Here are the 2020 GPW Election Candidate Statements:
Co-Chairs
Rebecca Johnson
I am standing for election as Co-Chair of Green Party Women in order to increase GPEW’s effectiveness in tackling misogyny, racism and the enormity of the climate emergency and related social and economic inequalities exposed by Covid, Brexit, and the rise of extremist populists.
Bringing experience as a lesbian feminist peace activist, GPEW candidate and spokesperson on security, peace+defence, I am committed to supporting women’s rights and opposing all the ways that patriarchal, colonialist, military-industrial exploiters operate to divide us and abuse Nature, human rights and our planet’s resources.
My priorities include:
Implementing Green New Deal policies that increase the value and resources given to jobs in health, education and the care services – which are mainly carried out by lower paid women and BAME workers. Care jobs are Green jobs, and essential for everyone’s security and wellbeing.
Implementing the UN Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) into GPEW policies – safeguarding our rights, safety and participation are essential for building an unstoppable movement for global security and climate justice.
Opposing patriarchal, racist and sexual violence and exploitation; working for responsible Green policies and practices to support and empower people who are abused, minoritised and oppressed.
Rebecca Johnson
Kathryn Bristow
Recently by the Bristol Post, I was named one of the most influential LGBT+ people in Bristol for my activism with the Green Party and my work on a steering group to improve mental health services in the city. Especially in these times of isolation and seeing a rise in DV, it’s more crucial than ever that everyone can access mental health services.
One of my focuses is increasing diversity in the party. I’m the Equality & Diversity officer for both my local and regional party, as well as being on the LGBTIQA+ Greens and Greens of Colour committees. I believe the party needs to have a range of different voices at its core for it to be successful in delivering its goals of environmental, ecological and social justice.
As Green Party Women co-chair, I would look to launch multiple single issue campaigns, addressing issues that disproportionality affect women and girls, including joint intersectional campaigns with other liberation groups in the party.
Would also implement mentoring programs for women and non-binary people, so the support is there to run for council elections in the next few years, as well as internal elections, for our voices to be heard at every level.
Kathryn Bristow
Catherine Rowett
I’m a longstanding member of GPEW, and a member of GPW since (at least) March 2018—perhaps longer. From May 2019 to January 2020 I served as one of our seven elected Green Party MEPs (five of us women), a role which came to an end with Brexit. In January, I joined fellow-MEP Barbara Gibson (Lib Dem) as a founder-member of “Women and Girls in Politics”, an organisation that helps women find their feet in politics: I contribute to the (Higher) Education and Research groups there. I’ve returned to a part-time position as professor of philosophy at the University of East Anglia, to leave time for political activity. Recent projects include a public lecture on UBI at the Royal Institute of Philosophy.
I’d like to help GPW to:
• Collaborate with the NGO “Women and Girls in Politics”, ensuring that prominent women from GPEW feature among its speakers, role-models, and mentors.
• Promote ongoing research and debates about Universal Basic Income and other topical work-related policies that empower women, recognise caring roles and improve work-life balance.
• Establish good connections with the media, to promote Green women’s voices on issues rarely seen as women’s issues—to present kinder, compassionate and more inclusive solutions.
Catherine Rowett
Emma Bateman
I have relished being on the committee over the past year. It has been challenging, but it’s been great to work with such a fantastic group of women. I loved seeing the revamping of Green Party Women and the revitalisation through the newsletter, conferences, yoga and book club.
Committee members shared organising our events, and I was able to focus on energy for June’s meeting. I belong to a group campaigning against nuclear power, which involves researching and presenting evidence and arguments, and I have brought these skills to Green Party Women.
For Autumn Conference I wrote a motion on the importance of collecting data on both sex and gender. Alongside this I have participated, occasionally robustly, in the processes of the party, for instance challenging the policy development committee, contributing to the conversation over revising the Rights and Responsibility PfSS chapter, and expanding the reach of our web and Facebook pages.
I am proud of what we have achieved this year, and I would be honoured to carry it on. An overview of our work is available in the AGM report on the GPW website. My three priorities are climate change, energy, and supporting sex based rights.
Emma Bateman
Secretary
Rosi Sexton and Emily Herbert
Rosi is a Green Party councillor in Solihull, where she’s group spokesperson for health and adult social care. She is the current chair of the Association of Green Councillors, and a member of Greens of Colour. She’s also an osteopath and former Mixed Martial Artist.
Emily was recently elected as social media officer for Young Green Womxn and previously worked on Carla Denyer’s election campaign. In just a month, YGW have already started to cultivate a more inclusive space (for our trans and non-binary members, as well as uplifting black voices). She is excited to bring this energy to Green Party Women.
Our three main priorities for women’s rights include:
Addressing barriers faced by women in politics.
Creating systems to support Green Party women towards elected or leadership positions.
Campaigning on issues that disproportionately affect women and girls, both nationally and internationally.
We will work alongside our other Green liberation groups to tackle intersectional issues affecting women from all backgrounds.
