#FemGen: Make the General Election 2016 a Breakthrough Election for Women in Ireland

Published: Wednesday, January 06, 2016

On Nollaig na mBan, also known as Women’s Little Christmas, the day women traditionally take off to get together after Christmas while men are left at home to do the housework, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) calls on all General Election 2016 candidates to make the General Election a breakthrough election for women’s equality and sign up to NWCI’s Breakthrough Manifesto for Women that is being launched today.

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,
“This election has the potential to be a breakthrough election for women in Ireland. The gender quota has ensured that, for the first time, voters will have a real choice to vote for more women. With our Breakthrough Manifesto we now want to encourage all candidates to demonstrate their support for concrete policies that will be crucial to accelerate the pace of change for women’s equality in Ireland.”

She continued,
“One of the 10 key demands highlighted in our Manifesto is to remove the 8th Amendment from our Constitution to provide women with full reproductive rights and ensure that Irish law is in line with international Human Rights standards.

Women in Ireland will also be looking for candidates that are clearly committed to tackling one of the biggest barriers for women’s participation in the labour market and public life by investing into affordable, accessible, quality early years care and education, delivering comprehensive after school care and improving family leave.”

She said,
“One in five women in Ireland experience physical and sexual violence.  After Ireland finally signed the Istanbul Convention on Violence against Women in 2015, we need candidates who will prioritise its implementation, including strengthening legislation and investing in frontline services. Women in Ireland also want a commitment from their future politicians to deliver a strong new Action Plan for Women’s Equality that reflects the diversity of all women in Ireland and ensures an all-government-approach to change Ireland’s track record on women’s equality.”

NWCI’s Breakthrough Manifesto highlights 10 key areas to bring about much needed change for women in Ireland. By signing  up to the manifesto through NWCI’s website (www.nwci.ie), candidates will commit to supporting these policies when elected to Dail Eireann.
NWCI has members and followers in every constituency in Ireland. We will be in close contact with them throughout the election campaign and provide regular updates on the support for our Breakthrough Manifesto. People will also be able to follow conversations around the General Election from a women’s equality perspective on #FemGen.

Ends/

For more information, please contact Sarah Clarkin, Communications Officer, Tel. 085 861 9087.

You can read the fill manifesto, sign up as a candidate, or check which candidates have signed as a voter, by clicking here.