Member Article

Women Encouraged To 'Do The Honours'

A campaign aimed at getting more women who go that extra mile nominated for the Queen’s honours awards has been launched by the Cabinet Office. In the 2006 New Year’s Honours list just under 37% of the Honours awarded were given to women, despite the fact that they make up 51% of the population. The “Do the Honours” campaign is aimed at getting more nominations from women who make a real difference, whether it is in their field of work, through their interests or pursuits or on a local level. It is also raising awareness of the fact that any member of the public can send in a nomination.

Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell said: “Honours are there to recognise the achievements of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. It is absolutely crucial that the Honours system rewards those who really deserve it. We would also like to see more successful nominations for women in what have sometimes been considered non-female areas - such as the economy, science and sport.”

There are three sectors in which women particularly need to be better represented - Economy (only 22% of awards go to women), Science & Technology (26%) and Sport (26%). Anyone can make a nomination: forms and guidance are available on the website at www.honours.gov.uk. The Honours lists come out twice a year - at New Year and on The Queen’s Official Birthday in mid-June.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .