8 September 2008
The views of women and women’s organisations were given a
significant boost today as Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and
Equality, announced ten new commissioners who will join the board
of the Women’s National Commission (WNC).
The Women’s National Commission, the official, independent,
advisory body representing women and women’s organisations to
Government is also benefiting from a 30 percent increase in
funding.
Ms Harman said:
“This impressive group of uncompromising women brings together
an unprecedented wealth of knowledge and experience that will help
tackle the big issues facing women including balancing work with
family responsibility, unequal pay, discrimination,
under-representation and violence against women.
“Each commissioner is a leading light in her field with an
outstanding track record of achievement. Together they will help
drive the WNC forward with focus and vision.
“Under their leadership and direction, a strengthened WNC will
bring the voice of women into the heart of government.”
The ten new commissioners announced today include: award winning
journalist and campaigner, Bea Campbell; leading prison reformer
Juliet Lyon, women and pensions expert; Helen Jackson; Mary-Ann
Stephenson who helped to revive and re-establish the Fawcett
Society and Professor Baroness Haleh Afshar, a leading
international academic in gender issues and a founding member of
the Muslims Women’s Network-UK.
The new commissioners also include:
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Adele Baumgardt - Director of Policy at the Equal Opportunities
Commission for Wales from 1999 until 2007 and an expert in equal
pay, gender and economic participation, and work/life
balance
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Ann Henderson - an active campaigner for women’s gender
issues and social justice for over 30 years
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Brita Fernandez Schmidt - Director of Operations for Women
for Women International whose particular area of expertise is
violence against women and women’s civil and political
participation
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Sarah Veale - Head of Equality and Employment Rights at the TUC
and a specialist in equal pay and gender job segregation;
discrimination against pregnant women and mothers, and flexible
working; and
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Vivienne Hayes - Chief Executive of the Women’s Resource Centre
with over twenty years experience in the UK women’s sector who has
developed the profile of third sector organisations.
Joyce Gould Chair of the Women’s National Commission
said:
" I want to both congratulate and warmly welcome, all ten
commissioners to the WNC Board. I am thrilled that we will
have such a strong, influential and respected group of experts
joining our existing commissioners.
" With our new board, we will progress and I hope extend our
current activity. Working with our 500+ partners, I am
looking to develop further our existing activities, such as on
violence against women, on the developing equalities machinery, and
the increasing role that women play in public life.
" I look forward to working with the new board to further
strengthen the WNC's independent voice, and to influence and
support the Government to take action on those areas that
are of most importance to women in the UK."
Media enquiries:
Please contact Rhodri Jones on 0207 276 0996
rhodri.jones@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
The full list and biographies of the new WNC commissioners is
available from the Government Equalities Office 0207 276 0996
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The ten new Commissioners will join the Chair and five existing
commissioners.
They are:
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Baroness Joyce Gould of Potternewton (Chair) a
Life Peer who is also Chair of the Government's Independent
Advisory Group for Sexual Health and HIV and President of the
Family Planning Association
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Ranjana Bell, Director for rba Equality and
Diversity Limited
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Baroness Anita Gale, Commissioner for Wales
since 2004
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Bronagh Hinds,Senior Fellow at the Institute of
Governance, Queen’s University Belfast
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Professor Liz Kelly CBE feminist and
activist
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Sabin Malik a Community Cohesion Specialist and
Principal Community Cohesion Officer for the London Borough of
Hounslow and a member of the National Muslim Women's Advisory group
(NMWAG) set up by Communities and Local Government as part of its
work to prevent violent extremism.
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The Women's National Commission is the official, independent,
advisory body giving the views of women to the Government. It
is the only organisation of this kind in the UK. It aims to ensure
that women's views are taken into account by the Government and are
heard in public debate.
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The principal responsibilities for the Commissioners are as
follows:
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Establishing the overall strategic direction of the WNC;
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Provide impartial and specialist advice on gender issues to
government, key stakeholders and the general public;
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Gathering, representing and reflecting women’s views on key
issues, and creating strong, positive links with a range of
partners.
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Among its recent work In March 2008 WNC has been working with
the Cabinet Office on a new initiative to encourage more women to
apply for posts on public bodies.
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The Government Equalities Office has increased the budget of the
WNC from £330k to £434k during the current financial year.
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The appointments will be for a period of three years, renewable
subject to satisfactory discharge of duties and the procedure laid
down is guidance issued by the Office for the Commissioner of
Public Appointments