NWCI says new Framework document will not provide Covid-19 recovery for women

Published: Thursday, April 16, 2020

The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) today said the new framework document will not provide the recovery needed for women. 

Orla O'Connor, Director of NWCI said, 

"This Framework document was an opportunity to set a clear path for high quality public services and instead it is weak on how the next government will deliver the services that so badly needed, particularly by women. Equality is not included in its values, showing a failure to understand the breadth and depth of inequality that exists in our society."

Orla O'Connor continued, 

"There are positives such as Slaintecare and a Living Wage, and there is potential in some areas such as exploring more flexible ways of working, and tackling domestic and sexual violence, although it lacks a commitment on increasing much needed refuge spaces.  Indeed, the document says more by what is absent than what is contained within. There is no commitment to a model of public childcare, which is an absolute necessity for women, families and workers. Similarly, there is no clear specific commitment as to a how a large-scale public housing programme will be delivered, no clear commitment to addressing the inadequacy of welfare payments and no inclusion of a progressive model of taxation that could fund quality public services into the future and no recognition of the enhanced debt families will have as a result of Covid-19."

Orla O'Connor concluded, 

"It is critical that the role and leadership of civil society in recent years both to drive significant progressive change and to deliver for people in a time a crisis is recognised in a substantive way, such as through the National Economic Plan. As it stands, this document will not advance women’s rights and equality with the ambition and the actions that we would have expected. It is critical that a new government is formed but it must be with the values, commitments and policies to bring about an equal, just and sustainable society."

Ends 

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