As part of Labour’s campaign for gender equality, we have now launched a petition for a gender equality strategy.

At last week’s meeting of Full Council, Labour Councillors won support for the council establishing a cross-cutting gender equality strategy, to tackle gender inequalities in health, safety, education and the economy.

Following this, we have now launched a petition to demonstrate public support for a meaningful gender equality strategy, to ensure the administration don’t kick this issue into the long grass. Our petition calls for specific actions on period poverty, cervical screening rates, women’s safety in the night time economy, and more.

At Full Council, the Green administration did not get behind our campaign for gender equality with much enthusiasm. They tried to downplay gender inequalities in health, questioning the accuracy of statistics showing  Brighton & Hove’s low cervical screening rates, which have since been proven beyond doubt.

They also told local resident Bella Sankey, who presented a deputation on gender inequalities, that they would not support or adopt a Gender Equality Strategy. Fortunately, they u-turned later on in the meeting and backed our plans for a Gender Equality Strategy.

Considering how all over the place they’ve been on this issue, it’s crucial we gain as many signatories as possible to make sure the administration deliver on this strategy, and that it is wide ranging, robust and impactful.

If we can secure enough signatures, Brighton & Hove City Council will have to debate this, so residents will be able to ensure progress is made on a Gender Equality Strategy, and can help shape its contents.

You can sign our petition here.