Press Release: NUS and Anne Frank Trust UK Launch Responsible Voting Campaign

The National Union of Students (NUS) and the Anne Frank Trust UK today launches a new campaign, mobilising students to vote responsibly in this year's general election.

The campaign will be based around the Anne Frank Declaration, launched in 1998, with signees including world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan, and thousands of civic leaders and young people from around the UK.

The campaign will be launched on Holocaust Memorial Day 27 January 2010 at 7 pm at the Anne Frank + You exhibition in Westminster, where speakers will include Wes Streeting, NUS President, Gillian Walnes MBE, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Anne Frank Trust UK, and Holocaust survivor Eva Kugler.

Wes Streeting, NUS President, said:

"It is crucial that students come out to vote in the coming general election, so that they are listened to and their views are represented in the new parliament.

"But in proclaiming our support for a particular set of issues or interests, we equally proclaim our fundamental belief in democracy and the right for all to participate in and contribute towards our political processes and society. We must be firm in fighting those who would rid us of these hard won rights.

"Students are a tremendous force for positive change. We must be sure to use this to defend the rights and freedoms we already have."

Gillian Walnes, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Anne Frank Trust UK, said:

"We are delighted to be working together with NUS. Our campaign will use the story of Anne Frank's short life to encourage students to value the democratic freedoms they have -- freedoms that poignantly the teenage Holocaust victim Anne Frank could only dream about. We hope that all student bodies and interest groups will get behind this campaign."