Emily Herbert and Rosi Sexton
Chris Holt
I’m a northerner now living in London, a Green Party member since 2014. I ran Lambeth GP’s successful election campaigns 2016-18 and I also lead the Safer A23 in Streatham Campaign, which has won a commitment from TfL for a new pedestrian and cycle-friendly road lay-out. I love campaigning! I’m also a mum of two teenage boys and run my own business. Previously as a journalist and a campaigner, I worked with women fighting oppression all over the world – from former child brides challenging dowries in Bangladesh, Sandinista feminists in Nicaragua, women challenging World Bank policies Zambia, to BAME mothers fighting to save their council housing here in Lambeth. For all our differences, we women share common burdens, common risks and vulnerabilities – and we need each others’ support to overcome the obstacles of a society that is still largely designed around the life experiences of men. My top three priorities: universal basic income; prosecute all sexual violence; get more Green women elected!
Chris Holt
Membership Secretary
Alex Philips and Georgie Oatley
Alex and Georgie bring an exciting range of experience and skills to the GPW committee. As a city councillor since 2009 and former Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Alex has long been a fierce campaigner for equality and women’s rights, including speaking out on the Gender Pay Gap in European Parliament as MEP for the South East. Standing on a joint ticket, Georgie brings professional experience in communications and campaigning, as a trustee of a charity that provides education to people in prison and as Press Officer for the Eastern Region and formerly Digital Comms Officer for the Young Greens.
With unprecedented elections due to take place in 2021 we need to empower our membership to participate, to support candidates throughout their campaigns – and continue to uplift and support them once they have won their seats.
Standing for the role of Membership Officer as a job-share, Alex and Georgie will be a strong voice for our movement and our members.
Our top three priorities for Green Party Women are:
– Tackle barriers faced by women in politics
– Support and mentor women into roles of leadership
– Campaign on issues faced by women nationally and internationally, working inclusively with other liberation groups
Alex Philips and Georgie Oatley
Claudine Letsae
I am the current International Coordinator for the GPEW and have been active in politics for the last 9 years. I have been elected into GPEx as Equality and Diversity Coordinator in 2018. I come from South Africa and was part of the struggle for freedom from Apartheid. I never thought I would be involved in politics following moving to this country, as I was looking to have a break from politics. My re-initiation into UK and Global politics was via the Occupy Movement. My background is in Law and Health. I am keen to continue my role in the GPW linking the UK women and girls rights and the protection of the rights as defined in the Human Rights Convention and uphold the universality of the rights for all. We have made strides as a committee, in spite of the derailment that we have encountered and it would be good to be re-elected to continue our work supporting women’s empowerment, selfcare and political urgency.
Top 3 Priorities:
1. Empowering women to be active in Politics and have the urgency, to inform on their rights from all spectrum of our society.
2. Challenging the poor enforcement of protection for women and girls rights in the UK and globally. Campaigning to ensure the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is enacted globally and enforced.
3. Campaigning to ensure there is universal Debt forgiveness (Debt Jubilee / People’s Quantitative Easing) as women are disproportionately impacted by the current depression in the economy resulting from Covid and Climate impact.
Claudine Letsae
Treasurer
Nicola Watson
Longstanding member of the Green Party and usually active at local or national level.
I have enjoyed serving on the GPW committee this year and supporting all the initiatives we have introduced. As Treasurer, I opened a bank account for GPW and prepared accounts for the AGM. If re-elected, I would like to concentrate on fundraising and using the funds raised to support women who are excluded from participation in political activity because of lack of money.
As a former member of GPEx and having served three terms on GPRC – most of that as Co-Chair – I am well aware of Party structures and the important role that these bodies play in supporting and enabling our activists.
I believe that it is important for women in the Party to have opportunities to network and train together. This enables us to improve our knowledge and skills in a supportive environment which gives us encouragement to pursue our political goals.
Nicola Watson
Rosie Rawle
Green Party Women has a vital role to play within and beyond our party. In the coming year, we could be delivering vital support to women standing in elections, new initiatives to tackle the barriers that women experience in politics, and campaigns that champion equality for all women. I am standing for the role of treasurer to ensure that GPW has the resources and funds to deliver this vision.
With a professional background in digital campaigns and fundraising, I believe I can deliver powerful online fundraising campaigns, crowd-funders and regular giving drives to support the growth of GPW.
Having sat on GPEx for the last two years and multiple charity boards, I also have a wealth of experience overseeing organisational finances and carrying out careful budgeting processes. If elected I would look to ensure clear and regular reporting and streamlined payment processes.
As Co-chair of the Young Greens I have worked for many years to support and train young women standing for election and build a generation of activists committed to fighting for climate and social justice. I would be excited to continue this work as part of GPW.
Rosie Rawle
Non-Portfolio positions
Faty Kane and Julia Lagoutte
Faty: I’m a campaign leader with ten years of experience advocating for women’s rights. Originally from Senegal, I spent years campaigning for girls’ rights in West Africa focusing on child marriage and education, and now campaign for better access to mental health care worldwide. Based in Greenwich and Bexley, I joined the party two years ago and am Greens of Colour Women’s Officer.
As a mother and feminist, I’m sensitive to barriers women face to participation in public life having to juggle childcare, work and social commitments.
