Fabian Women

Tuesday, 5th February, 6pm-8.30, Committee Room 5, Houses of Parliament

We believe affordable and universal childcare should be a key policy for the country.

We are holding a roundtable discussion with stakeholders from key sectors. Speakers will include Ed Balls MP, Stephen Twigg MP, Sharon Hodgson MP, Seema Malhotra MP, Zita Gurmai, MEP and President of PES Women, Polly Toynbee, Guardian, Professor Andy Green, Institute of Education, Dr Anne McMunn, Economic and Social Research Council/UCL, Mike Abbott, Co-op, Purnima Tanuku OBE, National Day Nurseries Association, Jonathan Douglas, National Literacy Trust, Anne Longfield, 4Children, Sharon Greene, Unison, Shama Tatler, Ivana Bartoletti and Sarah Hutchinson, Fabian Women’s Network.

A publication of the event will be presented to the Labour Party Policy Review. If you would like to attend please RSVP to s.j.hutchinson@googlemail.com.

A keynote speech by Diane Abbott MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health

Tuesday 22 January, 6-8pm
Unison Conference Centre
130 Euston Road NW1 2AY

A number of recent events have revealed a darker side of British culture, in which the sexualisation of women and young girls is entrenched, and yet women who fall victims to problems within this culture are often seemingly cast-aside, silenced and delegitimised.

We will be discussing with Diane Abbott MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health, how Labour can challenge this culture, and create a safer society for women.

Joining the conversation on how we can challenge this culture will be:

Cath Elliott (Unison)
Deborah Mattinson (Chair of trustees, Platform 51),
Ivana Bartoletti (Fabian Women’s Network)
Emma Burnell (blogger)

Your enthusiasm and contribution to this important event will be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to distribute this email amongst your networks.

For information and RSVP, please email:

patelsofia1@gmail.com

12th January, 12.30 – conference registration starting from 9:45. At the Institute of Education near Russell Square tube station in central London. The full address is 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL

Much recent debate on the left has focused on the failures of the welfare state, and a need for a more ‘relational’ society. But what does this mean for women’s rights? How can the tension between women’s collective and individual rights be resolved to ensure the ‘Next State’ is a feminist one?

Fabian Women’s Network will be examining these questions at the Fabian Society New Year Conference. We will be asking how we protect and promote women’s interests thought the state, and what should be the limits of this involvement?

Speakers: Deborah Mattinson (BritainThinks), Matthew Pennycook (Resolution Foundation), Ceri Goddard (Fawcett Society), Dr Rupa Huq (Kingston University) and Yvonne Roberts (The Guardian).

If you haven’t bought your conference ticket yet, these are available online – hurry as they’re selling out: http://www.fabians.org.uk/events/fabian-annual-conference-2013-next-state/