Harman commits 30 per cent more for women's group1

Fundraising | 17 Sep 2008

Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, has appointed ten new commissioners to lead the Women’s National Commission, the official independent advisory body representing women and women’s organisations to government.

Government funding for the WNC will also increase by 30 per cent next year - from £330,000 to £434,000 - which Harman says will strengthen the WNC and “bring the voice of women into the heart of government”.

The new commissioners include outspoken feminist Bea Campbell; leading prison reformer Juliet Lyons; pensions expert Helen Jackson; social justice campaigner Ann Henderson and Professor Baroness Haleh Afshah, a leading international academic on gender issues and a founding member of the Muslims Women’s Network-UK.

Joining them will be equal pay experts Adele Baumgardt and Sarah Veale; Women International’s director Brita Fernandez Schmidt; Mary-Ann Stephenson who re-established the Fawcett Society, and chief executive of the Women’s Resource Centre Vivienne Hayes.

Harman (pictured) 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.”

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Elaine Bright
Admin officer
Cancer Research UK
10 Sep 2008

Whilst I think this group would bring value to the profession, I just wish Harriet would concentrate on getting one of the main issues affecting all women. That is having to pay VAT on sanitary protection - it's just so unfair.

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