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Vital Voices in Belfast 9/211998: [Correspondence and Background Infonnation] [1].
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60
7
8
1
�•
,,
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'
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LO·~DON
[·, \ \ il t!
Tuesday 9 June
TO: Mo Mo\dam
--,
'
SWIA OAA
., 19 .:::...: . -~::,
FROM: Helen Jackson.· .
Meetirig with \-isitors from the White House Office
re: "Vital Voices" Conference
I met with Theresa Loar and .AJyse Nelson of the US-State Deparnnent
(International Women's Issues) on Friday 5 June. ·
We discussed the proposed confe'rence- a sizeable one:· TI1e target is 400, to
include about 250 from Northern Ireland and others from the United States,
Europe and the Republic of Ireland.. It \\·ill inct'ude a big event in d1e
Waterfront Hall, together with working groups on different issues.
Tbemes- Bridge Building:.
To build sustainable srrucmr~s or bridges betweel1 peace- initiatives in which
. women ha\·e been im-olwd- Partnership Commigees; women's cenrres,
mediation work, ere. and the new Northern Ireland Assembly and od1er
political bodies (on which there could be as_fe\\ . :as 5 or 6 women our of 108) ...
i ,
Target ·.·outcomes" of Conference
·• Tangible proposals to tie Parn1ership S::ommittees into the work of d1e
Assembly.
• Arrangements possibly to march funding comminnent \\·id1 projects given
European Peace & ReconciliatiOtl fundii1g.
• Practical proposals for the work of d1e Norrhen1 Ireland Civic ·Forum:
.(i) How can d1e women's network be represented ?
. (ii) How can it int1uence the agenda ? ·
· . ·. (iii) Where will the Ci\·ic Forum operate ?
(iv) Will it ha\-e a de\-olved structure ?
Cr).\\f/
C\CTt!FF'i
/,'!c
H! L l . S B i) R U 1_· Ci H L l !3 i~ A R '; .. \ i l D D
.[:
I
r:i '.:nd ilurn· Hurplwm
WOOD P.O-\D_ SHEFFlELD 56. -+HD
.'
-
�.
•
I
..
•
Practical ideas for incorporating the women's activities on training and so
forth into the. agenda of the propo~ed North~South body. What ideas are
appropriate tor cross--border de\·elopment ?
Methods
Need to ha\·e skilled facilitators to run workshops. I suggested they contact
Bronagh Hinds, joanne Vance and the WEA.
Ke~110te speakers suggested iriduded (in addition to yourself and Hilary
Clinton):
• Monica Wolt~Mathies
• Helena Kennedy
• Mary Robinson
• Mary Mc..A..leese
• Finnish Minister for Education & Women
• TI1ey wondered. if there was a political problem. in invoking Irish .
· Preside!Hs !
• You may haw other ideas
Other more local people we mentiot1ed included:.
• 'Inez McCormick
. • Lucy Woods
• · Brenda McCloughhn
• May Blood
• Margaret Myers
• Brid Rodgers
i
. '
• . Meg Russell and the Labour Party; Joan & Harriet
• Ann McGuire I Rosemary McK~nna I Sand fa Osbome ~Scotland·
· • Betty Williams~ Wales
It sounds a most useful e\·ent. Will you be able to take 'it further while you ·
are in tl1e States ? ·
�The. Working Lives
of Women:. & Men
.
tn
Northern Ireland
.
.
The Equal Opportunities Commission
· for Northern Ireland
�FOREWORD
The Commission has pro~uced this statistical factslieet followingthe high demand for our previous publication
"Women and Men in Northern .Ireland".
"The working lives of women arid men in Northern Ireland" presents factual up-to-date statistics on topics relevant
to everyone with an interest in equality issues in Northern Ireland. The main source of the figures is unpublished
data from the Spring 1995 Labour Force Survey. However, additional data has been obtained from the New Earnings
Survey ( 1996 ), Department of EconomiC. Development, and the Department of Health and Social Services.
Equal Opportunities Commission
for Northern Ireland
<::~amber of Commerce House
22 Great Victoria Street ·
Belfast BT2 7BA .
ISBN 0 906646 63 4
APRIL 1997
�')
;·
. l
�Age-specific economic activity rates for women and men (199$)
I:)
I:)
Table l.J
~
~
Age
<=20
21-24"
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
S0-54
55-59
60+
+0
ALL
Northern .Ireland el
Great Britain m!
Source: 1 ·
Female economic activity as ct percentage of male economic activity
· Age
. .: <=:20
' 21 ~24
'
.
~
.
.
. ::.15::29
.. ·::< ~o~34
'3.5-39
I
r
I
.
'· 40-44
:· 45~.49 ..
. 5,0~54
. 55-59
. . 6Q+
All
.
'; '
. ,
'
~i
.....:.;.,-. _., : ;
;
.
·,-. •
I~
.
46.6
73.8
81.0
78.6
81.0
78.4
75.4
67.7
·55.6
14.0
67.5
76.0
76.9
74.9
84:0
75.1
80.1
68.3
68.8
47.2
61.9
78.7
83.7
82.4
.84.5
85.7
87.3
79. 1
. 64.8
12.9
Table .l.2
90.0
78.2
75.3
.. 72.1
77.8
· 84.0
85.8
81.9
· 77.4
53.4
,:,. ·:.~ ·:cs~~y_, : -~',...:.- ··
Source: .l
7
f-0- ·
�;
I. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Age specific economic activity
During recent times, one of the most fundamental transformations to occur in women's lives has been the change
in the level of their participation in the labour market. Women over the age of ·~0 years are increasingly working
outside the home.
However, women. in Northern Ireland, regardless of age, are less likely .to. be. economically active 1 than men in
Northern Ireland and than women and men in Britain .. In 1995, ·47.9% of women in Northern Ireland were
economically active compared to 53.2% of women in Great Britain.The largest discrepancy between women in
Northern Ireland and Great Britain occurs for those aged less than 20 years; a ll)Uch larger proportion of women
in this age group are economically active in Britain than in Northern Ireland. This is due to the higher rates of
participation in education of young women in Northern Ireland. More than half (54.5%) of women aged 20 years or
less in Northern Ireland were inaCtive because they were students c6mpared to 30% in Britain.
In Northern Ireland, women between the ages of 35 and 39 years have the highest economic activity rates (72.6%)
and it is their participation rate which most closely resembles that ohheir male counterparts. In Britain the picture
is somewhat different; the age group of women most likely to be economiCally active is older than in Northern
Ireland (45-49 years) and the under 20s have the highest women to men' participation ratio (i.e. female economic
activity as a percentage of male economic activity).
Economic activity and age of youngest dependent child
In both Northern Ireland and Britain, there is a dear relationship between the age of youngest child and economic .
activity. Women who have a youngest dependent child aged four years or less are considerably less likely to be ·
economically active than are women of working age generally. This is the pattern in both Northern Ireland and Great
Britain. A significant increase economic activity and employment rates is seen once the youngest dependent child
reaches school age. Women in Northern Ireland with a youngest dependent child of any age ( 18 years or less) are
less likely to be economically active than are women in Britain. The fact that there are fewer places in day nurseries
or playgroups in Northern Ireland than in a~y other region of the United Kingdom may be a contributing factor to
the lower level of women's economic activit:y here. However, a higher percentage of women with pre-school-age
children in Northern Ireland are in employment than in Britain.
.
in
I The economically active. include employees in employritent, self-employed, those on training or gov~rnment employment 'schemes,
unpaid family workers and the unemployed.
5
.,
l
�Categories of, the econom.icall)' inactive: working . age' .poJJulation (1995)
.
.
~
''
~
TaMe 4
Student
Looking after.
home/family
Northern ·Ireland
Temporarily
. sick/disabled
Great Britain
Long-term·
· sick/disabled
Believes no
job available
Retired
Other
No Reason.
I
Womene
Men li!i1
Working age is defined as: men aged 16 to 64, w~men aged IS to 59 .
9
�Economic activity and number of dependent children
.I
!
i
j
i
There is a clear relationship between the number 9f dependent (;hildren and the rates of economic activity and .
employment for women of working age. Women with one or mor.e dependent child aged less than 19 years have
. considerably lower rates of economic activity and employment thai1 do their counterparts who have no dependent
children aged below 19 years. This pattern exists in both North~rn Ireland and Britain. The more dependent children
aged below 19 years a woman has, the less likely it is that she will be economically active or in paid employment.
In Northern Ireland a sharp decline in the level of economic activit)! of 16% is seen between women with three and
women with four dependent children. While women with five or more dependent children are least likely of all to
be economically active, the activity and employment rates are higher for these womeri in Northern Ireland than they
are in .Britain.
i
.l
I
Economic inactivity
The economically inactive are those people who are neither in nor seeking employment or a place on a government
training scheme; they do not take part in the labour market. Women account for 64% of working age people who.
are economically inactive. More than half of economically inactive women in both Northern Ireland and Britain
classify themselves as looking after the family or the home. Education also accounts for a large proportion of the
economically inactive;·especially in Northern Ireland. A third of economically inactive men and approximately a fifth
of economically inactive women are students.
6
�Occupatioruil composition ofemplo)•ees 1~n emplo)•ment by gender
Northern Ireland and Great Britain (1 995)
·
Table 5.1
Professional
occupations
Associate
p~ofessional/
technical
Clerical/
secretarial
Craft (inc.
construction)
· Protective/
personal service
Saies
Plant/machine
operative
Other
occupations
Northern Ireland B.f
Great Britain e!!l
Source: 1
Women as a percentage of occupational groups
and percentage of women working part-time (199.5)
', -~~·,~·~?!-' • : ., • ', , ,t• ' ·.,· .: ~
•.'' .
I
Table 5.2
,' ;;:
.. :·M~Q~gers and a~~ini~.~.tators >
'
,. -, .·:"-~~J.~)I'~7.,•.. ·
· . ~ ·~
·~ ~-.: -~
: P(ofessio~al oc·cupati9ns
·:• ·.
. ... .' · ;;-:: .
. .. .. ~ - .. ...· .:·) .
/ ~ ··:·
·. .·ASsoCiate professional/techniCal ..
34.7
33.0
17.3
18. 1
1
, • ,' • • ,
..
' \
; • ·',,
'
•
•
••
,
·: si~f.~~~~'se.~~~~d~-i
. p;~1~ctive/perso~-ai se~~ice
· s~~~~--
.
.-· ,._ ·;.··-_';.; . .,. ,
·
·.
I .·'
,
' Pi~~-Jmachine' op~ra~iVe
Oth~~: occupations
·;·
43.1
20:6
26.4
50.9
37.8
32.4
66.4
75.1
24.5
H .O
.
13.6
•_:; )·:_--:-;.~(:<· :
:_
· .Cr;i~- (inc. ~onsguctio_n)
. . ;, \'''
53.2
64.3
12.6
20.3
24.4
66.3
65.0
62.4
59.0
69.6
66.3
60.8
70.7
'
.
·\
23:2
21.0
23.4
28.1
55.3
.53.4
69.3
81.7
Source: 1
II
�Em1iloyment status of worki ng aged w omen (aged 16 to SCJ )•ears)
and age of )•owtgest deJlenilent child (199S)
.Table 2
Age of)roungest
Economic.status
0-4
depend~nt
child
All Women
16-18
51.3
3.2
2.3
0.6
6.3
53.4
2.6
2.4
0.6
3.4
41.2
3.5
0.0
0.5
1.6
52.3
2.4
1.4
0.6
4.3
41.6
4.0
I
11-15
43.4
0.8
0.9
.0.9
4. 1
I
· S-10
57.1
5.6
0.6
0.7
6.3
64.1
5.0
1.1
0.6
4.9
60.8
3.5
0.6
0.5
4.6
60.5
4.4
0.6
0.5
5.0
.I
I
I
I
o:3
i
I
0.6
5.8
I·
}.
·._.,<. Total_' ac,~iy~ ,
· T.-.
· "'·
....
..•,.,..,, ·
·. ;- ; ..·· .·, ' · · .. ··:rs 2·.·~ ...
. ·· ··. 3 :
:· ::~_..:
<:".
; :~Tot<ll :inac~iV;e .. ··_!·..:~;_t··;· · •. .
.:
~'
'
'
. •,
~,.,_ ....._~~
_.
- -
'
,
/;f1.?.f .
'
'
-~-·
,., L
Source: 1
I
Economic activity of women ( aged 16 to 59 y ean)
and nu1nber of de,Jendent children ( 1 9 9S)
Table J
I
!
!
~'"''j•l
•
' , ; .,
.
,:
.
•. ' '
~
• ..
'
,
I! . '
,.
.
.
r·: .
:'
'
.
. ,· :
•.
·.
I
2
0.
i
3
4
5+
59.6
2.5
1.2
0.2
.. 4.7
I
. I
iI
j
.51.9
1.9
0.6
0.9
3.6
49.8
2.5
1.9
0.0
4.6
46.1
2.6
2.3
1.6
4.0
28.7
4.4
4.5
1.5
1.4
20.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
ILl
68.0
4.1
0.6
·0.3
4.4
I
.
., I
· N,umbe r of dependent children· aged . 8 and unde r
1
57.8
4.0
0.7
0.5
6.,0
55. 1
4.8
. 0.3
0.6
5.0
43.1.
° 5.9
0.8
0.9
5.4
30.6
14.5
2.2
0.6
0.9
7.9
~~
.
5:6
0.6
0.6
6.3
·
:·
·· -io't~i 'll"'tiv~~-\-:· ~·r.:· i' · · · ~.-; J.!i-4:::··.: ; t,·9¥;·~·:~"~'5Ta·; ·'~· s62F7:. .,;43.: . .·:·~.: ~:~:z6·:F:;
7
· Totar'ina-iti~~~·;.'c: . . .. . ·2 2.6:... · ~ 31.0 ·> ·. · . l~,.J ! . ~;.. -44~0
.56.3 .. :,; ·.· n :a::;: ,
. . .,
.. ·:
: :·
Smn·ce: 1 ·
:.~·
.
8
f ._. ·
:•..,.·
·,
,r-
~
· :.: • _ : ... .· · .. .
..
l .. •
••
:.~
..
. . ••
: ·•• • • ••
.. •
'
�Unemployment
In Northern Ireland there are, as in other UK regions, large differenc·es in claimant based unemployment counts by
gender. Whether based on seasonally adjusted or unadjusted counts, women account for approximately 21% - 22%
of those unemployed people claiming benefit. The seasonally unadjusted count, unlike the adjusted series, counts
actual people. Using the seasonally ~nadjusted claimant count, the number claiming unemployment related
benefit, following the introduction of the Jobseekers Allowance in October 1996, has dropped by 33.5% for women
and 16.8% for men. In the .same period a year before, from September 1995 to January 1996, the comparable change
was a decline of 14.3% for women and I% for men.
r
I
\
Exclusive citation of claimant based unemployment figures gives a misleading impression of the gender composition
of the unemployed. Research published by the Commission "Demographic change and labour availability" ( 1995),
has found that during recent years in Northern Ireland, as throughout the UK, there has been a tendency for male
unemployment rates based on the claimant count to exceed rates ba:sed on the International Labour Organisation's
definition of unemployment used in the Labour Force Survey.
The International Labour Organisation's (ILO) definition of unemplo:tment as used in the Labour Force Survey is a
broader definition of unemployment than that based on the claimant. count. However, only those respondents who
were actively seeking work during the last four weeks and available to start work in the next fortnight are classified
as unemployed. Because of this limited definition of availability (actively seeking work and being able to start in the
next two weeks) the figures may underestimate the true extent of unemployment for women.
Reflecting the occupational structure of employment, unemployed men in Northern Ireland tend to be
concentrated in craft and other occupations ·and unemployed women tend. to have been previously employed in
clerical, and personal and protective service, occupations.
13
�.i
2. EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT
Occupational segregation
Women and men still tend to work in different occupations, both in Northern Ireland and in Britain. Women are
under-represented in management and administration, craft and as plant and machine operatives, and they are overrepresented as employees in clerical, sales and personal and protective services.
I
Women in Northern Ireland appear to be faring better than their British counterparts in their attempts at increasing
their rep~esentation in the more prestigious occupational groups. Proportionally more women in Northern Ireland
work in professional occupations than in Britain. In 1995, 53.2% of employees in professional occupations ·in
Northern Ireland were women, which is I 0% higher than t~e figure for Britain. However, clerical and secretarial jobs
still account for the largest proportion offemale jobs in both Northern Ireland and Britain.
I
Four out of the six occupational groups which are female dominated are marked by a high level of part-time work
for women.ln three occupations in Northern Ireland, personal and prote~tive services, sales and other occupations,
more than three fifths of women work on a part-time basis; this is similar to the pattern in Britain.
,
I
Industrial segregation
I
l
l
~~f.-#\''';j
l
Women's employment in Northern Ireland continues to be concentrated in a small number of industrial sectors.
Over half of all female employees in Northern Ireland work in public administration, education or health and social
work. These industries are also significant fo,r women's employment in Britain but to a lesser degree. Apart from
public administration, these industries are less important for men's employment in Northern Ireland. Two additional
industries account .for· a large proportion of employment; wholesale, retail and motor tra9e; and the manufacturing
industry. In the former, retail is the largest sector and women con.stitute more than half of the employees whereas
men are in ~he majority in the wholesale and motor tr;tde sectors.
Sex segregation persists across the industrial divisions in Northern Ireland ~nd Great Britain. Men continue to be
the majority ofemployees in agriculture, electricity, construction ~nd tr:-ansport. Not one single woman surveyed
was employed in either the fishing or mining/quarrying sectors, although these sectors do represent a very small· ·
proportion of employment in Northern Ireland. On the other hand; women outnumber men in the education, health
and social work, and hotels and restaurants sectors. Women are also the majority of those empl9yed in the smaller
.. industrial sectors of finance and real estate and business:
.
10
�.
TaiJle 7
.
'
'
.
'
. Decline in claimcmt bcised unemployme~t count from September to Jamta1)'
(1995~96 & 1996-97)
Seasonally ·adjusted
Seasonally unadjusted
Males%
Females%
100
100
100
99.3
. 99.0
99.0
85:7
100
100
100
. 100
83.6
78.9
83.2
66.5
. Females%
Males%
100 ,
I
'.!
I
i
"' January 1997 figure are provisional
Source: 2
Table 8
Occupational compositi01.t of unemployed by gender (1995)
Men · '
Women
AI( '
.
'.•
Women of
. unemployed
·.·
'·
..
Women .of
employees
.
..
~
5.7
1.2
!
!
5.4
23 .9
5.5
21.9
9.7
10.0
14.3·
4.2
9. 1
27.0
13.4
7.5
11.0
20.2
30.9
63.6
4.9
39.4
31.1
22.0
17.2
64.3
66.4
13.6
66.3
69.6
23.2
55.3
7.7
3.3
8.6 .
3.7
29.0
28.9
33.0
43,1
3.5
22.3
4.6
' 17.2
16.6
9.3
13.4
5.1
12.2
18.6
10.8
9.4
15.3
16.4 .
35.4 '
59.2
·8. 1
· 5i.8
57.2
19.7
26.5
50 ..
9
75.1
12.6
(
34.7'
53.2
4.8
7.4 .
25.2'
7.7
6.0
18.1 .
17.8
l
23.6
51.0
. 9.1
3.9 .
i
5.6
1.8
3.9
4.4
33.9
10.7
6.8
11.3
22.1 .
;
<±%<:-!;'"!
5.5
3.9
•'
. !
; ·.
I
I
j.
.j
I
!
I
l
Source: .1
\
14
,..
65~0
66.3
21.0
53.4
* Occupation 'group of last job
�3. JOB RELATED TRAINING
·Women and men in Northern Ireland are less 'likely to receive training than are their counterparts in Britain. In
Northern Ireland, I 1.3% of people in employment have received some job related training in the preceding four
weeks; this compares to 13.3% of people in employment in Britain.
Training by occupation
.
.
.
An analysis of the extent of training received by women and men acc'ording to their occupation reveals that the
chance of receiving job related training varies a great deal. In Northern Ireland, women who have worked in
associate and professional occupations were most likely to receive job·related training in the previous four weeks.
However, nearly twice as many men in professional occupations as won1en received job related training. The overall
pattern of the occupations which are most likely to receive training in the preceding four week period is broadly
the same in Britain as in Northern Ireland; apart from the gender imbalance in professional and associate
·professional and technical occupations which is.less stark in Britain.
·
In Northern Ireland, much lower levels of training for women than for men are evident in some of the other female
dominated occupations such ·as sales and other occupations. Even though men are in the minority ih these
occupational groups, they are·more likely to receive training in the precE~ding four week period. Only 1.6% of women
employees who worked in other occupations, which comprises nearly 12% of women's employment, had received
job related training in the previous four weeks.
Training for full-time and
part~time
workers
In Northern Ireland in 1995, female employees received more job related trammg than did male employees,
regardless of whether they worked full-time or part-tim~. In Britain, however, men who were employed part-time
were more likely to have received training than were women who were employed on the same basis. While parttime women workers in both Northern Ireland and Britain received less training than full-time women workers, this
was not so for men. Men who worked part-time were more likely than men who worked fullctime to have received
job.related training in the preceding four week period.
Provision of training
The main providers of training in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain are employers. However, employers in
Northern Ireland are less likely to pay for an employee's training than are employers in Britain; this is regardless of
the sex of the person receiving the training. Similar proportions of men and women in Northern Ireland receive job
related training which is paid for by their employer or potential employer, whereas in Britain this is more likely to
be the case for men. Women in Northern Ireland are most likely to fund their own training. More than a quarter
of women in Northern .Ireland who had received job related training in 1995 paid for it by their own means
(self/family/relative). This compares to only 13% of men in Northern Ireland and 21.9% of women in Britain who
paid for their own training.
Location of training
Overall, the pattern of where training is carried out in Northern Ireland is similar for m·en and women. The most
common locations for training are education institutions such as coll~ges of further education. However, in Great
Britain training is more commonly located on an employer's premises. Private training centres have become a more
popular location for men's training in ~oth Northern Ireland and Britain.
15
I
�·Table 9
·.Job 1·elated edtica6on arul training b;y occupation (199S) '
~\o
'
~\o
~\o
'
Managers &
administrators
Professional
occupations
Clerical/
secretarial
,~~~~~
~ iii
Craft &
related
Northern Ireland
Great Britain
Protective/
personal service
Sale~
Plant/machine
operative
Other
occupations
Women B1
MenE]
All
1
Refers to the education or training connected with the respondent's job or a job the respondent might be able to do in
the 'future. Numbers are based on all persons in employment and not still at school who did education or training in the
four weeks before the interview.
Source: 1
Table 10
Education and ;training for emplo}•ees in employment by
full-time and part-time employment (199.'5)
. 13.3
6.~
. ;; ,Part,~time .... 1 .
··Great Britain ·.
,..- .. N~rt~ern.'i~eland ·
17.1
9.0
15.8
7.0
11.4
8.5
'
' ... :.·.
Source: 1
-~~
.
16
. •'·
~-
..
~.
.
.
.. ' ..
_
~'
-
... """'."""' ....... ..... -: . .
�Ta iJle
\VIW' pays for the training? (J 99S)
_11
. Source of.funding
Employer or
potential employer
46.8
·. 47.6
63.0
5,5.9
Governme nt YTP/
Employment Action
8.7
3.4
2.8
2.4
Government adult schemes
7.5
7.9
10.1
' 13.7
Self, family or relative
13.0
25.6
16.6
21.9
Other
10.1
6.8
2.0
1.5
No fees
10.7
6.8
5.2
3.8
3.3
1.9
o.i
0.7
Don't know
' Based on all those receiving training in the last fo ur weeks away fro m the job o r' on and off the .job for a present or futu re. job
Sim1·ce: 1
Location of j o b-related traini11g (J 99.5)
. Location .
• '.
Table 12
·'-·
Employer's premises
20.6
21.8
32.7
33.7
Anothe r employer's
premises
3.7
3.3
7.4
6.8
Private training cent re
8.8
2.8
9.6
6. 1
Governme nt training centre
1.0
·. 6.4
. I. i
1.4
Community workshop
1.1
0.9
0.1
0.2
At home (OU)
6.0
4. 1 .
6.4
5·.3
1.9
0.2
0.2
42.0
45. 1
30 .8
34.8
6.7
7.0
2.7
. 4 .8
.. 10.1
6.8
9.0
6.8
O pen College
. Polytechnic/FE college
Other education
~
i
O t he r
0.0
..
· Sou.rce: .l
t
;
17
�I.
I
I
4.EARNINGS
I
Hourly earnings
I
I
l
I
!
Women still earn less than. men; regardless of whether we measure hourly or weekly, and include or exclude
overtime earnings. In Northern Ireland, non-manual women workers earn 72.1% of male non-manual hourly
· earnings; women manual workers earn 75.5% qf male manual hourly earnings. Men and women in Northern Ireland
still earn less than their counterparts in Britain. The gap between male and female hourly earnings is narrower in
Northern Ireland than it is in Britain. This is due to the lower male wage rates in Northern Ireland.
Earnings across occupation and industrial groups
,The gap between women's and men's· pay persists across all occupational groups in both Northern Ireland and
Britain. Women continue to earn less than men regardless of their occupational group. In Northern Ireland women's
earnings relative to men's are lowest in three of the female dominated occupational groups; personal and protective
services, sales; and other occupations. The lowest female earnings are in personal and protective service
occ~pations, like domestics, catering, hairdressing, childcare and security. Over a sixth of all women worked in these
occupations, but in 1996, they earned just over half of what men in these occupations earned.
Women earn less than men regardless of the industry in which they work. This is so eveh i'n those industries where
they constitute the majority of employees such as hotels and restaurants, financial intermediation and health and
social work. This pattern holds for manual and non-manual employees in Northern Ireland and Britain.
,,·""
I
I
18
�Avera~e ~ross hourly earnings ( excltidin~ overtime)
full-time employees on adult rates .,., (1996) ·
Man·ual
£5.71 .
£4.31
Table 13
Non-man. al
u
£10.4.1
'£7.51
All
£8.08
£6.84
£6.51
£4.72
-
£11.86
£8. 14
£9.38
£7.49
87,7%
91.3%
87.8%
92.3%
86. i%
91 .3%
,,
N~rthe~ri l~eiand;s ·
.as a P~f~·~~~~g~ of
Gr~at 8~H:cl.h1's ..· ~·
.. ·::.. \ +1en · ·
.'
. ·.wCi;,eii
.
..~
.. .
* Employees whose pay was not affected by absence ·
Source: J
19
�Women:., earnings as u percentage of mens: by occupation (1996) .
· ·i\ve~age gross weekly earnings (including overtime)
. TafJle 14
100
Northern Ireland Ei1
Great Britain B!
80
60
40
20
0
--·"'
"' ''- 0
......
no.,
"'
'C:'-'
~ .~
I:,!:;
E
"0
'- "'
Q.IC:
..co
(flil
a_
(;;~
c: 0
0.·-..,
"'"'
VIa_
:::>
u
u
0
.!!!:::>
o.u
'- u
a..o
c:
"'
0
·;::;
"'
:::>
u
a_
u
0
<i:
"'
Source: J
Table 15
Women s average grosS i.l~~ekly earnings as a percentage of mens ·
·
· (irWluding overtime): selected industries (1996)
j
I
l
Manufacturing
I
Hotels/ '
Restaurants ,
i
Financial
Intermediation
Public
Administration/
Defence.
·~~iii~~~. iiiiiii~
E II 111111 ii ii ill Ii
ll!!lllllliill'illiiii.
Health & Social
work
Manualmii!
Non-manual ml
Source: J
20
Where "·:·. occur:s. in the tab!e there were n~t enough
in the sample to yield a statistically reliable .estimate
�'•
S.BENEFITS
Income and source of income
Households in Northern Ireland receive a much lower gross weekly income than those in Great Britain. This can
be partly explained by the source of income. More households in Northern Ireland than in Britain are dependent
on income from social security benefits. Nearly a quarter of households in Northern Ireland depend on this form
of income. While similar proportions of households received income through ·wages and salaries, households in
Northern Ireland are ·less likely to receive income from investments, ~;elf-employment and annuitie~ and pensions.
Benefits for the unemployed
While more men than women are registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland, women have greater difficulty in
claiming benefits. In 1996, nearly a fifth of unemployed women received no benefits at. all; this is more than twice
the proportion of men who were not entitled to benefits. In addition, more unemployed women than men have to
rely on contributory as opposed to non-contributory benefits. In Nc'lrthern Ireland, more women than men were
dependent on unemployment benefit, but more men .claimed the non~contributory income support.
Benefits by household type
In Northern Ireland ·and Britain, lone parent households are more likely to be claiming benefit (unemployment,
income support, national insurance credits) than are married/cohabiting households. Lone parent households are
predominantly headed by mothers. In both Northern Ireland and Bi·itain in 1995, 80% of lone parent households
were headed by lone mothers.
