THE LAW ON RAPE

Conference believes that every woman should live free from the threat of rape. The present law on rape in Scotland is outdated and antiquated, and there are a growing number of organizations calling for the definition of rape to be reformed. At present the narrow definition of both what constitutes rape and consent allows some […]

MAKING MOTHERHOOD SAFE FOR ALL

In 1987, a special conference called the Safe Motherhood Conference was held in Nairobi. It launched a global initiative to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries. At the time, at least one woman died from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth every minute – a staggering 529,000 deaths every year. In addition, for every woman […]

WOMEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Conference notes that climate change is the single greatest environmental threat to life on earth. It not only impacts on our environment physically and economically, it also affects us socially and culturally. Women in the UK have a key role in tackling climate change as consumers, educators and ‘change agents’ in our homes, encouraging the […]

RECLAIM THE NIGHT

Conference congratulates The London Feminist Network for another successful Reclaim the Night march on 24th November 2007. Conference is pleased to note that the National Women’s Committee has been added to the list of supporters for what is now an important annual event for women. When Reclaim the Night marches first began in the 1970’s […]

PROSTITUTION

Conference was disappointed to see a motion on the 2007 Unison National Delegate Conference agenda calling for the setting up of legalized brothels in cities throughout the UK, and reaffirms its position that women’s bodies are not commodities to be bought and sold, and that prostitution is an infringement of human rights. Conference is optimistic […]

WOMEN, PENSIONS, POVERTY

Conference calls upon the National Women’s Committee to work with all relevant bodies to push for further initiatives in pension provision for low earners and those not in permanent employment. Conference welcomes the announcement in the Queen’s speech that new legislation is to be introduced aimed at encouraging employers to provide good quality pensions for […]

SUPPORT AMNESTY OVER ABORTION DECISION

Conference welcomes the recent decision by Amnesty International to back abortion in cases of rape, incest or violence, or where the pregnancy jeopardises a women’s life or health. Conference sees this as a huge step forward for women’s rights worldwide, especially in areas of conflict where rape is used as a weapon of war or […]

PROUD TO USE THE F WORD

Conference joins with the Fawcett Society in welcoming third-wave feminism, and in so doing recognises that as the largest women’s union in the UK, UNISON, has a significant role to play in the new feminist struggle. UNISON women belong to a global sisterhood fighting oppression the world over, from Tabitha Khumalo risking her own safety […]

BREAST CANCER AND CHEMICALS

Conference applauds the work undertaken by women members of UNISON, led by the National Women’s Committee and assisted by women in specialist organisations, to raise awareness of the links between some chemicals in everyday use and breast cancer. Conference urges that this work continues, reinforcing our understanding of the chemicals and products to avoid, and […]

WOMEN IN PRISON

Over the past twelve months the rising prison population has been an ever present news item. Although Conference accepts that there will always be a necessity to imprison women for serious criminal offences, the female prison population has risen by 173% over the past decade. However, the overwhelmingly majority of female prisoners are sentenced for […]

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women’ refers to any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm to women. It includes, but is not limited to, domestic violence, forced marriage, crimes in the name of honour, rape and sexual assault, femicide, trafficking and sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, […]

GUN CRIME

This Conference notes with alarm the scourge of gun crime across Britain. This Conference believes that whilst gun crime impacts onto all citizens of the UK and workers providing public services – health, housing, education, social services – it has a disproportionate impact on women members, both in their role as providers of public services […]

OSTEOPOROSIS

Conference notes that two in five women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis, although it affects people of all ages. Despite this condition affecting around 40% of women over the age of 50 only 30% of NHS trusts offer automatic bone scanning to women following breaking a bone. Therefore […]