Mohammad Mostafaei’s whereabouts have been unknown since shortly after he was released from questioning by judicial officials last Saturday.

Late that evening, the Iranian authorities detained his wife and brother-in-law, prompting fears that they are being held to put pressure on Mohammed Mostafaei to turn himself in to the authorities, if he is not already being detained.

A rank violation of international human rights law, the shackling of prisoners in labour was banned in all federal institutions of confinement in 2008. Last month, the American Medical Association's House of Delegates condemned the shackling of pregnant inmates, and advocated the writing of model statutes to serve as templates for states that have yet to restrict shackling. Currently, only 10 states have anti-shackling laws: California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. It is estimated that 1,000 to 2,000 babies are born to women in prison each year.

She went on: "I came to the living room and there were loads of women. I later found out it was to hold me down, they bring lots of women to hold the girl down. I thought I was going to be brave so I didn't really need that. I just lay down and I remember looking at the ceiling and staring at the fan.

"I don't remember screaming, I remember the ridiculous amount of pain, I remember the blood everywhere, one of the maids, I actually saw her pick up the bit of flesh that they cut away 'cause she was mopping up the blood. There was blood everywhere."

Some 500 to 2,000 British schoolgirls will be genitally mutilated over the summer holidays. Some will be taken abroad, others will be "cut" or circumcised and sewn closed here in the UK by women already living here or who are flown in and brought to "cutting parties" for a few girls at a time in a cost-saving exercise.

Corwin joined a local grassroots group – Sheffield Fems– and since then she has taken part in campaigns that run the gamut: local, international, political, cultural. She could recently be found in a high-street newsagent, armed with Post-it notes to stick on the half-clad women in men's magazines, inscribed with the words "What if she was your daughter?" Once a month she and the group set up a stall in their local shopping centre, campaigning on issues including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, and how climate change affects women worldwide. Last year the group helped organise a well-attended conference; in 2008, they ran a campaign to stop a branch of US restaurant chain Hooters (where lightly clothed women serve up the burgers) opening in Sheffield. They're also working on a Feminist Survival Guide, to answer questions including "Do you burn your bra?" and "What can I do about lads' mags?" If she could achieve one lasting change, what would it be? "A total overhaul of the way society sees women," she says.

The article, entitled 'Women on top? You've got to be joking', coincides with the 50 year anniversary of the start of Sirimavo Bandaranaike's rule as the Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

She was the world's first ever female head of government and went on to win a further two terms in office - a significant development in the history of modern day politics.

Far from disregarding Mary's article, which placed a future of universally prevailing equality and adjusted attitudes towards women well into the future, we thought a look at some of history's exceptional, powerful and influential women was well over due.

Harman had called for the first rule change on gender ratios in the shadow cabinet since the 1980s in order to "encourage Labour women to step out of the shadows".

She had wanted the party's 81 female Labour MPs to fill at least half the shadow cabinet's positions after the autumn elections, which would have seen 11 women on the party's front bench. She has now softened her target, while keeping the 50:50 aspiration for 2012.

Labour's acting leader has been persuaded that new talent of both sexes should have three years to learn the ropes of opposition and the ratios

It is unclear whether the authorities have lifted the death sentence for alleged adultery against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani or if she faces execution by another means.

Mohammadi Ashtiani endured a sentence of 99 lashes after being convicted in May 2006 of conducting an "illicit relationship outside marriage". But her case was reopened when a court in Tabriz suspected her of murdering her husband.

She was acquitted, but the adultery charge was reviewed and a death penalty handed down on the basis of "judge's knowledge" – a loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where no conclusive evidence is present.

Her case has highlighted the growing use of the death penalty in a country that has executed more than 100 people this year.

Young women are becoming increasingly addicted and dependent upon social networks according to a study conducted by Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research.
The study polled the habits of 1,605 adults using social media between May and June 2010 in an effort to chart behavioural trends.Twenty-one per cent of women aged between 18 to 34 check Facebook in the middle of the night, while 42 per cent of the same group think it is fine to post drunken photos of themselves onto the social network. Seventy-nine per cent are also happy to be seen kissing in photographs posted on Facebook.
Fifty-eight per cent of those polled use Facebook to track their ‘frenemies’ (people they are ‘friends’ on the site but do not like in real life) and 50 per cent are happy being Facebook ‘friends’ with complete strangers.

In a case that highlights the growing use of the death penalty in a country that has already executed more than 100 people this year, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted in May 2006 of conducting an "illicit relationship outside marriage."

Sakineh already endured a sentence of 99 lashes, but her case was re-opened when a court in Tabriz suspected her of murdering her husband. She was acquitted, but the adultery charge was reviewed and a death penalty handed down on the basis of "judge's knowledge" – a loophole that allows for subjective judicial rulings where no conclusive evidence is present.

Speaking to the Guardian, her son Sajad, 22, and daughter Farideh, 17, say their mother has been unjustly accused and already punished for something she did not do.

"We face threats every day," said 3rd Lt. Fatima Esaqzai, 32, the highest-ranking woman on the force. "In this society, people don't see us with good eyes."

Afghan women in law enforcement make up a small but growing and critical segment of the country's fledgling security forces, Afghan and NATO officials say. But the female officers say they have felt increasingly vulnerable amid a spike in violence and an effort by the Afghan government to reach a negotiated truce with the Taliban.

"If the Taliban comes back, they will kill us all," said Sadiqa, 29, an officer who survived a bombing at police headquarters and has had to move three times because of threats from the Taliban. "If a negotiation takes place, we would have to leave the country."

The number of babies born to women under 25 in England and Wales fell from 369,000 in 1971 to 180,700 in 2008.

A separate report shows the gap between average life expectancy and that of the poorest people in England is widening.

The National Audit Office report said average life expectancy was now 77.9 years for men and 82 years for women, but in poor areas it fell to 75.8 and 80.4 years.

Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton, secretary of Crime Business Area for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos), has called for a national debate on reducing the importance of corroboration in rape and sexual assault cases, because in practice police officers are finding it too difficult to secure convictions.

Mr Hamilton said: "I'm not suggesting we should get rid of corroboration completely, but that may need to be revisited along with time for detention.

"Maybe, if we've got other safeguards coming in, we should move to corroboration carrying less weight in certain cases, with rape and sexual offences being prime examples.

"The solicitor general (Frank Mulholland) opened up the debate last Thursday – does corroboration in rape and serious sexual offences need to be revisited? In rape, very often intercourse is not contested – it's the issue of consent. It's actually quite difficult to corroborate the crime, although not impossible if there is physical injury.

"We are all concerned about conviction rates in rape and sexual offending. We would support that debate being opened up; we are trying to balance our needs with the rights of suspects."

Ceri Goddard, Fawcett’s Chief Executive, said: “While the government has done what it can to portray this budget as reaching into all our pockets, the reality is some in the UK will be worse affected than others, and it is women who will bear the brunt. Short-term positives– maintaining a universal right to child benefit and lifting some low income women out of the tax system- will be cancelled out in the long term by where the cuts fall.

“As 65 per cent of the public sector workforce, women will be disproportionately affected by the pay freeze, while also facing a reduced income because the various benefits to be frozen or cut make up a far greater proportion of women’s income than men’s.
“Add to this the coming VAT hike in the cost of everyday household goods that is more likely to be met from their purse, and it’s clear women will pay a higher price.

“Abolishing the health in pregnancy grant will make life harder for many pregnant women, many of whom will already be struggling in the current economic climate. This is completely contrary to government stated intention of protecting the most vulnerable and singles out a benefit specifically targeted at women.

“This cut will give a small short term saving, but leave a lasting impression of a government that sees the benefits that reflect women’s particular needs as soft targets.

“Reducing women’s economic security in this way risks rolling back on women’s independence – as more women are forced to rely on their families and the state for financial support.

“Against a backdrop of unequal pay - women are still paid 16.4 per cent less for full time work and 35 per cent less for part time work than men – the impact on women will be huge.

