclife.gg if there is a social or cultural group for people from South Africa in Guernsey.

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The original image “The Hague Jazz 2008 – Miriam Makeba” by Haags Uitburo is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. 

jacinda-adern-2

Jacinda Ardern - New Zealand

Nominated by: Martin Lock

Jacinda Ardern (born 1980) has served as prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party since 2017. In 2019, she led the country through the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, rapidly introducing strict gun laws in response, and throughout 2020 she directed the country’s widely praised response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ardern was the world’s second elected head of government to give birth in office when her daughter was born in 2018. ‘An inspiring Prime Minister who brought a nation together with true leadership, empathy and compassion.’

New Zealand is ranked 4th in the world for percentage of women in national parliament: 48.3% (source: data.ipu.org) 

Other iconic women: Dame Whina Cooper, nominated by Claire Fisher, and Kate Sheppard, nominated by Anna Cooper.

Are you from New Zealand? You may be interested in joining the ANZACs in Guernsey Facebook group

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