Speakers Corner Trust

The rights of citizens to hold and express opinions lie at the heart of the democratic way of life. They are the aspiration of those who struggle for freedom and the prize of those who have achieved it. SCT believes that the engagement of citizens in the exchange and development of ideas and opinions - with each other and with the decision takers among them - is a key to rebuilding trust and participation in Britain’s civil society and to embedding key civil rights in developing democracies.

SCT’s UK Programme in Brief

“In the UK we sometimes forget how lucky we are to have free speech and what an important part it plays in our modern day life. The Speakers’ Corner project is a celebration of that freedom and a vital tool in the drive to combat political disengagement at home and abroad.” Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Justice and Chair of SCT’s advisory council

SCT will seek through its UK programme to work with local authorities, the private and the voluntary sectors and local communities to

• help restore public and political commitment to the principle and constructive practice of free speech
• promote open debate and the free, face-to-face exchange of ideas and opinions about society, politics and other issues
• strengthen relations between citizens
• encourage politicians and others to engage more directly with the public
• encourage citizens to become more involved in civil life and governance.

SCT believes that in the current climate of political cynicism and disengagement, reasserting the importance of rights which we take for granted and often abuse has become a pressing priority.

We also believe that there is an increasingly urgent need to promote open discussion and debate in a way which involves communities as well as politicians and enables citizens not only to express their views on issues of public policy but also to strengthen their influence on the decision-making process.

Finally, while we acknowledge that electronic media will play an increasingly important role in communications, relationships and debate, we believe that it is important to rehabilitate face-to-face dialogue and, indeed, to encourage communities themselves to come together to exchange and discuss ideas and opinions on a wide range of issues, both political and non-political.

With the support of strong educational programmes and schedules of events (which might include organised debates, discussions performances and entertainment as well as more spontaneous speaking), local Speakers’ Corners can make a significant contribution to revitalising civil life and promoting active, participative citizenship.

SCT’s International Programme in Brief

“Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democratic life. It is by the free exchange of ideas among citizens about how they should live together and how they should be governed that we create and sustain the democratic society. So the rights to free association and expression are scarcely less important than the right to live in peace and free from want.” Vaclav Havel, writer, former political prisoner and President of the Czech Republic and patron of the Speakers’ Corner Trust

The aims of our international programme are to

• secure and underpin sustainable commitments from the Governments of emerging democracies to the principles of free speech and public assembly
• create new landmarks which can become a focus for and symbol of the country’s developing democracy
• promote freedom of speech, grass-roots democratic values and active participation in governance among the citizens of new democracies.

The response to the success of SCT’s prototype in Prague in 2004 has demonstrated that there is not only a need but also an appetite in many of the emerging democracies, including but not exclusively the EU accession states, to underpin their developing institutions and to provide encouragement to citizens to participate in civil society.

SCT recognises that the fact that Governments regard the establishment of Speakers’ Corners as a means of showcasing their democratic credentials demands, in some cases, a cautious approach. However, in the appropriate circumstances, it also creates important opportunities to promote the rights of citizens and to support the development of democratic institutions.

As Vaclav Havel has said:

“It is important that what has been done in London and in Prague should be done elsewhere, wherever people cherish freedom. For they will know that so long as they respect and protect their right to assembly and their freedom of speech, the roots of their democracy will be strong and they will remain free men and women.”