About Us Activities Board Members Functions Committees Membership of external bodies

Activities

The Women's Health Council commissions and publishes research in the area of health and social gain for women. The Council also produces policy submissions and position papers on a regular basis. Recent research reports have examined such topics as women and sexually transmitted infections, and women and cancer in Ireland.

Current Activities

Council of Europe
The Women's Health Council was invited to participate in the Council of Europe's Committee of experts on the inclusion of gender differences in health policy. The aim of this committee was to prepare a draft recommendation on the subject. The work of the experts is now completed and it is expected that the recommendation will be approved by the European Health Committee in Spring 2007 and adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Autumn 2007. The recommendation proposes to the governments of member states a set of practical and applicable health policy guidelines, to be implemented within their territories.

WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development
The Women's Health Council has been invited by the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development to participate in a project on the social determinants of women's health. The project aims to develop three European country case studies (Spain, Italy and Ireland) in order to identify barriers and opportunities to mainstream gender and equity in health policy.

European Commission
The Women's Health Council has been invited to take part in the European Commission Working Party for the European Community Health Indicators project as a gender advisor. The Council has attended a number of meetings in Luxembourg and has submitted additional comments to ensure that the proposed set of indicators is sufficiently gender-sensitive. The project is due to end in May 2008.

WHO Women & Gender Equity Knowledge Network
The WHC has been invited to participate in the WHO Women and Gender Equality Knowledge Network as corresponding member. Corresponding members of the WGE KN will be expected to provide feedback on commissioned papers and on other documents developed by the organisational hubs, and comment on the draft WGE KN report and recommendations to the Commission.

At the 2004 World Health Assembly, the Director-General of the WHO, Dr Lee Jong-Wook called for the formation of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health . The Commission commenced operating in March 2005 and is expected to complete its mandate by March 2008. The Commission’s brief is to make recommendations on interventions and policies which are necessary for improving health and reducing health inequalities through action on social determinants.

The Commission has created nine Knowledge Networks (KN) as a critical strategy for the collection, dissemination and promotion of the use of knowledge on social determinants of health. The KNs are organized around priority social determinants of health and health inequities that have strong impact and are modifiable. The Women and Gender Equity Knowledge Network (WGE KN) is one of these networks.

WHC Library

The WHC maintains a library to support the work of the Council. The collection includes books, journals and official publications focusing on social and policy dimensions of women's health. External readers requiring access to the library for research purposes should contact the librarian:
tel: 01 8658337; email: eodonoghue@whc.ie

Membership of External Bodies & Committees

Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency
Derry Well Woman - Women's Health Policy Advisory Group
National Committee on Breast Feeding

 

Copyright    Privacy Statement    Acceptable Usage Policy    Terms and Conditions of Use

Block D, Irish Life Centre, Abbey Street Lwr, Dublin 1
t: 353 1 878 3777   f: 353 1 878 3710   info@whc.ie

Produced by Desire Publishing Ltd.