“As part of the spending review in the Autumn, we urge the government to think carefully about the different effects on women and men their budgets could have. More women than men will lose their jobs when the cuts start to bite, and women will also be disproportionately affected by cuts to public services – women are more likely to rely on public services than men, so will feel reductions in areas such as social care support more severely. Are women going to be expected to pick the up the shortfall in reduced state services?

“Had the Chancellor focused more on tax rises, as opposed to spending cuts, the burden would have been more justly distributed. Tax rises affect those at the top of the pile more severely than those at the bottom, so low paid women would have been better protected from the most austere measures.
“The coalition government must do more than pay lip service to the notion of fairness. If the Chancellor is serious about spreading the burden more fairly, his first step must be assess and publish the way in which the measures announced today will impact on women.

“A robust process for assessing the gender impact of proposals must be put in place before departments make decisions on their cuts and spending.”

This trend is not restricted to the one website. Stockopedia, a site specialising in broker research and stock market analysis, says between 30% and 40% of its user base is female.

"Gone are the days when online investing was completely dominated by men," says Edward Croft, chief executive of Stockopedia. "There are increasing numbers of smart, savvy women out there who are taking up the challenge of making their own investment decisions.

"They are showing that the traditional route of giving full control of your portfolio to an arms-length investment adviser is not the only choice." Many of the women who have turned to share trading have done so very recently. Selftrade's figures show that the proportion of investors using its site that are women jumped from 24% to 34% in just two years. Read Madeline Thomas in The Guardian

Mairi Buchanan and Pat Holland, both employed at Skills Development Scotland as Customer Services Managers, have been paid approximately £10,000 a year less than their male colleague, also a Customer Services Manager, for 8 years.

Mairi Buchanan and Pat Holland have worked for ‘Careers Scotland’ since 2002 when they were TUPE transferred to Scottish Enterprise and, after interview, appointed to new posts along with their male colleague. Their colleague had transferred with a higher starting salary and this, along with ongoing pay rises resulted in him being paid £10,000 more than Ms Buchanan and Ms Holland for work of equal value. The pay gap continued when they were TUPE transferred a second time into Skills Development Scotland.

But finally fury: what is wrong with the strong, still-handsome face of a 51-year-old woman? No doubt Madonna has had a little “work” done here and there, but her face is still a fair reflection of her age, the accumulation of her experience, who she is. More so than the plastic fembot who appears in the campaign. Besides, middle-aged women are more able than twentysomethings to afford £700 Vuitton leather goods. Yet advertisers believe no one wants to buy a bag from an “old bag”.

Madonna has forged a career out of smashing taboos about female power and sexuality, but is not willing to take on the final challenge. To stand up, with her trademark insouciance and say: “Yeah, women age, so what. Here I am!” Instead, as Tina Fey put it in 30 Rock, she clings desperately onto youth with her “Gollum arms”. Read janice Turner in The Times

As a black female, I feel it is disingenuous of me not to celebrate Abbott's nomination. But as someone who has worked in white middle-class, male-dominated industries for most of my adult life, I am acutely aware of the tendency to make token, disembodied gestures of promotion of minorities only for the good will and good PR this engenders. Cath Elliott said in her article yesterday that even if Abbott's nomination is tokenistic, she doesn't care as long as a black female is on the ballot. We should care if the nomination is purely symbolic. Not only is it a dead-end, it is dangerous, for such lip service masks the real problem and gives the illusion that progress is happening when only the minimum of compliance is being achieved. Read Nesrine Malik in The Guardian

“Like many others, we were utterly confounded when we thought they actually meant giving full anonymity including through trial - which among other things would mean repeat rapists like the taxi driver John Worboys - were less likely to be caught.

"Even with this clarification we remain concerned that the coalition seems to be singling out a debate on anonymity for the crime of rape - why not other serious crimes? We have also yet to see any evidence that would this mean greater justice for either those accused of or victims of rape.

“This proposal was in neither the Tories nor the Lib Dems manifestos, and seems not only random but an odd choice as a key commitment on rape for a government that says it’s committed to tackling sexual violence against women.

“What are they going to do about what their own Attorney General called "the shockingly low rape conviction rate"? Or the recent recommendations on improving support to rape victims from the cross bencher Baroness Stern?

“So far their plans seem based on flimsy ideas, little evidence and perhaps not a small degree of lingering sexist stereotypes about women who report rape, not on a real commitment to equal justice for women."

Britart's bad girl - now a household name - said she had twice found herself in desperate need of a roof over her head in the years before she found fame and fortune.

Describing how she was left to fend for herself, she said: "When I was 17, I went home and there was no home."

She had no option but to move into temporary council accommodation in the seaside town of Margate, in Kent, for around nine months.

"I lived in a room that was about 10ft by 8ft, I had to wash in a bowl because the bathroom was so disgusting and dirty," she said.

"I lived in this room and I had to lock my door every night and I had to hide all my possessions and I was afraid and I was 17."

She said she found herself in a similar predicament six years later, at the age of 23. Read Katy Hodge in the Independent

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP will stand against former ministers David Miliband, his brother Ed, Andy Burnham and Ed Balls to take over from Gordon Brown. Read more at The Independent

Clegg said today in the Commons: "Whilst the government has put this idea forward, we do want to listen to everybody who has a stake and expertise and insight into this. And if the idea that we have put forward does not withstand sincere scrutiny, we will of course be prepared to alter and change the proposal we have made."

He admitted that the coalition government faced difficult dilemmas over the issue.

"We all want to increase the rates of conviction for rape … and do so in a way which encourages and supports victims to come forward … while minimising the stigma attached to those who are falsely accused. But we also recognise how sensitive this matter is."

In his prepared text he said: "I can confirm today that the government will not press ahead with any measures without listening to the full range of views … and, if necessary, adapting and changing our approach to make sure we get it right."

When I opened today's Guardian, I found Harriet Harman making the same complaint about the shadow cabinet.

The old sawbones at dinner gave as good as he got. In almost every country in the world, despite all their different customs and traditions, the proportion of women surgeons is 15% to 20%, he said.

Why? Some evidence suggests women are more naturally attracted to other medical specialities with "more clear-cut decisions" than the "blood and glory" of the operating theatre, the surgeon said. There are female surgeons in his own family, he added.

The women present were not impressed and blamed the macho culture that underpins the surgeon's male-dominated trade. There's a flavour of the controversy in a Q&A I found here and a more upbeat take here.

Allison Pearson, author of I Don't Know How She Does It, about the pressures of combining work and motherhood, resigned from the Daily Mail recently, citing depression caused by . . . the pressures of combining work and motherhood. She said she wanted to go on picnics with her kids, although why she didn't have time to do that is beyond me. It's not as if writing a column is running the country or single-handedly juggling part-time jobs and children on a weekly income that wouldn't pay for a Fleet Street columnist's haircut.

Irritated? Yes, I am. Because Pearson was responsible for launching a whole new genre of whingeing-women journalism: columnists with high salaries, cleaners and nannies, moaning about how they couldn't manage the school run, or their husbands, or both. I think if I was doing that for a living, it would make me depressed, too. For those who judge this harsh, note that two days after her sad farewell to the Mail, it was announced that Pearson had signed up for a new column in the Daily Telegraph. She'll be able to write about those picnics.
Read Alice Miles in New Statesman

Harriet Harman, the acting Labour leader, today called for a rule change to ensure half the party's shadow cabinet are women.

In a speech to the Unite union's annual conference in Manchester, Harman said it was "time for Labour women to step out of the shadows".

She said there were now 81 female Labour MPs, more than those in all the other parties put together.

"Labour is the only party in parliament which speaks up for women in this country," she added.

"We have some excellent experienced women and some brilliant new women MPs. We still do have twice as many men MPs as women. The Labour men are great – but they are not twice as good as the women."

