Constitutional Convention gives a strong mandate for women’s equality

Published: Saturday, February 16, 2013

Voting in Dublin today the Constitutional Convention made a series of recommendations to improve equality for women in Ireland.

An overwhelming majority of the Convention members voted to accept recommendations made by the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) to amend article 41.2 of the Constitution. The NWCI argued for a gender neutral clause which values the work of carers both inside the home and in wider society.

Speaking today Orla O'Connor, Director of the NWCI said,

"The clause on women in the home needed to be amended to reflect the lives of women in Ireland today. This is a positive result for women and is a crucial step towards a more equal Ireland. It is important that the Constitution also recognises, and supports, the invaluable contribution made by carers to our families and to our society."

The Convention also made recommendations to improve the participation of women in politics and public life.
Eóin Murray, Coordinator of the NWCI Women in Politics project said,

"The Convention agreed our democracy is not complete until we have more women in politics. The government should use this mandate to enhance and diversify citizen participation. We need to create a democracy where women from rural Ireland, poor women, as well as Travellers and ethnic minority women all feel welcome. A diverse democracy is a strong democracy."

Orla O'Connor concluded,

"The government must now take on board all the points raised and put them to a referendum as soon as possible."

Ends/

For more information, please contact Silke Paasche, Communications Officer, National Women's Council of Ireland, Tel. 085 858 9104