As a strong believer in collaboration, I want to work with Green Party Women to support the design and implementation of a strong, exciting program focused on engaging Women of Colour across the party.
Julia: I’m a comms specialist with campaigning experience. I’ve always been passionate about women’s leadership and participation in politics – as well as issues like domestic violence and sex trafficking.
I have been involved in the Green Party for ten years and have volunteered for various local parties, and worked for the Green European Journal and a Green MEP.
Improving our online presence has been my focus during my year on the committee – from live-tweeting events to consistent, engaging and professional content. I have proactively engaged women inside and outside the party and increased our twitter following by 2000. I’ve helped organise events and supported Faty on the Green Women of Colour programme mentioned above.
Our priorities: increasing political participation; speaking out against domestic violence; gender equality in the workplace.
Faty Kane and Julia Lagoutte
Amelia Womack and Nannette Youssef
Amelia and Nannette bring a wealth of experience from both inside and outside our Party. Deputy Leader since 2014, Amelia has been a consistent champion of women, speaking out in national publications and campaigning for legislation on issues which disproportionately affect women. Nannette has a strong policy and communications background, both academically (with a MSc in Public Policy) and professionally (as a Green Party City councillor in Norwich and as the co- chair of the Young Greens of Colour).
Covid-19 has ripped open the cracks in society that Greens have campaigned on for decades. The virus has further widened inequalities women face – more financial instability, increased caring workload, more risk of domestic violence. The Green Party needs a strong voice standing for all women.
To be this voice, the GPW committee requires passion and understanding, but also experience and skills. Amelia and Nannette bring these skills in campaigning, policy, communications, events, and organising – skills essential for our movement.
Top 3 priorities:
Supporting women to run in elections, so 50% of our candidates in the next general election are women
Building links with other organisations to amplify our message
Tackling barriers women face in politics, particularly LGBTIQA+ women, disabled women and women of colour.
Amelia Womack and Nannette Youssef
Shahin Ashraf and Isobel Browne-Wilkinson
We both welcome the opportunity to take on this role, on behalf of GPW.
Isobel has been recently elected as Co-chair of the Young Green Liberation Group, Young Green Womxn. Through the short time Isobel has been the co-chair, she has made the community more inclusive and intersectional making sure non-binary and Trans people feel welcome. Isobel contributed to Carla Denyers 2019 campaign in Bristol, and heard young peoples voices on how to improve the city. She hopes to bring the Young greens and Green Party Women together and to make the community in the green party a safe diverse and inclusive environment.
Shahin is a Green Party Councillor for Solihull, currently holding two portfolios education and skills, and strong communities, She is the advisor as the BAME representative on the domestic abuse strategy working group Solihull, as well as on the faith advisory council. With 25years experience in the international development sector her expertise lies in development, social inclusion and social protection and has worked on a senior level with women’s rights organisations. Shahin is also working on the civil society engagement group for COP-26.
Our three main priorities:
• An inclusive and diverse space for all women, in particular women of colour.
• Addressing the presence of institutionalised space, and facilitating connections.
• Challenging barriers faced by women, and how this is affecting women’s leadership and democracy in politics.
Both of us would like to bring a feminist narrative to legislative approaches to our policy’s priorities.
Shahin Ashraf and Isobel Browne-Wilkinson
Charlie Hamilton
I believe this is the Party of optimism, integrity and collective compassion. I am sensitive to environmental issues, but honestly, no expert. Nonetheless, I’m actively learning and seeking to implement changes in my own life that could serve as an example to friends and family. Importantly, I didn’t sign up to the Party for its environmental agenda – alone. I was captivated by the ten pillars of our political programme. I realise how few people appreciate the extent of our manifesto and the inclusivity of our policies. I am a communications professional with 20 years’ experience. I now run a Hastings micro social enterprise specialising in women’s empowerment, equality and inspiration whilst working FT in a local school. I am also a member of The Fawcett Society and The Gender Equality Network, a committed champion of women’s rights, and feminist. My career spans three countries, the Arts, Education, Sport and the Third Sector, and I believe my cross-cultural, multi-sector experience could help GPW in its campaigning efforts, and articulation and dissemination of policies. I am also prepared to listen to divergent opinions and to work hard to find positive solutions to any challenges we may face as a working group.
Charlie Hamilton
Gillian Mills
I was born in 1952 into a world where women were considered inferior, gender stereotypes were rigorously enforced and there was no means of being in control of one’s own fertility. This was not a world which was friendly to a woman who did not conform to gender expectations and the deficit was internalised as a sense of failure by many women. I reject the idea of the female brain which underpinned this oppression.
I have battled for women’s progress throughout my life. Within the Green Party my efforts have been spent on upskilling and enabling all members _ especially those who are underrepresented in governance roles. The greatest portion of these are females who still are not progressing to the same extent as males into leading roles within the party or participating proportionately in debate.
I also try to support women around the globe who are disadvantaged by their sex or who are bearing the brunt of economic difficulties and the climate crisis because of their gender roles.. I focus on the right to contraception, education and sustainable economic security.
i think Green Party women can effect change by working with women around the world via Green networks – promoting political opportunities for all of us.
Gillian Mills