Harman's call was backed by Ed Miliband, the shadow climate change secretary. In a tweet sent today, Miliband said: "Very sympathetic to what Harriet has said today on 50% women in shadow cabinet. Will ultimately be a PLP decision, but I will be supporting it ." From The Guardian

I am sure with her incredible passion and presence, she will raise awareness of the terrible toll HIV has taken on women and girls,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.

“With her amazing energy, she will make sure international, national and community leaders challenge the injustice of gender inequality,” he added.

As an activist and campaigner, Ms. Lennox has worked with numerous organizations on issues of social justice. In October 2007, she launched her own “SING” campaign, working to raise awareness and support for women and children affected by the AIDS pandemic in southern Africa.

The award-winning singer has also supported UNAIDS by participating in the March 2010 launch of a five-year action plan aimed at ending gender inequalities and human rights violations.

In the Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV (2010-2014), the UN teams up with governments, civil society and development partners to address gender inequalities and human rights violations that put women and girls at risk for HIV infection.

More than 33.4 million people have been living with HIV worldwide since December 2008, half of them women. In sub-Saharan Africa, 60 per cent of people living with HIV are women.

“The daily brutality faced by millions of women and girls is unacceptable,” said Ms. Lennox. “If we are to end the cycle of human devastation triggered by the AIDS epidemic, we must address the rights of women and girls and challenge their second class citizen status, which puts them at greater risk of HIV.”

Ms. Lennox will be participating, in her new role as International Goodwill Ambassador, at the Women Deliver 2010 conference and the 2010 Global Business Coalition conference, both to be held in Washington next week. From UN News Centre

Now, at 55, Gail Cartmail has an outside chance of being the first woman to lead a major trade union, and the first to lead an industrial union of any size since Brenda Dean ran the print union, Sogat, during the bitter Wapping dispute with Rupert Murdoch in 1986. From The Independent

Despite being lambasted in the media and condemned by health experts in the UK, Harris is visiting cities around Britain looking to launch pilot projects that will help her achieve her goal of reducing "the number of substance-exposed births to zero".

While Harris may have been subjected to savage criticism from the authorities, a significant portion of the public are warming to her views. From The Guardian

Cath Elliott has called Marie Stopes's new abortion advertisement "innocuous" because the only abortion- or pregnancy-related term it uses is "late". Laurie Penny has interpreted the advert's cagey language as "normalis[ing] free and frank discussion of reproductive issues". But the advert is neither innocuous nor positive about open debate. It shows three women, each alone and worried about their unwanted pregnancy. It then provides the company hotline.

If promotion of free and frank discussion of women's reproductive choices were really the company's motivation, their advert would show women talking confidently about their concerns with their partners, friends, family and healthcare professionals, not living alone with their "problem". It would also have listed the full range of services available to pregnant women, but Marie Stopes is advertising its own clinics and it serves them best to suggest that they are the only option available. I am proud of our NHS and I resent the comments of Marie Stopes's representative Judy Douglas, which suggest that GPs should not be the first port of call for pregnant women. From The Guardian

Are only the wild-eyed, politically correct zealots of the “sisterhood” concerned that just four women have made it into Prime Minister David Cameron’s first Cabinet? I rather hope not.

Women form the majority of the British electorate but make up roughly 20% of the country’s elected representatives. This should be a call to action for all those who care about the health and durability of the democratic process.

Research from the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, a human rights intergovernmental organisation, shows female representation in the United Kingdom lagging behind that of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.

Elected female representatives are also more numerous in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Portugal, Spain and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Deborah Wilson, 33, was walking out of Possilpark Health Centre in Glasgow with her nine-year-old son Jay when representatives of Project Prevention made their offer.

Women who had not previously had the confidence to report a rape were often inspired to do so after seeing media reports naming and picturing the same man, experts said, and allowing the accused to remain anonymous would prevent such breakthroughs.

"More Women MPs – but Nowhere Near Enough!

Thursday's General Election has resulted in the election of 142 women MPs – a mere 22% of the total 649.

At the dissolution of parliament in April, there were 126 women MPs - 19.5% of the total. The increase is therefore very small – a net gain of just 16 or 2.5%.

However, when parliament does reconvene it will look different, with significantly more women on the Conservative benches, and fewer on the Labour and Liberal Democrat benches.

The number of Conservative women MPs has risen from 18 to 48 - an increase from 9% to 16%.

The number of Labour women MPs has fallen from 94 to 81 - but the fall in the overall number of Labour MPs means that there is a percentage increase of 4% (from 27% to 31%).

The number of Liberal Democrat women MPs has fallen from 9 to 7 - a decrease from 15% to 12%.

The unusually high number of MPs retiring at this election meant that the loss of Labour women in marginal seats was balanced out by 50% of Labour candidates in seats where the Labour MP was retiring being women. Had this not been the case the number of women in the House of Commons would have declined significantly.

In addition to the women elected for the main three parties, there was one woman elected for the Green Party, one for the SNP, one for Sinn Fein, one for the SDLP, one for the Alliance Party, and one Independent. None of Plaid Cymru's three MPs are women, and none of the DUP's eight.

Over the next few weeks CFWD will be looking at these figures in much more detail, and will be producing a full report on the election. But, in the meantime, it is clear that, despite a record number of women candidates and the relatively high hopes of both parties and women’s organisations, there has been no significant increase in the percentage of women in the UK parliament. We will be calling on the next government – however it is constituted – to take steps to carry out the recommendations of the Speaker’s Conference report as soon as possible, and we will also be raising the issue of women’s representation as part of any discussions on democratic or electoral reform."

Click on View Site to go to their website for futher details

* Ross-shire Women's Aid is having a Women's Votes Matter in Dingwall on 22nd April (see the Diary page for details).

* Fawcett Society and over 40 other other organisations including Engender have launched their 'What About Women?' campaign. The parties were asked what they plan to do for women on a range of issues including the Economy, Crime and Justice, Work and Family and Culture and Media. There are briefings on each subject and a list of questions which the parties were asked to respond to in March. See the Fawcett Society website www.fawcettsociety.org.uk for details, and analysis of their pre-election debate.

* Engender has launched its ‘Politics in your Pocket’ manifesto for the general election which focuses on the questions women may want to ask candidates on the gender pay gap, VAW, power and participation and the recession. See www.engender.org.uk

* The Centre for Women and Democracy (CfWD) are monitoring candidate selection in the three main political parties for the 2010 General Election. See their website www.cfwd.org.uk/ which also includes projections for the upcoming election and other analysis. Their e-newsletter also comments on the media coverage of women in the campaign.

The 30th of April e-newsletter notes that a record number of women - 877 - have been nominated, which is 21% of the candidates. Nevertheless, the analysis of the CfWD suggests it unlikely that 25% of MPs elected on the 6th of May will be women.
For further details see www.cfwd.org.uk/election-2010

As we hear about other websites or events, we'll update this news item.

Thank you for your contribution. We appreciate your ongoing support!

There will many other celebrations in the UK and around the world – click on View Site below to go to the International Women’s Day website for details. This year the UN theme is Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All.

The Topic of the Month for March 2008 provides a brief history of International Women's Day. See Get Informed - Topic of the Month on the website.

* Feminine supplies.
* Combs.
* Feminine wipes.
* Panties, bras and clothes and other support (especially for pregnant women and new mothers).
* Personal/household supplies for birth delivery and after: (rubbing alcohol or disposable anti-germicidal substitutes; baby wipes, baby wraps, pampers, socks and caps and supplies for nursing. mothers/newborn; (It is cold at nights so there is need to cover the feet and heads of the newborns).
* Clothing and under garments for women and young girls.
* Bedding & blankets for babies and mothers.

Donations can be sent directly to:
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR HAITI
Sergia Galvan and Mayra Tavarez
Colectiva Mujeres Y Salud/CAFRA
Calle Socomo Sanchez
No 74, Gazcu, Santo Domingo DR

This is a specific drive for Emergency Supplies for Haitian women and girls that is being sponsored by the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA) and Colectiva Mujers Y Salud (Women’s Health Collective), Dominican Republic, and the CAFRA Youth League in Haiti.

