President demands action on gender inequality

President Michael D Higgins has said that Ireland has yet to achieve gender equality, and called on the international community to do more to end inequality and violence against women.

The President made the comments in New York yesterday at a UN Global Leaders’ meeting entitled ‘Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment — A Commitment to Action’.

President Higgins said that while Ireland recognises it needs to do more to achieve equality for women in areas in our own country, gender equality will become a priority in the country’s foreign policy. The event was hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and China’s president Xi Jinping on the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform on Gender Equality.

President Higgins also spoke at a UN Sustainable Development Summit on Saturday, at which he said that the financial crisis had seen inequalities increase significantly around the world.

• Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Dublin issued a tweet last night, confirming that Pope Francis has decided the 2018 World Meeting of Families will be held in the capital.