Convicts vs. Women suffrage

Europe warned Britain not to exclude prisoners from the rights to vote. Thomas Hammerberg states that Britain stands alone in it's belief that convicts are not allowed to vote, while Europe made a law that prisoners are allowed to vote in national and european elections. People bring the point that the idea that criminals should have an influence in politics, began because democracy established the idea of universal suffrage. The idea of suffrage is what began the thought of human rights and how everyone should have rights in the first place. In the beginning, we had accepted the fact that women could vote because they had an opinion, and why do prisoners not have an opinion?

Hammerberg says that the declaration of human rights said that everyone has the right to vote, which goes against what britain acts upon. he states, " convicts are human beings with human rights." He also believes that as britain is a part of europe, they must follow their laws like all other parts of europe have. Hammerberg also mentions that it has caused no problems in other countries, and it should cause none in britain, so they have no excuse for their actions.

Do you think Hammerberg is accurate in saying that it all began with women fighting for their right to vote?

Do you think anyone in jail should be allowed to vote?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/feb/04/politicians-warned-prisoner-voting-rights