This assistance is being transferred primarily through the Myriam Merlet International Solidarity Camp* directly to women and women´s organizations. Myriam Merle, a feminist activist, was killed in the earthquake. She helped draw international attention to the use of rape as a political weapon. The international solidarity camp named after her, will send resources directly to the women of Haiti, and also work with Human Rights defenders from Haiti to monitor, denounce and demand legal action regarding violations of human rights including women’s human rights during the earthquake and the aftermath. Further information on the camp is available at

OptionsDisable Get Free Shots radiofeminista.net

For further information, click on View Site.

In Wick the Caithness network will celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March at Alternative Vitality, with mini treatments, meditation sessions and refreshments. All money raised will go to a local Women’s charity.

For details of other events in the UK and elsewhere, click on View Site.

Join W@W Argyll network for a one day event looking at women in public life, encouraging women to speak out and make a difference. Further details, with a detailes programme for the day can be found on the Diary page for 22 January.

The Highland Programme for the 16 Days of Action for Violence against Women includes films, art exhibitions, theatre, and a one day Activism and Campaigning Workshop on Commercial Exploitation.

Events take place between 25th Nov and 10th December.

25th-10th Dec: Art Exhibition in the Chamber Foyer, Highland Council HQ in Inverness

25th Nov: Screening of 'Nil by Mouth' at Eden Court in Inverness

27th Nov: Play 'Don't say a Word' at Caol Community Centre, Caol, Fort William.

28th Nov: Activism & Campaigning Workshop: Commercial Sexual Exploitation. See Diary for details.

1 Dec: Film 'Price of Pleasure' at Eden Court, Inverness

9 Dec: Film ' Sisters in Law' at Eden Court, Inverness

The detailed programme is on the W@W website, in the Document Library, in the Events and Training folder.

Further information from Gillian Gunn, Highland Community Planning Partnership Violence Against Women Development & Training Officer, on 01463 704814 or gillian.gunn@nhs.net.

The Fawcett Society is highlighting this day as part of its campaign for Equal Pay. Click on View Site for further information and ways to take action.

The post is funded initially until April 2010, for up to 10 hours per month, at £11.50/ hour, to be worked flexibly.

Requirements include: An interest in women’s issues; being an active member of the local community; ICT skills and access to a computer and email; the ability to work independently and creatively; the confidence and ability to promote and present W@W to others.

Tasks include
• Organisation and administration of a programme of regular training events
• Promoting and publicising local network and other W@W events
• Developing and promoting the network, by liaising with local organisations and individuals
• Contributing to W@W project development, and communication with WEA and the other W@W local coordinators
• Representing the network at quarterly meetings of the Advisory Group in Inverness

If YOU wish to apply – please send your CV and a short paragraph highlighting your interest in W@W and what you have to offer, by email to womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk by Monday 2nd November 2009.

For more information about W@W, see our website at www.weawomenatwork.org.uk
For an informal chat about the post please phone Frances or Susan on 01463 710577(if we’re unavailable please leave your name and number and we’ll return your call asap)

They would like to hear from women who are the breadwinners of their household and women who have become the top or only earner following a partner being made redundant.

This discussion takes place on the Guardian Career forum and is open to anyone to contribute, ask questions and share experiences.

If you would like to join us, please contact the WEA office on 01463 710577 or inverness@weascotland.org.uk

To mark this anniversary, a number of courses and workshops have been organised throughout the country, culminating in a Procession in Edinburgh on 10th October (see www.gudecause.org.uk for details on the procession).

While a great deal is known about suffrage in Britain, and a fair amount about suffrage in Scotland, the story in the Highlands is far less clear. The WEA will be running a 10 session local investigation course in Inverness starting on 28th September, 10-12 in the Spectrum Centre where you join others to research and discover the Highland story of suffrage.

The WEA will also be running banner making workshops, to create banners to take down to the procession on the 10th of October:

Monday, 5th October, 1-4pm Spectrum Centre, Inverness

or

Monday 5th October 6:30-9:00 pm, Dingwall Community Centre

In addition, the WEA is working with some girls at Alness Academy.

The WEA will be hiring a bus to take interested people to Edinburgh on the 10th for the procession. For further information on the courses, banner making workshops or the Edinburgh trip, contact the WEA office on 10463 710577 or inverness@weascotland.org.uk

The meeting itself will commence at 9.45 am with the Committee fulfilling its formal business. Here it will consider new and current petitions which people have lodged with the Parliament. Some of these petitions will have come from people in the Inverness, Highlands area. We are also expecting a petition (or two) from the pupils at Alness Academy which the Committee will consider.

Petitions cover a wide range of topics and the Parliament's public petitions process provides an opportunity for individuals to raise a matter within their Parliament and have it considered by the PPC. More details on the work of the PPC and of the public petitions process is available on the website link below (you can watch a video or listen to a pod cast)

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/index.htm

The PPC is a public facing committee and is committed to furthering the opportunities for engagement with the people of Scotland. Accordingly, while you will be able to watch the Committee go about its formal business, part of the proceedings will be turned over to a Q&A session when you will have the opportunity to discuss the public petitions process, what the Committee does, the wider engagement work of the Parliament with the nine MSPs on the PPC. You will be able to learn more about public petitioning, how to engage with the Parliament, what is the relevance of the Parliament to community groups, voluntary bodies etc.

The success of the meeting does, to an extent, depend on getting people to come along and participate. That is why the Committee hopes you will be able to attend. More details on the actual petitions the Committee will discuss on the day will emerge nearer the time (the Committee's meeting agenda is published on the website above). We will be preparing a programme for the day but currently we would expect the Committee meeting to end around 12.00 pm, you could stay for a buffet lunch we will be providing and then the Q&A session would start. The proceedings will conclude around 1.30 pm.

The meeting will take place in the school hall and it can accommodate around 150. If you wish to attend, you can book a ticket through this office. Please contact my colleague Eileen Martin (eileen.martin@scottish.parliament.uk). Tickets will also be available on the day.

The Committee hopes you are able to attend. If there are other groups, organisations you think would be interested in attending, please do forward this e-mail to them. We have tried to identify many local community councils, groups, voluntary bodies etc but recognise that there will be some we have missed.
Please note that the meeting is in public and you are welcome to leave when you like or to arrive when suitable - you don’t need to be there for the start!).
_______________________________________________________
Fergus D. Cochrane, Clerk to the Public Petitions Committee, TG.01, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
fergus.cochrane@scottish.parliament.uk
( 0131 348 5186 (RNID Typetalk: 18001 0131 348 5186)
Fax: 0131 348 5088
www.scottish.parliament.uk
www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/index.htm
http://scottishparliamentpetitions.blogspot.com/

On 29th July, the WCC has published 'Shaping a Fairer Future. A review of the Recommendations of the Women and Work Commission three years on.' The commission assessed how well its original recommendations had been adopted by the Government.

The report noted that the gender pay gap is now greater than three years ago, and recommends that women be pushed into non-traditional roles, beginning in schools.

The report has been broadly welcomed although the Fawcett Society has argued that its failure to address discrimination is a major ommission (see www.fawcettsociety.org.uk).

To download the report, click on View Site. Copies of both reports can also be found in the Document Library on this website.

The day will provide an energising focus and raise the profile of women’s activism as we demonstrate the power of women’s contribution to society, culture and all aspects of public and private life in 21st Century Scotland.

The Procession will be organised into three areas of interest, Past, Present and Future. Click on View Site for further information and an application form. Deadline to register is 31st July 2009.

The post is funded initially until April 2010, for up to 10 hours per month, at £11.50/ hour, to be worked flexibly.

Requirements include: An interest in women’s issues; being an active member of the local community; ICT skills and access to a computer and email; the ability to work independently and creatively; the confidence and ability to promote and present W@W to others.