21
�---------~~----------~~------~--------~--------------------------------~
---
..
Income a.ndsou.rce of incmne (199S - 96)
Table 16
Northelin Ireland
(1995-96)
Great Britain
(1995-96)
Income·
N.l
No. of
Households
Gross Weekly
Income
G.B.
134
6797
£297.43
£380.89.
Wages & Salary.
Self-employment
Source
of Income
62.5%
.6.1%
Investments
1.8%
Annuities & Pensions
4.5%.
1m
~
f£il
64.5%
8.6%
4.8%
6.8%
23.6%
1.5%
Social Security Benefits
Other Sources
13.7%
!Ill
~
1.7%
Source: 4
Table 17
Uri.emplO)'ed cla.inwnts ctnd type of benefit (i996)
+0
i
l
I
I"
I.
I
None
Source: 4
.....
22
Northern Ireland
Great Britain
fe!
E.!
�Table 18
Cluiming.IJcnefit IJ;)' household ty11e (199S)
Northern Ireland
Great Britain
15.7
10.6
6.9
3.7
14.5
8.5
Source: 1
23
�;,
.
"'··
.
SOURCES:
L~bour
Force Survey 1995 (for Northern Ireland and Britain)
2
Department of Economic Development, Unemployment Statistics Notice (various)
3
New Earnings Survey 1996
Northern Ireland New Earnings Survey 1996
4
Department of Health and Sodal Services ,
I
I
!
:i
.•'
_;:_,
.
. 24
... j·•
....
�f.
oY\trOJ
I Vl
;
One of the high.lighG of the assembly elt:eti:Jns w<l!i the success ·
of the Women's Coaliti<:111 who will have two memb.:!rs sitting 1n
the new body.l)espice tlldr personal succe~ wom•:n will stlU
make up lirtle more. 1J1:u: 1D percent of the as.Sem bly- but still
:.w improvemem qq :.;.'!:::: 1982.assembly···>'hkh had o11iy £h.ree
women in its 78 ~t:cc~ C~·ndave. Alongside rlJ<; Women's Coalition
member.s will b~ i.\v•;, Ubtd" Unionlst wom.::.n out of the party's
(llta1 of28, ftlte.oi Sirnt Fein's 18 and th.ree oftheSDlP's 24
(epresenLlcives. Pn:.:i:e.,; by Martin Alxk::ni.::.n
a:i:~(~i:;.'<i; .E!!IIIIB!
.. =~~·~~
Jio;,t.., de Btun (Sinn
Fdn). Head.ol
p:';.·~·.s
e;.·----'-·
intc.r'UJ. dom1J
. ;,: ·.:
f~~
sht.:
C.···:.;:utSl'le"'Jt.
.l<HW
C:.<r'"-"n (1;1,:1') A n::!ired
sc/loolt~adwr and IHelong member of
the(.~.
~: 1 .....·-.·d;;s foa.v LangtJ~WC":I
!J:.:i•.;l~lrisiJ-
the L'lst<r Uni•>l11,t rarc:J. Stcretary of
.· ·· . ·
1
:_ • ·
thO;! p.:trty's
r; ....
O•J<:: ci·ordy
i !.u: >:tid !.hat 5Upport
dt<Ct.:d to the ;,s~emhlv.
fr,.· the Good frid;'l)'
Mlcbdie Gil''"'"""" (SF) The p.vty's
d.~(n..~<nl
i.i """'"--·/-··":'-·'
,::,.~on P'O!Il'= "' •:.:
;,.,.;! lll.lilUO ~
.
cc.nstlt~;l:n,::·;' as~Odation
~nd .a ffit~cn):n':!'-Of [iun~,UlnOn COUncil.
t\:1) UJ.ot;h_:t L:r:ianist wo~
•
rePr~ser:t:J.t'h·l; ln Hrltaln. she has
wark~d in ti>e Unit"d Stat"• and
Au•t.ralla. Edu·:~ted M th" Unlversityo[
•
$u,;~(Si.r•>fell1J ..
·" u,!:lum ci:>uoc:alartO.: tlk T,··mb-'-'* """"'
Ul~ter.
that
Cc.lerair•"· Pan ol
m~t
rhe British
tJ,., delegatio~
~m:·ernment
at
ill'.J 311 ad:iw party .....,n,~.~_:;:.:.;.:! '(].,:party ,. Downing Stre<Ot for th'e Ur&l time In
;d!o·d.eht..tnger sn1lcs inlS.~.l· a~1d l.e::ame .. 1997.
.
:; iu!l ~ wod""' !n l~J2 1.hl• '' "F«llll
,(
i..1~~::;t
in "WOntt:n's l$~ H::JrQt o,(gani.se
:he. Twinbroolc f~ .>!'ld ;,; :.. '""'"bei-Qt'
:h.: Sino fcin ~•akcnn:iifl,.._
~tJFTmljl=].;!!~::.~~
C:~.rtael
Iianna (SOlPJ. A
:,~,·~,,
and
ru.idv.-ife who workg for soc~! £:cJvic~. cc;..
ordifiating ""l'e i.,;r th" dd~1bc
Electe-d to Belfast City Couu<:il lr. I997
c•ll""'- she p!:ly:s a lull and act:iw tc!e a$ n
m"mkr of tho: plaJUlin:,:'. , l.lciUth.
<:nvironmcnr .and , cultutal .div<?tsity
C0Ull1liftces.
,
~!.>ulailiii=Willlao:ao (Wom<n'c Ca:ll!Uon)
~mdl'$ Sr;~.~d!.,;; :wd ::«i:ll
fi-ote:;sorol
Policy 3( tlk UnM:nity of Ulster s.irtce last
month.
.
£ducat...! .at Q~~<:<m'• Uruv.:rsizy Md the
Univer.~lty ol Mkhlgan she gradu;<ted in
~ fJollcy andurt>:An planrdng. ·
Dl>.nt O'H"'!!!."' ('J)
Studying for a ·doctor,,b! in DOlltlcs
. Que.;o's llnlve,-,;ity a11d daughter
Vl!!t<ttatl n:publlc.>ll Jo.: 8 O'Hagan.
Brid ~r• (SDU')
B.;>rn in the Don«gal
Gae!tacht but ha:s
Uued in LUlli.:tll ,;im:e
at
<J!.
1960.
lnvol~ in
the dVII
r1;<hu mave~u<:nt and
" (oWlder m•e.mbcc ol.
tile SOtp;' Pat,ty
<:lla!rman . I97G.80,
the flr:st <:halr'woman of an lrUh politic.,!
patty, Md 8'\ne.ra! ....:retaty~!ISl:BJ..
. flh:en Bell (Alliance)
.
Educ;ared a(Domlnlc:an CoUcg.,. Beifast..
lUld . Unlvc:rsity of Ulster, lltlldytng
~ ~ {UUf') A forrt1<:I' UDR history and l>olltlcs. GeMnl s~CIIf
· nl<.'tnher. ..00 Wil!l elo:red to Coleraine the Pllr1Y from 198>00 and nomlnared
ciour.dl •m
·198!..·:k,' <?okr.UO.. !1lJIV<If shl!' Peaoe Train i~dminburatorltt 1992..
was :o::c:used oy· ttie' SOlP of u).Jng ro Elected to i.h.,::caam:ll :rn 1993 ·llfld :a
promiiKflt rr'•<:fnlx:r. of the pal"')"s Curle
prevl!f1t h.,... ll:ltlO<ulilzt d<'put)l from
anaxilng the Derry City Civic B..,U b.;:t year BuUr;Ungs tc:am.
J~UJe Monk:e (We men's Caalitloll)
>011C<l """replkd· tr:;> <Ill invita!Joo :<:tying no.
A joumali&t by profession. she '""" 8BC
<A'le ~be at1l:nding.
Northern l!'t:lmd',; labour and buslne~~~ .
conupondent (or n"" ye.ars unUI19!1Z.
Former h•',..,d .of the . EuroJl'l!'lll
Ml!.!")' Neils (Sf)
.
·eammi&slon otflcc: lor Northem Ireland
A party aGlivi~t
and war~ l'or the £U In Brussd!!.
sin~e
1976 ..,h.,n
ams
I
i
¥·R!•iBi•
h~r
son
sent~nced
"".n.s
to 16
·. Y'"'". and joined
tt,., t:l~nl:et protesr.
TO<JI: part in prot<Ost
b)'
picl<,.tlog
chutc.h~.!.i we:.lr1o~ a blank:et.
In Feb<u:arysh., 'critkis .. d t!udings
.... ~~ll.:l.~.-1 ;,:, .~ .... D ..... u .... ..,. .iuth-"' ... "'''..:;
Olso
1v1
.
,.
Patrida ~ (SDIP)
Chairman o(• the SDLP's wnlnd'l'~ iiJ'O'ltl
she w;,s nr;st elected to Bellut City
Coundl in !993. M<:ln~ a! the 'Wa!l\ftt f
Polllk:al Fon'1m. Carnpll.lgtL< lor d~Mbillty
::~n~ "'t~f:.t H..--1< [n --<IIH'•:.tlr.n ~Of"'f ("'
cJu ottd:
:r~ I s Thl?t Vl~ {DUP)
3JJ:ITiS~·I0] t.J!:IJI<:J3WI:I
'
�<Belfast Telegraph Online- Archive
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Mo to hear calls for more aid to
women in publi'~ life·
a
By Martina Purdy SECRETARY of State Mo Mowlam was due today to address
women's conference in Belfast. .
.
·
~"The event, Women.on the Move, ~II involve delegates from across across the
United Kingdom and the Republic.
;..J?.g~~~g:h~Jl4!9~~·,s.h~.~DY9,9:1~. of the Northern Ireland Women's. European Platform,.
l~~L~so~speak at the event. ;
,·
.
.
\·-·JvfsHindS; a member,o(,th~..W.C>qtep',~:Q.oalition, was expected to stress the need foL,
',;adv~re,ll1ent;qf:w.ome~-~ pubH~Jif~.; ;,.;.: .
.
>It1'1)'oiiilcsH\1S.1HIDdfi~~id·women m~t have equal participation. ,:.
She expressed concern about speculation that unionists would try to block the
establishment of the civic forum, as proposed in the Good Friday Agreement.
The forum is to be established by Agreement once the Assembly is elected.
"I wouldn't like to think any political party would renege on any part of this
Agreement. Civic society needs to make itclear they want to see this forum work."
r
I of I
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Article Date
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Archive Sea]rch
Women set to plan for the future
By Claire McGahan A MAJOR e:onference will today look at pioneering new ways ·
_of working for a fairer society in Northern Ireland.
~Foi the Jirst time;·more than 30 women's '9rgarusations;their fuD.ders~ government ~
~ite aiiilefiiS' ana 's1r·:···ort'a'"'enciesi:U:e';~et.tO ·
~Srlc-id ether-over :t:Wo.d£ s- iii the ··~; ·
-.1,. P....,--,.<>·•-•""···~".W.·-~<·'P£".~"''·•·g0 ,"''4'''""''"''-"'• . ,
g · .
·
Y ·•
Seareh'for art' agiee(ffilimiagend.~~s .· '
'
The conference;_'The Women'sSector:~Into The NextGerieration',iis co-ordinated by
,the :W,<J~~n·.~. ~s~ur~e ~d Deve_l?Pn:t~~t,J.\g_e.~':Y,z ..~9-·,~iltt~~Wii~;!J.!~.<!~4te.y~ments ~
I Of women'.s 9rgaJl!Satlons.,JtQ.m,.\~otb.maJp.Jraditions,-n,rral and urban groups, ··
.
"ilisabicif'imeiinliiontY'eilim&~~Uiritiei;r
. ·
The conference being held in Newcastle will also higtllight expertise in delivering
innovative and effective progran1me across education, training~ health, employment
. and community development.
Judy Seymour, WRDA dir~tor said: "WRDA is prou~l to have played a role in this
event. It underscores the value of all our work and the importance of partnerships.
_'·~:J:h~:g(i,_~P-~j@l;Pro~arume.;for~J!~~~~a,g~:.13:~~~1M~~~~;~ck!!~wledged that many ,
;'' ""•s·or.' ·satioris;&-e: . . ' . ' ···:-· ·..,..,...,..,."'":"'';:'·"-'-!':>--~.•,..,.·,t.,;:~,,;~.,·.·~(·;wot;'t::/.~••~r!':O:-?~-~;.·,'n:':J$/;...ti:,;~:;v-.~
-oftheir ooniDiUriities::thaftlieii';'
,:;·-~"".t-;;~~,...~~·.-;."...:.:.t,:..,u•.•.::.."-1~~:.·
........ _ . _9 the principles eq~ality, inclusion and justice contributed tO th~
·
,
' \ "f· t~,:fo·~-;~;;_;~~-~J;:.::-::;;;:J:'l:":!-0.,
~peace·processt
"But there is not the same recognition in Northerq.k~!~4 of women's role in
creating a fairer and more vibrant society. In fact,~tQ~.;~QJU~n's sectOr: needs more . ,
,l(.~MPPt?rt~tw.or~ ~~,,ey~q<5 'f<1cb rriaj~r ·challenge8 fiom. n~~-admiiristration:ana the.,
r~prospects of reduced· European fundmg, 'I'
a
I of I
8/11/98 11:30 AM
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Women tell of l~.t-down
~,y
politicians
By Mark Simpson
\M0SJ~t:W:omen inNorthemlreland.believe political.parties ·are failing to cater for 11
.
An Ulster Marketing Survey poll found that eight out of ten women reckon the local
parties are letting them down.
\i:A large. ratio of women+.70% .,·also felt the national parties are failing themi;
A majority of ~e~ agree ;lth t11e women's gloomy assessment. .
..
.
·The survey was part of aUK-wide study carried out for the Equal Opportunity
Commission and the Women's Nationai. Commission.
. . .. .. . '
.
"''· : ... . • In the UK as a whole, the poll found thafsevefi,out9ftenwomen{f~llliahtJte
¥:political parti.es·do· tiot pay:stdlicient heed.to;tilliigs.tJi~t~arej~poftanMo tliem9
In response, the Equal Opportunity Commissions of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland- plus the Women's National Commission- today launched a new checklist
of
for women to ask General Election candidates.
•""""""'"t(:l•,o::<''"'#tj!"~fi:Wfi:,~!ri.L
~·theif"filitefestSl
'
•
'
.
'
,• •
i~
..
'1~
\'
I of I
8/ll/98 11:27 AM
�.
'
,Belfast Telegraph Online- Archive
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Article Date
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Archive Search
·Business 'twins' meet·
By Franc.e~s M,cD~nnell~9.~I~~N. pi9~~~g-~.?-~~~ haye ~e~l?~~9R~~-~~<t~RPt~.t
Ireland and 1he Repubhc by·becommg the ···
:: fust cross~boider·"business·tWiriS'-~-:~
· Seven women from the north and seven from the Republic yesterday took part in a
new initiative. which~,~~~&M~i!l~i~-~9!!.1~~- fro!ll both sides of the border. an {:
, opportunity tq)n~~;;n¢~qr~j,.aild.'do.b,usmess. ~ ·
1
Organised by\.Womeh: M~~:Business~the initiative ain'led to pair business women
from the south with their counterparts from the north for a day.
·
It is now hoped the event, supported by Bank oflreland and the Training and
Employment Agency, will grow into a series.
.
;Angeta.Leigh-Doyle~ Women in Business manager for Bank oflrei~d,i:based in the
Republic said it had been a great success.
~:rhe.;Wliole;event)Vas··abotifbuilding new-oontacts; establishing new relationships t·
'· •
......
... ....•
...
...• ,
1
-_whi<:li .~II h9pefully 'Opeid:he dood:6 potential .trade and· alread)'we have seen· soine t1
\evidence of this~"~Ms Leigh Doyle said.
.
.
.
She said women in the Republic were keen to learn more about doing business in
Northern Ireland.
;.}-'We had a huge response from business .women who were keen to get involved in,,
.
'
· this initiative."··.
}Q_I,l~.~ J?.4smess. oppor;tuJ:Mg~§>J.~. Northern
,~.,.~·--·~, ···~··~-
~~·."_'!"'" ~
!·••-1.:~,>)>1,;,~·""..-... -,~._, .......,.._ ..... _~ ....~··~~.-.. ,,.~, .... ·p'"*~-~".''
·
....
---~-
•..•
-·
:
•
"
•
.
• • . .,.~- .... ·P'"~·~"',.
·~--....,n
t
. - .. •t.'";.<!,~.".":'':ot·::-.. .... ·""'~'"!~:·.·,,
I of I
8111198 11:35 AM
�!3elfast Telegraph Online • Archive
hltp://www2.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/cgi-bi ...c?docloc=l997/September/22/BUSfNESS/zomen
Article Date
22 September'1997
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Archive Search
Women's network celebrates birthday
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'endorses the following priilciples ·as being essential to securing justice for women in o~ _society:;,
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• Equal pay for work of equal value and an end to women being regarded as a source of cheap labour: in
low~esteem part~time jobs.
• Improved rights for part~time workei:s, including the right to be represented by a trades un~on and the right to
equal status in Law regarding pay and employee benefits.
• Creche and nursery facilities to be made available in the workplace to help facilitate the right of working
mothers and other single parents to take up employment opportunities,
• More benefits for working married mothers such as Childcare Allowance, Flexible Working Hours, Reasonable ·
periods of emergency leave, training schemes and further educatiomil opportunities.
• Childcare to be accepted as a universal right and to be to be looked upon as a partnership approach involving
local authorities, schools, the voluntary sector, trades unions and parents.
• Adequate levels of welfare benefits to ensure realistic financial mairitenance.for children and for single~parent
families.
·
• The legal right of non wage~earning women to adequate fmancial support.
• More financial and material support for women who have taken responsibility for households due to the ·
imprisonment of their partner.
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·
·
• Full and complete health checks for women of child-bearing age wi~h particularly reference to screening for
breast and cervical ~ancer.
• The right of women to have intimate examinations carried out by a women doctor.
• A more open and adequate sex education progra.mlne backed up by a free comprehensive family planning
service for all.
• Acknowledgement of an individual's right to control one's own body irrespective of marital status together with
an acceptance of a woman's right to choose whether to continue with or whether to terminate a pregnancy.
• The extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland togethc~r with a confidential and non~judgmental
advisory service on abortion and related issues together with access to free ,confidential treatment as urgently as
required.
··
• More adequate provision of facilities and support for victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and
incest, and a strengthening of the law in relation to rape and all fortns of sexual assault.
• . More stringent endeavours to tackle and eliminate sexual harassment in $-e workplace.
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�NIWC Home P,age
htip://wWw.pitt.edu/-itovosel/young.htrn
Belfast BT9 6AZ
NQrthern Ireland
niw<.@Jolie
N I W 0 MEN'S C·O AI-~ IT I 0 N
A NEW VOICE FOR NEW TIMES
YOUNG PEOPLE: CITIZENS OF TODAY
Young people are the citizens of today as well as tomorrow and their eoncerns should be heard today. Action is
needed to help young people realise their potential, to be active now and in the future. The Belfast Agreement is about
the future no group has a greater .stake in that future than the young people of Northern Ireland.
Young People and Education:
Investment in education sends the strongest possible message to young people that they are valued as individuals, and .
that the contribution they can make is as important as anyone else's.
The NI Women's Coalition recognises the key issues for young people. Access to further and higher education should
be available to all who want to make use of it. When access to further education and training depends on wealth,
·
society loses the talents and resources of many young people.
The Transfer test (11+) leaves many young people with low self-esteem. We believe that the benefits of a
well-resourced and fair education system should be·available to all children'and young people. Achievement should
not be kept for the few at the expens·e oft11e many. Achievement and opportunity should be avaiiable for all young
people- not just a few.
Young People and Healt.h and Social Services:
The health needs of young people must be addressed in a realistic way. A healthy lifestyle should be. facilitated
through access to good health education, including peer education, drug awareness programmes and good sexual
health and education programmes.
·
· '
The Women's Coalition is particularly concerned that the suicide rate for ypung people is unacceptably high and
highlights the significant failure of society to properly address the needs ofyoung people in a holistic way.,
Support services are needed to address the counselling needs of young people, faCed with bereavement and trauma
associated with the conflict. The needs of young people, leaving care must 1:\e a serious focus for attention - the way in
which a society. supports its most vulnerable members is an indication ~fits civilisation.
.
.
.
The Women's Coalition is concerned at the tendency to single out young people in the welfare system for unfair ,
treatment. We are pleased tl1at the New Deal attempts to address t11e serious problem of youth long-tern1
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�·NIWC Hon,te page
http://www. pitt.edu/--novosel/young.htm
unemployment, but remain dismayed at the government's treatment of young (and older) lone parents, whose difficult
and often lonely work in the home is. being unrecognised and penalised. The way in which young parents are treated
will have a profound effect on their ability to support the nextgeneration.
Young People and the· ·Environ merit:
The interest that many youngpeople have shown for environmental activism and 'pressure group politics' in general
perhaps tell us two things. Firstly, that Northern Ireland's politics has seriously alienated young people and secondly
that even if they were interested in politics - and many of them are - they find many of their priorities !'>et aside as
older politics stick with whatthey know best (generally saying No!).
Many young people are interested in environmental issues including environmental protection, renewable energy
sources, proper waste management, including extensive recycling programmes.
· · ·
Young people have particular housing needs and this should be reflected in planned development- both public and
private.
Transport policy should also focus on road safety- twice as many people have died on the roads in the last thirty years
as died in the conflict- many of these have been young people. The Women's Coalition supports the continuing
education work that focuses on road safety - from drink driving and speed tc> reckless and inconsiderate driving. There
are many needless deaths. amongst our yom~g people,· this is unacceptable.
Young People and Economic Development:
The Women's Coalition fmds it unacceptable that young people should receive less than the minimum hourly rate for
their work. This is not the way to show young people that they are valued.
Local enterprise for young people to develop their own businesses offer local communities economic opportunities
that are both loyal to the area and appropriate to local circumstances. Many young people are involved in a whole
range of voluntary work, which deserves recognition and acknowledgement.
Young People and Agriculture and rural Affairs:
People should not be disadvantaged because they live in rural areas. And yet many young people facy particular
difficulties in accessing services. Transport problems can create obstacl~s for young people, in terms of education,
training and employment opportunities.
·
The introducti~n of an Early Retirement Scheme for farmers would encourage young people to stay on the iand and
contribute to the lifeblood of rural communities, many of which face severe problems suchas depopulation.
Increasing diversity of employment opportunities would encourage young families to stay in rural areas, but this needs
to be matched by access to health and education services- from pre-school to third level, as these are the building
blocks of rural communities.
Young People and Public Spending
·This is an area of responsibility for the new Assembly, where consultation with young people is absolutely essential. It
is only through such consultation that spending priorities, reflecting the needs of all sections of our society, can be
properly established. Sue~ priorities must be able to take the long-term vi~:w and reflect the needs of young people as
well as maximising their potential contribution to society.
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�· NIWC Home Page
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http://www.pitt.edu/-'!tovosel/young.htm
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Young People and Decision-Making.
Young People and Equality and Social Justice:
The Women's Coalition has sup.ported the suggestion in the Agreement of a Department of Equality. This, we believe,
would place equality issues at the heart of Government. However, it is important,that this Department views 'equality'
in the broadest possible way, including issues effecting young people. No section of society should be overlooked in
· .terms of the protection that such a department could offer.
The issue of young people and policing is also a serious concern. In many respects youth alienation from the police is
almost a universal thing. The Commission on Policing and the review of the Criminal Justice system must seek the
views of young people. We will encourage young people to participate in th:ls and other consultation exercises, as well
as demand that such consultation be taken seriously.
This ).)age last updated on 2 2121/6/98
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�· http://www.pitt.edu/-novosel/monica.htm
Monica McWilliams
·.:·
Monica McWilliams
::=t:::;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
nica is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and couri;e director of the MA :
Women's Studies at the University of Ulster, North•ern Ireland. Her main !
of study are health and social service responses ,to domestic violence . ·
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Her books include "Bring !
Out in the Open; Domestic Violence in Northern Irdand "(1993) and
~
"Taking Domestic Violence Seriously: Issues for the <Criminal Justice System]
.
"(1996)
a long-term researcher ·and policy analyst, she has been particularly
, , ,.. ,... ,,,v ... in the field of violence against women in the hoine and currently
,,,,,,,.,, ....,".."on the government working party on domestic. violence. Overall, she
worked to bring more women into political decis.ion making roles and to
.
politicians to be more inclusive of women's voices in situations
: ~: : of political conflict..
is a·co-founder and elected representative ofthe Northern Ireland
omen's Coalition. The Coalition was established to represent Northern
women at the current negotiations ;which aim to secure a resolution of
Northern Ireland conflict. Her activism on behat:r of women burdened
nn·IT .. IehJ and domestic violence has been long standing. In recent years she
been a crucial and influent.ial voice in convincing women to enter the
~political process so as to address more effectively the problems which
!women, irrespective of religion or political affiliation, face in the
:n.t•uutt\;i:l
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�jj~j~jjtroubled society of-Northern Ireland. Monica McWilliams and Pearl Sagar
'~:''ljwere elected as delegates to the Multi-party Peace Talks in May 1996.
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E-mail us at: NIWC@iol.ie
41m1 to the NIWC Home Page.
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http://\\WW.indigo.ie/sdlp/women.htm
Social Democratic & Labour Party ..... .
SDLP
WOMEN'S GROUP
.I
Women's Affi'zirs Spokesperson: Brid Rodgers,
Chairperson: Patricia Lewsley,
Vice Chairperson: Pat Mallon,
Secretary: Gerry Cosgrove
~·.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.·.·-·.·.·-·.·.·.·.·.·.•.•.•,•.•.•,•,•,•,•,•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·-·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·-·.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•,•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.·.·.·-·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.
SDLP WOMEN'S GROUP
The SDLP Women's Group was re-established in September 1993 and, since then, has
actively encouraged women in the party to take on a more public role by providing the
support and training needed.
· \:Wb~~n ·rri'~e up 47%-or oW: membership' and have played an active and important role in
the Party since its foundation. Many have staye'd in the backgroimd keeping branches
together, raising much needed funds and involving themselves as workers in election
campaigns rather than candidates.
There are a number of reasons for this situation. Many women hold two jobs, the home
and outside employment. They often have to juggle their time to keep things going but
manage with a great deal of professionalism and dedication.
Another factor which kept women, and indeed many men, from becoming involved in
political life, was the risk of attack from paramilitary organisations, not only on
themselves but on their families as well. As a n~sult many women devoted their time to
community activities.
However, times are. changing, many male part:n:.ers involve themselves in the rearing of
children and share household chores. This combined with the Peace Process gives women
the opportunity to share public office with their male counterparts and we in the SDLP are
doing everything to bring women into the political arena .
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\:skills arid 'talerits to full 'tlse in:political and .puplic: offiCe.;.· l;
The Aims of the Women's Group are::
NETWORKING:
Most political parties in Ireland, Britain, Europe and beyond have a Women's Conm1ittee,
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�·Social Demoqatic & Labour Party ..... .
http://www.indigo.ie/sdlp/women.htm .
section or group. Representatives from the SDLP Women's Group meet with women from
political parties and community groups at meetings, seminars and conferences ensuring
our views and poliCies are heard.
PROFILING:
We feel our Party's commitment to equality must be seen.. The high profile of our Party
Spokesperson on Women's Affairs, Brid Rodgers and our very successful Women's
Conference in March, show what can be done. \Ve are building on this.
LOBBYING:
While all political decisions· affect women, certain issues such·as equality, childcare,
· education and domestic violence impact directly on women's lives. Our aim is to ensure
these issues are high on the political agenda.
TRAINING:
In order to maximise latent skills and talents to enable women to reach their full potential
in the party and in public life, training is vital. The Wqmen's Group has organised a
number of courses, and training-needs analysis .is an ongoing and central part of the life of
the group. .
RECRUITING MEMBERS:
. A number of women have joined the Party through contact with the Women's Group. We
want to build on this.
SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT:
This is perhaps the most important function ofthe group. Membership is open to all
women in the Party: We meet every month, usually in Belfast, sometimes in Dungannon
and in the future almost anywhere there is a bnmch/constituency willing to host us!
The SDLP grew out of the Civil Rights Campaign, we have fought against injustice and
discrimination throughout our history. This we continue to do, and by doing this we will
also ensure that women will hold their rightful place in political life.
The following policy document was latinched at a conference of the same namehosted by
John Htime MP MEP on behalfofthe Parliamentary Group of the Party of European
. Socialists of the European Parliament. It was held on Saturday 22nd February to
commemorate International Women's Day, and brought together 220 women from all over
the North, and was addressed by Prof. Eithne McLoughlin, Ann Oddling Smee, Marie
McStay and Julie Chiang, as well as many SDL,P speakers.
