Her successor is expected to be named when Government boards are announced early in the New Year.

Having chaired the body for three years, "I think the highlight would be that we raised the awareness of sexual harassment policies and had them changed six months before anyone heard of Anita Hill or Clarence Thomas,'' Mrs. Young told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Also during her tenure, the council started the Crystal Award for organisations, companies, or individuals who helped enhance the quality of life for women.

Equal treatment for women under Immigration laws was pursued, and improved breast cancer testing was successfully lobbied for.

"Bermuda will remember that the council was among those that brought about changes in the sexual assault legislation to protect those victims of the devastating rise in crimes involving women and along with other groups became `watch dogs' for unfair treatment of women by the court system,'' the council said in a news release.

Changes were promoted in how Police handled "domestic violence,'' the appointment and promotion of women in Government was pushed for, and early information was made available to parents about summer programmes for children.

Mrs. Young said she was stepping down because she and the council felt the position should be rotated every two to three years to assure the council was "seen to be representative of a very wide opinion on women's issues.'' Family leave and equal pay legislation, better protection for the mentally handicapped, increased sensitivity of judges to gender bias, "and the elimination of all discrimination against women,'' would remain on the council's agenda, she said.

The idea of the 10-member body was to work through Government Ministries, "not to create a lot of hoopla,'' Mrs. Young said. "I think they accept our recommendations.'' Mrs. Young, who was not sure whether she would remain a member of the council, thanked those who served with her for being "supportive and cohesive.'' She has been a member since the council started in 1987.

Before that, Mrs. Young and Mrs. Helle Paterson organised an Island-wide petition against under-age drinking and heightened awareness of the problem.

Mrs. Young said she would remain active on the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Women's Hospital Auxiliary, the Women's Resource Centre, and the Domestic Court Panel.

Mrs. Kim Young.