Ireland’s record on women’s human rights under the microscope as NWCI present to CEDAW Committee in Geneva

Published: Monday, November 23, 2015

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) was today in Geneva to highlight the issues that the UN Committee governing the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) needs to raise with the Irish government in relation to women’s human rights.

Alice Mary Higgins, Policy Officer at NWCI said,
“This is an important moment in relation to women’s human rights, specifically in relation to reproductive rights, women’s economic rights and legacy issues around the abuse of women. Ireland hasn’t reported to the UN on its compliance with the CEDAW Convention in over 10 years, and we have a long way to go to achieve full equality. NWCI’s presentation to CEDAW will aim to encourage the Committee to be as ambitious and comprehensive as possible in their questions to the State.”

Alice Mary Higgins continued,
“A crucial part in our presentation in Geneva was asking that the Committee ensure that in answering each question on the List of Issues, the Irish Government offer information and answers for all groups of women, including those who experience intersectional discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender and other factors.  Of utmost importance is that the Committee ask the State what measures it is taking to address the regressive impact which austerity has had on women, to restore supports to national and community-based women’s organisation and to reduce the gender pay gap and ensure such goals are reflected in high level fiscal decision making.”

Other recommendations made to Committee include:
• That the Committee ask the State how and when they will implement the recommendations of other UN bodies and hold a referendum to repeal Article 40.3.3 of the Irish Constitution, decriminalise abortion and repeal the Abortion Information Act 1995.
• That the Committee the State about its plans for an independent evaluation of the implementation and impact of the current National Women’s Strategy or information on timelines, consultation, targets and resources required to ensure the next plan is effective. 
• That the Committee ask the State what steps are being taken to replace Article 41. 2 with clause on the value of care and integrate economic, social and cultural rights into the Constitution; to address historic pension inequalities and introduce a Care Credit within Social Protection; to deliver full, independent inquiries into both Symphysiotomy and the Magdalene Laundries, inclusive of survivors testimony and with consequences, such as prosecution, for perpetrators; to implement Justice Quirke’s 2013 restorative justice proposals on institutional violence.

Ends/

For more information, please contact Sarah Clarkin, Communications and Social Media Officer at NWCI: 085 0619 087