·WOMEN ·HALF THE FUTURE
INTRODUCTION
After 20 years of sex discrimination and equal pay legislation, there is still a need for
women's groups, women'spapers and a women's lobby. When the SDLP produced its
first women's policy paper in 1975, just a few years after the party was formed, few
would have believed the changes that could have taken place since, and fewer still the
amount of work we still need to do despite thC•se changes. The SDLP ~arne O\lt of the
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement, and: is grounded onprinciples of equality.of
oppqrtunity and social justice for all. Inspired,by the 1960s civil liberties movements all
over the world, this Party undertook to work for equality, as well as respect for difference.
As such we have always identified with those,under-represented in our society, be it on
grounds of disability, race; age·, faith, or gender. At. this crucial time in the history of our
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�Social Dem~ratic & Labour Party......
http://www.indigo.ie/sdlp/women.hlm
country, the phrase "parity of esteem" is often taken to mean just one thing. We in the
SDLP are aware of the multiplicity of meanings of this term; as the only political party in
the North to have responded last year, to the Eq~ml Opportunities Commission's
"National Agenda for Action" we put forward these policies in the context of our
.
continued commitment to civil liberties and soc(al responsibility. We see these issues not
just as women's issues, but as society's issues. 1Ne believe we all benefit from a more just
society, where everyone is enabled to play the part they want, where public life is truly
representative of those served, where the special needs of all groups are recogn~sed, the
wealth of society fairly distributed, and where fathers and mothers have the option of
taking 'family leave' to care for their children f9r a period of their working lives. We look
forward to the day when this paper will be obsolete, when women will be fully recognised
as:
• half the people
• half the parents
• half the workforce
i1 halfthe future
HALF THE PEOPLE
Half- in fact, slightly .more than half the popuh1tion, are women. Until women are enabled
to take their positions, and participate fully in public life, at all levels, there will continue
to be a serious democratic deficit. A society which excludes such a large section Of the
population from participation in the decisions \vhich affect their lives ·cannot be described
as a gen~ine and inclusive democracy. It is our view that many of the inequalities which
accrue to women and are outlined in this docurrtent stem directly from the absence of
women, and therefore the omission of their priorities and world view, from the processes
of legislation and administration.Law Reformlt is clear that the present imbalance will not
be ~edressed without affirmative action policies, and a renewed commitment on the part of
· the government, to counter the under-representation of women in society. The ctirrent
legislation is complex, and inadequate. It does not allow for class actions and therefore
prevents case law from acting to its full capacity in clarifying the law; and it is subject to
many queries regarding its compatibility with our European legal commitments - to name
but a few limitations. While we are aware that legislation alone is not going to solve the
problems, clearly radical reform is required, and urgently. Political ReformWe believe
that the appointment of a Minister for Equality in government could be Of significant help
in encouraging pro-active gender equality movements in the media, arts and sport world.
Women continue to be represented in a stereotypical fashion, and women's issues often
trivialised by the media..
..
The SDLP is campaigning for:
• a·major overhaul oftl1e law on sex discrimination and eq11al pay, to produce a
single comprehensive piece of legislati~m, with simplified provisions on ·
procedures, and reform to allow class actions.
• increased funding for the EOC, and a broader remit to carry out investigations and
bring cases to court.
··
EQUALITY: AN ECONOMIC NECESSITY
As a matter of justice and as a matter of good economic sense, we m~st work harder to ·
achieve full recognition of women in the economy. The SDLP believes first of all that
every individual in society has the right to the opportunity to earn a living, and secondly,
that we cannot afford not to make use of the talents and skills which can bring better
standards of living for all. Women in the job-inarket suffer from a complex interaction of
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�,Social Dem~ratic & Labour Party ..... .
· http://www.indigo.ie/sdlp/women.htm
disadvantages, and the contribution to the economy of women working in the home, goes
totally unrecognised. Excluded from workDespite significant improvement over the last 20
years, women are still not being given adequate assistance to break into the job-market,
never mind through the 'glass ceiling'. There are numerous reasons for this including
discrimination and inadequate resources to challenge it, a total dearth of childcare
facilities, lack of opportunity to get the appropr;iate training, reliance on public transport·
and reluctance to invest in women entrepreneurs.Excluded from the statistics The figures
for the number of women unemployed are extremely misleading since only those signing
for benefits are counted. Given the fact that women cannot sign on if their husbands are
earning, they are thus hidden from statistics and denied independent status. This affects
an estimated 38% of unemployed women. *Entc:rpriseit is still inordinately difficult for
women entrepreneurs to secure investment. Th(: small loans currently available from
LEDU are totally inadequate, and extra training and guidance is required.
The SDLP is campaigning for:
• the adoption of the Social Chapter, the i,mplementation of a minimum wage, &
guaranteed minimun1 rights for all workers, regardless of contractual status
• independent legal status for women married to working men, and recognition of the
value to the economy, of work done in the home
• targets and timetables to be agreed to enhance the representation of women in both
the public and private sectors
EQUALITY: AN ECONOMIC NECESSITY
Parentalleavein spite of the EU Pregnancy Dir-ective Northern Ireland currently has the
worst maternity pay and conditions in Europe. We want to see better 'family leave' pay
and conditions, and statutory guarantees for all workers, regardless of contractual .
status.Childcareit is not efficient to force won:1en to stay at home to look after their
children due to the lack of childcare services: It is long past time.the government
recognised as good economic sense, the investi.nent in adequate child-care facilities to
enable women who want to work, to do so. As a region with high unemployment, and one
of the lowest levels of publicly funded childcare in Europe, this issue is one of top
priority.Rural WomenAs well as the problems· encountered by women in urban areas,
rural women must deal with additional problems of access to training & information
centres, childcare facilities etc. resulting partly from poor. public transport, as well as
"invisible" work on farms and in family busini:sses. At a time when the rural population is
in decline, it is important that this issue is addressed as a matter.of urgency. Conditions at
workWomen are still under-represented even in the health and education sectors where
they form the bulk of the workforce; men are fwice as likely to reach management level. A
recent report by the EOC showed how the goverilment's 'competitive tendering' of
services within the health and education servkes, operates to the detriment of women who
are already working in a poorly paid sector. We support those findings and urge
government to take action immediately.
The SDLP is campaigning for:
• betterrights & conditions for all parents in the workforce
• niversally available child-care
• increased support for women entrepreneurs
EDUCATION, TRAINING & RETRAINING
The SDLP believes that one of the key ways to create the kind of future we hope for, is to
ensure that everyone has the opportunity to a<~quire the skills they need to assist in
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�~ocial
http:/lwww.iodigo.ie/sdlp/women.htm
Democ;atic & Labour Party.......
building that future. (Re-)Traitiing We want to s€:e an open, flexible education system that
will allow each individual to develop his or her filii potential, as well as caring for a
family. It is vital that women can update their skllls if they wish to returnto work, and
that a strategy is developed to facilitate that training through the provision of the ·
· necessary child-care services. In this age of adva;nced telecommunications, greater efforts
must be made to include rural women in this process. With the advent of 'e-mail' we
suggest an investigation into the possibility of education cottages along the lines of the
expanding network of cottage industries. The training offered must be practical and useful
and not 'training for training's sake'. It is also imperative that measures ar-e taken to build
self-esteem amongst women lacking the confidence necessary to return to training or
study. Study patterns There have been very significant changes in study patterns over the
last 20 years. Girls now make up more than half of the entrants for GCSE Biology and
Chemistry, and 'A' level Biology. 52% of the urtder-graduate student population is
female. However, well below half of all GCSE and 'A' level Physics students are girls,
and only 9% of engineering students at college are women. We want to see a system that
will help engender in our children a sense of equality of all people, and counter persistent
stereotypes of what a woman or a man 'ought' to do regardless of interests, skills and
. abilities.
The SDLP is campaigning for:
• increased training opportunities to be directed at women wishing to enter or
re-enter the job-market
• more emphasis on the development of effective curricular materials, policies and
· guidelines to counteract male and female stereotypes
. \
• a co-ordinated childcare-training strategy to enable parents to train or study while
childcare is available
HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Women's HealthWomen suffer more acute and more chronic illnesses than m,m, as well
as having more mental health problems, and suffering more from social isolation. The
combination of domestic and paid employment1leads to greater levels of chronic fatigue
·
and stress, Greater emphasis needs to. be placed on preventing illness, particularly
·amongst elderly women who are often overlooked. We are opposed to stopping regular
· screening of women over 64 since the incidence: of breast cancer increases amongst
women over that age. Greater education and encouragement is required to promote uptake
of all screening services. We are opposed to the cuts that have been made in the health
service, particularly in maternity services, and to the denial of privacy resulting from
mixed wards; especially in the light of the recer1t announcement that wards in Britain will
return to being single-sex units. We believe in free and aecessible contraception for
·
women·and men. Violence against WomenThe ~~urrent law on Sex Offences is totally
inadequate, and the issue of violence against women is exacerbated in nationalist areas
due to problems relating to policing and security. The definition of rape does not cover
penetration by other objects such as sticks, bottles etc. This is defmed as indecent assault,
. and whereas rape carries a maximum life sentence, the maximum sentence for indecent
assault is only 2 years. This is all the more outrageous in light of the fact that indecent
assault against men carries a penalty'ofup to JO years imprisonment. We want to.see
more stringentenforcement of the rule against,bringing up the issue of a women's sexual
history in court, and legal aid for the victims of attack, to cover the cost of legal advice
and representation in court.
The SDLP is campaigning for:
.• n the removal of inequalities experienced by women in the social security system
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and the disincentive to enter paid employment;
.
• the Govemment to produce a new Sex Offences Order forthwith; to broaden the
definition of 'rape', to remove the unjus.t distinction between sentencing for
indecent assault against men and against women, to make legal aid available to .the
victims of attack and to develop and co-.ordinate a strategy on domestic and sexual
violence.
. HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Benefits issues Women are more likely to be claiming benefits than men, so this is yet
another issue which has a more significant effect on women than on men. It is the
combined impact of being on benefit or workiq.g in low-paid jobs, as well as caring for
others on low incomes which is crippling for women. We want to see an. end to the
Job-Seekers' Allowance, which has a disproportionately negative impact on women. We
fully support the recommendations of the EOC in its recent report "The Cost of Care"
which recognised the serious financial, emotimtal and health implications that care
provision has for women in particular. The report shows that most carers are in late
middle-age or of pensionable age themselves. It also highlights the triple responsibility
home by many carers who are attempting to h<,ld down a job, and take responsibility for
the home and children, in addition to providing care for an elderly or sick relative or
friend.
The SDLP is campaigning for:
• greater support for carers, especially during the first six months of the post-canng
phase
• the implementation of the 5 strategic objectives on Women's Health in the Global
Platfom1for Action agree<;! at the United Nation's 4th World Conference on
Women held in Beijing in 1995
HALF THE FUTURE- MAKING IT HAP,PEN
Building in Faimess The law, as we have seenrcan sometimes affect women differently
than men. A topic currently under debate is the issue of 'Policy Appraisal and Fair
Treatment' (PAFT). This operates at the formulation stage of policy-making and involves
systematically assessing the likely impact it will have on different groups in society. The
. idea, sometimes knoWn. as 'mainstreaming', is obviously particularly important to women
·as a disadvantaged group in society, still earning less then men and still bearing most of ·
the burden of caring for families.
··
The SDLP wants to see 'PAFT' enshrined in Jaw with published guidelines for all
government departments. We believe that if implemented effectively this could be of
·considerable benefit to many groups in society, and go some dist~ce towards gaining.
recognition of the 'double disadvantage' suffe:red by, for example women with ·
disabilities, or women from ethnic minority gt'oups.
Representation is.the issue. By equality of opportwiity we don't wish to negate the
differences between men and women, simply to ensure that these differences don't
continue to act as an in1pediment to individuals developing their full potential. This is a
crucial time for the people of Ireland; we want all those who feel that they can contribute
through the political channels, to come forward, and we .want to do our best to ensure that
all sections of the population have the opportimity to participate in the way that·best suits
them.
On the important issue of equa.lity of opportunity for women it will continue to be the
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strategy of the SDLP, as in all other areas of policy, to encourage public debate, to
campaign, to lobby-and to negotiate, at local goyernment, in Westminster and in Europe.
The SDLP will sit down to argue for these priofities as we sit down for peace through a
negotiated settlement, putting forward all our policies with the support of our
considerable electoral mandate and nothing else.
This document is intended as a general policy update; we hope to produce more detailed
papers on the issues covered here. As the new nlillennium approaches we will continue to
work under the same guiding principles that have inspired us since our inception, with a
vision of the world that recognises women as:
!
• half the people
• half the parents
~~
half the workforce
• half the future
WOMEN & THE.SDLP
The SDLP was the first party in Ireland to elect a female chairperson - Brid Rodgers,
1978/8. One of our current Vice-Chairs is Marietta Farrell, and our General Secretary is
Gerry Cosgrove. The SDLP's membership is 47% women, and women form oyer 40% of
the Executive Committee. We believe in affirmative action, thereforewe have a 40%
quota for the Executive Committee, and have adopted an affirmative action programme
with the goal of women filling 50% of the positions at all levels in the Party.
The SDLP Women's Group has as one of its priorities the encouragement of women
members to run for public office. We know we have a long way to go before we have full
equality for women. By providing help, support and training to women members and to
those wishing to join the Party, or pursue a more public role, we are determined to play a
major part in achieving this goal.
As a Party committed to European Union, and aware of the benefits that membership has
brought to women, the SDLP is a member-party of the Party of European Socialists, and
is represented on its Women's Group Standing Committee by our spokesperson, Brid
Rodgers.
.
.
If you agree with the policies outlined here, and would like to join us or fmd out more,
please send us an e-mail or fill in an application form (see below) ... .
'
l
•
In the preparation of this paper we have been heavily dependent on the work of others, experts on women's
issues, interest groups and representative bodies. Indeed ~·;ociety as a whole is more dependent on the good
work done by these groups than is normally acknowledg~:d; we applaud them for their excellent work,· and we
look forward to working constructively with them in the 'advancement of all our interests.
* Statistics from EOC material
e-mail SDLP
HOMEPAGE
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATJON FORM
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�The persistent problem of low and
unequal pay in Northern Ireland has
received new focus with government's
plans1 for a national minimum wage. In
whatever way low pay is defined in
Northern Ireland, as elsewhere, a
simple fact emerges. Most of the low
paid are women. In September 1.997 an
estimated 120,500 employees in
Northern Ireland were paid less than
£3.96 per hour. However, 86,000 or 72%
of these low paid workers were women.
Men and women in Northern Ireland are generally paid less
than their counterparts in Britain. In 1996 the average gross
hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of men in Northern.
Ireland were 86% of men's earnings in Great Britain while
women's earnings were 91% of the British rate.' Compared
with other areas of the European Union. Northern Ireland and
Great Britain have the highest proportions of low paid full
time women workers-'
:'
The Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
has long been concerned about the problem of women's low
pay. The promotion of equality in pay always has been a
statutory duty and remains a strategic ,priority for the
Commission. Many factors contribute to women's low pay.
Men and women tend to work in different jobs and women
are concentrated in relatively low paid .occupations and
industries. There has been a persistent gap between the
earnings of men and women. Women's pay has remained
consistently around three-quatters of. men's since the Equal
Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 came into force. The
Commission's research, Pav Strucwres ami G;mder (l9Q6),
illustrated the structural nature of pay inequality. Gender and
the Eamings Gap ( 1997) found that discrimination might
account for up to 60% of the observed difference in pay
between men and women.
The (,:ommi'ssion has used its litigation powers to address this
serious .problem. Most of the equal pay cases it has supported
have involved low paid women, mostly ancillary health
service \1/orkers. However, in its long experience in dealing
with equal pay cuses, the Commission has found the legislation
to be·largely ineffective in seriously tackling the problem of
low and unequal pay. In its Recommendationsfor Change to
the Equal Pay Lf;gislation ( 1990) the Commission noted
· problems with delays, legal complexities, and excessive costs.
The abolition of the Wages Councils in Northern Ireland in
1993.was opposed by the Commission. These Councils
afforiJed potential protection for low paid workers. Women
were 60% of those who were covered by the Councils. The
lack of a minimui11 wage, the abolition of the Wages
Councils, ineffective equal, pay legislation and gender
segregation In work have resulted in low .pay for over a third
of women employees in Northern Ireland.
The Commission has·promoted the use of the European
Commission's Code of Practice on Equai Pay to encourage
'employers to adopt pay policies·free from sex bias. The
Commission itscif has issued a Code of Practice on Equal Pay
for Northern Ireland. that will contribute to raising awareness
of the issue among employers, trade unions and employees. It
will provide practical guidance on promoting equality in pay.
Industrial Tribunals in Northern Ireland shall take this code
into account in considering relevant equal pay cases.
.
' EmplO)'ecs whose pay was not atTectcd by ahscnce. Northern Ireland New Earnings Survey 1996.
EOCNI 1995
'
Because of the serious impact of low pay the Commission has
welcomed government's plans to'introducc a national
minimum wage. The data in.this report is largely derived
, from the.Commission's submission to. the Low Pay
Comr~ission (LPC). The fundamental remit of the Low Pay·
Conui;ission.is to recommend a level for the new national
minimum wage.
.
®
'
�WHO i~RETHE LOW PAID IN
NORTI-iERN IRELAND?
DEFINING LOW PAY
There are a number of definitions of low pay, and choosing
amongst them to determine a benchmark is to some extent
arbitrary. The most widely used definition is· the Low Pay
Unit's threshold based on two-thirds median male.earnings.
In 1997 this benchmark was £6.15 per hour: At its September
1996 conference, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) identified
· The pr~portion or absolute number of employees who may
be considered low paid, and their composition by sex,
industry, occupation, etc. depends on the threshold chosen to
define l()w pay. At whatever level it is de tined, there is a large
variation in the likelihood of low pay. It is a function of the
characteristics of the individual and ·the indu'stry, occupation
and location where s/he may work. In a wide range of studies
three possible values for a minimum wage, based on 1995
New Earnings Survey data for Great Britain: - £4.26, £3.80
and £3.58 per hour. The "omparabk tigures for 1996 data are
there an~ two consistent findings. Whatever detinition of low
pay is used, the low paid are disproportionately women and
£4.41,£3.96 a~d £3.66 per hour.'
part-timers.
The data in the Commission· s submission to the LPC
showed that in 1996 employees earning less than £4.41 per
.
.
.
An analysis of unpublished Northern Ireland New Earnings
Survey (NES) ( 1996) data supplied by the Department of
hour included:-
Economic Development allows a tentative identitication of
the types of employees who are most likely to be affected by
the introduction of a minimum wage. The data identify
average hourly earnings excluding overtime. An hourly
threshold excluding overtime is chosen since this makes it
possible to compare full-time and part-time employees in a
52% of women and 21 'k ,,f men in the private sector
68% Of WOmen and 26Cf l)f men in manual OCCUpationS
52% of women and 44'7r ,,i men in pmt-time employment
36% of all women and I Yc of all meJ1.
consistent fashion. Using th,e TUC 1996 GB values for three
differer;t levels of a minimuni wage, the low paid are more
likely to be found:-
The three wage levels advocated by the TUC are widely
cited in the analysis of and debate on the impact of different
miniinum wage levels in the L'nited Kingdom and we have
used these as the basis of our analysis. For this report, OED
(NI) Statistics Branch undeno,,k special data runs using these
three TUC based thresholds. Bec·ause it is expected that th!!re
will be no regional variations in a national minimum wage
structure, the thresholds are deri,·ed using data from
In the private sector rather than public sector,
In manual rather than non-manual occupations,
In part-time rather than full-ti1~e e1,nployment,
Amongst women rather than men.
Great Britain.
'Because the NES·surveys only thl':'~' .:t--.:'\';.' th;.· PAYE thrc:;hold. it d~cs not ·~_~Ccurately rcllcct the· numbers in part-time and/or low paid employment. NES ligures :.Vmild
tend to ovcrcstimatl.! the pa,· of thl':'•' .~! i:o,· t'-'llc'ill ~·nd l,f th~ pay scale. Exclusive u:o.;c of NES data will .underestimate the proportions or estimated numbers of the low
paid however they ,·nay b~ ~it>lincLi.
®
2
�,.
Using the 1996 New Earnings Survey data, Figures One to
Four compare the proportions of men and women in various
The private sector in Northern Ireland accounts for nearly
60% M women's employment and approximately two-thirds
of all employment. At all three wage thresholds and for both
sexes, the proportion of employees in the' private sector
worki'ng on low pay is considerably higher than that in the
categories whose hourly wage falls below the three threshold.
tlgures of £3.66, £3.96 and £4.41 per hour.
Overall, are the proportions of men and women falling below
the various wage thresholds similar? The clear answer is that
they are not. At each minimum wage threshold, the
proportion of women whose pay would be increased is more
than double the proportion of men.
pub}ic sector. As Table One shows, because there is a far
higher incidence of low pay in the private sector, at all
three wage thresholds the largest number of both men and
womc~n affected ,by a national minimum wage will be in the
· private sector.
At all three wage levels, regardless of employment status, the
proportion of women below various wage thresholds is higher
TABLE ONE: PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTOR
Estimated numbers of men and women at various
than that of men. As Figure One shows, for' both sexes far
more part-time than full-time workers are affected by low
pay. Part-time employment is especially important for
women. In the overall population of employees almost Jialf
(46.2'70) of women work part-time and women account' for
approximately 75% of all part-time employees. The relative.
low pay of part-time employees combined with ·the extent of
part-time employment amongst women. largely explains why.
at any of the wage thresholds, nearly twice as many women
as men are affected. Because part-time employment is
overwhelmingly female. and low paid. a minimum wage
would. in both relative and absolute terms, raise the pay of
more women than ·men.
wage thresholds (based on employees in employment
September.l997 provisional estimates. DED.Statistical Notice
·Dec 1997)
' e
®
�\
I
The impact of a national miniinum wage for women in the
private sector is particularly notable. Even at the lower level
of £3.66, it is estimated that women in private sector
employment would account for well over half of all
employees affected by a minimum wage. For the major
private sector industrial groups, Figure Three below shows
the proportions of male and female employees at various
minimum wage thresholds:
Hotels and Restaurants have the highest proportion of low
paid employment in the private sector. Approximately 60%
of employees in this sector are women. At all wage levels,
the proportion of women in this sector whose pay would be
affected by a minimum wage is the highest of either sex in
any industrial sector.
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
·o.o%
The manufacturing sector acco~nts for approximately
25% of male and 10% of female employment with women
accounting for one in three. of manufacturing employees.
At any of the three wage thresholds this sector has the
lowest proportion of low paid employees. In this broad
sector, however, four times as many women as men earn
below £4.41.
Female manual workers stand to benefit the most from the
introduc<ion of a minimum wage.· At any of the three wage
levels, the proportibn of manual women workers on low pay
is highe1' than any other group of employees however they are
classified by any combination of gender, sector and occupation.
As Figure Four shows, over half of female manual workers·
have hourly wages of less than £3.96 per hour.
�.l•
90.0%
. 80.0%
70.0%
. 60.0%
50.0%
~)
40.0%
30.0%.
20.0%
10.0%
®
�per hour, the pay gap would narrow for all workers in the
private sector from the current 70.4% to 72.3%. For private
sector manual employees, the effect is even more marked
with the gap narrowing from 69.4 % to 73.8%.
THE MINIMUM WAGE AND
' THE GENDER PAY GAP
In spite o'f over twenty years of equal pay legislation, the pay
gap between men and women persists. This is particularly the
case for women working in manual occupations. The 1975
implementation of the Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970
led to a substantial narrowing of the gender pay gap for
manual workers"from 61% to 73%. However, in the twenty
years from 1976 to 1996, this pay gap has remained
unchanged (Figure Five on previous page).
For full-time.manual employees in the public sector, the
introduction of a minimum wage at £3.66 would narrow the
pay gap from 80.7% to 89.1 %. For full-time manual workers,
a minimum wage at this level would close the pay gap from
74.6% to 77.9%. As shown in Figure Five, this lessening of
the pay gap by over 3% is highly significant. In the twenty
years following the implementation of the Equal Pay Act
the gap for these manual workers has· persisted at around
A minimum wage at any of the three levels, £3.66, £3.96 or·
£4.41, would narrow the existing pay gap between men and
women. 4 The introduction of a minimum wage at £3.66 per
hour would narrow the overall pay gap from the existing
78.4% to 79.4%. A 30p increase to £3.96 would close the pay
gap to 80%. At a minimum of £4.41, on average, women's
pay would be 81% of men's pay. However, these overall
figures conceal the effect a minimum wage would have on
narrowing the pay gap for specific groups of workers. Tables
Two (a) to Two (c) show the effects o·n the gender pay gap for
various sub-groups of aiL full-time and part-time workers. In
narrowing the pay gap, a minimum wage would be of greater
consequence in the private than the public sector.
73% to 74%.
At all three wage thresholds, a minimum wage has a far
greater impact on narrowing the pay gap between women and
men working full-time than those working purt-time. At first,
this may seem contrary to 'common sense'. A minimum wuge
· would have the effect of ruising the wages of a number of
part-time workers, both male and female. 1-lowever, because
similar proponions of male and female p<trt-timcrs h<tve an
hourly wage below the three wage thresholds (sec Figure
One), the introduction of a minimum wage has a ncgligihle
impact in narrowing the pay gap between women and men
part-tim(~rs. Since part-time eq1ploxment is predominantly
female, a mitiimum wage level that raises the pay of a
substuntial number of part-time employees would result in a
narrowing of the overall puy gap between men and women.
Looking at Table Two (a), the current pay gap for all
employees in the private sector is 70.4% (the column headed
'actual' results). If a minimum wage were introduced at £3.66
1
.f
There 1:\ no agreed mt:thod hy whlch the pay g11p hdwccn rncn and women- is calculated. \\reckly <X hourly wugcs, including or ~xduding (Wcrtimc arc aU used.
In Nonh~m Ireland. the ligures regularly cited usually· apply to only full-time employees. The pay g~tp in I his analysis is cakul:ucd fnr all cmpl\lyces. In addition,
scpar<th: ...:;Jit:t!lalion:; arc tn:ld(.; for full and part-lime employees.
®
6'
(
�.TABLE TWO: The gender pay gap· and the influence
of the minimum wage. Female ·earnings as % of male
earnings at various minimum wage levels average
hourly earnings (excluding OT)
Source: New Earnings Survey 1996 (N.I .) Unpublished DED Slalislics Branch
e.
2(b) FULL-TiME EMPLOYEES
7
�CONCLUSION
References
Low pay is a women's issue. The Commission supports the
introduction of a national 1ninimum wage as a crucial step to
Confederation·of British Industry ( 1995).
A National Minimum Wage: An Employers' Perspective.
address the problem of low pay i~ Northern Ireland. The
Commission has recommended a national minimum wage of
£4.00 per hour. In some quarters, there has been much
Department of Economic Development. (September 1997).
concern regarding the level of a minimum wage and possible
job losses. The research on this issue in the United Kingdom .
and the United States (which has a minimum wage) is
inconclusive. As the CBI ( 1995) has stated, the research
'does not give a clear cut answer to the question does raising
Statistics notice- Employees in employmentDecember 1997.
Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland ( 1995).
.
a minimum wage cost jobs?'
. Women and Men in Norlhern Ireland. EOCNI: Belfast.
However, there was one social 'experiment' that can be used
to test the argument that increased wages will result in job
losses. This .was the implementation of the Equal Pay Act
in 1975. Manning (1995)found that with the implementation
of the Act in 1975 in Britain, women's·pay relative to men's
rose sharply. This increase is notunlike the possible effect of
a minimum wage. At the time some predicted that as a result
Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland ( 1996).
Pay Structures and Gender in Northern Ireland.
EOCNI: Belf~tst.
Equal Opportunities Commission for Nonhern Ireland ( 1997).
Gender and t~ te Earnings Gap: EOCNI: Belfast.
1
of increased female wage costs, employers would employ less
foemale labour. The opposite occurred. The numbers of
women in employment rose.
Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland ( 1997).
Sex Discrimination"Legislation. Recommendations for
Change. EOCNI: Belfast.
Low pay undervalues the work done by this sector of the
workforce and contributes to the large mnnber of people
living in poveny. Low earnings also impact on women's
access to benefits such as pensions, statutory sick and
maternity pay and unemployment benefit/Job Seekers
Allowance. Research currently being carried out on behalf of
the Commission has indicated that women are over
.i
Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland ( 1998).
Code of Practice on Equal Pay. EOCNI: Belfast.
