Women's National Commission

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Women's National Commission
Non-departmental public body
Crown status:	Yes
Legal basis:	None
Established:	1969
Sponsoring department:	Government Equalities Office
Current head:	Baroness Gould
This box: view • talk • edit

The Women's National Commission (WNC) is a United Kingdom Advisory NDPB, it was set up in 1969 to advise government on women's views and to act as an umbrella body for UK-based women's groups in their dealings with government.

Until the 1990's, it was run by an executive, as voted for by its 'Partners'. These were women's groups that had applied for and gained formal membership, the number of groups allowed to become members was limited to 50. The government appointed a co-chair to manage the body, together with the elected chair.

After a review of the organisation in the late 1990's, it was relaunched as an NDPB. The government gave up its permanent co-chair position and removed the limit on the number of Partner organisations it could have affiliated. Partner's then ceased to have a formal role in running the body. The Minister for Women then became responsible for appointing a board of Commissioners and a Chair, who would represent all Partners and the wider women's movement.

The WNC is prominent within the UK women's sector, but is virtually unknown to the wider public or non-affiliated groups.

In July 2007, Harriet Harman the newly appointed Minister for Women, announced that it would have a new role in consulting with women, to discover what they felt she should be doing as Minister.

Women's National Commission website