A PASSIONATE Amnesty activist and human rights defender who has worked hard to bring about change has been recognised for her ‘suffragette’ spirit.

Maggie Towse, of Abergele, is one of 250 women to have gained a place on an interactive Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain.

Hundreds of women across the UK were nominated for the Amnesty map, which celebrates the work being carried out by women 100 years on from first winning the vote.

Maggie, who lives with her partner in Rhyd Y Foel, is secretary of the Colwyn Bay group of Amnesty and was previously chair and country coordinator for Zimbabwe.

The 67-year-old has been involved with bringing human rights issues to the forefront in North Wales for about a decade.

She said: “I moved here from Manchester just over 11 years ago. One of the first things I did, after joining a choral society, was join the Amnesty group. The group was quite small when I joined but over the years it has steadily grown and we are now one of the larger groups in the UK. For a number of years, I was Amnesty UK’s volunteer co-ordinator for its work on Zimbabwe.

“The human rights situation in that country had been deteriorating for many years and at the point when I took on this role, Amnesty had created a strong working partnership with an incredible organisation – Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA).

“This nationwide group of women had been peacefully protesting about conditions in Zimbabwe for several years and each time they went out they were beaten and detained by police and security forces.

“Amnesty’s solidarity work was crucial in keeping these women safe.

“We telephoned police stations in Zimbabwe whenever we heard that they had been detained; we wrote letters to the authorities and sent massive numbers of cards to the women themselves showing our solidarity.

“On a couple of occasions, I met the founder of the organisation, Jeni Williams, and she presented me with a WOZA scarf in thanks for the work that I had done. I felt deeply humbled.”

Maggie, who carries out workshops and talks in schools, said she felt honoured to be nominated for the map.

“I have no idea who nominated me but I would like to thank them,” Maggie added.

“Women in the UK have gained considerable ground over the last 100 years, but as the #metoo movement, the pay gap, and the continued need for women’s refuges demonstrate there is still a long way to go.

“Modern suffragettes should be celebrated.

“The women who are on the map all have a story to tell and have made a decision to ‘do something’ in the face of a perceived injustice.

“There are incredible women who put in hours, energy and passion for their communities and disadvantaged groups.

“The early suffragettes had a clear target – equality at the ballot box. Modern-day suffragettes share their passion for justice but the causes are more diverse but equally crucial.”