European Commission ( 1995). A Code of practice on the ·
implementation of equal pay for work of equal value for men
and women. bffice for Official Publications of the European
Communities: Luxembourg.
represented among those ineligible for contributory benefits
because tlieir pay is too low. Analysis of the gross pay data i1~
the 1994 New Earnings Survey estimates that" 14% of the· ·
working women in the survey earned less than the lower
earnings li~it(£56 per week in 1994) c9'mpared withthree
per cent of men. Therefore women working on low wages are
denied access to benefits when they are sick or pregnant, and
Manning, A. (1995). The Equal Pay Act as an Experiment for ·
testing theories of the Labour. Market. Economica .
then are left in poverty in old age because they are dependent
on state pensions.
N~w
The introduction of a national minimum wage has the
potential io benefit a substantial number of low paid employees;
boih'men and women, in Northern Ireland. A niinimum wage,
by raising the pay of those in low paid work, will lower the
number of those' living in poverty. This report has show~ that
Earnings Survey Northern Ireland 1996.
:Equal-Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
Chamber of. Commerce House
22 Great Victoria Street
approximately two-thirds of those people affected by a
minimum wage will be women. The data has shown that
these low paid women. particularly manual workers, are
. providing essential services such as in the hotel and restaurant
sector. Raising their pay will begin to value their work and to
BELFAST BT2 7BA
Tel: 01232 242752
Fax: 01232 422105
e-mail: in(o@cocni.org.uk
ISBN 0 906646 69 3
narrow the pay gap between men and women.
8
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·:
�f.
I
I]
The Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland was set up in 1976 urider the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland)
Order. Inevitably, its 20th anniversary in 1996 was a time for lookirig back 6ver the two decades of sex discrimination legislation,
and nearly thirty years of equal pay laws, as well as preparing for the coming century. The staiistics in this report were originally
compiled for participants at a conference, "Working towards equality in the twenty-first century", held in Belfast in October 1996.
They have been expanded and upd~ted to g"ive a fuller picture of the change:s over time iri women's and men's experience of
employment, .pay, public life and education.
EQUALITY
I~
Thi~ .increase in women'~ participation in the labour market
has not been matched by increased provision of publicly
funded childcare. In 1988, an EC-wide study found that the
United Kingdom had one of the lowest .levels of publicly
funded childcare services for children of all ages. Within the
Uni ted Kingdom, Northern Ireland was the most
disadvantaged region. A comparison of total day care
prcovisio~ in 1989 contirmed a picture of overall disadvantage
in ) lorthem Ireland compared to other regions in the United
\
Kingdom. Fewer childcare places were available in Northern
Ireland. There were fewer places in play groups or day
nurseries than anywhere else in the United Kingdom with
more care being provided by childminders. At present, while
Nc"orthern Ireland continues to have significantly fewer
childcare places than England or Scotland, provision here has
ove_taken that ?vailable in Wales. All regions have seen a
r
dramatic decline in the number of playgroup places available ·
since 1989 but im increase iilthe number of places in day
.
.
'
.
nurseries and with childminders.
EMPLOYMENT
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 1971 to 1991: The pr<;>portion of
women participating in the labour market increases from
43.3% to fifty~si x percent.
Over the past twenty years one of the most fundamental
transformations in Northern Ireland has been the cha nge in
the ·level and pallern of women's participation in the .labour
market. For all age-groups above ihe age of twenty, the
proportion of women who are economically acti ve, that is,
in employment, <in government sponsored training or
unemployed, has increased.
The increase in women's economic activity has been ·most
marked amongst married women of child-bearing age. While
a number of factors have contributed to this, a contributory
factor was the 1976 Sex Discrimination Order which forbids
discrimination on account of sex and marital status.
Age specific economic activity rates
Census of Population
197i "
1991
·married
women
change 71 to 91
men
all
women
married
womei1
men
all
women
married
women
men
53.2% .
55.9%
61.2%
37.3%
69.3%
- 16.9%
16.0%
-13.4%
70.8%
62.6%
86.3%
60.8%
. 37.2~~
91 .5%
10. 1%
25.5%
-5.3%
25-29
68.1%
- 62.0%
94.9%
42.5%
30.3%
97.6%
25.6%
31.7%
-2.7%
30-34
62.3%
59.7%
95.2%
36.1 %
28.5%
98.1%
26.2%
31 .2%
-2.9%
39.5%
33.3%
98. 1%
22.3%
27..1%
-4.0%
age
band
all
women
16-20
44.3%
21-24
35-39
61.7%
60.4%
. 94. 1%
40;44
61.0%
60.0%
92.7%
43.0%
37.0~~
97 .~%
18.0%
23.0%
-5.2%
45-49
60.6%
59.6%
90.6%
44.0%
37.8%
,97.4%
16.6%
2 1.8%
-6.9%
S0-54
54.6%
53.7%
85.6%
41 .2%
34.5%
96.5%
13.5%
19.2%
- 10.9%
SS-59
43.2%
42.3%
76.3%
35.9%
27.9~'{,
93.4%
7.2%·
14.5%
- 17. 1%
60-64
20.0%
20.3%
55.6%
19.2%
13.8%
83.8%
0.8%
6.5%
-28.3%
total
56.0%
55.0%
83.2%
43.3%
31.9~1(,
91.5%
12.6%
23.1 %
-8.3%
Sourn •: 1991 Cen1:11.1" of Potllllatioll
()
�.
-·
In the twenty years between 1976 and 1996 women's share of
employeei; in employmenthas increased from approximately
forty to fifty percent. Most of the growth is in part-time
employment. Women's increased share of employment is a
result of declining levels of male employment, predominantly
in the mariUfacturing sector, combined with an increase in
women's employment.
1971 to 2003 (selected years) employees in
employment actual and forecast
women
men
tocil
%women
1971
200.5
319.7
520.1
38.5%
1976
213.6
316.3
529.9
40.3%
1981
230.4
293.0
523.4
44.0%
1991
278.0
291.5
569.5
48.8%
1996
294.4
287.0
581.4
50.6%
2003
310.7
281.4
592.1
52.5%
year
-:
The above figure reveals a number of important changes
between 1971 and 1991. Between 1971 and 1991 the age
specific pattern of women's participation has changed. In 1971
the 'shape' of the pattern of women's participation is different
.from that of men and emulates the 'M' curve which reflects a
drop in participation during child-bearing years. In 1971
amongst women between the ages of 24 and 34, ie those women
most likely to have childcare responsibilities, there was a
precipitous drop in the participation rate. From the ages of 35 to
54 the participation rate of women slightly increases. However,
by 1991, the drop in the participation rate of women aged 25 to
34 is smaller. By 1991 ihe shape of women's economic
participation is closer to that of men.
In all cohorts above age twenty the proportion of women who
are actively participating in the labour market has increased. In
contrast, the proportion of men in all age· cohorts who are
active has decreased. This shift in the gender mix of those
participating in the labour market is also reflected in the
~hanging composit!on of the employed workforce.
Employment : In 1971 women accounted for 38.5% of the
employees in employment. In 1996 women account for half of
those employed. This trend is forecast to continue· into the
next millennium.
source: NIERC NIMOD.
THE INDUSTRIALAND OCCUPATIONAL
STRUC:TURE OF WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT
Women's share of employment has increased since 1971.
However, the extent to which an industry may be characterised
as male or female remains unchanged. As the figure indicates,
in almost all sectors the gender mix of employment has
remained almost constant. An exception to this is the banking
and finance sector where the share of women's employment
increased from 42% to 55% between.l971 and 1991.
.
-.-u .
···,1.~1 ~~
Xoflowktrtry
!Ji!l ....
�,,)
•
The economically active. 1971 - 1991
women as a
percentage of
occup~tion
women in
occupation
as a% of all
active women
occupation
1971
1991
1971
1991
clerks/cashiers
61.8%
76.3%
14.4%
6.2%
maids,cleaners
. 9.1.2%
91.6%
9.7%
sewing machinist
96.9%
93.5%
9.1%
'73.3%
81.0%
8.4%
98.6%
98.9%
6.2%
5.1%
nurses
90.2%
92.3%
5.6%
5.3%
teachers
62.6%
66:9%
5.0%.
decrease in the pay gap took place in the years from 1988 to
1992. During that time the pay of women in non manual
occupations rose by 50% and pay for women in manual
occupations increased by forty percent. Men received lower rates
7.7%
typists,secr'ty
earnings. The regulations which, in 1984, amended the earlier
law, have not shown a similar impact on unequal pay. Another
3.1%
shop salesmen I
force in Northern Ireland in December 1975 following a live
year period for implementation. As the figure below illustrates, it
was the period between 1972 and 1976 which showed the most
significant decrease in the gap between male and female
4.8%
7.2%
ofincreases in both categories. However there has been little
reduction in the pay gap si~ce that time'.
..•
'Wome~'s Earnings as a% of Men's · ·.·
Average Gro~~ Weekly Earnings (incl. OT) .
Full-Time on Adult Rates
..
..
, _.,.,----,----,---------------'-,
(primary & secondary)
fO.OX
doctors
20.1%
32.7%
0.2%
0.4%
lorry drivers
0.3%
0.9%
0.0%
0.0%
judges,lawyers
3.6%
25.2%
0.0%
0.2%
electric engineer
0.1%
1.9%
0.0%
0.0%
local gov't mgr
8.0%
45.2%
0.0%
0.1%
fire brigade men 1 0.0%
1.9%
0.0%
0.0%
civil engineers
3.2%
0.0%
0.0%
IO.OX
70,0%
60,0%
f~m..: as% of male -'.,-'·-"'-~"-·'_%___·"--'-'A_%___.7_%__
..
..
".,..·"--'-'·-"__,
·L1
0.1%
I 1971 Census defini[ions are used
Although there have been dramatic increases in the level of
women's economic participation and employment, occupational
segregation persists in the Northern Ireland labour market.
Occupations such as cleaning, nursing and 'teaching, which
mirror the traditional stereotypical role of women's domestic
'caring' responsibilities continue· to be predominantly female.
However, there have been substantial increases in the
proportion of women working in some professions, such as
medicine and law, and local government management.
Con,Iparing hourly earnings reduces the impact of the overtime
factor and illustrates the limited change that has taken place
since 1972. While the.gap between males and females in non
manual occupations has been reduced by 9%, women in these
occupations still earn only 72% of male h(iurly earnings.
Women's hourly earnings as a percentage
of men's hourly earnings
EQUALITY IN PAY
The EOCNI. has for its 20 year history placed a major focus on
the issue of unequal pay for women. The persistence-of gender
segregation in occupations and industries and the more recent
1976
1996
changes taking place·in the organisation of work ·and in
payment structures present major challenges to the Commission
Manual·
74:7
75.5
and oth(!rS working for equ,ality between women and men.
Non-manual ·
62.3
72.1
Despite 26 years of equal pay legislation, women still earn less
than men- whether we measure hourly, weekly or anriual
ear~ings. In 1996 women's weekly pay was only 76o/a of male
earnings. While the gender gap is less than in the 1960s, the
curre1it position demonstrates that there has been little progress.
in the elimination of sex discrimination iil pay..
"
j
I
l
!
e
In 1967 women's weekly pay was less than half that of ,;1en's
(4R.7%). Wonien's hourly earnings were not much better at
60% of male hourly pay. The Equal Pay Act 1970 came into
_Source: New Earnings Survey for Northern Ireland
The gap between women's and· men's pay persists across all
industrial sectors and occupational groups. Even in 'those ·
industrial sectors where women predominate, such as banking
ancl financial services, health a1id social work, and other personal
services. women's'pay is less than 70% of men's.
~
~
�-------------------------------~-----~---------------------------------------------------,
Women's average gross weekly earnings (NI) as a
percentage of men's (including overtime)
selected industries 1996
Manual
Non-manual .
Manufacturing
65.2
61.1
Hotels and restaurants
79.9
*
Financial intermediation
*
The Commi.~sion's recent report, Pay Structures and Gender
(EOCNI 1996) i~dicated that pay additions such as overtime,
shift prerniums and bonus payments can significantly enhance
basic pay for some employees. As indicated below, overtime
pay has been. more significant for male workers. There has
been little change in the limited overtime P'lY additions to
women's pay from 1976 to 1996.
55.4.'
Overtime additions as perce~e of
basic pay 1976-1996
1976
male
female
Public administration
& defence
68.0
Health & social work
70.1
Education
*
*
1996
male
female
Other personal service activity.
59.8
80.1
74.2
Manual
Non-m:anual
All
14.8%
4.0%
13,8%
4.2%
5.9%
0.2%
4.7%
2.0%
11.0%
0.2%
8.2%
2.4%
Source: NES forNorrhern lrela11d (*numbers too small to be reliable)
Source: NESfor Northern Ireland
The figure below illustrates the improvement in pay 'equality in
selected occupations. However, the need for closing the pay
gap remains. Within these broad occupational groupings are
disturbing inequalities in occupations where women form the
majority of employees. For example women health associate
professionals, including nurses, earn only 86.3% of male pay;
while women teachers earn only 83.8% of male pay.
The persistence of unequal pay, low basic rates, and lack of equal
access to pay additions has resulted in the concentration of
women among the low paid. Low pay. in ·Northern Ireland
continues to be very much a female problem. Using the Low Pay
Unit definition of low pay as two-thirds of male median earnings,
almost 40% of full-time women workers were on low pay in
1996, indicating little change since 1976. While there has been a
significant increase in the proportion of men on lo~ pay, the
statistics underestimate the incidence of women's low pay as
they exclude the large number of part-time women. workers.
Full-ti.me workers with earnings below two-thirds of male
median earnings
1976
%
Wom·en
Men
1996
%
44.3
36.2
8.0
17.4
* 1996 Low Pay threshold = £ 191.13.
However, the above
figures· refer to full-time workers with earnings below £ 190.00
Source: NESforNorthem lreland
f
�EQUALITY IN PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE
Proportion of male and female. MPs and MEPs
representing Northern Ireland
. From its inception in 1976 the EOCNI has promoted increased
participation by women in· the decision making processes which
affect every citizen's life.
In 1995 a National Agenda for Action "":'as drawn up by the
Women's National Commission and the· Equal Opportunities
Commissions for Great Britain and for Northern Ireland, in
consultation with, and endorsed by, organisations representing
millions of women throughout the UK.
Males
No.
United Kingdom
17
In the European Union as a whole, and in Northern Ireland in
particular, women .are under-represented in thos~ institutions and
forums which make the political, economic and social decisions
which shape their lives.
Each year the Commission's annual report monitors the extent of '
women's participation on a range of public bodies. In 1981 there·
were 384 women members of public bodies and this represented
just under 14% of total m;:mbership. This percentage has inched
upwards from year to year and now stands at 3:3 percent. While
this change is welcome, the rate of change can only be described
as disappointing.
Also disappointing is the figure for the number of public bodies
without female representation, which in 1996 stood at 13% of all
bodies appointed ..
0
0.0
17
3
Parliament
European Parliament
The National Agenda for Action called for measures to be taken
to ensure women's equal access to and full participation in power.
structures and decision making.
Females
Total
No.
%
No.
0
0.0
3
At present there are no female MPs representing Northern Ireland
constituencies. In addition, while a higher proportion of women
candidates stood for election to the European Parliament in
Northern Ireland (33%) than in the United Kingdom as a whole
· (20'10), no female MEPs were elected in Northern Ireland.
The United Kingdom had the second !~west proportion of women
candidates standing at the 1994 elections to the European
Parliament and the fourth io'west proportion of women elected to
the Parliament.
While more women were elected to the European Parliament in
1994 than in 1989, women continue to be under-represented.
Even with the arrival in January 1995 of MEPs from Austria,
Finland and Sweden, the latter two countries with high proportions
of kmale MEPs, just over. a quarter of all MEPs were women.
.
'
•·.
'
.
.
.
·.·, ,.
'·
Percentage ofWomen Hembers.of.the· ·:;.
· ·
·Europe~n P.a.r.ll~me~t by Herri.ber
·
· · '· ,.,. 'Jan:uary 1995 · -~">,:;
. As regards electoral politics, the absence of women at European
and national levels is particularly striking.
At ;:he local level women in Northern Ireland do play a role as
ele<:ted representatives. Women's representation as councillors
increased slightly since thei977 elections from 8% to 12% after
the 1993 local elections. Women's representation as councillors
varies considerably across Northern Ireland. After the 1993
eledio~s for iocal government in Northern Ireland four District
Councils (Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, and Limivady) had no
female councillors. The District Council with the greatest
proportion of female councillors was North Down where a third of
all •:ouncillors were women.
�EQUALITY IN EDUCATION
Female councillors in· 1997
Number of
women
Total
%Women
The past 20 years have seen some significant changes for
females in education. There is greater participation, less gender
segregation in subject choice and girls ·are now outperforming .
boys in some areas.
Antrim
0
19
0
Ards
3
23
13
Armagh
5
22
23
Ballymena
0
24
0
Ballymoney
0
16
0
Banbridge
3
17
18
Belfast
6
51
12
Carrickfergus
2
17
12
Castlereagh
5
23
22
Coleraine
5
22
23
Cookstown
2
16
13
Craigavon
6
26
23
Derry
6
30
20
Down
3
23
13
Dungannon
22
5
Fermanagh
23
The EOCNI in 1988 identified an important barrier to equality
of opportunity very· early on in the education process. Prior to
this date, boys and girls involved in the transfer procedure at
,age II years were t.reated as separate populations for the
4
purposes ()f allocating grades. The practice was for grade A to
be allocated to the top 20% of boys ~nd the top20% of girls
rather thai1 the top 20% of boys and girls. As a result some girls
were not awarded grammar school places even though their
results we:re higher than some of the boys who had been
awarded places. This practice ended in 1988 following
. successful litigation by the Commission. The Court ruled that
the practice was discriminatory as some girls had been treated
less favourably than some boys. Transfer test results following
this decision in 1989/90 illustrate that girls outperformed boys,
36.9% of girls compared to 34.6% of boys achieving a grade A.
This pattern persisted un'til 1992/93. In 1993/94, the format of
the Transfer Test was changed from that based on verbal
reasoning to that based on the curriculum. The pattern of results
also changed with boys achieving better resu!'ts than girls in
three out of the four years since then.
Females as a percentage of GCE/GCSE in
selected subjects ( 1976-1996)
4
15
0
IS
2
30
3
16
19
Moyle
IS
30
3
0 Level/GCSE
1976 1996
Boys Girls
Boys Girls
46.8 44.0
69.8 73.7
87.4 88.6
Chemi~;try
33.7 43.5
'67.1 66.4
87.6 92.0
7
Newry & Mourne
1996
7
Magherafelt
Pass rates
1976
0
Lisburn
Pass rates
27
Limavady
%entrants
who are
female
Biology
Larne
Newtownabbey
2
25
a
North Down
9
25
36
Omagh
21
5
Strabane
16
6
582
12.4
Northern Ireland
72
Source: Association of Local Authorities for Norrhem Ireland
'------------------------~~---
French
55.6 56.5
62.0 68.4
55.6 67.4
Maths
49.9 53.9
71.1 62.5
58.1 61.6
Physics
23.2 43.2
63.5 71.1
87.4 88.8
English
53.6 51.9
62.9 70.6
55.4 7,3.6
99.5 86.9 .
33.3 65.3
30.7 63.5
Soun:e: Nonlwm lre/andCnuncilfor Cuniculum Examilullions
<md A1-si·.vsme111
Women 'are under-represented and often absent from the formal
institutions and forums of public life in Northern Ireland.:
Gender segregation in subject choice has always been a major issue
in the 'pursuit of equality of opportunity. However, ·one .of the
However, while statistics are difficult io obtain, there is evidence
that women are heavily involved in public· life in . local
communities and through the voluntary sector.
significall! change.s .. to occur from 1976 to 1996 is that girls are
increasingly studying science subjects at GCSE level. There has
therefore bee:n some progress in eliminating gender segregation in
subject choice. However, girls are still under-represented :t> cntrdnts
to physics and chemistry GCSE examinations and boys are undcrrcpresemed in home economics.
�Pos.tgraduates
Gender segregation in subject choice at A Level sti II persists to a
much greater degree.
Men
Fem;,.les as a percentage of A level students in
selected subjects ( 197 6-1996)
%Women
546
281
34%
1995/96
At A Level, there is less difference between male and female
pass rates. In 1975176, girls outperfo~med boys in all of the
selected subjects illustrated below bar biology; in 1995/96, the
pass rates are very similar, although girls still have the edge:
Women
19;'5/76
Girls now outperform boys in the majority of subjects at GCSE
Level including the science subjects which are traditionally
associated with boys.
1560
1568
50%
Source: Department of Education for Northem Ireland
There has been improvement in some areas in relation to gender
. segregation in university subject choice over the years; however
cem,in subject areas still remain the preserve of either men or
women. Only 35% of social studies, business and financial
studi:nts were women in 1975176, whereas in 1995/96 women
comprised more than half of this group. Similarly the proportion
of female students within the medical faculty has increased over
this 20 year period. Nearly half of medicine and dentistry
students and more than three quarters ot' those studying
"subjects allied to medicine:' are women in 1995/96. Despite
gains in this area, women are still greatly under-represented as
students of engineering and technology and men's underrepresentation as education and language students has increased
from 1975176 to 1995/96.
% entrants · . ·P~ss rates
who are
1976
female
A Level
1976 1996
Boys Girls
Boys Girls
Biology
58.7 60.1
72.4 62.5
90.3 89.5
Chemistry
31.2 50.9
79.4 84.9
86.7 89.4
Physics
23.0 .28.3
73.8 77.9
82.5 88.2
Machs
27.2 43.3
70.6 72.2
89.4 89.0
Vlfomen as % of full-time undergraduate and postgraduate
French
69.6 73.5
71.3 78.8
92.5 95.4
students in selected subjects at Northern Ireland
Home. Economics 100.0 94.9
8
Pass rates
1996
n/a 76.6
91.7 95.5
universities: ( 1975176 -1995196)
Sowt·e: Nmthem lmkmd Council for Curriculwn Examinatiom
;JJu! Asse.\:\11U!Il/
Subject
* Medicine & dentistry
Although there has been some improvement in 'the uptake of
chemistry by girls at A Level, physics is still predominantly
studied by boys, just as French and English Literature are
studied by girls.
%Women
1975/76
1995/96 (I)
35.0
48.0
* Subjects allied to medicine
.A
A
Mathematical sciences
67.0
Physical sciences
A
There have been substantial changes in female· participation
rates in full-time university education in No~hern Ireland. From
1975176 to 1995/96, the number of female fuiHime
undergraduate students increased from 2,677 to 13,402. As a
result, women now have more undergraduate places in
universities than do men. Women have also increased their share
of postgraduate places from 34% iri 1975176.to 50% in 1995/96.
Biological sciences
83.0
27.0
48.0
31.0 (2)
Yl!tinary science, agriculture
and related
9.0
48.0
Engineering and technology
4.0
12.0
Architecture & related
34.0
26.0
<·Social studies
35.0
62.0 (3)
60.0
< Business & financial studies
Ubrarianship &
. I
Full-time
i
undergrad~ate
and postgraduate students at Nl.
information science
52.0
59.9
71.0
Humanities
Undergraduates
n/a
Languages & related
universities ( 1975176 - 1995196)
i
I
57.0
47.0
100.0
"60.0
66.0
74.0
Creative arts
Men
Women
%Women
Education
I
!
I
1
1975/76
3934
2677
*" <
40%
=grouped together in 1975176
(I) Provisional (2) Includes computer science (3) Includes law
1995/96
10905
13402
55%
Srmrce: Department rif Education j{1r Northern lrelallll
0.
~
�.
.
,.
•.
There has also been a drari:u~tic increase in the numbers entering
higher education who are aged 21 years and over; this is
especially so for womeri. Women over the age of 20.years and
up until the age! of 40 years are more likely to have caring
responsibilities as they have a higher birth rate than 'women
below the age of 20 years. The following table iilustrates the
increase in the number of women part-time undergraduate
students who arc! aged 21 years and over. Women now make up
64% of part-time students aged 21 years and over compared to
27% in 1975176.
In line with trends in the labour market, there has been an increase
in participation in education by women aged 21 years and over.
From .1975176 'to 1995/96 there was a dramatic increase· in the
number of men and women aged 21 years an? over entering
universities in Northern Ireland. As illustrated in the following
table, while there has been a general increase in the numbers of
full-time university students, the proportional increase_ in the
number of women entering higher education has been greater than
the proportional increase in the number of men doing so.
Women's representation as part-time and full-time students has ·
increased regardless of age group.
Northern Ireland domiciled full-time and part-time ur1dergraduates:
new e~trants to' universities in Northern Ireland, 1975/76 - 1995/96
1975/76
1995/96
No.
Males
No.
Females
Female
No.
Males
No.
Females
Female
Less 21 yrs
968
725
42.8%
2494
2740
52.3%
21 yrs & over
203
96
32.1%
698
687
"49.6%
4
.2
33.3
31
35
53.0%
78
29
27.1
1087
1926
63.9%"
%
%
Full-time undergraduates ·
·Part-time undergraduates
Less
I yrs
. 21, yrs & over
Source: Department of Etlucatiou for Northern Ireland
'
..
THE EQUA_L OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION FOR NOR,Tt-IERN IRELAND
Chamber of Commerce House
22 G rcat Victoria Street
· Belfast BT2 7B/I
Telephone: 01232 242752
Fax: 01232 331047
April 1997
ISBN 0 906646 60
.
0
.
(~
·,~
,,Y
�FOREWORD
More women than ever before are working outside the. home.
By September
1996, there were. more
women than men in employment, a total of more than a quarter of a million'. They work in all
industrial sectors and in a vast array of jobs. This is the'reality of women's lives, and on this front
equality of opportunity between women and men has progressed. But what do people know about
equality issues, and what are their attitudes towards the changing role of women?
Many prejudices have historically prevented women from playing their full part in work and in public
life. Those prejudices haven't all disappeared by any means, and this survey shows there are a few
bastions of conventional thinking left in Northern Ireland. But I am heartened by niany of the survey
results - the clear support for equality legislation, for example, and the rejection of the old
stereotypes of men's jobs ·and women's jobs.
One of the responsibilities laid on this Commission by the Sex Discrimination Order is to promote ·
equality of opportunity between women and men. To do that, it's important to know how people are
thinking - what they believe the roles and the rights of the two sexes in society ought to be. I hope
"Thinking about Equality" will inform the equal opportunities debate. Accurate and up-to-date
information is vital· if we are all - including the policy-makers - to play our part in developing a more
equal society.
Joan Smyth
Chair and Chief Executive
.This fact-sheet presents the results of.two surveys on awareness of and attitudes
towards sex equality issues which were conducted in 1996. In .March 1996, the
Nort~er:n
Ireland Social Omnibus Survey (conduct:ed by Research and Evaluation
.
.
.
'
.
Services) contained a nu~ber of questions ~n thesE! issues and was repeated in the
Oct~ber ~urvey. The findings which follow are based on ·the i"esul.ts of the tw~·
surveys combined. This yields a representative sample (in terms of age and sex} of
the Northern Ireland population.
�-------------~----:----,-------------------------
J
l
i
Understanding of the meaning of sex.
WHAT IS SEX
DISCRIMINATION?
Fig I: Perception of job opportunities
. There is a· good level of understanding of
sex discrimination, with a general consensus
that sex discrimination involves worse job
and promotion opportunities for women
and less· pay for work of equal value.
Worse or
much worse
lor men
Some for both
nen ond women
Worse or much
Of"Se
----------·-
lor women
Respondents were asked what th1:y
Fig 2: Job opportunities are worse
for women
70
60
so
40
understood. by the phrase sex
discrimination. Both women and men
had a good understanding of whai: it
meant. Table I illustrates the seven most
common replies.
discrimination varied by age. More
young people understood the
expression than those over 60 years.
WHO EXPERIENCES
. DISCRIMINATION?
A large proportion of women and men
think that discrimination does occur and
that it is directed at women. Women believe
this regardless of their age or qualifications.
Respondents were asked whether they
thought that job opportunities for
30
women were in general better or worse
20
than job opportunities for men with
10
Table I: Meaning of sex discrimination
r
similar education and experience.
'
'
Women Men
•
Women . • Mcr1
Worse job opportunities
for women
39% 35%
Figure I ill~strates that half of all
women of all _ages, including those over .
60, believed job opportunities to be
worse for women. Forty-one percent of
30% 30%
men of all ages also saw this as the
situation. Where discrimination was
28% 28%
as directed against wom~n. Most of
Sexual harassment
'opportunities are worse for them
Less pay for women
for work ofequal value
Worse job promotion
opportunities for women
Fig 3: Women's perception that job
16%
than for men
perceived, both women and men saw it
17%.
those who did not feel that job
opportunities are worse for women
Unequal access to training
. thought that they are the same for both
I education for women
::!
~
!il
"'
"'
~
M
"'
g
)!l
~
M
"' "' ~ !2 +
.;, Sl "'
\? "' :?:
"'
~
~
6'1.
.o
4%
"'
sexes, rather than being worse for men.
