Member Focus - Clare Women's Network
The Clare Women’s Network, Clonroad Business Park, Ennis, Co Clare
Tel : 065 682 87 31
Fax: 065 682 20 17
Helpline : 085 1554 800
Email : clarewomen@eircom.net
Website : www.clarewomensnetwork.org
Member Profile
The Clare Womens Network (CWN) has been in existence since 1993 and is currently funded as a Community Development Project through the National Community Development Programme. The CWN have a voluntary board of management made up of women from varying backgrounds and locations throughout Clare. The CWN use International frameworks to guide the gender equality aims of the organisation, including CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, The Beijing Platform for Action, the Millenium Goals and the National Women's Strategy which was produced in Ireland in 2007.
These International and national agreements act as a framework to monitor critical areas of concern for women, which include women's health, violence against women, women in decision making, women's social and economic human rights towards equality and well being.
The values that underpin our Mission included: Equality, Respect and Inclusion. We welcome and encourage all women to work for & with each other.
AIMS OF THE NETWORK
1. To continue to develop an efficient and vibrant management group, that reflects our values and vision in steering and implementing the work of the network.
2. Provide support for women to enhance their quality of life.
3. To inform and influence policy and practice in relation to improving women's lives at a local regional national and international level.
The Clare Womens Network support women in County Clare through a variety of methods including the CWN website, social networking pages, one to one support for women and support to a variety of groups in the Clare area.
The Clare Womens Network Community Based Singing GroupGroups supported by the CWN include
- Birth Choice Clare (lobbying for choices on maternity services for women in Clare in the absence of maternity hospital or unit);
- Keeping Mum ( a community arts project on women's birth stories),
- Women Together Network ( A national organisation of women working on mental health issues and services affecting women in Ireland),
- An Banola (A group of women based in Ennis),
- The Clare Womens Network Community Based Singing Group
- La Leche League - ( the Clare branch of a national organisation supporting women breast feeding their babies).
The CWN are currently supporting the development of a Lesbian/Bisexual Support Group and a Cancer Support group for women. The Clare Womens Network have hosted a variety of courses for women including;
- An introduction to Women's Studies,
- Economic Literacy (demystifying economics),
- Gender Development,
- Supporting your child's learning,
- Personal Development ,
- Stress management and relaxation for women
The CWN have hosted Events and information seminars on gender awareness and training for such groups as Youthreach Progression, the Equality Authority and the CWN have held information seminars on women's pensions, women's mental health, and International Women's Day events.
The CWN represent issues affecting women in the following areas; The Clare Local Area on Domestic Violence (a group of statutory and community agencies raising awareness on domestic violence in Clare), Social Inclusion Measure, Representation at the regional Community Development Programme.
The CWN are the nationally elected representative of the National Women's Council of Ireland on the monitoring committee of the National Women's Strategy implementation group.
The CWN are members of the National Women's Council of Ireland, The National Community Development Forum, Banulacht, Aontas and are the Clare representatives on the board of the National Collective of Community based Women's Networks.
The CWN have been involved in such campaigns as; " Women say No Going Back" in partnership with the National Women's Council of Ireland, National Campaign against cuts to the National Community Development Programme, Campaign on women's equality in pension rights.