Munster Women call for a new Constitution - Press Release

Published: Sunday, September 16, 2012

Women from Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Clare, Kerry and Tipperary will come together to call for a new Constitution for Ireland in Cork on Monday, 24th September.

The event "A Constitution for all Women" is being convened by the National Women's Council of Ireland [NWCI] and the UCC Women's Studies Programme.

Orla O'Connor, acting CEO of the NWCI said,
"The Constitution is our most important legal document. It influences our laws but also our values. Women are marginalised and demeaned in this current Constitution. The time has come for change."

She continued,

"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 wants to see real change in the Constitution so that women are recognised as full and active citizen and the role of fathers as carers is acknowledged. Discrimination against same-sex couples must be ended.

At the meeting the NWCI will consult members on a commissioned 'working paper' which outlines reform options for the Convention. The research has been produced with Dr. Alan Brady BL (TCD) and provides international legal examples and evidence on creating a Constitution founded in equality and rights for women.

Dr. Sandra McAvoy who directs the UCC Women's studies programme said,
"This meeting represents a chance for women from throughout Munster to talk to experts, lawyers and politicians about the kind of changes we want to see in the Constitution. We hope that as many women as possible will attend because we do not want to make the same mistake twice."

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Silke Paasche, Communications and Membership Development Officer, NWCI
Mobile: 085 85 89 104 E-mail: silkep@nwci.ie

Note for editors: The meeting "A Constitution for All Women" takes place from 10:30h in the Gresham Metropole Hotel, MacCurtain Street, Cork on the 24th of September. The meeting will be addressed by Art O'Leary (Head Civil servant of the Constitutional Convention), Dr. Mary Murphy (NUIM), Dr. Alan Brady (TCD), Dr. Sandra McAvoy (UCC). It will also include a reading of a play by Kathy D'Arcy called 'This is My Constitution.' The event is open to the public, particularly women but prior registration is essential. Media is welcome to attend during the morning session. RSVP to aoifec@nwci.ie