Total equality not yet achieved

It is ironic that the Examiner, on the first ever UN International Day of the Girl, 11 October, chose to publish an article saying that there is no longer a need for the National Women’s Council (NWCI).

The fact remains that despite making up 51% of the population of Ireland, women’s equality has not been achieved and is often relegated to the margins of Irish society, where just 15% of TDs and 19% of local councillors are women.

Women are often invisible in debates about the nature of our current crisis and options for recovery. On all counts of poverty, income and social exclusion, women are less well-off and earn less than men.

This year the NWCI is 40 years old. As a network of over 160 organisations we work together to develop constructive responses to the needs of diverse groups of women throughout Ireland.

Despite significant improvement of women’s rights in Ireland, many issues have remained virtually unchanged and the NWCI continuously works to address these.

Since 2008 we have studied the impact of the recession and austerity measures on women and campaigned for change in the model of recovery currently being pursued. Our Women into Politics project seeks to support the participation of women in political life and to develop a model of a woman-friendly Oireachtas. Our abortion working group coordinates actions to campaign for legislation in relation to the X and ABC cases and the recently-established Y Factor project seeks to support young women and men to become leaders for women’s equality.

Our role, therefore, is to develop analyses of the common issues that affect all women in society, to provide a voice to women in their diversity and to build solidarity amongst women. Men are welcome to join and many do.

In recent years the struggle for women’s equality has lost ground. The myth that women’s equality has been achieved continues to pervade public discourse. Women deserve and have a right to better. They have a right to live in a country and a world free from gender stereotyping, violence and poverty.

Perhaps most importantly, women have a right to organise and to participate in a platform that facilitates them to develop and give voice to their concerns. The National Women’s Council of Ireland exists to provide that platform.

Orla O’Connor

Director

National Women’s Council of Ireland

Parnell Sq

Dublin 1