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THE RISE IN SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED
INFECTIONS
Submitted by: The Health Committee and the National Association for
Nurses in Contraception and Sexual Health
The National Council of Women, aware
that Great Britain has the highest rate of underage pregnancy in Europe,
and that sexually-transmitted infections are on the increase and that
sub-fertility may result from these
Urges HMG to take the necessary steps
to promote the sexual health of our population.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ANECDOTAL
EVIDENCE: SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTIES AND THE LAW
Submitted by: The Science and Technology Committee
The National Council of Women,
aware that many chemical substances that are entering our bodies,
through the consumption of food and drink, inhalation and our skins,
have had
-
no previous
testing on humans,
-
no basic risk
or risk-benefit analysis, and
-
no monitoring of
their effects following approval and entry to the market
and, knowing that
-
scientific
theory is not always borne out in practice
-
tests on
laboratory animals and humans do not always give the same result
-
the effect of
mixtures of these substances is neither fully tested nor understood
-
many complaints
about adverse reactions appear to be ignored
-
the incidence
of stillbirths and disabling child illnesses, including cancer and
autism syndrome, is increasing but the cause of this is unknown
-
the increase of
people suffering from allergies between 2001 and 2005 is reported to
be over 3 million
-
decisions as to
the safety of a substance may be influenced by commercial and/or
political interests
Urges HMG to acknowledge the
importance of anecdotal evidence in decision-making and put in place a
system to seek, listen to, record, challenge and, if proven, act upon
anecdotal evidence.
THE PROVISION OF PALLIATIVE CARE
Submitted by: Cheltenham Branch
The
National Council of Women of Great Britain in Conference assembled
Calls upon HMG to ensure, both by
legislation and provision of funds, that palliative care is available to
all the terminally ill who need it.
ON-LINE INTERNET PROTECTION FOR
CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Submitted by: Media Committee
The National Council of Women of
Great Britain in Conference assembled, while recognising the work
already done, but concerned too about the effects of Internet
exploitation on children and vulnerable adults, specifically with regard
to pornography, on-line grooming and Internet crime,
Calls upon Her Majesty's Government
to
(i)
employ more resources in identifying the sources of illegal imagery
and content
(ii)
cooperate nationally and internationally in tracking down offenders
(iii)
devote more resources to logging all reports and cross referencing
Internet crime centrally.
DEMENTIA CARE
Submitted by: Maidenhead Branch
The National Council of Women of
Great Britain, mindful that the number of people suffering from dementia
in Britain has been calculated at 700,000, projected to increase to more
than 1million at a cost of £17 billion per annum by 2025,
Calls upon HMG to:
(i)
make dementia care a national priority, with fairer assessment of need,
and
(ii) increase funding for
dementia research.
THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Submitted by: The Foreign Affairs Committee
For centuries the indigenous peoples
of the world have been living in balance and harmony with nature and
their environment . . .
Understanding that their culture has
much to offer in such areas a native medicine;
Aware that modern methods are
continuing to destroy their lands, by for example, clearance of the rain
forests and by mining, and aware of the implications of these changes on
the massive potential damage likely to be caused to the very precarious
climate of the whole world; and
Conscious that the Declaration signed
on 13 September 2007 is non-binding;
The National Council of Women of
Great Britain
Urges HMG carefully to monitor the
progress of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to
use its influence with the European Union to ensure that all EU States
promote this UN legislation so that it is fully implemented.
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THE RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND
RETENTION OF MIDWIVES
Submitted by: The Health Committee
The National Council of Women of
Great Britain, aware of the current shortage of well trained midwives
and of their importance in ante-natal, natal and post-natal care
Urges HMG to take steps to promote
the recruitment, training and employment of midwives, and to encourage
their retention by enabling them to use agreed best practice at all
times.
NOVICE DRIVERS
Submitted by: The Management Committee
The National Council of Women
concerned about the current high casualty rates amongst young drivers,
and aware of the recommendations of the House of Commons Transport
Committee’s Report on Novice Drivers (July 2007);
Urges the Department for Transport to
respond to the recommendations of this Report on Novice Drivers with a
speedy evaluation and implementation of measures that will reduce the
accident risks both faced and posed by novice drivers, taking account,
in particular, of the Committee’s proposals for:
(i) a structured form
of driver training with a mandatory minimum period of learning;
(ii) education
programmes aimed at changing attitudes towards driving;
(iii) an improved
driving test; and
(iv) restrictions on
driving during a probationary period after passing the test.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The affirmation of a resolution of the European Centre of the
International Council of Women
The following Resolution on domestic
violence, addressed to the European Parliament, the European Commission,
the Council of Europe and national governments, agreed by
representatives of European National Councils of Women at the General
Assembly of ECICW in Monaco on 27 April 2007 is affirmed by the National
Council of Women of Great Britain.
The member countries of the European
Centre of the International Council of Women (ECICW/CECIF). a
pan-European umbrella organisation working within the framework of the
International Council of Women and of the European Women's Lobby, and
with participative status at the Council of Europe, examined the issues
relating to the increase in domestic violence across Europe at a seminar
in Monaco on 2 April 2007. The Seminar, together with the General
Assembly of ECICW/CECIF on 27 April 2007, expressed concern that more
action should be taken by Governments.
Being aware that domestic violence
occurs across society regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth
and geography, and recognising that the culture of violence within
families can create continuing problems for the future;
Being aware, too, that domestic
violence represents a serious violation of civil liberties and of human
rights of women contrary to the CEDAW Convention, the European
Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the
Child;
Urges the European Commission, the
Council of Europe, and national and local governments to take action:
(a) to
define domestic violence throughout Europe as a criminal act;
(b) to
undertake initiatives to raise awareness that violence against women
damages peace, democracy and economic development in society;
(c) to
introduce a policy of zero tolerance against this crime;
(d)
to implement national and local plans to combat domestic violence,
including appropriate training of police, magistrates, doctors, teachers
and other professionals involved;
(e)
to provide safe houses, appropriate medical and psychological services
and financial support for victims; and
(f)
to introduce mediation services with rehabilitation therapy for
habitual offenders.
HERITAGE
A reaffirmation of the following resolution passed in 1978, submitted by
the Arts Committee
The National Council of Women of
Great Britain in Conference assembled, disturbed by the loss of the
number of outstanding works of art which have been sold from private
collections, and recognising the unique contribution of our historic
country houses to our national heritage, and, through our tourist
industry to our economy, this Conference
Calls on Her Majesty's Government to
make appropriate fiscal recognition of the difficulties of owners of
heritage properties and encourage by its tax structure corporate
donations to and sponsorship of, heritage funds.
SAFEGUARD OF ALLOTMENTS
A reaffirmation of the following resolution passed in 2001, submitted
Great Ayton Branch
The National Council of Women of
Great Britain, recognising the many and varied benefits of allotments,
Calls upon Her Majesty’s Government
to ensure that local authorities attach greater importance to:
(i) the provision of
allotments
(ii) the protection and
retention of existing allotments.
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