National Women’s Strategy Breadth of Women’s Inequalities acknowledged: Mechanisms to remove them ab

Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The National Womens Council of Ireland (NWCI) has responded with an overall sense of disquiet at the launch of the Governments National Womens Strategy this afternoon, Wednesday 18th April.

While the NWCI welcomes the Governments focus on womens equality and the recognition of the inequalities that persist for women in Ireland, we are aware that a fundamental flaw exists within this Strategy. The Strategy as such, is not an action plan, since it does not include measurable targets and timescales, stated Orla OConnor, Head of Policy at the NWCI, in reaction to the Strategy.

For example, there are no defined targets on how to make childcare more affordable for women in Ireland, she continued. The strategy provides actions to deal with a wide range of womens inequalities but it seems unlikely that these will be achieved without clear incrementally assessed objectives for the 10-year duration of the Strategy.

A significant omission from the Strategy is the lack of specific quotas to encourage an increase in the representation of women in decision-making structures. The NWCI has consistently highlighted that under the current rate of change women will have to wait 370 years to achieve parity (50% representation in the Dail). Such policies (quotas) have worked successfully in other countries, such as Sweden, where there has been a significant increase in womens participation in political party membership, candidacy in elections and decision-making roles.
The NWCI also expressed disappointment that the allocation of resources for the duration of the Strategy was the original amount earmarked in the National Development Plan 2007-2013, with 58 million allocated for the duration of this National Womens Strategy 2007-2016. This figure remains at less than 0.01% GDP and represents a relatively small amount of money for all that needs to be addressed and achieved over the coming decade continued Ms OConnor.

The NWCI welcomes the establishment of the National Womens Strategy Co-ordinating Committee but feels that it is now important that the voices and experiences of all Committee members are both heard and actively incorporated so that they will impact on the outcomes of the Strategy.

Therese Murphy, Chairperson of the NWCI, reacted by questioning if the Strategy truly reflected the needs of all women in Ireland, as Mr Frank Fahy TD stated at the launch? While the Strategy recognises the diversity of experiences of all groups of women, there are no specific action plans to address the inequalities experienced by groups such as Migrant women and Traveller women.

Concluding, Ms OConnor stated In the absence of imperatives such as measurable targets and timescales, the NWCI is concerned that the Strategy will remain an aspirational document. Women in Ireland may therefore have to wait until 2016 to see if the Government have delivered on a Strategy which aspires to an Ireland where all women enjoy equality with men and can achieve their full potential while enjoying a safe and fulfilling life??