NWCI Women’s Charter on Equality

Published: Monday, January 17, 2011

The Charter was developed to support local decision and policy making bodies, businesses, trade unions and women's groups to promote the achievement of women's equality as an important aspect of their work. It takes account of the views expressed by women and men gathered at 6 meetings held throughout the country as part of the consultation process.

We invite you to endorse the Charter by signing the declaration on the poster and by placing the name of your organisation on the Charter itself. This will probably follow discussion at your Board/Management or appropriate internal meetings. We encourage you to use the Charter as a mechanism for measuring your progress in meeting the needs of women. We would also ask that you highlight your work in this regard with other organisations in your area.

Our vision is of an Ireland, and of a world, where all women and men have equal power to shape society and their own lives. (NWCI)

• We believe that it is necessary to include a strong, explicit focus on the needs of women in our strategies, policies, programmes and services.
• We recognise the importance of ensuring that the views of women are central to our decision making processes.
• We recognize and value the contribution women make to Irish society through economic, social, cultural and political development and we will strive to harness and build on that contribution in our work.
• We acknowledge that the full participation of women and the protection of their rights are essential to the development of a sustainable, thriving and equal Irish society and we are committed to playing our part in making that a reality.
• We recognize that the impact of our policies, actions and services will be stronger when gender considerations are taken into account at the outset and when the achievement of human rights and equality for women informs everything that we do.
• We acknowledge the diversity that exists amongst women and the specific and multiple forms of oppression and discrimination faced by particular groups of women.
• We will ensure that responses to meeting the needs of women reflect this diversity and prioritise those who are most marginalised.
• We are committed to taking the necessary and appropriate steps to eliminate all forms of sexism and discrimination against women and remove barriers to women's equality.
• We wish to develop our organization as one where women can participate as equals. We want our organization to be a place where sexism and discrimination against women is effectively addressed.
• We will ensure that we are aware of all relevant equality laws and that these laws are respected and fully complied with in our employment practice and in the implementation of our work programmes.

Click here to download the charter and poster.

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