Most women, regardless of whether
~
~
~
oge
12%
Pregnancy dismissal
2:
9'1.
,o
Giving preferential
treatment to women
5%
7%
Women and men had a similar
understanding of the meaning of sex·
discrimination. More than a third
thought that it meant worse job
oppor;tunities for women. This was the
they were qualified to CSE or degree
level, felt that job opportunities are
worse for women. It is particularly
surprising that almost two thirds (65%),
of women qualified to degree level or
higher believed·that women have worse·
job opportunities. It might have. been
expected that thes·e women, with good
most frequent response given. The next
qualifications. would have been very
optimistic about their job
most common definition was less pay
for women for work of equal value; just
under a third of people gave this reply.
opportunities; but this doesn't seem to
be the case. The job. market.is not, it
A slightly smaller proportion mentioned
worse promotion opportunities for
women. More specific acts such as
appears. offering these high achievers
the sorts of jobs they had hoped for.
They may· therefore not l:ie able to
·sexual harassment and being dismissed
paint a hopeful picture to younger
women. This is especially unfortunate as
because of pregnancy were ?lso
mentioned but to' a much lesser extent.
even women who have .not entered the ·
labour market are rather despondent,
;
\.
�with over half of 16 to 24-year-olds
~
'~-"
seeing fewer opportunities for women.
. Table l.Awareness of the law by
income bracket
< £10,000
And it is not only women at these
educational levels who recognise the.
problem; more than half the men with
degrees or higher qualifications believed
£10,0(10
- £2o,o·oo
53%
67%
··Men
£20,000 +
Fig 4: Awareness of law forbidding sex
discrimination by age
· 83%
All
Women
52%
65%
87%
that.women have fewer chances in the
g,
60+
40-59
job market.
16.39
People who knew that ther;e was a law
..
AWARENESS OF THE
SEX DISCRIMINATION
LEGISLATION
.against sex
discrimination.~·ere
more
likely to be able to name the Sex
Discrimination Order than the Equal Pay
Ace, This was so regardless of sex, age and
• Women • Men
Fig S: Awareness of law forbidding sex
discrimination by highest education
qualification
educational·qualifications.
There is widespread awareness that there
SUPPORT FOR THi:
is a law against sex discrimination: More .
than half of the people sampled were
SEX DISCRIMINATION
aware of this law. Younger, well-educated
and better-off people dre much more likely
to know about the Ia~. More people know
about the Sex Discrimination Order than
the Equal Pay Act
The Equal Opportunities Commission
for Northern Ireland was set up under
the Sex Discrimination (Northern
o ,
10
place for over 20 years.During this time
complaints and enquiries to the Equal
Opportunities Commission rose
continuall?. But is the gener~l public
aware of this legislation?
LEGISLATION
Slightly more men than women were
aware of such a law and the over 60s
were less likely to know about it than
were younger people. People educated
. to degree level or higher we,re most
likely to know about the legislation;
women and men with no formal.
qualifications were least likely.
A majority ofboth women and men
oo
so
7o
higher among younger pi!ople: Ninety-
•
Men
,.
All
the level of support .,.,;as somewhat
six percent of women between the
ages of 16 and 39 were in favour of
W<>mcrt
Fig?: Support for the legislation .
showed overwhelming support for the .
sex discrimination legislation; however
60+
age
40 59
16
39
0
20
60
40
80
10
95
100·
%
• Women.Men
The level of support demonstrated in
1996 is much the same as in the Social
Attitudes survey of 1991 3 when 88% of
men and 89% of women backed the law.
So there is still a very strong .consensus
in Northern Ireland that sex
discrimination is importar1t enough to
. require· legal regulation .
Fig 8: Support for the legislation
Degree or higher
BTEC 1 A'level
GCSE I CSE
No formal
quatificotions
75
BO
85 % 90
• Wom41tn•Men
Ba7king for the .legislation was evident
.among people from all. educational
.backgrounds. People with a degree
Better-off people_ were more likely to be
amre of the Jaw: More than fo.ur fifths'
qualification or higher were most likely
to be supportive; an. overwhelmi,ng 98%
(87% of women and 83%. of men) of
of .women and 93% of m!!h in this group
people who earned. £20,000 'or more a
were in favour. Half of the men and the
majority of the women were strongly
year said that they knew about it.
:so
Fig 6: Awareness of'the Sex Discrimination
Order and Equal Pay Act
•
· Over half of the people (56%) sampled
Ireland which forbids discrimination on
· account of a person's sex.
%
There is overwhelming support for the
legislation fr~m all quarters, but people
.with higher level qualifications are.most
Ukely to be supportive. The popular opinion
is that the laws do not creal:e unnecessary
costs for business and industry.
the legislation.
knew that there is· a law in Northern
•o
•Wo~•Men
Ireland) Order in 1976. The Equal Pay
· Act also came into force in the mid·
1970s. Legislation has, therefore, been in
3o
20
90
�i
I
•I
l
1
Fig 9: Laws create unnecessary costs - Men
in favour of the legislation. Su~port is
Income bracket ")'as also significant in
I
l
· also very much in evide.nce among
l
people without formal qualifications,
i
!
I
explaining the. differences in the
attitudes of men. The more men earned,
although to a lesser. extent. More than
government should boost women's job
formal qualifications backed it..
opportunities. Just over half of men
So the overwhelming majority of
;
the less likely they were to think that
four fifths of women and men with no
i
year agreed with "this, and over one .fifth
(57%) who earned £:20,000 or more a
• Agree
• Neutral/
don't know
• Disagree
women and men in the sample were in
(21 %) of these men flatly disagreed with
support of the sex discrimination
the idea.
legislation. However, people were also
asked whether
o~
not they thought that
the laws create unnecessary costs for
The attitudes of women and men of
different ages are illustrated in Figure
business and industry. Most people
12. The attitudes of men remained more
thought that they did not. Only a
or less constant regardless of age.
minority actually agreed that ·emi)loyers
• Agree
• Neutrol/
don't know
Greatest support was found from the
bore unnecessary costs.
40-59 year old men; at 65%, this is only
4% higher than the proportion of 16-39
• Disagree
Fig II: Government should increase
employment opportunities for
GOVERNMENT'S
RESPONSI Bl LITY
women % agreeing
year olds, who showed least support.
This is in contrast to the pattern for
women, where attitudes varied
..,....,==--=:.......,==--==--~
according to age. Women over 60 were
Most people feel that the government has
counterparts to think that government
70
a responsibility to increase employrnent,
should increase employment
60
training and education opportuniti€'s for
opportunities for women, although at
women. Women are more supporti·te of this
71%, this is still a much greater
than are men. There is a-particularly low
proportion than for men of any age.
100
much less likely than their younger
90
80
50
•o
io
20
level of support among better~off ond well-
10
educated men.
Respondents were also asked if they·
Respondents were asked whether or
increase education and training
not the.government should inc1·ease
opportunities for wonien whatever
employment opportunities for women
work they chose to do.
.o
believed. that the government should
•
Women
•
Men
in busi,ness and industry. The majority
Fig 12: Government s~ould inc~ease
employment opportunities for
w~s
There
of women, at 84%, was considerably
government to take action in this area.
larger than t,he proportion of .men
women %agreeing
agree,d that it should. The proportion
even greater support for
The majority of women (86%) and men
(63%) who thought that the
10
20
30
,(Q
'
so
60
10
(71 %) agreed with this statement; a
government should do this ..
considerable increase in the number of
11,1en advocating government measures.
eo
This difference in the attitudes of
•wOtT>el'l•Me<>
Fig 13: Government should increase
education ·and training opportunities
for women % agreeing
women and men persisted regardless of
Women aged between 16 and 39 years
their educational achievements. The
were most likely, at 90%, to think that
.
.
.
largest discrepancy in attitudes occurred
the government should boost education
between women and men who were
and training opportunities for women.
80
educated to degree level or higher. The
The men most likely to think the ~arne
70
vast maj<;>rity of :-vomen with a degree
were older - 40-59 years; but still only
60
(92%) thought that the governli1eht
75% of men in this age group thought
should increase job opportunities for .
that government should do so.
100
90
50
•o
women, but less than two thirds of men
Indeed younger men ( 16-39 years) were
20
(62%) with equivalent qualifications
least likely tci think that government
10
thought the same.
sho!Jid do anything about education and
30
16-39
40-59
II Women
60+
II Men
All
training for women. Within this broad
r'
\:
�Fig 14: Should be more women leaders in -
age group, men between the ages of 20-
than two. thirds of women (69%)
24 and 35-39 years were least likelr, to
wanted to see more women in politics
support government taking such
compared with only half of men.
measures. Less than two thirds (63%
However, the 49% of men, who did not
and 61% respectively) of each of these
agree that there should be more
age groups were in support of
women leaders in political' life did not
JO
government action,
necessarily think that ther.e shouldn't be.
"'
90
60
70
60
50
•o
10
. Most of them (30%). did not give an
opinion. In comparison to some of the
WOMEN AND
PUBLIC LIFE
r
j
•
opinion or are reluctant to express it.
Most people want to see an increase in the
·Older women and men were more
political life. Older people are keener on
enthusiastic than those in the younger
this than are younger people. But,
age groups.
disappointingly, politics in Northern Ireland
Over the past 20 years, more and more
Table 3: Should there be mor~ women
leaders in public and political life?
There should be m~re
women leaders in political life
women have gone into employment IB-30
years
this is one of the most fundamental
changes in women's experience. But
there is another facet to the
3 !l-49
50-65
years
. Y~'ars
Men
40%
51%
57%
Women
63%
69%
76%
advancement of equal opportunities the attitude of society. The expedence
and the attitude do not always coincide;
one can precede the other to a lesser
or greater ·extent. So the survey
There should be more women
leaders in other areas of public life
examined attitudes towards women's
rights and role in the wider
~ociety
18-30
years
yi~ars
50-65
years
Men
50%
58%
65%
Women
79%
79%
82%
as
31-49
well as at work. This section presents
the attitudes.of women and men
J
between the ages· of 18 and 65 years.
Respondents were asked to what extent
they agreed or disagreed with the
Generally, the higher the level of
following two statements: -
qualifications people had', the more.likely
they were to want to
- There should be more women
leaders in political life.
- There should be more women
leaders in other areas of public life,
including government and
. government departments.
Altho.ugh th.e majority of both sexes .
wanted to see an increase in the
number of women participating in both
political and public life, women were far
se·~
an increase in
the number of women leaders in politics
and public life. The attitudes of the men
varied more according to their .
educational qualifications than those of
. the women. Men with a degree were
. more supportive of the idea .
Both women and men were more likely
to want to see more women in public
life than in political life. This attitude
persists even though, or
mayb~
No lormol
because,
keener. Eighty percent of .;..omen
women are v~stly underrepresented i.~ / ·
compared with 59% of men :..Vamed to
politics. None of the Northern lrelana
see more women in public life. More
MPs or MEPs are women and only
/
All
qvoloficotions
Political li!e Women •
II!
proportion who either do not have an
is seen as less appropriate for women in
I 996 than it was in I 990.
GCSE I
CSE
•
other issues, this is a very high
number of women leaders in public and
BTEC I
A1MI
Degree
P!.lblic fife Women
til
Politica_r life Men
P!.lblic life Men
�IS% of local councillors elected in May
More women refused to accept that
19974 ,
their place is at home. looking after the
a small rise from 12.4% before
the election. It appears that politics in
Fig I~: A Woman's place is not in the
home looking after the family
Northern Ireland is still seen
to
be less
family in 1996 than did so in 1990
(63%f The change in attitudes o(
appropriate for women than other areas
women on this issue occurs alongside
100
of public life. The first survey took place
an increase of 13% in the number of
80
before the involvement of the Women's
women in employment. In September
60
Coalition in the Forum election of June
1990, there were 256,1306 women
40
1996, and before the i..abour party came
employees in employment; by the same
20
into government in 199~ with I~ I
time in 1996, the ."number had increased
women MPs. It will be interesting to
to 2S9,200 1•
%
Economically
Economicolly
All
Ac1ive
•
Women
•
Men
note whether these changes and the
People who were economically active
(that is, working or looking for work)
were more likely to defend a woman's
In a 1990 study which looked at similar
important for a man to have a job
fact that Northern Ireland has its first
woman Secretary of State has any
impact on attitudes -in years to cor"ne.
fig 16: Women's attitudes- more
were those who were not. This was
right to work outside the home than
issues, more women (77%) than in· 1996
especially so for women. Over 80% of
(69%) wanted to see more women
economically active women didn't
leaders in political life. Not only w·as the
Ia Disagreed II Stongly disagreed
Fig 17:. Men's attitudes · more important
for a man t~ have a job
home, compared
strength of their opinions. Thirty-eight
·• Stronly agreed • Agreed • No opinion
believe that a woman's place is in the
proportion greater but so was the
were outside the labour market. The
to
62% of women who
percent of women in .1990 strongly
higher the level of qualifications people
agreed that there should be more
had, the more likely they were
women leaders in this area compared to
the traditional stereotype.
to
reject
18% in 1996 5•
Along a similar theme, respondents
A WOMAN'S PLACE IS
·were also asked to what extent they
agreed or disagreed that it is more
important for a man to have a job chan
Most people no longer believe that o
woman's place is at home looking after the
family, and they do believe that it is •JS
important for a woman as for a man to
• Stronly agreed •
Cl Disagreed
Agreed • No opinion
a- Stongly disagreed
have a job: Higher-qualified and
economically aaive people are more likely
to rejea traditional stereotypes.
for a woman with similar education and
work experience.
Figures 116 and 17 show .that nearly two
thirds of women (61 %) compared with
less than half of men (46%) rejected this
idea. A considerable· p.roportion of men
(35%) did think that it is more
important for them
Respondents were asked whether or
not they agreed that a woman's place is .
in th_e home looking after the family.
to
have a job than it
is for a woman with similar education ·
and work
experien~e.
Economically active women·and men
Just less than three-quarters of women
(72%) rejected the idea that a woman's
place is at home; a smaller proportion
of men (60%) disagreed with this.
However, those who did not reject the
notion did not necessarily agree ...;,ith it.
One fifth of men (21 %) and 14% of
women neither agreed nor disagreed.
Again, this is a relatively high proportion
of people who either did not have an.
opinion one way ·or the other, or were
reluctant to state it.
(69% and 48%) and those with higher
qualifications were more inclined to
rejec~ the
traditional view.
(
�WOMEN~S
as nursing and secretarial •.Vork are
predominantly female, and ~lectrical_ and
CONTRIBUTION
. civil engineers are· predominantly male.
TO BUSINESS AND
Fig 18: Women do not have less to offer
in the world of business
INDUSTRY
Sex stereotyping and suitability .for
particular occupations was examined by
and industry.
80
agreed or disagreed with the following
Most people think that women have. as
-much as men to offer the world of business
100
asking respondents to what extent they
60
%
40
two statements:-
20
Girls should have as much .
opportunity to do
The majority of women (89%) and men
train or for men to be office typists.
industry as men do. The figure for
5
(84%). Economically active and inactive
women did not differ significantly in
The replies suggest that most people in
percent of economically active men
contributi.on, compared to 71% of men
outside the labour market.
qualification, the more likely the
•
All
Men
70
traditional stereotypical views of what
60
jobs are appropriate for men and women.
50
40
30
Ninety-six percent of women and 90%
20
10
agreed that girls should have as much
.
~
]
::
0
:.::
to
but it is far from reflecting reality. Girls
•
are still ,~ery much under represented at
respondent is .to reject the traditional
stereotype. An overwhelming 98% of
to degree level or
higher think that women have as much
to offer as men.
training centres'.
A larger proportion of women in 1996
MEN'S WORK,
WOMEN'S WORK
·~omen
and
men. But a larger proportion of women
more women in 1996 rejected
occupational segregation based on sex
stereotypes but a larger proportion of
women in 1990 felt more strongly about
this issues.
~orking
in a variety of jobs, but for the· most
part women and men still tend to work
in different occupations. Women are
under-represented i'n manage;,ent and
as plant a,nd
machine oper~tives; and men are unde-rrepresented in clerical, sales and
personal and protective services 7 •
Occupations continue to mir;·or the
traditional stere~typical mles of women
and men. For example, occupations such ·
Level of education is important in
explaining the
"'
•
Women
Men
..
. 60
40
20
o.
Economical~
Economically
inactive
Act1ve
the statement than in 19% (23%).So
Traditional sex stereotyping in jobs and
training is firmly rejected, especially_ by
better-qualified people.
u
\!)
8o
in 1990 (35%) strongly disagreed with
.e
c
.g
~
~·
5-
w
V'>
1oo
than in 1990 (77%) rejected the
are ·appropriate jobs for
w
V'>
u
Fig 20: Foolish for women to drive a train
or men to be office typists
'traditional stereotypical image of what
~nd
Women
80
opportunity to do apprenticeships. and
The higher the level of educational
administration, craft
-
I
100
learn a trade as boys. Thi!; is encouraging
More women and men now are
I
Fig 19: Girls should have equal opportunity
for apP,renticeships and trades
of men aged between 18-65 years
believe in the value of women's
~d~cated
n ·-
Economically
inactive
•
Northern Ireland no longer hold
their attitudes, whereas men did. Eighty
women.
.
90
women is higher than the proportion
(84%) who took the same view in 1990
~'"
~
f ,.j r I
t
Active
bO)tS.
. r-,..
,. IJ. ~ 1-f
J.
_I
Economically
- It is foolish for women to .drive a
much to offer the world of business and
- t ..
appro~nticeships
and learn a trade as
(78%) thought that women have as
[<:•rrl1--.-.-
~ ~: ~.
difference~;
in attitlldes of
both women and men. The higher the
'lev.el of educational qualification, the
greater the proportion of women and
men who felt that girls should have
equal opportunities. Each and every
woman with a degree agreed that girls
should have as much opportunity to do
apprenticeships and learil a trade as
boys: So there doesn't seem to be any
•
Women
•
Men
All
�doubt in the public's mind about the.
employment opportunities for women.
increase employment, education and ·
suitability of girls taking up non-
Attitudes towards the rights and roles
training opportunities for women and
traditional training ..
of women in society are generally.
for the idea that there should be more
positive. However, the drop in women's
women leaders in political and public life.
The next section examines whether
support for the idea of increasing the
the liberal attitudes towards training
number of women in politics is
So, while we can be generally
are translated into liberal attitudes
disappointing. The notion of
optimistic about society's attitudes,
towards jobs.
occupational. segregation based on
there is still need for concern about
t~ditional stereotyping has been firmly
the thinking of particular sections of
More than three-quarters of men and
rejected. But while more than three
society. Bastions of stereotyping do
women rejected the idea that it ,is
quarters of men think that women
remain. They will need to be tackled if
foolish for women to drive a train or
offer as much· as they do to business
we are to move to a more equal
for men to be office typists. As in the
and industry, more than a third of them
society in the next millennium.
previous measures, more women
believe that it is more important for
rejected it than did men. The
them to have a job than for a woman.
~ore
economically active were
/'
I Department of Econ<?mic Development Press
Notice (March 1997). Employees in employment December 1996.
likely
to reject the state;,ent than those
Differences between the attitudes of
'outside the labour market.And the
women and men are evident throughout:
higher the level of educational
the survey. While men are actually
qualification, the more likely it was that
slightly more aware of the sex
3 Stringer, P. & Robinson, G. (Eds.) ( 1993). Social
the traditional stereotypical view of job
discri~in~tion legislatio~. women are
attitudes in Northern Ireland - the third report
occupations was rejected.
more supportive of measures
CONCLUSION
towards what are appropriate roles for
2 Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern
Ireland -Annual 'reports - various years. EOCNI:
Belfast
1992-1993. Blackstaff: Belfast.
to
4 Women into politics project ( 1997):Women in
the' local elections - May 1997.
promote ·equality and more liberal
women. Well-educated, high earner men
show least support for the government
'5 Kremer,J. & Montgo.;,ery. P. (Eds.) (.1993).
Women's working lives. HMSO: Belfast.
Overall, the picture is very
to increase employment opportunities
6 Deparcment of Economic Development. (April
encouraging. There is a good level of
for women. This is a serious issue
1990). Statistics notice - Employees .in employment·
- December 1990.
awarenes~
of the legislation combined
because these are the people most likel'y
with overwhelming support for it from
to be in decision making position,s who
all age groups arid education
have a responsibility to bring about
backgrounds but especially from the
change in the workplace. There are
young and the highly educated. Both
concerns for the future as well. As long
women and men believe that legislation
ago as 1986 10, research found d1at young
is required mainly
women were much more liberal .than
to
protect women
from discrimination. They also believe.
that the government has
responsibility
to ·take
a
young men. This trend persists; young
7 Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern
Ireland ( 1997). The working lives of women and
men in Norchern Ireland. EOCNI: Belfast.
8 Equal. Opportunities
Com~ission for Northern
Ireland ( 1997). Equality now and then.
EOCNI: Belfast.
9 Training a'nd Employment Agency (October
1997). labour market trends. T&EA: Belfast.
men in 1996 show lower levels of
positive measures
like increasing education, training and
I 0 Kremer J. & Curry C. ( 1986).A~itudes t~wards
support for change. Men aged 16 to.39, .
women in Northern Ireland - a report prepared
are the least supportive of measures to
for the Equal Opportunities Commission for
Northern Ireland. EOCNI: Belfast.
Equal Opport~nities Commission for Nort~1ern Ireland·
Chamber of Commerce House ·
22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BA
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Web site:.
(0 123:2) 242752
(0 1232) 331047
info@eocni.org.uk
http://www.eocni.org.uk
.December 1997
ISBN 0 906646 66 9
�'
.
. ';-;'
New U.S. Government Programs
·in Support of the Vital Voices: Women in Democracy
Initiative in Northern Ireland
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
•
Commerce currently runs the American Management and Business Internship Training
Program (AMBIT) to train Northern Ireland and border counties of Ireland business
managers and technical experts in best practices in U.S. companies. Commerce has
initiated discussions with the Training and Employment Agency in Northern Ireland to
give special attention to targeting women business managers and technical experts
from Northern Ireland to train in the program for the rest of 1998, 1999 and beyond.
We will follo~ through with Enterprise Ireland, our partner in Ireland on the AMBIT
program, to discuss targeting women in business in the border counties oflreland as
well.
•
Commerce has facilitated the initiation of a Silicon Valley- Northern Ireland
Partnership Program to encourage business and education. lil}kages among key
business, ·community and education leaders between two areas. Commerce will work
with women business leaders and educators on the Silicon Valley Steering Committee
to identify women and men in Silicon Valley who would be interested in working with
· .Northern Ireland business women, academics, and community leaders ·to provide
technical assistance, explore business partnerships, and entrepreneurial education
/training. This network could be expanded to include women business owners and
academics from other parts of the United States. Mayor Susan Hammer of San Jose is ·
chairing thi.s Committee and has agreed to support this special initiative for women as
an offshoot of the program.
•
Commerce can place spedal emphasis ort recruiting women business owners and
senior managers as part of a proposed Department of Commerce 1999 business ..
development mission to Northern Ireland/boarder countie:s of Ireland. This mission·
will assist U.S. companies, interested in trade with Europe, to explore partnerships,
joint ventures, strategic alliances and investment opportm:tities in Northern
Ireland/Ireland. The mission will also focus on bilateral meetings with senior U.K.
officials and leaders ofthe Northern Ireland Assembly. A.s part ofthis trip, a business
round table could be organized with U.S. women businesses and with Northern Ireland
business women and those interested in starting a business.
•
Commerce has facilitated meetings by Northern Ireland community organizations to
submit a proposal by the International Fund for Ireland (1FI) for training in the United
States. If funded by the IFI, a number ofcommunity development leaders would
travel.to the U.S. to train in best practices in U.S. commt:mity development
�corporations (CDCs), and with organizations such as the National Congress for
Community Economic Development (NCCED) in Washington, D.C. A September
funding decision is anticipated and if approved will result in several women eorrimunity
leaders training in the U.S. in 1999 as part of a pilot prograim.
UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY (USIA)
•
The Irish Institutes at Boston College, in qooperation with the United States ·
Information Agency, will sponsor a two-week program on '"Local Government" for
women county council or city corporation officials from Northern Ireland and the
Republic oflreland. This program will begin on September 5, 1998. Participants will
attend graduate lectures at the Irish Institute, visit counterparts in Massachusetts and
Connecticut, and attend the Women Executives in State Government 1998 Annual
Conference. This program is designed to foster dialogue alnong women professionals
on the use of technology in public administration, strategic and financial planning, and
human resource management.
•
USIA will also award a sole-source grant of$50,000 to a United States nonprofit
organization to provide appropriate political and media training to foster the full and
effective participation of the women ofNorthem Ireland in public life. ·
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
•
Participation in the Economic Development and Opportunity in a Time of Change
track. DOL can contribute to the Transforming Skills and Retraining Women for
Growing Economy workshops with information strategies that work and best practices
with regard to changing employment service to focus on life-long learning, greater
accessibility and job matching assistance. In this workshop track DOL participants
could also address work and family issues such as child care.
•
In the third day, DOL would arinounce partnerships, etc. that respond to these topics.
a
Child Care Issues
•
Interest in building infrastructural. support for child care and interest in best practices -especially with small companies and fostering greater employer involvement.
\
�-------------:------------:------;---------.
_.
11
Workshop Dialogue:
Public - USG' s role (cross-cutting issue) Priva,te - unions (UAW partnership}, business, and education/advocates
(credentialing)
Public/private - BAT and business-to-business mentoring initiative
11
Announcement ofPartnership/Cooperative Efforts:
•.
Identify US companies (especially small companies) that are willing to"mentor"
Northern Ireland business (would need to identify NI business through Conference
staff, Commerce Dept..andlor NI government). Model program after business
•mentoring program.
·
11
Recommended Participants:
Cheryl Dorsey, Office of Secretary, Department of Labor
Small Companies that have exemplary child care
Northern Ireland goveriunent repre~entatives ·
Child Care Education and Advocates ·
Labor Market Issues
•
Interest in widening· contacts and experience beyond TDC (Maine) and seeing other
models that may be helpful (One-Stop models).
•
Interest in electronic platforms to career and job opportunities (AJB,ATB}. Issues of
access and accessibility. How to broaden approach?
·
•
Interest in Job Corps approach and creating a foooallink :with Job Corps. Howto
take advantage of those centers and their expertise? Wider Horizons Initiative
(North/South initiative) and send Catholic and I>rotestants to U.S. Emphasis· on
community relations and vocational training (getting more info).
Workshop Dialogue:
All our labor market programs (One-Stops, AJB/ATB, Job Corps, school-tework, welfare-to-work) and there accessibility. Emphasis on need to be life-long
learning! on-going training and education.
Announcement of Partnership I Cooperative Efforts:
Formal exchange of information - possibly a video cOitference I conference to
check off the initiative, then follow-up short expert-to expert targeted exchanges.
Build all parts into one initiative (common agenda and needs).
DOL participants could also meet with NI counter-part (Ian Walters, Chief of
Employment and Training Agency) while there. Could also visit 2 pilot Career
Advancement Centres in Belfast (nearly ready to open). They will be called Job
Bridge Centres. Developed Corporation in Main. Based on ME approach -
�various elements pulled together to get people back into the labor market. (case
management, etc.).
Recommended Participants:
Geri Fiala, Administrator, Office ofPolicy and Research, Employment and
Training Administration, USDOL
NI Employment and Training Agency representatives·
Other Northern Irish from employment and training community (see attached ~heet
of participants from U.S. gov'ernment sponsored workshop in 1996)
�AWo
Outw
In No
By Nell McCafferty
T.
No<them
Ireland Women's Coalition
(NIWC) was founded in April.
It campaigned for a slot on the
electoral list in May. In Ji.me,
victorious, its representatives
took their seats at all-party
peace talks, which were de- ·
· signed to bring to an end more
than 800 years of conflict betweeD. Britain and Ireland. It
. .. took the ~omen less than
. ·en weeks to get themselves
right up there with the big
boys. Their success is all the
more stunning given . that
Northern Ireland, which is still
under BritiSh rule, was, until
the coalition swept. in, the
·· virtual political. preserve of .
· men.. Ireland ·has President
Mary Robinson. Britain broke
the. mold with Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher, but Northern Ireland has consistently
returned an all-male panel of
politicians to the British and
European parliaments. Until
the coalition came along, the
dreary integrity ofthe quarrel .
sev-
.
14 - - - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - . . : . _ , : . - ._ _ _ _ _ _ _~ .Nlll.
NOVEMBER/DEc::s1BER 1996
,,.
---t
'·
�between· feminism and patriarchy in the North seemed destined to remain forever intact,
· unchanged, and unchangeable.
Even as Britain~s war with the
Irish Republican Army (IRA)
stumbled "to a close in August
1994, it seemed that women
would not have a voicr in the
peacetime settlement.
