Violence against women and cost of living crises key concerns for women North and South

Published: Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Violence against women is at epidemic levels in Ireland. And as the cost of living crisis persists, it continues to cause greater harm to women. Over the next two days in Dundalk, women from all communities on the island will meet to discuss these twin crises, and to build cross-border solutions.

NWC Head of Campaigns and Mobilisation, Rachel Coyle, said:

“The biggest crises facing women on this shared island know no borders. In both jurisdictions, north and south, women work hard to support each other in the face of violence and economic inequality. At today’s forum, we’re bringing women together in solidarity, to share experiences and to develop cross-border solutions to improve the lives of women across this island”.  

NWC Chair Margaret Martin said:

“The All-Island Women’s Forum is a hugely important space for us to connect with each other and stand in solidarity against the challenges that face us as women. I am looking forward to hearing from a range of diverse voices as we explore these challenges together.”

The All-Island Women’s Forum is coordinated by the National Women’s Council (NWC) and brings together women from both sides of the border, from marginalised communities, and spanning generations.

As well as centring women’s voices in community and peacebuilding, the forum builds all-island alliances and solidarity. The Forum has made several recommendations to both governments, including developing an all-island strategy on gender-based violence, introducing gender quotas for local politics, and improving economic equality.

Ends/

For comment: Rachel Coyle

Find here the All-Island Women’s Forum 2022 report: https://www.nwci.ie/images/uploads/NWC_All_Island_Forum.pdf

For more information, please contact Sinéad Nolan, NWC Communications and Social Media Coordinator, sineadn@nwci.ie

Notes:

What: All-Island Women’s Forum conference

When: 1 & 2 November

Where: Dundalk

About NWC

The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. We have over 190 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters.

This year we celebrate 50 years since our foundation with a special calendar of events and campaigns.

The ambition of the National Women’s Council is an Ireland where every woman enjoys true equality and no woman is left behind. This ambition shapes and informs our work, and, with our living values, how we work.

We are a movement-building organisation rooted in our membership, working on the whole island of Ireland. We are also part of the international movement to protect and advance women’s and girls’ rights. Our purpose is to lead action for the achievement of women’s and girls’ equality through mobilising, influencing, and building solidarity. Find out more on www.nwci.ie