Tasks include
• Organisation and administration of a programme of regular training events
• Promoting and publicising local network and other W@W events
• Developing and promoting the network, by liaising with local organisations and individuals
• Contributing to W@W project development, and communication with WEA and the other W@W local coordinators
• Representing the Badenoch & Strathspey network at quarterly meetings of the Advisory Group in Inverness

If YOU wish to apply – please send your CV and a short paragraph highlighting your interest in W@W and what you have to offer, by email to womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk by Monday 24 August 2009.

For more information about W@W, see our website at www.weawomenatwork.org.uk
For an informal chat about the post please phone Frances or Susan on 01463 710577(if we’re unavailable please leave your name and number and we’ll return your call asap)

The 2009 Revised Guide builds and expands on the document produced in 2004, explaining how women can become active in public life and why their representation is so important. It contains information about various public bodies and advice about how to apply for positions. Furthermore, the Guide profiles a number of women from various backgrounds who are holders of public appointments. They share their experiences, routes to public life and offer suggestions about how to overcome any barriers that women might encounter along the way. Their examples demonstrate that women from a variety of backgrounds and regions can use their skills and experiences to make a valuable contribution through a public appointment. This is especially important in light of the persistently low figure for women’s representation in public office, which still stands at less than 35%.

The WNC would also welcome feedback on the Guide; send any comments to Sarah.Priest@communities.gsi.gov.uk

To read more about the guide or download a copy, click on View Site.

But the bad news: this figure remains the lowest in Europe.

Rape Crisis Scotland provides a helpline and campaigns on issues relating to rape and sexual abuse. Click on View Site to read more about this study, and to explore resources on their site.

They are investigating the impact of the sex industry and would like your views:

" The increasing normalisation of the sex industry that’s been going on over the past few years won’t have escaped you. It has led to a debate about whether this is empowering for women or the same old sexual exploitation being sold to us as sexual liberation. So, can pole-fitness exist as an exercise class free from the connotations of the pole-dancing/lap-dancing club? Is Burlesque a subversive, historical art-form or just stripping slower and in nicer outfits?

Engender are developing a policy statement regarding these activities and we’d like to know your views. You can read our briefing paper by clicking on View Site below, and if you would like to join the discussion on Adult Entertainment, or if you would be interested in attending a discussion group, please get in touch at Carol.Flack@engender.org.uk / 0131 558 9596."

Engender is also holding a meeting to discuss this issue in their Edinburgh office on Thursday 2nd July from 5.30-7.30. Please contact carol.flack@engender.org.uk or call 0131 558 9596 if you want to come along. For further information click on View Site below.

Click on View Site below to read about how these women have successfully led a variety of ethical businesses - and vote before Friday 19th June.

The UK Equality and Human Rights Commission has a £10 million funding programme for voluntary and community sector groups.
The new GB-wide £10.2 million Strategic Funding Programme, provides three-year project-based funding for community and voluntary sector organisations of up to £450,000.

The Commission is particularly keen to fund activity that directly serves and involves individuals and local communities, that meets an unmet need, and that has the potential to inspire and inform longer-term activity that helps promote the Commission’s objectives.

There are three key priority areas :

· A first priority area will fund organizations providing guidance, advice and advocacy services in areas including education, health and employment, as well building capacity where there are gaps in local provision, for example for women who have experienced violence.

· A second priority area will support increased co-operation between groups -- including ethnic or religious communities -- in areas where there are known tensions.

· A third priority area is support for legal advice and awareness of legal rights. This will operate as a separate Programme which is expected to launch in June

Last year, 27 pan-Scottish projects, from communities across all the Commission’s mandates, benefitted from the grants programme, from inclusive living, LGBT and women's aid projects to innovative work on supporting emerging leadership in the areas of disability and race, coming from all geographical areas of Scotland, from Inverclyde and Inverness to Dundee and Stornoway.

The application process employs a new and simplified two stage procedure to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy and ensure that applications that don’t meet the Commission’s criteria are identified at an early stage. Improved monitoring will ensure value for money throughout the lifetime of each funded project.

EHRC Scotland Commissioner Morag Alexander, said:

“In tough economic times, people who are on the sharp end of discrimination and inequality are more in need of support than ever. Community organisations that give people skills, support and access to opportunity play a vital role in keeping communities together, building the strong, prosperous and inclusive Britain we all want to see. Through supporting this vital grass roots work, which is often under-funded and under-appreciated, the Commission will make a daily, tangible, and invaluable impression on the lives of thousands of individuals.”

Full details, as well as guidance notes and the outline proposal form are available on www.equalityhumanrights.com

The closing date for stage one applications is Friday 12th June 2009. The stage one results will be announced at the end of July, with stage two application forms also sent out at this time.

· The deadline for stage two applications is mid-September 2009, with the successful applicants announced from mid-October 2009. All funded projects will be expected to commence by January 2010.

Do you agree that women and men should be equally represented in all European Union institutions?

If you agree, click on View Site below, and add your signature to the petition. Your vote can make a difference: the number of people who have done so already is only around 17,500.

The EWL has published on 20 May 2009 a Gender Audit Report of Electoral Lists and Political Programmes, in view of the European elections of 4-7 June 2009.

The Gender Audit looks at political programmes and electoral lists for the European elections from a women’s rights perspective. It evaluates the political parties’ commitment to gender equality in view of the European Parliament elections 2009 and encourages voters to be involved in European politics.

The report concludes that most political parties do not consider equality between women and men as a key priority in light of the European elections 2009, despite the strong competence of the European Union in the area. The full report is available from the website: click on View Site and follow the links.

To this end, HIE is seeking volunteers of all ages to take part in focus groups in Inverness. You don’t need to be a renewable energy expert – they just want to hear your views.

The focus group will take place in Inverness next Wednesday 27th May from 6 – 7:30pm at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cowan House, Inverness Retail and Business Park. Refreshments will be available.

If you can attend, please contact Laura Anderson or Sarah Bremner on 01224 646491 or email landerson@trickerpr.com or sbremner@trickerpr.com

The Ethnic Minorities Law Centre (EMLC) have announced the re-establishment of its Highland-wide service. EMLC has been providing bilingual and culturally sensitive legal services to ethnic minority communities since 1991 when their head office in Glasgow first opened. They offer specialist legal advice and representation in the areas of Immigration and Nationality law, Asylum law, Discrimination law and Employment law.

They are delighted to again have the opportunity to offer services to the ethnic minority communities across the Highland council area where there is an absence of legal practices offering advice in these areas of law. A key aspect of the project as before will be partnership working with the Highland CABx. The project solicitor will be based full-time in Inverness but will also be developing outreach services across Highland.

If you wish to access this service or wish to make a referral please contact the project solicitor, Stewart Cunningham, on 07776 059881 or by email at s.cunningham@emlc.org.uk. For general information about EMLC see the website at www.emlc.org.uk.

The group meets at Raigmore Community Centre, Ashton Road, Inverness on Friday mornings, 10am-12pm from 15th May 2009 to 26 June 2009. Cost: £1 a week or free to those from families in receipt of benefit. FREE pre-school creche provided.

Topics may include
* assertiveness and confidence building
* coping with stress
* communication skills
* alternative therapies
* healthy lifestyles
* food and nutrition
* money matters
* others the group may suggest

For more information contact WEA Women@Work on 01463 710577 or e-mail womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk

The bill will simplify the law, replacing nine major pieces of legislation and around 100 other measures into a single Act. The aim is to make it easier for individuals and employers to understand their legal rights and obligations.

In particular, the bill seeks to
* narrow the gap between rich and poor;
* require business to report on gender pay;
* outlaw age discrimination; and
* strengthen Britain’s anti-discrimination legislation.

It is much needed. Despite previous legislation and many initiatives, inequalities and discriminationr remain as entrenched as ever. For example, women still earn 23% less than men per hour.

For further information on the bill, which is expected to come into effect in autumn 2010, click on View Site.

Businesses can still refuse, but the Government reports that 95% of requests are currently granted. For more information, click on View Site.