The story of how the women got their place at the table
is as astonishing as the election itself was bizarre. The
election, which brought the
women unprecedented.political status, had been called in
order to determine who would
be present at the renewed
peace negotiations. After decades of virtual exclusion from
official peace talks, a group of
women saw their chan..-e to be
included. Avila Kilmurray, finance officer for the NIWC,
told the Irish Echo: 1he motivation was that most of us
had experience working on
equality issues in Ireland for 20 .
years and that by doing: this we
would probably achieve more
in _a short space oftime than
writing letters and lobbying
and campaigning for the next
20 years."·
What brought about .the
revolutionary change? Says
NIWC press officer Annie
Camphdl: "A bizam: accident. Ute niles of the election
to peace talks in Nonhero Ireland were sick.· 1hey were
rigged by the British government to ensure that a tiny minority of paramilitary representatives got seats at the
table, and we saw .our chance
to be included as a minority
too. We seized the day_ To that
extent, we were brilliant."
While the women in the
NIWC are both Catholic and
Protestant, the major parties
continued to reflect Northern
Ireland's traditional religious
divisions, with Protesrants voting for unionist parries, which
----~--------~----------~------------------~----------------------15
�~NeWS
_________~--~----
want to maintain
with Britain, and Catholics
voting for nationalist parties,
which support a united Ireland. While the major parties
loyal to Britain were secured a
place at the table, it was the
militant paramilitary element
of the unionists, known
as loyalists, that Britain
feared would garner too
few votes to get a seat at
the talks. Newly in from
the cold, this faction had
performed disastrqusly in
the past. Britain believed
that without ·the endorsement of this armed
faction, there would be
no lasting resolution.
Confronted with the certainty that these Protestant ·
paramilitaries would not win
even one of the 90 seats available at the elected forum from
whiCh delegates were chosen,
the British devised a byzantine
.plan in which each of the top
ten parties would be given two
seats at the table. The only
trick was to garner enough
votes to make the top ten. ·
The women saw that the
election could be used as a
Trojan horse for their own entry into the talks. Says founding NIWC member Bronagh
Hinds: "When we looked over
previous elect;ion results of the
smaller parties, we discOvered .
that the one which came in
tenth had won only 1,800
of the NIWC at the peace People's College for adult edutalks, sent a fax to the cation, Hinds had anticipated
British government, pro- the ·.election and irutiated a
testing the faCt: that a new curriculum at the begincoaliti•.:m not yet formed ning of this year, training
would' be denied entry to · nationalist and unionist party
members in the ..profession of
the ele::torallist.
. The next day they re- politics.~ Ironically, when the
ceived a response saying election to peace talks was
that th.e election guide- called, she found herself run·lines Had been amended. ning against some of the very.
people she had trained.
The NIWCtreated the election ·as a
matter of stuffmg
bodies into as many
places as possible,
.with few questions
asked about credentials. None of the
potential candidates
was grilled on her
votes, from .an electorate of nearly half a
million. We figured
we could not bur surpass that, should nobody vote for us but
our relatives.'' .
. Adds Hinds: "A
Clockwise from top: women taking
a break from an IIIIWC rally In the
Botanical Garden!J in BelfaSt;
founding NIWC m:ember Bronagh
Hinds; NIWC coch'alr Monica
·McWilliams; Jane, Morrice, a Belfast
liaison to the Eu~opean Community,
addressing a meeting of the NIWC;
and NIWC cochalt' Pearl Sagar
group of women came
together to study the
British government ·
proposals . on the •
~· .
election and saw· at
once that women and
cross-community·.
groups would be
.locked out of the system" since the British
election · scheme wa~
limited established·
parties.. "Those parties, .. 'she says, "have traditionally . excluded women.
and relied on monolithic
thinking which perpetuated
the sectarian divide."
Hinds, along with fellow
activist Monia McWilliams,
a Catholic who lectures in social policy at the University of
Ulster and who is now cochair
to
g
0
politics, since the c:Oa- ~
.,
.lition, Hinds says, "is ~
dedican:d to drawing
together the different ·"'
.views, ideas, and ~
::e
· ' opinions to achi.eve a ~
>workable solution.~ .
';Annie Campbe~,. a B
·. 40-year-old feuurust, · .::: ·.·
. . res~rcher for worn- . ~ .
. en's centers in .Bel- g
fast, mother of two~ ~
.
.
days to a~ter enough tandi- · and a . nominal Protestant 9
;,;
dates to assure the coali- from a unionist b~clcground, · 5 ·
tion the minimum number of pithily translates this. as: "We "'
votes. NIWC cochair Pearl didn't have an answer to the :
..
::E
Sagar, a · Protestant from a problem: We campaigned on
working-class. unionist back- the basis that the . answer ~
ground, J:ecalls, "We issued a · would come out of talk, nego- ~
public · in~itatiori and the tiation, an exchange of view:s, ::l
and 'a heartfelt desire not to . ~
phone staned hopping."
As dii:ector of the Ulster put a gun to anyone's head." ~
i.
g
...
16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - , : _ _ _ _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ms. . NOVEMBER (DECEMBER 1996-----;;.
.~~
�----..~1;
l
f
1'
..
~
After all the hallots had
been counted, the NIWC attracted a mere 1.2 percent of
the vote, but, as Hinds cheerfully points out, the coalition
came in ninth out of the top
ten parties and thus got its
two seats at the table.
· Even those ()f us who have
been feminists since the movement for women's liberation
washed ashore in Ireland from
the U.S. in the 1970s could
not have predicted that an exclusively women's party could
achieve success.
~That's an accident, too,"
says Annie Campbell. "No
· men . applied when we advertised for candidates for
election. If they had, or if the
media had accused us of excluding them, or had the law
been checked to see if we were
breaking laws against discrimination, or had we taken time
ourselveS to examine our conscience, given our manifesto of
inclusive politics . . . " But
there was little time, less inter~
est and, crucially, no expectation, except among the NIWC ·
women, that they would sue-·
ceed. "I felt brilliant about it,
walking in there with the
women, and sick about the
ones who were excluded because of the way [the election]
was organized,"! says Camp- .
who couldn't cobble an elect~ral p~el together.
Catholic ·Church corruption
to the cathedral door in Germany, and Henry VIll of England was denied the first of
his many divorces by the
pope, Britain became Protestant in culture, while Ireland
remained Catholic. It wasn't
until 192i, after seven centuries of armed struggle, that
the 26 southern counties of
Ireland, which had a majority
Catholic character, won independence. The · other six,
which had been successfully
colonized by the British (who
. sent Scottish Protestants to
dilute the resident Catholic
majority), were retained for
strategic reasons. The six
counties were given their own
Belfast-based regional parliament, known as Stormont,
which was subject to control
from the House of Commons
in London. Stormont was infamously described by Sir
James .Craig, the first prime
he seeds for the NIWC
were not soWn eight
monclis ago, but rather·
more than 800 years ago,
when the English took over
Scotland and Wales, later renaming the er..ttire island Great
Britain. The English then in-
T
1
They saw that they
·could use the· election as
a Trojan horse for their
entry into the talks.
bell, "but we didn't organize vaded the neighboring island
the rules. The thing is, we can · of Irelarid, al1d called the enchange them now· to make tire domain the British Isles.
sure everyone has a say In the .The only thil[lg held in comfinal outcome." Campbell is mon by all was Roman Cathreferring to groups such as the olicism. After Martin Luther
Green Party environmentalists nailed his protest against
.
-
.
•••n•ou••••••••••••••u• .. uo .. oooou•o•o•Oo•o••••n••••••u•••••u•••••••••••••••ouo••••••---••••••••••••••uo•o•u .. •o••""'• .. ••••••••••••uooo•u•ooouou•n••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• .. ooouou•••••••••••••-•••••••••••••••••••••
Maternal Mortality: Not Just a "Third World" Problem
.
A
new study released In August
by the Centers for Disease
al mortality .ratio would be, and h;ave
fowld that the numbers could lnc'rease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
anywhere ~ 30 to 153 percent.
Adding to the confusion abou1: the
attempts to shed light on the murky
real death rates In the U.S., UNIC:EF
also releaSed a report on maternal
mortality earlier this year, ranking the
nations of the world. ~ on Its
calculations. the U.S. has a rate; of 1.2
raatemal de8ths per 1.00~000 llva births,
tile same'as reported for Italy artd the
Netherlands. With. that ratio; the U.S. Is
ralked sevent~ lntematlonally. But
matemal deaths as those that
tbe UNICEF numbers. were not gilthered
occur during pregnancy or
within 42 days of giving birth. But the ..
asklg CDC criteria and almost CEtrtalnly
CDC says a more accurate assessment
also underestimate the real rat~;. In
of maternal deaths would. require:
~ says Dr. Cynthia Berg, a co:author
• extending the time period for
of the CDC study, Jew nations lnlthe
classifying a death as being pregnancy- · · wortd use methods like the CDC''s for
. truth about matemal mortality In the
United States. According to this report,
the U.S. might have twice as many
pi'egnancy.related matemal deaths as
have been previously reported.
State health departments currently
look only at death ce~es to
discover cause of death, and classify
Mi(JM
.-
related to one year after giving blrt!l;
. using additional documents, such as
•
medical records, with death certificates
to ascertain a cause of death.
Using similar methods, several states
have tried to estimate what their matemr----NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1996
calculating matemal deaths•
As If these differing numbers weren't
confusing enough, there's yet a~IOther
gltch In trying to understand rmiltemal
deaths, one'the CDC report doesn't
discuss. But U.S. health aCtivists have
been trying to call attention to the
problem: even with more accurate
calculations, one overall national
figure can be dangerously misleading,
especially In a country as large and
economically diverse ·as the U.S.
·Current estimates, for Instance,
Indicate that Nebraska has one Of
-
the lowest matemal death rates In
the world. But poor, rural areas Uke
Alcorn County, Mississippi, laave
rates that carl be as much as 60 times ·
higher. In effect, one national average
underrepresents how abysmal matemal:<; .
care Is In some parts of the U.S.
None of this Is merely an exercise . .
In rearranging numbe.rs: maternal deattis
can only be reduced by comPrehending
what causes each death In tbe first
place. According to the CDC report,
"Only by having the methods available to
lde.ntlfy mortalitY ••• and understanding
the events that led to them can we •••
decrease the risks associated with
pregnancy."
-Pamela Green
M s . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
�1---l'BNS_ _ _ _ ____,___ ____:.__..:. ___
minister of Northern Ireland.
Many of the women had
and the mastermind of the an- cut their political teeth by travnexation of that country, as .eling south to the residence
Protestant parliament for a of Ireland's president, Mary
Protestant people." It lived up . Robinson, who had come to
to its name. Between 1921 power on a wave of communiand 1968, when it revolted · ty politics that transcended
under the banner of a civil narrow party int~rests. Robrights movement, the catholic
I
minority suffered ferocious
discrirrtqtation. The civil rights
movement was beaten off the
streets by Stormont's armed
police force. The IRA, declaring the Northern statelet to be
irredeemable, rose to fill the
vacuum and claimed that the
solution lay in a united Ire'
I
land, free of British and ufiion- inson was instrumental in
ist control. Britain responded· · forging links between womby abolishing Stormont in en's groups North and South.
·. 1974 and instituting direct While the North was conrule from London.
vulsed in war, ferniThe nascent feminist move- nists in the southern
ment foundered and split on republic had been
the rock of the war that was merrily engaged in
waged from 1969 to 1994. changing the social
Women found themselves agenda. They were so
morally impelled to take sides, successfully at the
· for or against the union with forefront in brea.king
B~tain, for or against the IRA, . the institutional links
for or against the British army, between church: and
for or against a united Ireland, state that Ireland has
for or against loyalist paramil- . lost its monolithic
itary forces, for or against the · Catholic char~cter.
local, heavily armed, mainly The bottom lines of
Protestant police force, for or legalized contr~cep
against unionist politicians, . tion, . divorce, : and
for or against IriSh nationalist homosexuality have
politicians. The traditional been secllll:Ci. (Aborconcerns of feminism-jobs, . :non is legal only un- ·
money, power, and family-. der certain circum-. ·
got little attention until the stances.) DUring the . ·
mid-1980s when, exhausted, last elections ~ the ·
women's groups met across. South, the nom~ of ·
the sectarian: divide and decid- women elected ~o the
ed to leave the war outside the Dail (the Irish parlia- ··
rooms where they met, while ment) ·rose frdm. 8
they established a common percent to u percent.
ground on such issues as doNorthern women who go
mestic violence. Few of the south to srudy this phenomNIWC members had -~ in enon frequently make . the
the women's peace movement, jounl.ey from Robinson's resithough all of them understood dence to that of U.S. Am basthat they had become virtual sador to Ireland:Jean Kennedy
handmaidens to the men who Smith. Smith bas been very enled the politics 9f war.
ergetic in facilitating northern
"a
feminism and ensuring that a
steady stream of women from
there go irequently to the U.S.
to network, thus playing a
huge pan: in seeing that a feminist cornerstone for the peace
talks was laid. Until the NIWC
made the: breakthrough, "we
Child care would be one
of the many items
the men could expect
o~ the agenda.
were lik4~ political refugees in
the North, without status,"
sa~ Annie Campbell. .
. But die formation of. the
group from the NIWC. Anxious not to have the press portray the rift as a ~cat fight,"
Mulholland stated Simply that
the WSN did not want to ~om- .
promise its political autonomy
by backing any political party.
But in fact, she bas grave
doubtS about the ~lWC.
"The coalition is too
broad," she says, "'and there's
no consenSUS of opinion on
any of the issues affecting
Northern Ireland. The only
consensus is that women
should stand for eb.-rions."
Mulholland argues that her
members come from economically deprived areas of Belfast.
"They're from both loyalist
and republican ghettos, and
they're the ones most affected by the conflict,"
she says. The NIWC,
Mulholland claims, is
made up primarily of
.academics who "are
colluding with a system that was from.,
the beginning weighted
against radical organizations, and there's
nothing in the talks
process that's of any
, benefit to our constituencies.,.
· . In fact, a number of
NIWC members are
working dass, including Pearl Sagar; May
Blood, who's from a
· militant Ja:plist ghetto;
and Brenda Callagh3n,
who is a trade union
.organizer..·. >.
While the WSN and
the NIWCmay not see
eye to eye, there are arNIWC inadvertently intro- eas of agreement and a bond
duced to this tattered region as women•. Says Mulholland:
yet ari.other · schism. Marie "fve heard that the women at
Mulholland, coordinator of the peace talks are being given.
the Women's Support Net- a hard time as individuals. No
work (WSN), an l.imbrella for · woman should have to take
more than 20 women's groups verbal iibuse." But the attacks
in Belfast, actually. issued a were more than -rerbal. After
statement ·disassociating the a particularly heated d~bate,
i s - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' - - - - - - - - - - - - ' - - ' - ' Ms.
NOVEMBER/O::CEMBER 1 9 9 6 -
�nx>Or.:
]t,"
rhat
::>m-
Jmy
lrty.
:ave
too
ere's
1 on
.:ring
only
·men
ther
tom-
lfast.
.ralist
and
ffect." "
John Taylor, the deputy
leader of the largesi: party in
Northern Iceland, the Ulster
Unionist Party; shoved Moni. ca McWilliams against a wall
as she approached him to continue the discussion.
Mulholland wants the
NIWC to pull out of the talks:
"The coalition is in a corner.
If they stay longer, they give
validity to the talks. If they
come out, the British and Irish
,
governments will have to ern Ireland are ~ffected by
come up with a new struc- poverty, would assuredly be
Whe1il Paris-baSed Perrier Vittel, the world's largest
ture, and we'll have a better two ofthe many items that the
botu.ed-water manufacturer, placed large billboards
chance to .get a new initia- men could expect on the agenIn hlgtHraffic areas throughout Brussel&y feablrlng
threo nude women with metal Perrier bottle caps
rive." Referring to the talks as da, a puzzlement fo the patria corpse, she says, "I've de- · archs in the neighboring counover their nlpple&y company executives said tbe ad · .
clared it dead, while Annie tries of Britain and Ireland.
campaign was meant to be funny. The Perrier
Campbell thinks she can
But while negotiations
"Wo(llderbubbles" were apparently meant to spoof
breathe life into it."
continued at the: table, vioWon•ilerbra billboards and 1950s pinup girls. .
Campbell counters: "I un- lencecontinued in the streets.
But the European Women's Lobby (EWL) wasa't
derstand and respect the The Windsor Women's Cenlauglllfng. Calling It a "blatantly sexl~" campaiglt. the
depth of feelings of anger ter was firebombed in the
lobby, a coaUtion of more than 2,500 European women's
over what can appear to be a early hours of September 13.
group&y threatened to boycott all
BELGIUM Perrier products If the compaay did not
. facade [the peace talks], but Though, at press time, no one
· we had to take advantage of has taken respop.sibility, the
"haltt Its campaign and revise Its promotion strategy."
this opportunity. We're the attack is presumed to be the
n.ae EWL considered It a major victory tliat Perrier
only ones pushing for inclu- work · of loyalist paramilipuiiOd the Belgian billboard campaign only a week
for everyone-even Sinn taries angered by;a visit from
after It was notified of the Intended boycott Ia .aid-July.
[the political wing of the Irish President Mary RobinThe billboards were ·up for two out of the three weeks
without a cease-flee."
son the day befo're. "It's the
that the campaign was sclaeduled to nan.
·
When Campbell arrived at first time a won'ten's center
P•'arrler claims that the threat wasn't What penuacled_
venue in Belfast on the eve has been targeted," says·AnIt t~. pull the plug on the campaign. •we Just didn't want
peace talks to have her nie Campbell, "but that reto bock the sensitivity of some of our con.....,...," said
lho:tograp>htaken for a securi- fleets the Rry progressive apPenler spokesperson Eve MaJnant. "We pulled the ·
r p<~tSs.·.sne had her iwo chil-. . proach women's centers have
campaign not becauset of the boycott bUt~ we
saw;that It shocked a part of the population. ll"s ..Ot our
taken regarding cross-cultur: .· . .
.
.al dialogue."
poll~cy to. 8hock or hurt anyone.•·
In addition, the peace talks"
B.irt EWL President Gertrud Wartonberg lhh*s
""are currently in crisis over the
othftrwlse: "'1'118 fact that Perrier lias backed down In the
majoritY's refusal to let Sinn
• . fac«1 of enonnous public outrage demonstrates the
. Fein sit at the : negotiating
. atre'ngth of the .women's movement and dead,r shows
that sucb outdated gender roles no longer lune a place
table. Though it: had won a
rriOdem society."·
sensational victory at the electi,ons, coming in ~s the fourth
·largest patty, with 15 percent
of the vote, Sinn Eein'sentry to tions thitt have reportedly vio- be difficult. But, says Annie
the talks bas been denied until lated their own cease-fire Campbell, "Wolllfll in Norththe IRk renews its cease-fire.
agreemc:nts. Equally serious, em Iceland have finally got
Meanwhile, loyalist parties unionist: parties have engaged options to consider." For the
that-in te:nns of actual votes in a giant filibuster designed moment she revels in the abI
. garnered-fared; as modestly to stall :altogether talks about solute luxury of that. m
as the NIWC, also are at the "an agreed Iceland .. free of Nell McCafferty 1$ the author
table, talking on behalf of pro- British control.
of "Peggy Deery: An Irish .
British par.uniliqtry organizaCleai·ly, the way ahead will Family at War" (Qeis Press).
Fi7.zled· Out
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'Silly Cows' of Ulster Take the Bull by the Horns
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http://ww:w.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/newslworldlnireland-women.html
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DOWNL-OAD FASTER
May 14. 1998
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'Silly Cows' of Ulster Take the Bull by the Horns
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Related Article
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• Britain Announces Economic Aid Plan tor Northern Ireland
(May 13)
By SARAH LVALL
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ELFAST. Northern Ireland-- It inight have been the spectacle, immortalized on
national television, of a male poJ,itician teJling a member of the Northern
Ireland Women's Coalition to"shut uP and sit down. you stupid woman. 11 .
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Or it might have been Sarah Cahill's ~11-vivid 1pemory of her father's reaction when
she gave birth to her frrstchild, a daughter, years ago: J't:lon'tworry.'' he said. ''The
next one will be a wee boy."
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.Whatever it was, something prompte4 Mrs. Cahill -- 52, the mothc;:r of two and the
product of a deeply sectarian Catholi~ family who was te'tught Republican nursery
rhymes -- to abandon a lifetime of pqlitical disillusionmc,mt and sign up with the tiny
Women's Coalition. The coalition, a party made up of C;:ltholics and Protestants, is ·
pushing for women's rights as much as for peace in this patriarchall violence-tom
province. ·
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"I had turned my back on politics because I said there w,as nobody that I could
support, nobody that I could vote for,'' said Mrs. Cahill, .a former nurse, who was
campaigning with the coalition in support of the Irish peace agreement the -other day.
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"The Women's Coalition is talking about issues that are' beyond the sectarian politics
we're used to, issues like education and health. It's madE: women stand up and pay
attention."
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Farmed in haste and on a shoestring' before the Ulster p13ace talks began two years
ago, the Women's Coalition was organized., in the word:s of one of its :founders, ·
Monica McWilliams, as a response to the "armed patriarchy" that has Lottg run
Northern Ireland, a province where ,nere are no women, in Parliament and where
only 1S percent of local council members are women. The coalition is a party with
its roots in the cross-sectarian social work that women have been doing in Northern
Ireland for years, and. it is a party th~ seekstolook beyond border politics.
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"Women have been busy trying to ~ort our lives out. put food on the table, and do
our daily work, so that we haven't always thought of the world in terms of our side
and their side, II said Pearl' Sagar, th~ party's other co-fo'under. The party managed to .
squeak Ms. MeWilliams, a Catholic, and Ms. Sagar, a Protestant, into the peace
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squeak Ms. McWilliams, a Catholic, ahd Ms. Sagar, a Protestant, into the peace
negotiations by attracting just 1 percent_ofthe popular votl::: -- 7,731 votes across
Northern Ireland.
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Although roundly derided by niany ofithe male delegates, :the two were widely
credited with bringing a much-needed 1dose of practical consensus-building to the
fractious talks, which ended with a peace agreement on Good Friday. On May 22
people in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic will voti:. on whether to accept the
agreement, and .the Women's Coalition is campaigning hard for a yes vote.
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Ms. Sagar, a 39-year-old social worker, and Ms. McWilli~uns, a 44-yeat-old
professor of social policy at the University ofUlster, were ridiculed early and often
in the Forum, the all-Protestant elected body whose negotiations setthe stage for the
final peace talks.
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Many of their male colleagues, it sC?CtJled, could barely utter the word woman.
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They thought it was a derogatory
Ms. McWilliam's said. 11 They called us the . ·
Ladies' Coalition. 11
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They also called Ms. McWilliams and Ms. Sagar "silly women}' ''whinging
women,'' a 11 0reek chorus ofwomen,'' "dogs," "scum"-- so many epithets that the
two posted an "insult of the week11 no~ce board in the hal:l outside the negotiations.
The men also mooed like cows when ~e women took the'ir seats. They told them to
go home and make tea. Once, they tol.d them to go home and 11breed for Ulster."
"It's such ·a hard, patriarchal, sexist pdlitical culture," said. Annie Campqell, the ·
· director ofthe Belfast group of the C~tizens'Ad.vice Bureau, a commWiity-help
group. ''But when people saw them on television -- when 1they saw members of the
Democratic Unionist Party shouting 'silly cows!' at the Women's Coalition --people.
said •. 'My Go~ are those the type of politicians we have? 111
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During the actual peace talks. the twd women did sometblng that, in the
black-and-white world of Northern Irbland politics, seemed almost revolutionary.
They pressed for consensus and conciliation, for fmding ,:;ommon ground instead of·
digging more firmly in to opposing ppsitions.
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~'In
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a country where you have a lot of conflict, there is a ~lense that being strong . .
means being obdurate, holding your ground, not giving anything away, 11 said Carmel
Roulston, a lecturer in politics at the University of Ulster.·.. ''And women have been
perceived as not being strong enough to resist comprom.lse."
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But Ms. Me Willi~ and Mf!. Sagar tried to tum that percq)tion on. its head. "We
were very pragmatic," Ms. McWilliams said. Th~ womei1rilade a point of always
speaking to all the parties, even thos~ that had been temt:,orarily ejected from the
talks, and tried hard to soothe rumpled egos. ''We tried til defuse situations as they
arose," said Ms: Sagar, who was thre,atened so much that she and her family had to
move to a different neighborhood. It :Was almost, she said,
if the delegates needed
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parental guidance.
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"It was like a large family -- there's ~ways a dispute that you have to mediate," she
said.
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·Despite its success in the talks, the Women•s Coalition i~ still struggling, hampered
by a lack of money and a lack of orgSnization. It is not at all certain that, even if the
agreement is accepted on May 22, the party will be able•to elect even a single
member to the new· assembly. The p~ plans to field as many candidates as it can,
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Certainly the public reaction tci'its yes: campaign appearar:j.ce the other day showed
what an uphill battle the Coalition fac¢s in gaining acceptance for its very existence.
,\
"I don't think very much of the women involved." one ma:n muttered angrily,
throwing down his Women's Coalitiob leaflet. Nor were (our nearby construction
workers particularly impressed. ''Keep them out of it,·~ s~.d one of the four, who not
did appear to be making a joke. "When you have to live v/ith one, it's bad enough as
it is."
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Ms. Campbell, the community worker, said that when she was growing up with five
sisters and two brothers it was clear tl7.at her status WB!l s¢cond-class. Among other
things, the boys were always been Sei]Ved meals ftrst, always with "a wee bit extra. 11
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was
"When I think of my mother's life. it
total drudgery:• she said. But her mother's
world view has begun to change, in lfitge part because ofher daughter's activism, she
said.
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She's afraid. but very proud," Ms. cbpbell sBid. 11 Her whole perception of herself
as a woman has changed. She's 8,2, ~ she•s voting yes."
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Irish News~ Coalition "Yes" Rally
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Irish News - 9/5/98
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. HIGH STANDARD... Northern Ireland Women's Coalition spokeswoman Monica McWilliams at
·.·the launch of the party's cam~aign for a yes vote it:r the referendum outside Belfast city hall
IIP•~rPJ,.nr.m Picture": Hugh Russell
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Women fly flag for deal
~y Mary O'Carroll .
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WOMEN are not going back to the kitchen nor back to being written out of the history books now
that a political agreement has been reached, the Non:hern Ireland Women's Coalition has said.
At the launch of its campaign )jesterday calling for a,. yes vote, the coalition was not only certain the
agreement would receive a ma~sive yes at the May 22 referendum but that it could act as a role
model for the rest of the world.1
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At the Belfast launch of the carhpaign purple and gr·~en 'Women's Coalition Says Yes' flags were
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' hoist aloft.
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The coalition also unveiled the party's peace bus which will go on a whistle-stop tour of the north, urging as large a yes vote as is
possible for the deal.
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Launching the campaign, party spokeswoman Monica McWilliams said that the deal offered, for the first time ever, women in
Northern Ireland full and equal participation in political life.
"~n~ial inclusion, community development, the civic forum, the bill ofrights, at:l of the things we've never had in this country;"
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~~pen-air campaign bus Woman's Coalition members were in no doubt that the acc.ord strikes a blow for equality
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opportunities.
May Blood, Shankill community worker; said: "I think it's~ vote for the future. For too long people in. Northern Ireland have got
bogged down saying no to everything. ·
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'There is a great fear, of course, but let's give a chance to the next generation.
"Not everything in the agreement is liked by everybody but that's the way agreements are formed.
"Everybody gets a little bit of something. I think women in!particular should grab this opportunity with both hands and come out
and vote.
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"Women are the majority in Northern Ireland and I make no apologies for calling on women to vote yes.
"Of course I respect the people who say no but we're entitled to our opinion too, Give yes a chance for a change."
Ms Me Williams said that the no campaign had a head start 'on the yes side as "we were so busy at the political negotiations and
then we had to clear out of Stormont. That took us a lot of time packing up."
·
She said the party has very few resources, although membe rship was swelling by the day.
Yesterday the bus circled Belfast, before future visits to Lisburn, Enniskillen, Omagh, Derry and Newry.
One of the women on the peace bus, flag waver Annie Campbell, said the bus will return to Belfast on May 16 for a Different
Drums campaigning day.
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Ms McWilliams also yesterday recalled the tension-packed final few hours ofth'e negotiations at Stormont.
"When we put that package together, believe you and me, the Women's Coal~tion all through that night kept checking the
document over and over again - for the language - to make ;sure it spoke to wom:en as well as to men, changing the language
!
where it didn't do that.
"The balance wasn't just about political identity, it was also about gender. Thes1.~ are equality issues," said Ms McWilliams.
