Last week, the Government announced the quango's that it was abolishing (an issue highlighted before) and it confirmed the abolition of the Women's National Commission (see page 23 of the list) and the reformation of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (a Guardian article highlight this).
A number of issues arise:
Firstly, it has taken a while but the howls of protest about getting of the Women's National Commission are starting. 30 organisations in the Guardian article above have written to the Government including our friends at the Fawcett Society (who incidentally were described on the BBC this week as a charity campaigning for gender equality - not if you are a man they're not!!) and Jackie Ashley in this laugh out loud Guardian article. Honestly, she says this Government does not care about women!
Secondly, the Government has said it would in the list that the Government would ensure direct Ministerial engagement with women and women's organisations. What about men and men's organisations?
Overall, it is a brave and correct move by the Coalition Government especially as they will be subjected to continual moans by the women's lobby who believe women should have more rights than men. Whilst there is concern about whether the discussions with women's organisations will be driven underground and the lack of commitment to talk to men's organisations, at least there is now equality. No Government of any color or shade has ever put in place a Men's National Commission.
Now to abolish the Minister for Women (unless there is a Minister for Men).
Posted by Skimmington
Some excellent points, love the bit about the BBC description of the Fawcett Society in particular.
Posted by: John Kimble | Thursday, 21 October 2010 at 02:12