** Saturday, 7th March, Inverness **
A Home in the Highlands.
W@W, Highland One World Group, Oxfam and Highland Council join together to celebrate International Women's Day at Merkinch Community Centre in Inverness!

We will look at:
* Women as home makers and artists
* Women feeling 'at home' in a new place
* Why do people move?

Activities include:
* Sharing craft skills - local and global
* Performance: music, dance, stories
* Women at home with themselves, health & beauty
* The diversity of food
* Sisters on the planet: workshop with Oxfam in Scotland to challenge us to think about the impact of climate change on homes around the world.

For further information contact WEA on 01463 710577 or Merkinch Community Centre on 01463 239 563.

** Sunday, 8th March, Kilmartin **
W@W and Kilmartin House Museum celebrate International Women's Day

2-3pm: Help us to create artwork which tells the story of women in the Glen - past, present & future

3-3:45: The Sedona technique, with Lilia. What is it? How does it work?

4-5pm: Complementary Therapies

6:30-9pm: Dr Sharon Webb will deliver a talk on 'Warrior Queen or Roundhouse Wife - women in prehistory', followed by discussion and games. Please bring along a bowl of food to share.

Throughout the day, 2-5pm and 7-9pm: Have you got a story to tell about women in Kilmartin Glen? Perhaps your grandmother or mother passed one down to you?

For information phone 01546 - 510278

** Friday, 13th March, International Women's Day - Skye and Lochalsh Style **

Café Arriba, Portree

Come and find out more about International Women’s Day – Bring along your favourite shoes, hat, handbag or other accessory to add to a unique new photographic record of contemporary women’s lives; enjoy some tasty international food and music; share ideas/inspiration with the W@W Skye & Lochalsh network.

Without food, the event is free. International food from 5.30 to 7.30 for £3.00.

Please book in advance to ensure adequate catering on tel. 01463 710577 or e-mail womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk.

The Scottish Education Awards celebrate the hard work and success which takes place in Scottish education. They recognise the achievements of people who dedicate their lives to Scottish children and young people and showcase the valuable work and innovation in Scottish classrooms.

Nominations are now open to nominate the teachers - female or male - in a number of categories.

Details of events being held from January to March 2009 can be found by clicking on View Site below. The events are geared towards experienced and/or new exporters. Each event is also delivered by very experienced exporters/trainers, the delivery format includes case studies, and full course notes are provided for delegates. These events are free of charge to businesses and organisations located in the Highlands and Islands area. Any Highlands and Islands-based organisation can attend any of these events.

If you have any general queries about this event programme, please call Stewart of SMas Ltd on telephone 01369 830000, or email info@smas.co.uk

"We must work for the full implementation of human rights on the ground in a way that affects and improves the lives of the men, women and children who are all entitled, regardless of their race, sex, religion, nationality, property or birth, to realization of each and every right set forth in the Universal Declaration."

Many women have made their voices heard on this important issue. W@W will feature an example in a topic in the New Year.

For further information on Human Rights Day, click on view site

'Closing the Gap' looks at the participation of women, in particular under-represented women, in governance and decision making, in both community and public life, and tells two sides of the story:

* ‘what works’ in terms of approaches, initiatives and learning models that encourage different groups of women to become more involved, and

* ‘what needs to happen’ so that structures, policies and organisations work in ways that encourage the recruitment and support of more women.

This followup to its first report published five years ago makes depressing reading. As the report highlights, it has been a snail's progress:

'A snail could crawl the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 212 years, just slightly longer than the 200 years it will take for women to be equally represented in Parliament.'

The report found that women hold just 11%of FTSE 100 directorships and only 19.3 per cent of the positions in Parliament.

This year, there are fewer women holding top posts in 12 of the 25 categories for which figures are available. In another five categories, the number of women remains unchanged since 2007’s index. Women’s representation has increased in just eight areas.

For further information, and to download the full report, click on view site.

* highlight issues of equality and diversity nationally and locally
* facilitate networking between local organisations
* encourage wider engagement in the issues raised by Co-op members and others attending

Merkinch Community Centre, Coronation Park, Inverness

This is a free event, which includes a buffet lunch. Places allocated on first come- first served basis. For further information or to book, contact Rebecca.Higgins@co-operative.coop, tel: 01463 861348

The Scottish Parliament has launched an inquiry to assess the public petitions process, with the following remit:

* to investigate, identify and implement measures to improve awareness of, access to, and participation in the public petitions process
* to identify and implement initiatives to assist in the effective and efficient processing of petitions, including what role ICT can play;
* to investigate existing methods of scrutiny of petitions and implement new methods or practices to further improve scrutiny

The views of people who have submitted petitions before, and of those who have not, are welcome. Click on View Site to see a list of questions. Respond by 26th September.

The Scottish Parliament website also has an information sheet about the Public Petitions Process which can be downloaded from www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/publicInfo/htsapp/LeafletIndex.htm

In the next 3 years W@W will:
* continue to offer monthly training events in each geographic area based on our existing programme which emphasises confidence building and removing barriers to participation.
* organise local consultations on contemporary subjects in collaboration with partner agencies
* continue to develop our popular website, highlighting themes to stimulate the thinking of Highland, Moray and Argyll women,
* extend the distribution of our monthly e-bulletin to include more network participants.
* focus our development on excluded women, specifically carers, minority ethnic women, low-paid women and those in the remote northern areas of Caithness & Sutherland.
* initiate work on new subject areas such as ‘women and money’ ‘women and the law’ and ‘women and politics’ – as these new themes have a significant impact on the ability of women to fully participate in society.

As ever Women@Work welcomes feedback from its members. If there's something you think we should cover in our next three years, let us know!

Noting that there is still substantial pay differences between men and women, the bill will propose a number of initiatives to combat discrimination based on gender, age or disability. Full details are still to be released, but bill will
* encourage firms to hire women or ethnic minority candidates over a white male with similar qualifications
* require businesses to report on equality issues in their firms
* outlaw clauses in contracts which prohibit employees disclosing pay
* require companies bidding for work funded by taxpayers' money to demonstrate commitment to equality.

While there is general agreement that equality is important, the proposals have already provoked some controvery. Some feel the bill has been watered down, and is only a partial move towards addressing the problems. Others feel that the proposals are unworkable.

The topic is crucial to all women! Come and find out about

· Your State Pension – calculate how much you’ll get at retirement

· Top-up private pensions – how to maximise your retirement income

· Money Advice – how to choose the best source for YOU

· The Financial Services Authority – what they do and how they can help you

· Which? Campaigns and Research in Scotland

Places are limited, so booking is essential on womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk or 01463 710577. The event is free and includes lunch.

They seek views on the full draft Strategy, which includes domestic abuse, rape & sexual assault, prostitution, trafficking and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation, incest, child sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, so called ‘honour’ crimes and stalking as part of the definition of Violence Against Women. They also seek your views on the proposed structure to implement the Strategy.

The full consultation document is available in the Women@Work website Document library (Document Library - Consultations - Violence against Women Consultation). There are also two respondent forms in the same folder, one for replying to the full consultation, and one for just the framework.

This consultation will run from the 8th May to 19th June 2008.
If you are unable to comment on the full Strategy document, your views on the framework summary are appreciated. If you have any questions or queries you can contact Gillian Gunn at Gillian.gunn@hhb.scot.nhs.uk or 01463 704814.

W@W ran a special facilitated consultation event for W@W members to contribute their viewson 4th June. Participants at the meeting asked for a list of sources of help for women affected by domestic violence to be placed on the W@W website. See the Document Library.

Gillian Gunn, who is Violence Against Women Development & Training Officer for the Highland Wellbeing Alliance, will lead the session.

It will introduce the Violence Against Women Strategy and seek your views on the content. We will host a facilitated discussion on the Strategy where we will give you the opportunity to let us know:
· If you think we will meet the needs of those who have experienced Violence Against Women with this Strategy
· If you think there is anything that is not included in the Strategy that should be
· If there is anything we have included that will be unhelpful for people who have experienced Violence Against Women

· Are there particular things we need to consider in for women in particular groups (e.g. because of race, disability, sexual orientation, age)?