I Bronagh Hinds, chair of the Northern Ireland Women's European Platform, joins delegates from Ireland and Britain in a
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conference, 'Women on the Move', today.
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E-mail us at: NIWC@iol.ie
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:. to the NIWC Home Page.
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NIWC Press Statement
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NIWC PRESS STATEMENT
6 April1998
"REMEMBJ!R THE VICTIIVlS"
The Northern Ireland "('omen's Coalition iU:sists that the
issue of victim support ~e part of a final settlement. The
victims of this conflict m;ust not be forgotten."said Monic
McWilliams,"unresolved grievances have the potential to
heighten feelings of injustice. Failure to rec~gnise these . ,
grievances could jeopardise lasting peace. Tbere has been
huge suffering across the entire community in Northern
Ireland, none of us has monopoly on grief.; Any .
settlement must acknowledge and address the suffering of
all victims, irrespective 9f their background".
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"We must demonstrate that we are a society capable of ·
humanitarianism, we mrist take steps to pro:vide effective
support to all the victims of violence. It would be
unforgivable to address ~he situation ·of pris·oners and fail
to recognise, or attempt 1to ease that of victims of the
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conflict".
a
l. " "a have any thoughts on this statement or any part o'f the talks, please go to the NIWC Discussion Page and ·give us
your thoughts and your feelings on all aspects. of the No~thern Ireland situation.
·
E-mail us at: NIWC@iol.ie
¢mE to the NIWC Home Page:
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�TuesG'\!,'. June 9, !.?98: FINANCE
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. FRONT IRELAND !FINANCfJ WORLD fEATURES SPORT :OPINION
Tuesda~,
FINANCE·
lEITERS
June 9, 1998
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.Confidence.gr:ows
'every :
day. guns remain
silent'
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Experience the
J3est
in Irish Music
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,.,,,.,,.,~,w,.,,.,._""'~:-:--·"r'''''""'"~""'"'~~
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,,,,,.,~.,,~""""""'""'"='':w•wrt=•~~o:~m:mm::::::::•::mo::;;rr;;;;;-:-~=c:·:<.-:"m:•
By Paul Cullen, in Belfast
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Unjversity
College Dublin
Business confidence in the North goes up
Posb~raduate
"every day the guns remain silent"~ the US
Study Options
Secretary of Commerce told business and civic
leaders in Belfast yesterday.
i ,
. SWIFTCAll
Delivering a keynote addres's in Belfast's City ·20 ¢1
HaJJ, Mr William Daley wainedt~at prosperity Click or Call
1-888-BE-SWIFT
was essential to secure peace. "You cannot
have prosperity without peace andjyou cannot
sustain peace without prosperity," ,he.said.
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Mr Daley is leading a highlevel de.legation of
16 us business leaders to build lirlks with
Northern Ireland. He said he hoped to build on
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the Yes vote in last month's referendum and to
encourage people to recognise the ;i~portance
of economic issues in stimulating the peace.
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The North's Industrial Development Board
· (IDB) has high hopes that Mr Daley's visit will
result in greater US investrllent in the region.
His itinerary yesterday included Ni~its to
leading firms such as Shorts and qableTel, as
well as meetings with IDB executives and the
Minister for Economic Development and
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Security, Mr Adam Ingram.
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Already yesterday, Shorts announced the
creation of 350 new jobs in a £9 ~illion
expansion of its carbon fibre factory at
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Tuesh;,v, June 9, 1998: FINANCE
http://www.irish-times.com/irish-timeslpaper/1998/0609/fin59 .html
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Dunmurray, near Belfast. Accompanying the
US Secretary are representatives 0f companies
such as Boeing, Pfizer, Monsanto', General,
Electric and Motorola.
The virtues oftheNorth's economies, including
high education levels, good communications
and a skilled workforce, were becoming
well-known to the US business community, Mr
Daley said. But for too long the r~gion had
suffered from "the most serious trade barrier of
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all" -violence.
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Because of this, Americans had dbveloped the
perception that the North was a risky place ~o
do business or to visit. Political instability
meant that, even if all the other factors were
favourable, businesses were inclined to choose
. other options.
It would take time to change this image. But
Mr Daley, who has served as mayor of
Chicago, said his home city had succeeded in
"
ridding itself of its own image as ~
crime-ridden city.
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Mr Daley said the companies on the visit
employed one million people worldwide, twice
the total workforce ofNorthem I~eland. Their
combined sales matched the entir~ exports ,
from the UK. All now wanted to shine a
spotlight on the North.
I
The delegation travels. to Derry today, before,
visiting Sligo tomorrow.
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WOMEN IN i NORTHERN IRELAND ·
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Women account for 51)2% of. the population of Northern
Ireland and are pla~ing a~ incr~asingly active role in all
areas. of society. Current!ly 317, 000 wc',men are economica].ly
active, making up 45% of those ·in employment, and 49% of
employees. The number of :self-employed wom~:n ·has risen by
around 63% since 1984 and women now account for 20% of the
self-employed. The. Goverrurlent ·is taking· steps to. encourage
· ihis tr~nd.through progra~s encouraging women to cionsider ·
the enterprise option and !providing business counseling and
support for women startin9 up their own businesses.
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There are significant! differt:mces in the employment
patterns for .men and wome~. Thirty-eig~t percent of women
employees work part-time. ' Women account for 85% of parttime and 66% of temporary !employees. · H.owever, 7 5% of female
employees who work part-time say that they do not want a
full-time job .. Four perc~nt of women work from home.
,.
Female workers conti~ue to be concentrated in
traditional occup~tional areas~ 26% ~ork in clerical or
secretarial occupations; ~~% in pe~sonal and protective
services; 12l in sales;, 9% in professional occupations; and
9% in a~soci~te professiorial and technical occupations.
Only 9% of women ,in employment work as managers or
administrators, as compar~d to 23% for men. Women's average
hourly earnings are 84.2% <of those of men. However/ the
average' weekly earnings for women are 76.2% of the average
for men, this gap being l~rger because women have, on
average, a short;er working_ ~eek than me1n .. ·
I
Women cuirently hold !33.4% of public appointments in
Northern Ireland (compareq to 18% in 1987), including 28
Chair and 19 Deputy-Chair :posts in public bodies. .Women
·make up 14.3% of elected ~ouncilors in local Goveinment
districts. Of the 26.loc~l Councils in Northern Ireland,
three have a woman as Maydr.or Chair, and~ further. three
have a woman as Deputy to !the Mayor or Chair.
!
Women currently hold :33.4% of public appointments in
Northern Ireland (compared to 18% in 1987), while 28 Chair
and 19 Deputy Chair posts /on pub,lic.bodies are held by
women. At the recent elections for the: new Northern Ireland
·Assembly, women won ·twelv~ seats,· representing just over 10%
df the 108-person body. ~wo of .the women electe~ to the
Assembly are members of.the Northern Ireland Women's
Coalition (NIWC), a polit~cal party for:med to represent the
interests of women in theiNorthern Ireland negotiations
process. NIWC also. has 2 1local Councillors.
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· NWq - A PROFILE
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National Women's Coundl of I~and
Cornbalrie Nalslunta na m8an In Elrlnn
Introduction
Historv
Structure
Representation
Membership
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Profile
INTRODUCTION I.ngaeilge 1
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With just a few years to a new century
·a~d millennium, womE!n's rights remain ·
an' issue in every country of the world.
Irish women have experienced many
c~anges in recent decades and the
e~pectations and opportunities for many
girls and women have grown and
t~ansformed. Our live~;, opportunities and
choices are very different from those of
·our mothers', and our daughters'
ekpectations .of the future are different·
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agam. ·
change has come about because
women's organisation's have lobbied and
campaigned; established essential
services and worked to change public
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o pinion. For more than two decades,
s,ince its foundation in 1973, the National
Women's Council of Ireland has been
part of that work. It has also been a
forum for women's organisations to share
experience, exchange ideas and
collaborate.
·
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If women are to achieve their full
potential then society must be structured
in a way which affirms our individual
worth and values all <~ur roles and work.
Eliminating violence, supporting ·
parenting and families, removing barriers .
to education, training and employment,
and sharing power ar'td responsibility these are just some Mthe priorities for
women's orgariisatioos in Ireland today.
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The National Women's Council of
· Ireland's work is aijmed at:
I
• Shaping society so that all women
· can achieve their true potential
e Ensuring that the law advances
equality and plc'tces no barriers in its
f
way
' • Changing attitudes to ensure the
'!
recognition of the individual dignity
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.of each woman.
· • Removing all threats of violence to
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women and children both inside and
outside the horne
• Monitoring to ensure the effects of
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poverty on women and their
children are highlighted and
removed
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· NW(];I -A PROFILE
' • Achieving access to appropriate,
affordable and quality health care
for all women and protecting and
promoting reproductive health ·
rights
• Creating an edu<:ation system in .
which women and young girls can
participate fully and which fosters
equality and respect for women.
Our main areas of work are:
' •, Advising and lobbying Governmen~
and political parties on issues which
i·
affect women
!
• Monitoring. legislation affecting
women
• Campaigning for better policies and
services
• Highlighting issues concerning
women and wori1en's rights through
the media
• Representing wemen's interests.on
public and private bodies
• Organising events, seminars and
training
1
• Providing information and support
to members, other women's groups
and individual women
• Networking wiU'1 organisations
throughout the .island to promote
reconciliation aild women's rights
• Working at a European and
international level to contribute to
!
global change fer women.
¢omhairle Naisiunta.na mBan
in Eirlnn ·
.'i
Agus muid ar leac an cheid agus na
milaoise seo chugainn, ta cearta na mban
f6s ar chlar gach tfr ar domhan. Is iomai
6thru ar an saol ata feicthe ag mna'in
Eirinn le blianta bt';!a9a anuas. Is m6 na
deiseanna agua is m'6 an tsuil a btiionn
~g cailinl agua ag mna leis an saol san
am i lathair na mar C1 bhfodh. Ta ar saoil,
~r seansanna, ag'us ;k roghanna eagsuil
1
go hiomlan lena raibh ag ar
'mathaireacha, agus t~ samhailt eile f6s ·
1
ar ar n-inionacha dar dtodhchafmar
:mhmt
!
iThainig na hathraithe, mar thoradh ar
1
obair na n-eagras ban, de bharr a
;n-ag6id agus a bhfeachtais, as na
:seirbhisi bunusacha a bhunaigh siad,
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N WC Prggram
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Our Goal:
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To Promote Peace an'd Justice in Northern Ireland
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Our Support:
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Our support is you, women and men alike. Pleak~ join us in this c~ampaign to make talks about the
future relevant to all our lives. We ask you to h~lp in any way by contacting us at:
·
Northern Irelimd Women's Coalition
52 EliJiwood Avenue
Belfast B T9 6AZ
Northern Ireland
Phone 01232-681118
niwc(ij)jol. ie
Our e-mail address is niwc@iol.ie. You can simply click on the. address to mail us.
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Ouf: Program.
Working fora Solution
Traditional political parties will bring their fixed agendas on the constituti~mal question to negotiations; the Women's
Coalition is dedicated to drawing together the different views, ideas and op,tions to achieve a workable solution. Over the
years of violence women have been very effective in de~eloping and maintaining contact across the various divides in our
society. The have created a space for discussion and folj an honest exchang(~ of views. In doing this women have seen
themselves as agents of change. The search for solutions needs a sense of openness and willingness. to talk, not
confrontation and hidden agendas.
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Offering Inclusion
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·Women have long experience of not being asked .for their views and not beiing listened to when they give them. The
Women's Coalition stands for the inclusion of all parties and all interests hi shaping the future. All parties should have
access, as of right, to All Party negotiations. If elected, parties should participate in the Forum, which should be seen as an
opportunity to extend public discussion. The Forum should also be used to build working relationships between elected ·
representatives and the many organizations- such as b'usiness, trade unio~s, voluntary and community groups- whose
expertise coutd·usefully contribute to political debate. i
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Making Women Heard
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··e crucial political representation within Norther~ Ireland has been by men. Northern Ireland currently has 17 ·
ers in the Westminster Parliament, and 3 in the European Parliament- none of these are women. The traditional
t'-- .deal parties will undoubtedly get elected and be represented at the NegotiatingTable; a vote for the NIWC is a vote
for the equal right of women to be involved in that political discussion; Over the years the political parties have been ·
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challenged to address the virtual exclusion of women fro~ political decision-,making in Northern Ireland; to date they
have generally failed to take up that challenge. The Women's Coalition is stating clearly that women should play a
·re role in all aspects of society.
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Equity for All
The Women's Coalition wants a pluralist society based on respect and equali,.ty for all. The Women's Coalition is
committed to the immediate incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights, and to the development of a
Bill of Rights. The debate around the content of a Bill of Rights should include civil and political rights, as well as social
and economic standards of living. The issue of children's. rights should also be addressed. The Women's Coalition
recognizes that many people in Northern Ireland have suffered injustices, an.ld that it is important to acknowledge one
another's hurt, and to share understandings of our past, 'alongside views of Qur future. It is equally important to build on
these stories, and to address the broad spectrum of justice issues, which shoUIId include a comprehensive review of
policing, the criminal justice system and the position of prisoners. Furthermore, the Women's Coalition states its belief
that a basic human right is the ability to live free from the fear of violent attack; consequently the Women's Coalition
calls for a reinstatement and maintenance of all ce~se-flr,es, and no recourse to violence from any quarter.
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New Thinking
1.
The Women's Coalition believes that we have a window bf opportunity to at1tract international support and investment to
accompany a constructive Peace Process. However it is important that both local and international investment will
effectively secure social and economic development, pro~iding long term employment and redressing disadvantage and
inequalities. In particular every effort should be made to ensure that women are no longer caught in the poverty traps of
low wages and inadequate social security benefits. The \¥omen's Coalition stands for political priorities which
acknowledge the fact that one in three children in Northern Ireland are affec~ed by poverty and which will address this
issue as a matter of urgency.
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E-mail u's at:· NIWC@iol.ie
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411111K to the NIWC Home Pag.e.
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Go. to the Fee~back page and leave a message .
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STREET LAW INC
PHONE NO.
Aug. 14 1998 01:02PM P2
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Daughters of lhe Troubles
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Narrated by Anjelica Hus~:on. Daughters of the Troubles:
Belfast Stories is a dramatic personal narrative of the lives of
two w~rking-class Belfast women told against the backdrop of ·
the citY:'s violent history .
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· The on~~hour documentary, produced, directed and co-written
·by Em~yAward-wifming documentary producer M_qr.f.iu
Rock ., focuses on the social impact of decades of political
upheaval--25 years to be e:>::<ict. Belfast first erupted in violence
in August, 1969 and British military troops patrolled her streets
until F~bruary, 1995. A whole generation of young people grew
. up knowing nothing but the bitterness of a divided city and the
ever px:esent horror of deat,h. It also offers a new perspective-.·
the history of Northern Ireland's Troubles told from the point of
view of the women.
Daug~ters t!fthe Troubes: Belfast Stories· fulfills the
challenge posed by The New York Times in an article dated
August 4, 19961 "Televisi()n Plugs Into the Past," asking that
docurrientaries break from the ugreat man" approach to history
and e~brace the trend in modem historical scholarship which
sees important history told through social history, ie. the
· persoqal accounts ofimm1grants, coal miners, industriaJ
.· workers. farmers and women.
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c••••••g• ••• Q•••te
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The stories of Geraldine O'Reagan (a CathoHc) and May.
Blood (a Protestant) are just such persona1 accounts; poignant.
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http://www.nyu.edu/pages/irelandbouse/troubles.htm
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Daughters of the .Troubles
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·defiant, mtimate and moving.. Geraldine and May are women
forced by political and socia.l upheaval to transcend the .
traditional roles assigned them by a conservative, and
increasingly segregated, society. Their response to the challenge
changes their lives, and those of their families, forever.
The two:women·grew up a few miles from each other in maledominate, working class ndghborhoods where work and
worship!were the bonds haloing family life together.
Producer. Marcia Rock, deftly interweaves the personal
accounts of Geraldine and May with archival footage of "The
Troubles11 to place their situations in historical·context. The first
half of the documentary chronologically tells the story of how
their lives, beliefs and communities are tom apaprt, while the
second half deals with the painful process of rebuilding. The
women !must create differet'tt lives for themselves and their
children while tackling a whole new set of problesm--teenage
pregnancy, drug use, and tHe ills that following the wake of
violenc~ and poverty.
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With er,.ergy and resolve, they throw themselves into
rehabilitating their commll;lities, helping alienated youth who
· kno no~ing but decades of violence and the inexorable cycle of
depen~cy. As the traditicmal anchors of church, state and
family lose influence, the women become central to maintaining
the moral compa.'>s of their society.
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In spite of the setbacks and the dail hardships they confront,
their st~ries are filled with· wit and humor, conveying a ·
tremendous sense of hope coupled with the knowledge that the
North~rn Ireland ofthe fut:ure will be one which they will help
shape.!
Paliitic•l lctioa .
Filme4 during the fragile 17-month paramilitary cease~fire,
Da,,_gJ,ters of ihe Trollbles: Belfast Sioi"ies also looks at the
challe~ges facing women trying to put their direct experience of
grassroots problems on th·e agenda of the extablished political
parties. Their strength, first exhibited on the commtmity level,
is no~ reachjng a wider public. As they grow in numbers and in
selfMconfidence, they are becoming a political force which may
well cll.allenge the status quo.
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http://www.nyu.edu/pages/irelandhouse/troubles.htm
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STREET LAW INC
PHONE NO. . 202 293 0089
Aug. 14 1998 01:03PM P4
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Daughters ofthe Troubles
The: do~ume~tary includes footage from the Northern Ireland
elections of May 1996 and the violence of July 1996. It is
timely, but resonates with timeless concerns--the themes of
nationalism, religion and the changing roles of women .
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Dau.gh(ers of the Troubles: Belfast Stories was cowritten~directed and produ9ed by Mareia Rock; co-written by
Jack ~olland and narrated by Anjelica Huston. Major funding
was provided by Mutual of America and Tht;._4:t'!.!9'icg_n.
Ireland Fund . Additional ·support and assistance was.
provided by Aer Lingos, ~;zucksman Ireland House, ,Ye~
York Univet-sify , The Irish Tourist Board, and Making Belfast
vyork.;
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http://www.nyu.edu/pages/irelandhouse/troubles.htm
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8/13/98
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Page 1 of}
YOUTHACTION Northem Jreland -Welcome 1
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The task ~f YouthAction is to inform,
educate and challenge the young people
of Northe'rn Ireland. .
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Through cui programmes we offer them challenging
opportunities which encourage the development of their
talents and skills.
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Research
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Our conviction is that young people are best helped·
when they a:re encouraged to de:velop:
Equality.
· - High self.!esteem
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- The motivation to take increased responsibility for·
their own lives ·
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- A positivp view of life and something to work for
- The socia:l skills necessary to tum their visions into
reality
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Health
T,..;nina
community
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HI'HSt..H
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Young people in Northem Ireland could be said to be
blessed in that there are a large number of agencies· ··
working on their behalf. YouthAction identifies .its
distinctivel,iess from the others by being:
Rural
...
Feedback
Links
- Anti-sectarian
- Pro-inclUsive
.:. Province-Wide and secular
-. Keen to promote a community development model of
practice I
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- Consistently encouraging partnerships in the widest
sense
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- Non-traditional
- Innovati'vely addressing new needs
- Disseminating good praetic'e so as to influence policy
makers i
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- Supportive of the right of young people to be active
citizens dbtermining their future and contributing to
their colll.1;11unities
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. Like aU organisations Y outhA.ction has to perform a .
balancing: act in an era of rap:id change. Our record to
.date is one of successful adafltion and change . Our
website s~ows some of our programmes in action.
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[II om.;:] [Rese~.r_c_hl [Creative] [b..Jl.ial it.-Y.] tHealth) [Trainin_g] [Community] [Funding) [HQ
+ Staff] [R
Search Engines- J:,._ycos- Infoseek- A1t~ _Yi_g~:- jj.xcitc ~ Webcr-a~J<::T- Hotbot
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htto ://www. vouthaction. org/index. html
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YOUTI-IACTION - Gender Equality Unit
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Gender Equality Unit
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Kate Campbell, after many succ,:essful years as the Training
and Development Officer with YouthAction, moved iq. 1995 to
the Northern Ireland Voh.mtary Trust. Kate Campbell is well
known for having pioneered an9 developed girls work
tlrroughout the Northern Ireland Youth Service.
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Resl!&lcit
creative
Equality
Haallh
Tl'lillttl~tg
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Coll'llllUnity
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The Gender: Equality Team now consists of June Trimble~ who
moved froni the South Eastern Education & Library Board to
take up the position ofTrairiing & Development Officer
vacated by Kate Campbell, Anna Quigley, Penny Hughes and
Caroline Bteakey- Moving on Tutors, Susan Morgan- Young
Womens D~velopment Worker, Rhoda Cassidy -.Video
Project and;Janeen Tully and Karen ArchboldAdministrators.
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In its work 1
with girls and young women the aims of the
Gender Equality Unit are:
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- to providy profe~sional support, infonnation and resources to
groups
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- to forge P,artneJ:ships to prom.ote work with girls and young
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women 1
-to target, ;in particular, marginalised young women
.:. to adopt a holistic approach M programmes which include
Personal Development, Health, Lifestyle, creativity and .
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enjoyment;
Links
l11e first T.hree Year Girls and Young Women's Support
Project came to an end in 1995.
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Building ~n this a Young Womcns Development Worker has
.been employed for two years, funded by NIVT, to support
young womens groups in ways which give voice to .their issues
andneeds,
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The European Union Horizon Programme primarily funded a ·
pilot proj~ct with young mothers called ''New Steps" This two
year project aimed to test the relevancy of training materials
and meth6ds with four groups of young mothers aged between
18 and 25 years old Jiving in Craigavon, Cushendall, East ·
Belfast a.Q.d Magherafelt.
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Transnationality was an important element of this project and
our pa.rtnftS on this occasion were Foarwark from Friesland 'in
the Netherlands. ·
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As the ''New Steps'' was so successful YouthAction was then
ab1e to secure additional funding under the European Union
Horizon Initiative to develop the Moving On Project.
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http://www.youthaction;orglhtml/equality.~tml
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Moving On is a pre-vocational programme for young mothers
aged 18-25 years. There will be four .twelve week
programmes' and four programrrtes which last 24 weeks. Each
rourse is 12 hours per week and the young mothers receive
childcare contributions, travel and lunch expenses.
The progranl.me has now achieved seven units accredited by
the Open Learning College Network plus the basic First Aid
and CLAIT 1. To date programmes have been organised in·
Belfast, Cro'ssmaglen, Armagh, Coalisland, Castlederg and
Antrim. Once again our transni1tional partners were F oarwork
in the Netherlands and in addition, Young Mothers in
Employmeryt, a consortium from the Republic of Ireland.
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(Home] [Researc;,h] [Creative] U3~lu~tl~t..Y] [Health] [frairy_inll:] ~:omn~uniJy) [Funding] [HQ_± Staff] [R_
Search Engines- l~~os- Infoseck- Alt~_.Yista- Ex~-ill: ~ W,ebcrawler- tfg_~bot
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Credits
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Copyright 1998 YouthAction NortM.rn Ireland
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last updatad 8 Al>fil 19911
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THE ULSTER PEOPLE'S COLLEGE
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THE AGREEMENT~ A SIMPLIFIED VERSION.
As part of
th~
wo~k
political education
undertaken by the Ulster People's College we
have produced a briefing pack of us~ to those facilitating puolic meetings and closed
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discussions.
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Please do nof hesitate to get in touch ·with us .if you can suggest improvement or
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additions, to these documents. We c~n also provide facilitators and speakers for public
meetings.
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David Officer, Barbara McCabe or John McQuade
Ulster People's College I
30 Adelaide Park
Belfast
. BT9 6FY
Contact:
Tele: (01232) 665161
Fax: (01232) 668111
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The purpose of this summary is .to try to give .people an overview and also to try to get
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past some of the difficult language used. We hope this is helpful. ·
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A referendum will be held on 22 MaY,. A referendum is a special kind of ele~tion where
p~ople
are. not asked .to choose
.
be~eenpolitical.
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w~th
are asked to answer a question
parties or candidates.. Instead, voters
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a vote for: Yes or No.
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The question for this
referendum is:
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"Do you support the agreem~nt reached in the multi.,party talks on
Northern Ireland and set out jn Command Paper 3883?"
. Yes
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No·
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If the referendum is passed, elections for the Assembly will be held on 25 June .
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STRAND 1
with the European Convention on
Human Rights. They m·ust not overlap
with the work of Westminster. The
An assemb.lywill be established fo:r_
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Northern Ireland, with 108 members.
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Secretary of State will continue to be
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They will be elected by proportion~!
representation (STV) which is the kame
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system used in the local council
_respqnsible for those aspects that are
notdevolved to the assembly, such as.
secu'rity and policing.·.
elections. The Assembly will take:over
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responsibility for the departments l
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STRAND 2
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currently run by the Northern lrelaf,d
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Office namely: Agriculture, Economic
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·This part of the Talks dealt, with the
Development, Education, Environi-nent,
relationship between Northern .Ireland
Finance and Person®.,!, and Health and
and the' Republic of Ireland. The main
Social Services.
dev~lopment
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is tl1e creation of a
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North/South Council that will bring
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Safeguards are designed to ensure that
decision-makers from the Assembly and
pa11ies that represent all
the £~overnment in the Republic together
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sections~of the
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community participate together. ;
to develop consultation, co-operation
Safeguards include the fair distribution
and .action within the island of Ireland.
of positions within the assembly Jnd key
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Both sides must agree decisions and be
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decisions to be taken on a cross- 1
accountable. Participation in the Council ·
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community basis. Decisions and 'laws
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.. passed by the Assembly will also:have
· will be an essential responsibility for
those. holding posts in the Assembly.
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to comply with the European Co~ven_tion
on Human Rights. Members of t~e ·
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Assembly will be required to sign: up to a
that can be implemented separately in
'Pledge of Office' which commits ~hem to
both Northern Ireland and the Republic
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pursuing their work
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i0 good faith.:
and also decisions that will be
implemented on an all-island basis.
The Assemply will be able to ma~e laws
in the six areas outlined above (eg.
The Assembly and the North/South
Agriculture, Economic Developm~nt
Col!mcil will assume relevant powers at
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etc.), but these Jaws will have to ~amply
. the same ·time. They are inter-
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dependent. That means that one can11ot
operate without the. other. . Members of
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·RiGHTS'AND SAFEGUARDS
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· · the Northern Ireland Civil Service ;::md
A key aspect of this agreement has
the Irish Civil Service will act as a joint
been the focus on rights and
Secretariat.
safeguards. A series of rights are
highlighted which relate to the conflict.
In addition the British government is in
STRAND 3
the process of enshrining the European ·
This part of the Talks addressed p:Oiitical
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Conven.tion on Human Rights into
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relationships across these islands;
domestic law {including Northern
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There are two outcomes ofthis strand.
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Ireland). A Human Rights Commission
will be established to review laws and
The British-Irish Coun~il will be
m~de up
of representatives of the British a~d Irish
actions as well as promote awareness of
human rights issues.
governments as well as .the local ;
·assemblies of Northern Ireland, Scotland
The Irish government will also take
·and Wales. It is the intention thatithis
further steps to protect human rights. A
body shouid reach agreement in areas
joint committee·, with representatives
of mutual interest, such as transpbrt,
from North and South will act as a forum
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agriculture, environment, culture and the
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European Uniori. Elected
to cc'lnsider human rights issues' in the
island oflreland.
representatives of each of the bo9ies will
be encouraged to establish inter-!
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The Agreement addresses the 'issue of
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parliamentary links also. ·
victims, stating that there will be
.. p~ovision for their needs, b,oth .statutory
The British-Irish Intergovernmental
and voluntary as appropriate. .
Conference will bring together the British .
The Agreement also endorses the work
and Irish governments to co..:opeqate. on
of organisations involved in
all matters of mutual interest. Areas are
reconciliation and. pledges continued
likely to include security, rights, prisons
support for this Work.
and policing.
In tBrms of economic, social and cultural
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issues,
th~
agreement highlights the
importance of economic growth,
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�community development and social , ;
identities, allegiances and ethos. A
inclusion. This includes the
police service should be developed ·
. which is representative of the community
advancement of women to full and eqdal
participation in politics and public life. .It.
as
professional and fair and should conform
also recognises the importance of the ;
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Irish language in the context of the
Charter for Regional and Minority
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. languages. The use of symbols w1ll be
a whole. Policing should be
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to human rights standards. An
independent Commis.sion will make
recommemdations about ~hese changes
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monitored with the aim of ensuring th*
and how they might coine about
· they promote mutual respect rather thi3n
The criminal justice system must be. fair
division.
and impartial and must have the
confidence of the whole community.
OTHER ISSUES:
There will be a wide-ranging review.
