NWCI welcomes the launch of the new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017 - 2020
Published: Friday, May 19, 2017
Ireland's new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020: Creating a Better Society for All was launched on 3 May by Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD in Dublin Castle.
Speaking at the launch, NWCI Director Orla O’Connor called for Government departments to get on board to ensure the included aims are realised, and said that anything less than equality is unacceptable.
The vision presented in the new National Strategy is ambitious, and NWCI welcomes the fact that this is a much needed Strategy focussing on women and girls in Ireland.
The Strategy includes important recommendations on family leave, affordable childcare and pay and pensions, very importantly reiterating the Programme for Government commitment to gender budgeting.
NWCI particularly welcomes the commitment to establish a Women’s Health Action Plan, a key campaign of ours over the last number of years, which will provide a real opportunity to focus on women’s health needs.
However, there are significant challenges to reach the vision of equality between women and men. Inequality for women is a persistent reality and as the Strategy is launched today, ten women will travel to access abortion in the UK and further afield, and more will order abortion pills online.
In 2018, we urgently need to see a referendum on the Eighth Amendment – there can be no equality between women and men until women can control all aspects of our healthcare
As it stands, this Strategy is a series of commitments, it requires significant investment and prioritisation of resources for key areas such as violence against women, childcare and women’s economic independence. The Strategy will only be realised if each Government Department gets on board, both in terms of providing leadership and investment.