Why bother with Brussels? Women's Institute

The Women's Institute (WI) provides women with the chance to build new skills and to take part in a variety of activities including campaigning on issues that matter to them and their communities.

Every year WI members have the chance to put forward issues or resolutions' that they would like the national body to campaign on. These resolutions go through a year long debating and consultation process by the membership. Once the resolutions have been short-listed by the membership a select number are chosen for discussion at the AGM in June. If passed, these then become mandates and form the basis of campaigning activities in the years ahead. This process ensures that campaigns have been through a democratic process involving all members and come from the grassroots of the organisation. 

What is the issue?

Tens of thousands of chemicals are made and released into the environment every day. Some of these chemicals are particularly 'persistent', meaning they stay in the environment for a long time and do not break down, but actually build up in the body or interfere with hormone systems.  The WI have been campaigning on this issue since the 1960s. With a mandate already from their membership they seized the once in a lifetime opportunity' presented by the European Commission in 2003 when they began drafting new legislation in this area. Over the next three years the WI campaigned to ensure legislation to reduce the threat of hazardous chemicals and a Europe wide system for testing and approving chemicals was passed. 

Campaign Tactics

Campaigning with others 

Working in collaboration with WWF-UK the WI lobbied MEPs to ensure that the strongest legislation on hazardous chemicals was passed by the Parliament. The partnership worked well as both organisations were able to bring their unique expertise to the campaign; the WWF-UK provided strong and compelling evidence through their toxicology experts whilst the WI were able to able to mobilise members into action to provide the people power'. 

This was the first time the WI had influenced the EU, so the WWF-UK were able to provide more general support explaining how the lobbying process worked at the European level and helping to set up initial meetings and  European parliamentary receptions.

Involving your members

In March 2004 the WI and WWF-UK held a joint event to explain the issues surrounding the campaign to their members. Members were then asked to write to their own MEPs urging them to vote for the strongest regulations around this issue as possible.  In the lead up to the vote in the European Parliament WI members met personally with their MEPs around the country to reinforce the WI's position.  Members also visited Brussels to lobby MEPs before the first plenary vote and then to Strasbourg for the final push of last minute lobbying before the vote in the  Parliament.

Gain attention

Strive to stand out. The WI used various campaign tactics to raise the profile of their campaign amongst MEPs and the media.

A red London double decker  bused WI members to parliament in Brussels  to deliver a petition calling for stricter legislation on chemicals found in household products. The petition contained 77,000 signatures and was presented to the European Parliament's Petitions Committee along with the results of blood test results taken from samples across the UK that contained the presence of chemicals, to underline the issue.  A member also addressed the Petitions Committee explaining just why the Women's Institute was so insistent on strong legislation.

On the day before the final vote in Starsburg  an installation was built using everyday products that contain harmful chemicals outside the Parliament to draw attention to the vote.

Get personal

The WI asked supporters to write individual handwritten letters that explained why the issue is so important to them personally and relevant to the MEP who would receive it. WI campaigners were struck by seeing two separate piles for post in some MEPs offices they visited - one for handwritten letters and the other for templates. They also tried to make the letters stand out visually - something simple like using coloured paper or the use of pictures or a colourful logo. 

They felt that the largest impact was achieved by actually speaking to MEPs in person, by establishing relationships and explaining the issue and actions they could take. The WI found MEPs very accessible, from booking a cheap Eurostar ticket, to making pre-appointments through MEPs offices in the UK. And as the campaign progressed the WI often found themselves knocking on MEPs doors to secure the amendments were voted through.

The final vote in the European Parliament took place in December 2006 when MEPs voted on legislation that will require reassessment of thousands of chemical products currently on the market and a shift in emphasis to developing new and less harmful alternatives.

Stick with it

The campaign lasted four years but it's simple if you believe in something then don't give up on it, make as much personal contact as you can, use all the campaigning tools you can and don't go away. Ruth Bond, Women's Institute

With thanks to Ruth Bond, Women's Institute

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