Women’s Equality in Northern Ireland

Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2017

In early December, NWCI visited our Northern Ireland Group Members on a fact finding mission and to look at ways for future co-operation. First port of call was NWCI group member, Women’s Resource Development Agency (WRDA) in Belfast. The WRDA’s work revolves around advocating for policy change and providing training for community groups. We were lucky enough to take part in a Northern Ireland review meeting on the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) - which reviewed Ireland earlier this year. We also had the opportunity to sit in on WRDA’s Northern Ireland Women’s Policy meeting, attended by other NWCI group member Women’s Support Network (for Community groups), as well as Women’s Aid Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Here’s some insights from the day.

The Roll Back of Gender Equality Legislation

With no access to abortion or same sex marriage as in the UK, women in Northern Ireland face other challenges in terms of access to affordable childcare and high domestic violence rates, with 2017 having the highest rates since 2004/2005. In addition, Brexit threatens any European gender equality legislation achieved. As a result, much of the work by WRDA and other NI Human Rights groups involves campaigning for the application of positive UK Equality legislation to NI and prevent the roll back of any EU legislation implemented. 

Action at Local Council and Community Group Level

Despite the political fallout of the Assembly, headway is being made at a local level with councils and women’s community groups - the backbone for many women in NI through the ‘Troubles’ until today. WRDA have been successful in organising childcare grass roots activism amongst community groups and families to campaign the 11 local councils to include childcare facilities and funding in upcoming planning strategies. In early 2018, Belfast City Council will be the first council to hold an information session on Gender Budgeting for employees and other councils across Northern Ireland. Other success stories are mentoring programmes to get women into local councils and authorities. 

North South Co-operation in 2018

For 2018 and beyond, we look forward to strengthening co-operation with our members in Northern Ireland. NWCI Member groups from the North and cross-border counties include: Foyles Women’s Aid, Women Resource Development Agency, Women’s Support Network, Derry Women’s Centre, Dochas Refuge for Women Monaghan, Tearmann Domestic Violence Service Monaghan, Foyle’s Womens Aid, Donegal Traveller Women’s Project, Donegal Women’s Network, and Inishowen Women’s Network.