Right to be heard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Right to be Heard is a pressure group originating in projects in the United Kingdom and India. It’s origins are closely connected to that of the Peals Research Centre in North-East England.
Right to be Heard is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds who have participated inprocesses of participatory democracy since 2001 – particularly those from communities that have undergone marginalization in the past.
It lists among its aims:
1. to provide opportunities for participants in processes such as citizens’ juries, to work on an equal footing with facilitators of these initiatives in initiatives to achieve greater social justice by increasing the accountability of decision-makers.
2. To foster alternative principles of participation (often called “public engagement”) from those that currently dominate. Good working practices are showcased and, if necessary, mobilised to convince policy-makers of their value.
The processes in which Right to be Heard members have taken part include:
1. Tyneside "Do-it-yourself" jury (2002)– Twenty five community members from different age groups drew up an agenda to shake up the way the over 50s are treated by the health and social services, particularly relating to the balance between introducing new technologies and improving social care.
2. Blackburn and Darwen jury (2004) – Twenty people from diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds came together and prioritised illegal drugs, alcohol and crime as major problems in the area. Jurors overcame many tensions to make a series of recommendations to raise the profile of these issues in their community and beyond.
3. West Yorkshire jury (2005) – Twenty-two people from Calderdale, many from British-Pakistani areas and from wards showing significant support for far-right parties, came together as a jury to discuss two issues: one national/international one prescribed by the funding consortium - nanotechnology , and another a local one chosen by the jurors – youth exclusion and policing.
4. Reading jury (2005) – the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme funded a jury of twenty five people (a third of whom were under 19 years old and five of whom had disabilities/impairments) drawn from the less prosperous parts of Reading, Berkshire. At the suggestion of the BBC they engaged with the theme of ‘respect’. Issues raised included inter-racial and multi-faith issues, social exclusion, youth gangs, violence against women, local homelessness and international warfare. Uniquely, extracts from the evidence they received, their deliberations, recommendations, first-hand accounts, their interrogation of their council leader and meeting with UK Home Office minister, Hazel Blears MP, were broadcast or webcast on Today (See link above).
The core membership of R2BH consists of around fifty members from the UK and India who are keen to work in solidarity with each other and others marginalised from power. However, it says it actively seeks to include people involved in processes of participatory democracy from locations as diverse as Ceara (Brazil), Zimbabwe and Mali.
