New Constitution for Women

Published: Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Article first appeared in the Cork Independent, 20 September 2012

An event to inform women about the upcoming constitutional convention and the need to affect real change in the document will be held next Monday in Cork city.

The event, open to the public and being organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland and UCC's Women's studies programme, is urging women from all over Munster to attend the seminar.

"The Constitution is our most important legal document," said Orla O'Connor, acting CEO of the NWCI.

"It influences our laws but also our values. Women are marginalised and demeaned in this current Constitution. The time has come for change. We want to create an inclusive constitution for all women. This meeting will be a place where women can learn more about the constitutional convention and also work for real change in the Constitution."

The Government has announced a constitutional convention to look at a range of issues including the reference to women's place being in the home, women in politics and marriage equality. The convention may also ask to look at other issues in the future.

The NWCI is advocating changes such as women being recognised as full and active citizens, the role of fathers as carers acknowledged and the end of discrimination of same-sex couples.