This session will follow on from the Inverness W@W network meeting. Please let us know in advance if you intend to come so we can send you some advance information.
Please contact WEA: tel. 01463 710577 or e-mail womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk

The PA of the Year Award will be judged and short listed by our Keynote Speaker, Joan Serafini, former Private Secretary to a host of Government Ministers, including former First Ministers Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell. On the day, Ms Serafini will also deliver the keynote address. Delegates will then be presented with the short list and will participate in a live electronic vote for the person they consider to be worthy of winning the award. The winner will receive a weekend break for two at a Scottish Hilton Hotel and a magnum of champagne to toast her success.

The event will feature speakers from a wide range of professions who will share their understanding on new technology, networking and communication skills, and a guide to public affairs and social responsibility. At the end of the day there will be a post-conference reception with pampering sessions, style consultations, and entertainment from comedian Jane McCarry - Isa from top Scottish sitcom ‘Still Game’.

For further information about nominating someone or the conference, click on View Site

Does the coincidence of a new Government, new equality Commission, a possible new UK legislative and policy framework for equality, provide us with the opportunity to develop a new approach to equality in Scotland? How can we best meet the challenges and opportunities of Scotland’s increasing diversity and changing demographic? What kind of Scotland for the future?

To book a place, contact Paul Ellison on tel: 01463 279344. Paul.Ellison@uhi.ac.uk

The aim of the event is to discuss the participation of young women within Scottish life.

Issues being discussed on the day will include; Employment; Sexual Health; the Alcohol Intake of young women in Scotland and participation of young women at both local and national level. We will also be discussing the accessibility of services for our young women and it is hoped in order to have a broad discussion we will attract young women from a variety of backgrounds and diversity.

The conference will give every young woman attending the chance to have her voice heard and hopefully influence policy, on issues which have a direct effect on her life.

All travel costs will be paid by the SWC and a contribution will be made towards childcare costs if required.

If you are interested in attending or require further information please contact Isabelle Gray on Isabelle.Gray@scottishwomensconvention.org or on 07795262634.

Now in their 4th year, these awards take a holistic view of women’s enterprise development, celebrating the individuals and organisations that in various ways, support the growth in female entrepreneurship. They include the business women whose energy and passion inspires others, the dedicated support providers offering advice and mentoring, the researchers and the journalists who support the sector through compelling and progressive ideas.

Nominations are open for the following catagories:
* Business Support Professional of the Year
* Business Mentor of the Year
* Outstanding Contribution to Women's Enterprise Development
* Inspirational Business Mum
* Woman in SET Enterprise Award
* Female Social Entrepreneur
* Inspirational Woman
* Ethnic Minority Business Woman Award
* Women's Enterprise Researcher of the Year
* Press Award

For further information, or to make a nomination, click on View Site.

Many of the local W@W groups will have a special session in the first of second week of March to celebrate IWD:

5 March, Inverness W@W group: Voices of Diversity
6 March, Moray W@W group: Sonas, followed by Feal the Fear workshop
8 March, Argyll W@W group: Forever Changes... The Changing Lives of Women in Argyll
13 March, Skyle and Lochalsh W@W group: IWD 2008 - Skye & Lochalsh Style.

Further details in the Diary.

For more information about International Women's Day, see Topic of the Month.

2008 marks 90 years since the Representation of the People Act gave some women in the country the right to political representation. It is also 80 years since women won the right to vote with men.

A number of celebrations will be held during 2008. Click on View Site for more details. The sponsoring organisations see this as a time for reflection and action.

Description:

As you may know, the first strategy for enhancing equal opportunities in public appointments is currently out for public consultation. I would be most grateful for your involvement and have organised a consultation event in Inverness, if you would like to have your say in person. This informal event will involve working in small focus groups to let us have your views.

Attendance is free of charge, and refreshments and lunch will be provided, but unfortunately we are not able to refund any travel and subsistence expenses. THe event will run between 10.30am – 3.00pm and the day will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with a short break for lunch between 12.30 and 1.00pm. Those who cannot attend for the full day are welcome to attend for one or other session; please let us know this when you book.

If you would like to come along to the Inverness event please let us know by Monday 4 February.

To book your place please email info@publicappointments.org or telephone Corryne MacLean on 0131 718 6309. Please also let us know if you have any special dietary or other requirements.

If you would prefer to give us your views in writing, the consultation document and response form can be found by clicking View Site.

Working Wonder-woman
"the chance to help women start their own small businesses. From book-keeping to basketweaving, watch women work their way out of poverty... We'll help groups learn how to start, market and manage their own businesses, so they can make the most of their skills to earn a decent living."

For more information about Oxfam Unwrapped (great presents with no waste!) click on View Site.

The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture and Louise Plaatjies, Vice-president UNI Women’s Africa Committee have been confirmed as speakers.

To register an interest, contact info@scottishwomensconvention.org or 0131 550 3754.

Ms Sturgeon would now like to invite you to attend one of the Better Health, Better Care World Café Events , further details of which are available via the links below. If you are interested in attending at Aberdeen on 5th November please register on : http://conventions.nss.scot.nhs.uk/event_131

1. Supporting families, particularly as they bring up children and care for older and disabled relatives
2. Tackling violence against women and improving the way we deal with women who commit crimes
3. Empowering black and minority ethnic women to build cohesion within their communities and as a bridge between communities

She is now asking for comments. Download a copy of the priorities and give her your views! Click on View Site below for a link to this consultation. Deadline for feedback to the questions below on each priority by 14 September.

In particular, there are new coordinators in Argyll and Badenoch & Strathspey.

Click on View Site or look at Welcome - W@W Comment Form to get a comment form - or simply e-mail your thoughts to womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk.

This is your network! Help us to provide what you want.

Our Slovenian host was Marta Turk, a woman entrereneur and National Council representative. Marta is particularly intersted in supporting Slovenian women to develop business and leadership skills.

We visited several projects and organisations including an Equal partner project working on gender research, making international comparisons and mentoring women graduates and managers. We attended presentations from a disadvantaged workers organisation providing lifeskills training and the Slovenian equivalent of a ‘Job Club’ which provided womens development and professional careers guidance.

The Slovenians were very interested in the work of W@W and the emerging social enterprise networks in Scotland. We intend to maintain these new links and hope to share ideas in the future.
On our second day we visited National Council of Slovenia – their parliament, which of course was conducted in Slovenian, so we were unable to follow the days’ business. However the conducted tour which explained the history of the nation and the lunch in the ‘members’ dining room were most enjoyable.

Marta and her colleagues also ensured that we had a chance to see Slovenia’s most spectacular scenery – we visited 4 major towns and the city of Ljubljana, and even managed to have an evening visit to Piran on the picturesque Adriatic coast.

All in all this was a fascinating visit – where we even managed to spend the long hours in the minibus getting to know one another and making positive new links within our own group.

Click on Document Library, then click on Files, and W@W Newsletters.

Frances reports on her day in London:
I was invited to spend International Women’s Day in London where I had an interesting and illuminating meeting at number 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, welcomed 40 women representing communities across the UK. He was as you'd expect - charming and polished, and positive about the progress of women after 10 years of this Government. He also recognised there's still much to be done with and for women, both here in the UK and overseas. (a paper describing this progress is available from the Dept of Communities & Local Government, and W@W – in due course)

I spoke at some length with Ruth Kelly, the Minister for Women, she seemed sincere and talked of the challenges of being a woman in Government with the extra scrutiny applied to both words and actions. She was interested in our work here in the Highlands, and acknowledged the importance of women being involved in decision making on local and national levels.

