Covid-19 must lead to a better future for women

Published: Thursday, May 21, 2020

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today highlighted the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 crisis on women and new ways to build and reimagine a society based on feminist values as we move into a recovery phase.

Speakers at NWCI’s ‘Setting the #Feminist Agenda’ webinar included Feminist campaigner, Ailbhe Smyth, Stella Creasy, MP and Eileen Flynn from the National Traveller Women’s Forum.

Orla O’Connor, Director of NWCI said,

“Women provide the majority of care work and are more likely to be in low paid and precarious work. They are more likely to parent alone, and women experiencing abuse are suffering tremendously in lockdown. Covid-19 affects women and men differently, and will continue to long into the future. To rebuild our society and meet the significant challenges ahead, we must make sure women’s experiences are at the centre of a new programme for change in Ireland.”

Orla O’Connor continued,

“In a crisis, we reach for good ideas. A single tier health system, increased investment in combatting violence against women, an emergency rent freeze and an increase in the levels of social welfare payments have all been implemented in a number of weeks. This is our opportunity to ensure these policies and supports remain after the crisis to build a sustainable economy and tackle inequalities in our society.”

This seminar was the first in the NWCI #FeministAgenda webinar series. Over the coming weeks we will be discussing key issues for women, including the economy, violence against women, health and climate change.

A livestream of the webinar is available on NWCI’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NationalWomensCouncilofIreland/

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For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Head of Communications, NWCI, Tel. 085 858 9104.