THE WOMEN'S mittee (WAC) has launched a major campaign around the review of women's organisation in the Party decided the 1986 party conference. has two parts.
The first is a statement of principle, submitted for wide endorsement in the party, demanding the right of women's places on the NEC. The apWAC states: "The cal altered by structed the NEC and the national develop jointly proposals to make the comerence women more representative and thus C increase its weight and authority in the labour movement.
Priorities 'To be in line with the party's eciared aim to make the interests of vomen a major priority, we consider •i essential that inese proposals must provision or i mens places on ne icc 1o be ¡ected by women at the national conerence of Labour women.' This statement. launched by the VAC executive, is going to all major ampaigns and newspapers in the pary. Sponsors received in the first week 1 the campaign inciude Labour Lett iaison, the Campaign ior Labour Socialist ind Jane Prust from Labour Briefing.
Organisations which have been sent copies of the appeal include the Campaign Group of MPs, Tribune Group of MPs, Coordinating Committee.
Labour Party Black Section. Action Compaign is the submission of of by ecutive member of This latest ISS UC elect conference intions and • reserved seats conference to women only the ive Proposals Action ward for discussion, for the do use trol their own elect their own representatives.
The second part of WAC's camdetailed proposals for restructuring all aspects organisation Ann Pettifor, exWAC, some of the key issues on this in the Campaign Group In particular, she calls for:
• election of the women's places on the NEC by the women's conference • parity between the women's secululs In policy for women on the standing orders committee of the women's conference • restriction of delegates to women's • the right of women's conference to submit resolutions to the NEC and • election of the national Labour women s committee at women s conrerence. with reserved places tor trade deltitor aiso supports the women's VEC places being increased to six with three of these io be elected by the vomen s sections and three oy ine rade unions at women's conterence.
While these proposals are put forWAC has made it clear that it will finalise its proposals the organisatiuon at its AGM — and after discussion with those in the party who support its appeal for women to conviganisations WAC's annual general meeting will be held on 13 December. • WAC is asking for individuals and organisations to support its campaign. It is calling for signatories for the appeal printed in the article above and for financial support for the camIt is requesting a donation of Avon.
marriage..?.
to change rights of housing, The main target of the draft bill, Talon the legal system first clause that 'the whole 'There is no prosecution.
the women'.
Next around the the terms, available for WCI. organisations supporting the campaign. Notification of support should be sent to LWAC, , Anni Marjoram, Secretary, 12 Chatham Row, Bath, Subsequent sections make this concrete in terms of the lesbians and gay men in inheritance immigThe draft proceeds to a radical assault on those sections of criminal law which concern "sexual moralty following the lines of Labour's new policy. A central theme within this is that there should be 'no crime without a victim'. The result is to propose an equal age of consent at 16 and the abolition of the 'public order' oftences now used against us. A new "Sexual Harrassment' offence supplies the sateguard.
One of the probably more controversial proposals concerns obscenity, in the wake of the 'Gays the Word' Recognising the malesupremacist nature of society, taking on board the debates around connections betweer male violence and pornography, abolishes all the existing legislation on obscenity and replaces it with a new crime of 'inciting violence against year's around these proposals will play two roles. The first, of course, is to debate as widely as possible what sort of legislation we should be demanding. The second, no less important, is to mobilise forces demand that the next government does legislate, and in the process to strengthen the links being built between lesbians and gay mer and other sections of the oppressed.
pressure can be mounted to ensure that lesbian anc and that the Labour Party is compelled to stand its ground.
• 'Legislation for Lesbian & Gay Rights: A Manifesto', by LCLGR, £l from LGRB, c/0 CHE, 38 Mount Pleasant, London The Conference will also: be organised from this address. Cheques payable to LGRB'