• OVER a 100 years ago, women weren’t allowed to vote.

The suffragettes used every act of protest possible, in order to pave way for what we now take for granted.

Considering recent events it could be suggested that prime minister Rishi Sunak may have referred to them as extremists the way he has done about the predominantly peaceful protests we see today regarding the conflict in the Middle East.

Today, in Camden, we are led by amazing women; from our leader and our mayor to our chief executive.

These women, along with other councillors, are also loving mothers, which shines through in the work they do for our communities.

Being a woman in public life isn’t always the easiest. Yet more and more of us are taking up roles in these spaces, and rightly so.

At a time when tensions are running high, it’s even more important to show both current and future generations of young women and girls that they can and deserve to occupy spaces which historically would have been occupied solely by men.

We must continue encouraging and empowering our young women and girls to be brave, believe in themselves and tell them, “Yes you can! Nothing is beyond reach for you.”

This year’s theme for international women’s day is inspire inclusion.

While we celebrate the recognition of women’s contribution through International Women’s Day, March 8, we cannot do a disservice of not acknowledging that so much more is yet to be done.

We still live in a world where women’s bodies are policed, where we still look over our shoulders at night, where we still have a gender pay gap. The list is endless.

In Camden we have a proud history of being home to some of the greatest, outspoken influential women, through words and action; Claudia Jones, Noor Inayat Khan, Virginia Woolf, and Amy Winehouse, to name a few.

Our activism and rebellious spirit are part of our social fabric and DNA here in Camden.

I’m proud that as a young woman, born and bred Camdonian, I can say with confidence to other women and girls that Camden is, and always will be, the borough of opportunity for you.

CLLR NASRINE DJEMAI
Cabinet Adviser on Safety for Women and Girls