National Women’s Council calls for women to be at centre of constitutional debate
Published: Thursday, October 10, 2024
In its presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement today (10th October 2024), the National Women’s Council (NWC) highlighted the need to centre the voices and experiences of women North and South in any debate on the constitutional question.
NWC called for the establishment of spaces for dialogue and discussion, such as Citizens Assemblies, and the provision of resources and funding that would allow women’s community groups and marginalised women, such as Traveller women, migrant women and disabled women, to participate fully in the discussions on the future of Ireland.
Orla O’Connor, Director of NWC said,
“For us, the inclusion of women is not a box-ticking exercise but an essential component for building a democratic and equitable future. Women build our communities often championing social justice, care, equality, and sustainability—issues that must be at the heart of any conversation about the future of Ireland.
Creating a safe space for this debate is critical. Safety means fostering an environment where women, particularly those from marginalised communities, can express their views without fear of intimidation, hostility, or marginalisation.”
As an all-island organisation the National Women’s Council has been leading a number of initiatives, such as NWC’s All-Island Women’s Forum, which have shown the benefit of creating dedicated spaces for dialogue and collaboration. But it is essential that adequate funding is made available to continue to support these initiatives and allow women in their diversity to have their voices heard.
Orla O’Connor said,
“To ensure the meaningful inclusion of women’s voices in discussions about constitutional change, it is essential that dedicated funding and resources are made available from the outset. Inclusion cannot happen without the financial support needed to allow women—particularly those from marginalised communities—to engage fully.”
She concluded,
“We want to see a better island for all women. Women face unique challenges, such as additional care responsibilities, economic inequality, trauma, and regional and cross-border service access issues, which must be addressed by both jurisdictions acting in harmony with regard to legislation and resource commitment. This work needs to be ongoing and be a critical part of discussions on constitutional change. “
Ends/