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Fair_Play_South_West_Manifesto_for_the_EU_Elections_2019_PDF.pdf

Membership of the European Union has been good for UK women

It has enabled and empowered UK women to participate in Europe-wide networks and formal structures of women to influence policies and legislation in a way which has not always been possible within the UK itself.

At times when the UK government has not always had women’s equality and rights at its heart, membership of the EU has brought us:

1.      Fundamental Treaty obligations on equal treatment of women and men;
2.      The principle of equal pay for work of equal value;
3.      Directives on equal treatment in pay, employment, statutory and occupational social security, access to goods and services, for example;
4.      Rights for pregnant workers, maternity and paternity rights;
5.      Pension rights for women;
6.       And others[1].

The EU has funded a number of projects within the UK specifically to advance the rights, safety and well-being of women and continues to do so[2], including for example:

1.      Projects to support survivors of domestic abuse, violence against women and rape;
2.      Projects to enable women to access decent employment;
3.      Projects which promote women’s equality and gender mainstreaming.

We don’t know how long we will be in the EU, but for as long as we are our representatives will make a difference for good or bad[3].

Please let it be for good. Please support the ‘manifesto’ overleaf.

In light of the benefits for women of membership of the EU:

We urge all women to vote in the upcoming EU elections on 23^rd May

The right to vote in UK elections was gained by women after nearly 30 years of campaigning, demonstrating, torture and death, until 1928 when all women were finally given the same rights as men to vote. This hard won right must not be squandered.

Voting is a women’s right.

We urge all voters to vote for candidates who will take their seats in the European Parliament in a positive way

Some candidates have announced their intention, if elected, to disrupt the activities of the Parliament so as to show their disapproval of the EU itself. Such a negative attitude would not advance the needs of UK people and their election would be a lost opportunity to influence the EU to make progressive policy and legislation for women.