The Question & Answer session involved Ruth Kelly(Communities & Local Government) Patricia Hewitt (Health), Tessa Jowell (Culture Media & Sport), Baroness Amos (Leader of the Lords), Hilary Armstrong (Cabinet Office & Social Inclusion) and Jacqui Smith( Chief Whip)and Hazel Blears MP. The assembled women raised pertinent questions about many issues affecting women. These included flexible working, the role of women in public bodies, public transport and work/life balance, as well as climate-change and the significance of the community and voluntary sector in influencing change.

By chance, I managed to have the last word from the floor, I briefly described the WEA’s Women@Work project and the work we do here in the Highlands as well as the ‘Making our Voices Heard’ theme. Everyone agreed with my sentiment that women have unique qualities and perspectives to offer and therefore a most valuable contribution to make to decision-making on all levels.

All in all, a worthwhile and significant day for W@W.

See the diary listing for 6th March for the complete programme. Further details and registration forms can be downloaded from the Document Library - Women@Work information.

The new panel is:

* Kay Allen - Diversity Manager, BskyB
* Jane Campbell - Health and Social Care Policy Adviser
* Kay Carberry - Assistant General Secretary, TUC
* Sally Greengross - Chief Executive, International Longevity Centre
* Francesca Klug - Professorial Research Fellow, Human Rights Centre, LSE
* Ziauddin Sardar - Writer and academic
* Ben Summerskill - Chief Executive of Stonewall
* Neil Wooding - Director, Public Service Management Wales, Welsh Assembly Government

A second round of appointments of up to five further Commissioners will commence early in 2007. This will include a Commissioner for Scotland and people with particular expertise in government and business.

The Awards are now in their 3rd year and open for nominations. The nomination process is straightforward to encourage a wide range of entries.

Award categories include Business Support Professional of the Year; Making an Impact; Press Award; Innovator Award; Female Business Mentor of the Year; Inspirational Business Mum; Inspirational Woman; and Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development. For further details, see the Prowess website.

Deadlines for nominations are 12th January.

It's been a busy year for us, with many meetings held, newsletters and e-bulletins sent, and correspondence received. We are working hard to make women's voices heard in the Highlands, at work, home and in the community.

Of course many of the issues confronting us in the Highlands are also in other nations. And with this in mind, the W@W project is supporting Oxfam's 'Girls' Club' gift (and it turns out the Scottish Women's Convention has independently decided to do the same.) As Oxfam states: ' Girls are often at the back of the queue when it comes to opportunities and education in poor communities. Redress the balance by supporting a girls' club so that they can tackle health issues, encourage each other to stay in school, learn life skills and even run businesses to pay the costs of their schooling.'

Further information is available on the Oxfam website. We can pool together contributions - either at a network meeting, or you can send direct to the office (but if you send a cheque, please make it out to Oxfam.).

Some interesting trends include:
* the median wage of women in full time work is 10% less than men in full time time. In 1999 the gap was 17%.
* the median wage of women in part time work is virtually the same as that of men. In 1999, the median age for women was 6% less.
* women are far more likely to be in part time work than men: 28% to 7%, a trend which has remained fairly constant since 1999.
* In 2006, the mean hourly wage for women is 14% lower for females than males in full time work; the gap is 12% for part time work. This is a slight improvement for full time work (in 2003 the gap was 18%) but much worse for part time work (in 2003 the gap was 4%).
Given that 28% of women are in part time employment (and 43% in full time employment), this is not encouraging news.

We welcome your news and views - if you'd like to share ideas for the development of W@W please contact Frances Powell, W@W Co-ordinator at womenatwork@weascotland.org.uk or 01463 710577

A one day conference to be held in Edinburgh on Sunday 19th November will focus on these issues, and allow opportunities to learn and network. Women into Business – Turning Your Ambitions into Reality will be held at Herriot Watt Conference Centre. For further details, click on View Site below.

Heriot-Watt University

The main aim of the conference is to gather views, experiences and concerns of women who have experienced male violence. This will help the Scottish Women's Convention inform the Scottish Executive about why women have not been able to access services and what their experiences are of the different services available. The event will be sensitive, friendly and totally confidential. Women only. Lunch is provided, a free creche, and there may be help available with travel costs.

Contact Scottish Women's Convention on 0131 557 8950 or development@scottishwomensconvention.org.uk, or click on View Site for further information and registration forms. The website also contains information on previous 'Speak Out' events.

The questions ranged over a number of issues, affecting women from school age to retirement. Due to the large turnout, of the W@W members only Liz managed to get her question read out, and she robustly challenged the First Minister to do more to make equal pay a reality, citing the 36 years of legislation which has still seen women's pay languish behind men's. While Mr McConnell refused to endorse mandatory workplace audits, he did agree to look again at the issue.

Meanwhile the rest of the W@W attendees await written responses to their questions.

This body will be a new organisation and will inherit the responsibilities of the existing equality commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It will also have responsibilities on rights in relation to age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and will ensure that Unions and organisations such as the Citizen Advice Bureau have the correct training and information to advise people on these rights.

This new body will become operational in Autumn 2007. For further information, click on View Site.

If you’d like to attend just think of a question that you’d like to have answered and send it with your contact details (name, postal address, age group and daytime phone number) to the Press & Journal, by Friday 22 September. If you’re successful they’ll contact you directly with an invitation.

Contact the P&J by email for details – northnews@ajl.co.uk or by post to Ask Jack, The Press & Journal, Stoneyfield Business Park, Inverness IV2 7PA

The Government's action plan includes a raft of practical new measures addressing almost forty recommendations made by the Women and Work Commission in their 'Shaping a Fairer Future' report. It will improve opportunities for women to get on at work and encourage a culture change within those companies and organisations still failing to see the huge economic potential of their female workforce. For further details, click on View Site.

More than 2/3 of working mothers said that their employers would not allow them flexitime at work. According to EU laws, parents can ask to work flexitime - though employers need not grant the request. The survey showed that nearly 2/3 of the parents did not know of this right.

Flexi-time is clearly a priority for many working women. The winner of the Working Families/Lloyds TSB Best Boss of 2006 was Bruce Draper of Geotechnical Instruments. His 85 employees have 40 different working patterns. The company also offers childcare vouchers, medical insurance and counselling. Not surprisingly, the company has a very low turnaround or absence of staff; it is also doing very well as a business. For more information on the award, see www.workingfamilies.org.uk/asp/awards/BB_winner_2006.asp.

The course is aimed at managers or owners of organisations within these 2 enterprise areas.

There will be 6 workshops (11 days), held between the autumn and late spring 2007 along with individual coaching sessions.

Topics covered include; Learning & Performance Management, Time Management, Recruitment, Selection & Interviewing Skills, Team Work, Change Management & Leadership.

On successful completion of the programme and 2 assignments delegates are eligible for Affiliate membership of ILM with the post nominal letters of AinstILM.

A detailed programme, and further information on the course can be requested from Jenny Devlin on 01479 812861 or jdtrainingpool@aol.com.

The Today's Woman consultation will include a number of roundtable discussions, tackling the same 5 themes as are being discussed at other events in the UK: work & work life balance; health & wellbeing; safety, security & crime; money, debt & savings; education & skills.

The findings from the consultation will be used to inform the development of future UK policies. It is also intended to publish a report, which will contain the key findings of the events. Alongside the Today's Woman Debate, research has been commissioned into women's aspirations and needs, and the intention is for the findings from the research to be incorporated into the same report.

Numbers are limited to 100, on a first come-first served basis. Help There may be help if you cannot attend the event without help with childcare or travel. A booking form and further information can be found on the Scottish Women's Convention website www.scottishwomensconvention.org/.

PLEASE NOTE: UNLESS MORE PEOPLE REGISTER FOR THE INVERNESS EVENT, IT WILL BE CANCELLED

The duty will come into force in April 2007, but views are being sought now about its impact. The government says that this can provide real outcomes for real people, since the regulations are enforceable by law, and should influence all policies.

The Equal Opportunities Commission is a firm supporter of the duty, and urges people to respond to their consultation by 15 May 2006.

The report can be read on the Women and Equality Unit website; the executive summary is available in the Document Library of this website.