Welcome to the WNC frontpage
About the WNC
As the only official, national body working on women’s equality we have a special role to fulfil and an important remit within the equality machinery in the UK. Our independent voice, bringing the informed voice of women to government, especially women who may not represented by mainstream organisations, is unique. Our Chair is Baroness Joyce Gould, who works with our Board of Commissioners, who together reflect the views of our 500+ partners.
We work with
We work with all parts of the sector to bring views of women and their representatives together into a clear, coherent voice. We have working groups of expert stakeholders, who provide the specialist knowledge on leading issues that concern women, such as 'Violence against women' and migration and asylum issues. Our work is valued and welcomed by the UK Government and our status allows us to present findings and reports directly to Ministers and senior officials.
Why join
The WNC aims to act as a bridge linking the women's sector to government. We try to ensure that information is passed from the sector to government and from government to the sector. Becoming a Partner of the WNC, as an organisation or as an individual, means you will be invited to participate in our work and your views actively sought. We ask our Partners to sign up to a basic set of principles, to respect others’ views and to work together to improve the lives of women across the UK. For more information on how to become a partner, please click here.
Where we are
The WNC is sponsored by the Government Equalities Office and we are based near Victoria station in London. Our full address is: Women's National CommissionZone 4/G9 Eland HouseBressenden PlaceLondon SW1E 5DUTel: 020 7944 0585Fax: 020 7944 0583
|
|
New Year Honours It was with great pleasure that we heard of the news that one of WNC's Commissioners, Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, was awarded the CBE in the New Years Honours. We warmly congratulate Juliet on this highly deserved recognition for her work and we look forward to continuing to work with her to improve women’s equality, not only for women in the criminal justice and prison systems, but across wider society. We also welcomed the news that the recently appointed Head of Gender Equality in the Government Equalities Office, Helene Reardon-Bond, was awarded an OBE for public and voluntary services. Many congratulations also go to Helene. In addition, MBEs were also awarded to WNC Partners Dr Marie Stewart for services to education, diversity and Equal Opportunities and Tamsila Tauqir for services to the Muslim Community. Many Congratulations! |
|
Message From Baroness Joyce Gould |
 |
 |
 |
|
Message from the WNC Chair We have had another busy year at the WNC, which I'm happy to say is ending on a very positive and exciting note following the appointment of ten new Commissioners, and the appointment of Barbara Collins as our new Director. All are already getting to grips with their new roles and are making their mark. We hope to expand our work areas with a few new projects in the New Year, including the particularly important work on the upcoming Equalities Bill and work in all of the Four Nations. Next year is also our 40th Birthday and we're hoping to mark this special occasion later in the year. I look forward to seeing you at this and other events throughout the year. I hope 2008 has been a positive and successful year for you. I, and all of us at the WNC, wish you a happy holiday and very best wishes for 2009. Joyce |
|
|
Elizabeth Charles – 1910 - 2008 It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Elizabeth Charles on 14 December 2008. Elizabeth was an active campaigner for women’s rights in Wales over very many years. At a United Nations Conference held in Copenhagen in 1980, Sonia Davies, a lecturer at the Cardiff School of Journalism and member of the Wales Women's Rights Committee met Elizabeth Charles who was representing the Free Churches in Wales. The discussion with Elizabeth Charles led to close cooperation towards preparations for the U.N. Women's Conference in Nairobi in 1985 and the formation of the Wales Assembly of Women, of which Mrs. Charles became the Chair, ensuring official recognition of Wales at the U.N. Global Women's Conferences. Meetings were held throughout Wales, forming the basis for reports to the Women's National Commission and to the U.N. Global Conference in Beijing in 1995 and in New York in 2000, as well as providing the basis for negotiation with local and national government.
Mrs Charles accepted the role of President of the Wales Assembly of Women, which she held for the rest of her life, much of which had been dedicated to ensuring that women in Wales had official status. |
|
|
New WNC Commissioners Announced |
|
|
|
|
On Monday 8 September, Harriet Harman confirmed the appointment of 10 new Commissioners to the Board of the Women’s National Commission. These joined the five existing WNC Commissioners, and the WNC Chair, Baroness Joyce Gould. The 10 new Commissioners are: - Professor Baroness Haleh Afshar
- Adele Baumgardt
- Beatrix Campbell
- Brita Fernandez Schmidt
- Vivienne Hayes
- Ann Henderson
- Helen Jackson
- Juliet Lyon
- Mary-Ann Stephenson
- Sarah Veale CBE
They took up their appointments in September 2008 for a period of three years. Click the Press Notice to see more on the announcement, including quotes from Harriet Harman and Baroness Gould. |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 2 |
|
WNC Newsletter Winter 2008
Letter to Kim Howells MP about UK nomination to the Human Rights Council May 2006