2020 Resolutions:
A call to increase potential stem cell donor registration
There is an urgent need to increase the number of people registered on the aligned UK stem cell registry in order to provide potentially life-saving treatment to people of all ages with certain blood cancers. We call on all WI members to promote registration to the database to avoid people dying whilst waiting for a match.
End modern slavery
There are tens of thousands of victims of modern slavery hiding in plain sight in the UK. Modern slavery has severe consequences for the health and mental wellbeing of survivors. The NFWI calls on Government to protect victims of modern slavery in the first instance and deliver longer term support to help them rebuild their lives. We call on our members to raise awareness of the prevalence of modern slavery throughout society and to campaign to defeat it.
The Time is Now Lobby
2021: June – to be confirmed
2020: Virtual Meeting
2019: Attended by MFWI Public Affairs team Lorraine Reed-Wenman, Ruislip Evening WI, Sarah Wilson, Anna East Harlington WI, Anna Kidd, Clare Taylor N1 WI and Alison Fremantle West Drayton WI.
For more information: The Climate Coalition
Two new resolutions passed at the 2019 Annual Meeting
Over 96% of delegates at the WI Annual Meeting in Bournemouth on 5th June voted to pass a resolution aimed at tackling the decline in local bus services.
The resolution, proposed by Burniston and Cloughton WI in North Yorkshire East Federation calls for the WI to lobby for more funding and work in partnership with bus companies and local authorities to improve services.
We want to hear from members who live in communities that have experienced cuts to bus services or where services are under threat. We are also keen to hear from members who have managed to save their services or develop new ways of making them sustainable. Do get in touch using this form! NFWI Memo AGM 2019 Resolution Passed Decline in Bus Services
A resolution calling for action to tackle declining take up of cervical cancer screening was also supported by 97% of delegates.
In England and Wales women aged 25-49 are invited for cervical screening every three years, and those aged 50-64 are invited every five years. But attendance rates are currently at a 21 year low.
The resolution, put forward by Disley WI, Cheshire Federation, calls for WI members to attend their own screening appointments, to raise awareness of the issue and to tackle the barriers to attendance.
The NFWI will now develop a full campaign plan to enable members to take action locally and nationally to help raise screening rates. More information is available here NFWI Memo AGM 2019 Resolution Passed Don’t Fear the Smear.
Campaigns:
If you know anyone in your WI who is interested in our campaigns, please direct them to the campaigns area of the NFWI website to sign up to receive the Public Affairs Digest.
To view the latest issues of the NFWI Public Affairs, click on the following links:
Public Affairs Digest – Issue 49 June 2020
Public Affairs Digest – Issue 50 June 2020
