Conference to chart ‘20 years of progress’ for women

A major conference this week will assess 20 years of progress towards equality for women in Ireland and investigate how much more needs to be done.

The international line-up of speakers is dominated by female heads of state, and academic, campaign, and charitable bodies, as well as President Michael D Higgins and Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

Friday’s conference, hosted by the Irish Human Rights Commission and the National Women’s Council of Ireland, takes place on the 20th anniversary of the UN’s landmark World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. That led to the Beijing Declaration with participating governments signing up to the goal of “equality, development, and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity”.