Decommissioning: the governments
have established mechanisms to allow ·
Prisoners: pris.oners will be released, in
weapons to be decommissioned. Th~
the main, within a 2-year period (North
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parties have agreed to work towards:
and Sol,lth). Release dates will reflect
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decommissioning within a 2-year per~od. ·
the seriousness of the crime and the
need to protect the community. There
Security: the two governments will adjust
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security arrangements to reflect
changing circumstances. This will
will be measures to help re-integrate
prisoners into the communityJncluding
education and training.
include a reduction in the number of/
Armed Forces and security installaticj>ns ·
Prisone~rs who belong to organisations
being used. The British governmen(will
not on ceasefire will not be· included in
review the use of emergency legislation
any release programme.
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~eview! its
Offences Against the State laws (their
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. equiv.alentto emergency laws).
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Policing and Justice: .policing is a cerntral
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issue in any society. The agreement
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recognises the equality of different :
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All of these arrangements can be
review'ed. .
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Joint Northern Ireland Women:s Aid .. .ion of Women's Refuges' Confert)nce
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JI.I.STICE, E~IJAl.ITY AN:~
t.Aw~REFC)RM
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/JI:t}lolnnD.I!~~~~~agt.ISA!;li:di6~;J?Il . .·
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Launch of Joint Northern Ir~land Women's
Conference
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Press Release
Aid~ Federation
and Irish Federation of Women's Refuges'
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Speaking at the launch of the conference document from aj9int conference ofth~: Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation and
the Irish Federation of Women's Refuges, Minster.ofState, Mary Wallace TD, commented "we are a long way down the road .
from the days when domestic violence was not regarded as crime and when it was viewed in isolation. I am concerned that it is
the type of crime which can define, incorrectly, what is acceptable for future generations: The effect of this crime on women and
children is a long term issue. In the past, the issue of violence against women as an issue for society to address- but especially
within family structures- has not always received the attention it deserved.
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We know from the statistics provided by an Garda Sfochand that, during 1996, th:ere were over 4500 incidents of domestic
violence. These incidents occurred throughout the length and breadth of the country. They put the scale of the problem in to st.ark
perspective. And, of course, these are only the incidents which came to the attention of the Garda! - I think it is only realistic to
assume there were more which went unreported."
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ntinued: "I notice from the report produced last December entitled 'Gender and the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice
8)v.vm' that:
- 81% of sexual cri'mes are committed against females
- 90% of domestic violence incidents are reported by females and that
- 37% of violent crimes are committed against females.
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The situation down South is broadly comparable but when you analyse the issues surrounding 'fear of crime', women are much
more worried than men about being a victim of a burglary, mugging, robbery or various forms of harassment." · ·
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Minister for State Wallace informed the meeting that 'A National Steering Committee' has be.en established of which the Minster
for State is the Chairperson.
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It will aim to:
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-develop a publicly funded public awareness campaign
-co-ordinate and advise on the distribution of the resources among the eight Hei1lth Board regions.
-co-ordinate and advise on the ongoing development of policies .
-oversee and monitor individual. agencies' written policies and guidelines
- ensure that regional and local structures are established 1
- undertak~ research and n~e.ds assessments nationally. .;
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- promote mter-agency trammg
-ensure maximum value for money from available resources . .
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-develop codes of practice for, collecting statistics and monitoring responses and
- publish periodic reports.
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In conclusion, Minister for State Wallace, stated .that she ~hdorsed the Conference rriottoofthe 3 P's: "preventiorr, protection and
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3 J'ebruary, 1998
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�Joint Northern Ireland Women's ~id .. .ionofWomen'sRefuges' Conference
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·"ore Information Contact:
ment of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
7.~. . "' St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Tel: +353- I- 6028202
FAX: +353- I- 6615461
Internet: info@justice.irlgov.ie
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Send mail to PageMaster with questions or comments about this web1site.
Last modified: February 26, 1998
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NWCI - Publications
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LIVE REGISTER
CAMPAIGN
PUBLICATIONS
Breaking Down the Barriers - Women's Equality in
the Labour Market
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The social welfare system in Ireland Is a very complex one and frequently
women find that there are attitudinal, bureaucratic c'r practlcal.problems
when they try to sign-on as unemployed.
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Much of this Is because the social welfare system was originally based on the
assumption that men were the breadwinners in families, and therefore
· payments were made to a' man and his ~·dependants''.
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This has created a number of problems, the most pressing being that .
eligibility for labour market schemes and many other entitlements are
dependent on people being on the live Register and1 receiving a payment.
These criteria mean that many women who may wish to return to the labour
force In the future are unable to register as unemployed or do not have
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accurate information to enable them to sign-on.
In practice this means wo'men's unemployment Is und~r recognised and they
are therefore unable to benefit from training, education and employment
schemes.
This page expl~lns women's rights to sign-on and gives practical information
on the terms and conditi~ns that apply.
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What is the. Live Register 7
The Live Register Is a recbrd of those who are unemployed and genuinely
seeking work. (With the exception of those signing for credits, see below).
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Can I sign-on In my ovtn right ?
Anyone who Is unemployed, available for, capable of, and genuinely seeking
full-time work can sign-on the live Register if they 11ave enough PRSI
contributions, or satisfy means' test.
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What is a PRSI contribution?
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The initials PRSI mean Pay Related.Social Insurance~. The general principle of
social Insurance Is that each individual,· when workli1g, pays the state to
Insure themselves against any event that may cause thein to be out of the
workforce. You pay PRSI:contrlbutlonswhen you e~rn more than £80 per
week (you will get a PRSI stamp If you earn more than £30 a week, but will
not have to pay for It). To get Unemployment Benefit, (UB) you will need a
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certain number of PRSI c'ontrlbutlons.
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If my husband/partner Is signing-on can I sign-on In my owrulght?
You are entitled to sign-6n In your own right for Unemployment Assistance '
(UA) providing you satisfy the conditions of being available for;·capable of,·
and genuinely seeking wprk. In practice; most women .are not aware of this
procedure, referred to a1 "splitting the claim".
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.Are there any. benefit~ to this ?
Each adult will receive h~if the family UA payment. There is no ·extra Income
to be made but the family's options broaden out as either/both adults would
be eligible In the future for training, education and back to work schemes.
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Can I sign-on if my partner is employed ?
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Many women are unawa:re that they may have an· entitlement to sign-on in
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their own right even where their partner Is working. The main criteria Is to
satisfy a means test and ~e available for wqrk.
What about swapping c!iligibility 7
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You and your partner can swap your eligibility to participate in training and
employment Initiatives. This means that only one of you can be on the
scheme at the same time., That Is why a split claim I!? preferable, as both of
you can be on schemes at the same time. For this reason, the Department
will advise people to swap their eligibility, rather than split the claim.
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You should remember that women, In particular, will be asked to provide
evidence of their chlldmlnCJing arrangements. Don't forget that If you can
prove a friend, relative, or a creche will mind your chlld/ren If you have a job
you should not be disbarred. (Men should also be asked this question, but
usually are not).
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How much can my partner earn before I am unable to sign-on?
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The amount In 1996 terms Is around £165.00 per week (after tax and PRSI
are deducted). This amou'nt-lncreases by £10 for evi~ry child In the
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household.
What is a credit ?
Credits are designed to assist those who have already a minimum number of
contributions and who, for reasons beyond their control, e.g. loss of
employment, are unable to continue to make paid contributions to their
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insurance record.
Credits are particularly uJeful with regard to old age and retirement pensions
where an average number of paid and credited contrlbliticins are used to
assess entitlement.
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When can I sign-on fo~ credits ?
Once you have paid 26 contributions you are entitled to credits. In other
words when you first start working and paying insur'ance you are eligible for
credits. As soon as you are unable to pay PRSI, yoli should sign-on for
credits. If you leave ttie insurance system' for mo're than two tax years, you
. must WOrk for at leaSt 26. weeks i.e. have paid 26 CQntrJbutionS before you·
will once again be eliglbl~ for credits.
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What about Schemes, Education Options and Training courses?
· In order to be eligible fot. training schemes (for example, Community
Employment), you have to be in receipt of lone-p.3rent or unemployment
payment, for at least a year. For other education ot1tions It ranges from 6
months to a year. For details see addresses at end 'o(thls leaflet.
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·There are some training courses run by FiS where there Is no requirement to
be on the Live Register. All that Is-needed Is to register with FAS, for details
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·contact your local FAS office. · '
If you have any further queries, contact your Local Resource Centre or:
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The National Women's Council of Ireland
32 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, ·
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Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 661 5268
Fax! (01) 676 0860
or
Irish National Orga~l~atlon
6 Gardiner Row,
Dublin 1.
Tel: (01) 878 8635
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Fax: (01) 878 8874 i ·
ofth~ U~employed,
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NIWC Pienary Statement
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NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN'S COALITION
CLOSING STATEMENT TO THE PLENARY.
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SESSIONOF THE MULFI-PARTY PEACE TALKS
JOtlt APRIL 1998
When the Northern Irelartd Women's Coalition came to
these negotiations we welcomed them with an optimism
borne out of necessity. W~ are still optimistic, but even
more conscious now of the historic challenges. and
opportunities that face us~all. We owe it to alii those who
have suffered and died over the past three de4~ades to
grasp this opportunity to build a society that :will stand as
a living testimony to the ~ictims of the Troub!les.
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If we are to achieve this task we must do it tojgether. Not
by monopolising power, but by sharing it. No.t by seeking
to shatter the aspirations :of any sector of our society, but
by creating a space for th'em. Not by being re.stricted by a
politics of anger, resentment and rigidity, bu1t by daring to
envisage a politics that c~n be open and imaginative, and
even courageous.
It is our belief that there ~re many aro~nd th:is table who;
through their actions, ha~e shown that such a politics is
possible. We believe thatithe new politics we are now
the
creating will incorporate 1 principles of equality,
inclusiveness and human rights. Human rigb'ts and
equality are not a victory for one group over another, they
are basic requirements that must form the b4~drock of
society. A society which we should feel proud! to be able to .
fashion for our children. j
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We are mindful of all the support and help tlltat we have
received in getting to this point. The unstinti'ng, and
skilful, work of our three independent Chai~persons
Senator Mitchell, General de Chastelain and Prime Mini
ter Holkeri - together with their magnificent staff who
have shown such enormous dedication. The 4:ommitment
of the Governments of both the Republic ofJ[reland and
the United Kingdom, and the personal comn.1itment shown
by Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, David Andrews, and of
course Mo Mowlam, without whose determination this
process may well have faltered. The amazing pool of
international good will tJtat has always been1 on call when
needed. A~d perhaps most importantly, the sense that
people and communities' across Northern In~land - and
beyond - willed and hop~d and prayed that 1this process
would succeed. Even in ~he darkest of days.over the last ·
two years there has always been that echo :- "If only our
politiCians would sit down together, talk .to t!ach other and
come to an agreement" ~ and now, at last, we have.
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We understand we are only at the start of a peace process.
Peace will not simply h~ppen, it must be buiilt through a
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sense of mutual respect a~d accommodation qf our
differences. It requires honest recognition tha.t change is
inevitable, and that it is the primary role of political
leadership to manage that change in a manner that will
include people in this divi.ded society of ours. This policy o
inclusion must also ensure that those communities who
have suffered most during the years of violence, will
benefit from the peace. 1 ·
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We must develop a sense of confidence that \\ill allow us to
envisage a future that is not about victory or defeat, but is
about forging new relationships. Not only in this region,
but within this island, and between these islands. This
Agreement will offer a framework, but it wili take work
and energy and a genero~ity of mind to translate it into
practice. We firmly believe that this can be d:One; and we
commit ourselves to working inboth the political sphere
and throughout broader society, to help achii~ve a future_ ·
that wil,l be worthy of all our hopes and all Ot,lr aspirations.
To do less would not only sell short the sacrifices of the
past, but also the future qf our children.
(Delivered by Monica McWilliams- lOth April, 1998)
For further Information C9ntact us at Niwc@iol.ie
Monica McWilliams 522187
Kate Fearon 07771 886448
E-mail us at: NIWC@iol.ie
~ to the NIWC Home Page.
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.WhY, to Vote YES
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WHY THE WOMEN'S COALITION. IS:SAYING "YES!"
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The Women's Coalition was elected
t!o the multi-party Ti1lks on a platform of equity,·
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political inclusiveness, and respect for Human Rights. Throlllghout the Talks, we worked
hard to ensure .that these values were a tithe heart of the neg'otiating proce'ss, and its end
result.The Women's Coalition did not get everything we wa,.nted when the Talks ended·
on Good Friday. No party did. However, we do believe the Agreement offers us the
chance to build social and political life a:round the principle;s of equality and justice for
all. We are giving our wholehearted sup,port to the campaign for aYes vote- it is vital
for our future and the future of our chil(lren. Although mos't debate focuses on what
nationalists and unionists gained and lost in the Agreement, attempts to draw up a
tally-sheet are futile. This is not a zero-~um game. The· pro~osed new institutions are
inter-dependent, so we either win together or we lose togeth·er. For example, the new
assembly cannot function unless the North-South bodies an! also up and running, and
vice-versa. The No· campaign is trying to frighten voters with half-truths about the
Agreement. In reality, it excludes neither unionist nor nationalist aspirations. Instead, it
offers the means for both to pursue their goals in the demo(:ratic realm. But asking
what's in it for unionists and nationalis~s is not the only way of assessing the Agreement.
Our society is also made up of women, and men, young and old, disabled people, and
people from diverse ethnic, religious and class backgrounds. Some are married; some
have children~ For this reason, NIWC lobbied for a Civic Forum to work alongside the
new Assembly. Representatives of groups not normally giv(~n a formal role in political
life-- trade unions, young people, cultural, community and~business organisations, for
example-- will gain an advisory role vis-a-vis the new parli;ament, ·bringing a wealth of
ideas and expertise with them. The result will be a broader and deeper democracy. The
Women's Coalition believes that both p:risoners and victims are integral to any political
solution. Unfortunately, in the past, both have been used as political pawns in attempts
to stall political progress. We know the:provision to reintegrate prisoners into society is
difficult for many, but we believe it is crucial for the settle11nent's long term success. We
say this in light of the Agreement's det~iled acknowledgement of the rights of victims of
violence and its vow to provide for victim support groups and related services. The ·
Agreement affirms the role of integrated education and mh:ed housing in the· promotion
of tolerance, and recognises the vital reconciliation work done by community
organisations. Most importantly, it pledges ongoing suppor:t for these endeavours. The
Women's Coalition is particularly pleased that the Agreem;ent affirms women's right to
full and equal political participation. A'nd everyone stands to gain from the full
incorporation into Northern Ireland law of the European Convention on Human Rights,
and likewise from the. provision for a supplementary Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
An independent Human Rights Comm~ssion will monitor the Assembly and public
bodies .to .ensure they uphold these codes. The Agreement ~·roposes a Department of
Equality for the new Assembly, along ~ith other m.easures.to uphold the right to equal
opportunity in social and econo~ic life·, "regardless of class, creed disability, gender or
ethnicity." This Agreement offers us the chance to develop mutually beneficial social
and economic relationships with our neighbours to the south, and .in Scotland, England
and Wales. It offers provisions that ca~ become the cornerstones of a fairer society, if
the political will is there to make them,work. The Women':s Coalition continues to
measure political progress in terms of our core principles: Equity, InClusion and Human
Rights. The best way forward now is tq vote yes. After tha1;, we will work to ensure the
new arrangements uphold the values t~at we see as central to a truly democratic society.
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National Women's Council of Ireland
Comhalrfe Nalsi6nta na mBan In Elrinn
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Campaigns
WOR~ PROGRAMME 1996/1997
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The National Women's Council of Ireland has
identified three areas of WCirk which will be
priorities in 1996 and 1997' in advancing
women's rights, choices and participation.
They are the economic position of women,
healthi.
and participation in decision making.
Economic Rights
The NWCI is targeting action on economic
issues' in a number of different ways - direct
lobbying of Government, NWCI
representation at the National Economic and
Social' Forum (NESF) and the work of the
New Opportunities for Women programme.
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The three main issues are the counting of
wome'n's unpaid work in national economic
statistics, the elimination of all barriers to
wom~n wishin'g to return ~o education,
training or employment and the introduction
of more family friendly prt1ctices ·in training
centres and in the workpl21ce.
Follow the links to relevant ·sections of this
site: :
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Participation
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at the National Economic &
Social Forum
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Health
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Foll~~ing
publication in.1995, by the
Department of Health of a draft plan for
Women's health a national consultation
proc~ss has involved a partnership between
the .Department, regiol)al health boards, the
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NW<p - Campaigns
NWCI 'and women's organisations at local
level. In parallel individual' health issues will
also bi= the subject of specific initiatives by
the NWCI Health Panel.
Follow the ·links to relevant sections of this
site: !
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Decision Making
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In ev~rY arena the NWCI campaigns for the
sharing of decision making· roles between
men and women. In 19~6197 the Council.will
focus:on policy making at European level, in
particular the Intergovernmental Conference
(IGc), the reconciliation and peace process
in Ireland, politics in the lead to a 1997
Gene'ral Election and women's representation
on pJblic and other bodies.
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Follow the links to relevant sections of this
site:
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·• :iGC Seminar
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• :The other Europe Conference.
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•; Women's .Rights 2000
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EARLy RELEASE OF PRISONERS - AN IMPORTANT pART OF THE
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AG!ffiEMENT.·
Northern Ireland can be viewed as nearing ~he end of a long an~l violent political conflict, not a
protracted crime wave. International research demonstrates that any negotiated settlement
between former combatants must contain s~me provision for prisoner release. It has been
identified as being essential to the process of conflict resolution.
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Yes, there are fears and risks associated, bu~ the risks are ones which have to be taken in order
to resolve the issues on which this conflict is; based. The provisiQns for early release of prisoners
can help to sustain the agreement in the early years of its implelnentation. (it can be made to
succeed when everyone has something to ga'n by it's success) T~tis does not make the release of
prisoners a sop to those formerly involved in violence. On the contrary, The Women's Coalition
look upon it as an affirmation of our belief i.n the political proce;ss. When you have real
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confidence in a truly democratic process you do not make it impossible for people to engage in it,
you welcome their involvement. By so doing you make it less likely that they will see violence as
. a viable strategy in the future.
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Prisoners remaining in jail after a ~olitical ~ettle~ent are a ver;y powerful symbol of unresolved
conflict and can be the source of resentmen~ which can jeopardise the possibility of future peace.
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To look plainly at what has happened in Northern Ireland over' the last 30 years and to recognise
it as a violent, political conflict is to do several pretty courageous things. Firstly we accept that .
the p'roblem is not about other peoples wickedness or thuggery and we take some responsibility
for both the mistakes of the past and for the possibility of chan1~e for the better in the future.
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Bravery is required on all our parts, we carl break the cycle ofsectarianism and hatred. We also
have to accept that we may have been-at some fault in the past lout that equally, we will be
responsible for positive changes in the future. This initiative can ultimately lead us in the
direction of vibrant, political progress, which includes all sectic.~ns of society and respects the
differences within it. It doesn't mean that a'ny of us has to adopt someone else's political
aspirations or be subject to anyone else's dogma. It allows all o;rus to value our own cultural
tradition and political history and those of others, without feeli,ng threatened~ In this way we can
contribute from our own, particular perspJctive to a rich and dynamic political process and
thereby construct a society with every cha~ce of healthy develo'pment.
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A society which is based on locking up (eit~er lite~ally or by outlawing expression of their .
legitimate aspirations), thos.e who disagreeiwith the majority is an unhealthy one. A society
which relies on having more or more powerful weapons than the opposition is permanently
under siege.
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It imprisons everyone within it. Neither section is free to see any good in the other. There is no
room for creativity or imagination; all our: energies are used UJP in either 'keeping the lid' on the
opposition or in resisting the pressure of authority.
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The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition believes that the challlenge for all of Northern Ireland
now is to construct a tolerant, inclusive, just society and that the Agreement reached at the
Multi-party Peace Talks gives us the best chance we have .had in a generation to begin to build
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towards that ideal
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Many Of the Coalition's members and delegates were in their teens when this conflict began, if
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anyone had told us that for 30 years, no one ,would be able to wo.rk out a solution, we would have
said, .. surely that can't be right, with all the ;brilliant people thei·e are in this country we aren't
going to allow over 3500 people from right across our communicy to die violently, for the want o
talk and tolerance!"
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There are plenty of hind questions to be ans:Wered in relation to the agreement reached at the
All-Party Peace Talks, ones which will take hours and days of v~gorous debate and require all
the sense and judgement and generosity that all our politicians <:an muster, but the release of
prisoners is not one of them.
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It is however one of the saddest, because it represents our joint failure to deal with political
reality as and when it happened. It represen,ts lives taken and others ruined by that failure. No
amount of hardship or punishment imposed upon. a prisoner cairllessen the pain of someone who
bas lost, forever someone dear to them, tbrtiugh this conflict. So locking people up for eternity
doesn't even begin to deal with their pain and :toss. Provisions for the support and counselling of
victims, which the agreement demands, willioffer some escape for the victims of violence from ·
the desolation of unresolved grief. Rehabilitation of prisoners is' not a fantasy, it can and does.
happen. A v~ry significant contribution was; made to the peace talks by people who bad served
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sentences and who had learned the value ofthought and insight into their own lives, over
inarticulate violence. Rehabilitated prisoners can make valuablie contributions to their
communities, and they do. We must allow everyone the chance to change!
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Talk of Amnesty is simply untrue. There wiJI be no amnesty. Prisoners, having been individually
considered by the newly established Sentence Review Board will be released early on licence
only; should they meet the required criteria:. The conditions ass:ociated with these licences are .
more stringent than any previous licensing arrangements. The seriousness of the offence
committed by the prisoner will be considered as will the likelih<)od of their offending again. Only
prisoners associated with organisations on cease- fire will be considered for early release and
they will be recalled immediately in the eve~t of any breakdowr,t of that cease-fire. In this way
the interests of the whole community are served. It is in the.indi_ividual prisoner's interest that
there is no return to violence and in the interest of the entire community that there is no
breakdown in cease-fires. In this way a new: pattern may be estitblished which fulfils all our
needs.
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The fear generated by the prospect of viole~t prisoners on early release is understandable but
the evidence shows that; less than 1% of prisoners who had served a life sentence in Northern
Ireland re-offend. Since 199~ over 9000 people have served time in prison for scheduled offences.
Of these, over 8500 have already been released. About 400 prisoners currently in prison already
qualify for early release. All but 63 of theseiwould have been re.leased anyway within two years.
A form of early release has been in operati~n in Northern Ireland since 1985 under the Life
Sentence Review Board. It is clear from the,se figures that the early release of prisoners has been
going on in some form since 1985 and the s~atistics show that there is an extremely low rate of
re-offence. To claim that this is a critical new issue arising out of the Agreement and one which
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justifies a "no" vote in the referendum is q~ite simply. dishonest.
Some of those who are pressing people to vote against the agreE~ment on the prisoners issue are
manipulating peoples natural and understandable apprehension about early releaseS of
prisoners, but for a cynical political motive~ If the agreement -W,ere to be rejected by genuine,
fair-minded people on the basis of deceit and misinformation by those 'who wish to stifle political
progress in Northern Ireland, it would be al triumph for the saqdest, narrowest, political
viewpoint. It would not be a vote for staying just the way we are, as has been expressed by some
"no' campaigners. Hope will have gone, leaving us all in a very dark place, from which some of
you may have the experience of looking back 30 years hence and saying, "surely thatcan't be ·
right, with all the brilliant people there are: in this country we ~1ren't going to allow over 3500
people of all ages_and from all sections of the community to die violently for the want of talk and
tolerance!" lfyou intend to vote "no"in the referendum, let it be for an honest reason, not one
that you have been sold by frightened and hopeless people. Vote "YES" on Friday 22nd June.·
' Take control. of your future.
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Ti1e Nortltern1feland Women's CotUition.
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As Irish Vote N,~rs,.Opposition to Pact
Threatens to Cret;tte a .Political Standoff
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By RoBERT FRANK
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Sill// Rf!porur.o/THE WALL s-mzET .Jo~RN..u.
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LONDON-As voters in both pm:ts of
Ireland prepare to cast ballots for peace to-morrow, opposition in the North is ~eling
fears of a political standoff. ·
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Voters are almost certain to pass the
referendum. widely viewed as the: best
chance in years to bring three decades of
sectarian violence In Northern Ireland to
an end. But although a majority of Roman
Catholics favor the agreement, a ilarge
number of Protestants are linitig · up
against it, arguing that it is a stalking·
horse for a united Ireland and thatlit re·
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wardsterrorism. ·
Withoutstrongsupportfrom both;sides,
analysts fear the agreement, which calls
for power..Sharing among Protestan~ and
Catholics in the North and cooperation be·
tween the Irish and British governments,
may be unworkable, damping hopeS for a
quick economic "peace dividend." i
"The vote is going to be a gray 'result,
rather than black and white," said Paul
Bew, professor of Irish politics at Queen's
University in Belfast. "No one shOuld be
under the illusion that a .'yes' vote will be
the end of Northern Ireland's troubles."
A clear ''yes" vote is critical to rebuild·
ing the economy. Northern Ireland's econ·
. omy still suffers from a lack of tn'vestors
and tourists-only political stability can
start to bring them back.
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"We're. all hoping for. a. stron.'g 'yes'
vote," said Denise Callan, director of
Callan Knitwear in Derry. ':rhe stronger
• ' vote the faster '
ve a
climate for us ess.''
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-~an among Unionists,
who want to remain part of Britain, how·
ever, Is sUpping. A poll released Tuesday
showed 52% of voters In Northern Ireland
support the agreement, down from more
than 70% after the peace accord was signed
In April. Catholics and voters In the republie overwhelmlng1y support the de!ll, at between 70"1" and 80%. But amorig Unionists,
32% of those polled said they pl;!mJled to
vote against the agreement, With 34% In fa·
vor and 31o/o undecided.
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The large number of undecideds
means a last·minute shift could result in a
solid backing from Protestants. To win
over the doubti~rs: the "yes" supporters
have been pulling out their big gunseveryone from President Bill Clinton to
. Prime Minister Tony Blair. On Tuesday
night, the hea,d of the Ulster Unionist
party, David T<rimble. took to the stage
with pop super'Star Bono at a rock concert
In Belfast to drUm up support among the
· young. British 'Chancellor Gordon -Brown
Is dangling th~ prospect of a £.315 million
($511 million) ,aid package if the peace
settlement holds.
But while the "yes" campaign has
been split betv'reen two governments and.
stx parties, the "no" campaign has been
tightly run by 'Democratic Unionist chief,
Rev. Ian P~isley, a vehement anti·
Catholic politidan. With its heart-shaped
logo and religious slogans, the "no" cam·
paign has stirred up · distrust among
Unionists, who fear the release of terrorist
prisoners and loathe sharing power with
. Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish
Republican Army. Five of Mr. Trimble's.
10 local reprE)senta:tlves at:e openly supporting the "rio" campaign.
Unionist doubts increased when mem·
bers of the IJ.U 's Batcomb Street gangresponsible for killing 16 Protestants- ·
were let out of prison recently and appeared at a Sinn Fein rally. Republicans
·were equally appalled when Michael
Stone, who opened fire at a Catholic fu·
neral in 1988 •. was released and addressed
a Unionist raUy last week.
.
Analysts :and political leaders are eli·.
Vided on what constitutes a workable
"yes" vote. I;..ast month, Mr. Trimble said
the referendt:mt needed the support, of 75%.
of Northern ~reland's voters. Now, he says
it needs between 60% and 70%. Catholic vot·
ers make up ;ttl% of the voters.
,. If the deia] passes with weak support
from the Unionists, analysts ·say Mr.
Trimble and the other prosettlement parties will hav~ a tough time electing moder·
ate represe~ta:tives to the assembly. More·
likely, Uniorust voters will elect extrem·
1sts averse to compromiSe. If that happens, politicians may have to return to the
·negotiating table or, worse, face a return
.to violence.
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\relot,~,;;
51 Elmwood Avenue
Belfast BT9 6AZ
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Northern Ir.eland
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niwc@iol.ie
n greement was
reached on lOth of
Apiil1998.
I
elow is Monica McWilliams Statement to the
Plenary Ses,sion on the .A.ccord.
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OALITION CLOSING STATEMENT TO
THE PLENARY ;
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ESSION OF THE MULTI-PARTY PEACE
TALKS
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hen the Northern Ireland Wome11's
oalition came t~ these negotiatiom; we
elcomed them with an optimism b.orne out
f necessity. We are still optimistic, but even
ore conscious now of the historic lChallenges · ·
nd opportunitie~ that face us all. We owe it to
II those who hav'e suffered and died over the
· _ast three decad~~ to grasp this opportunity
o·build a society:that will stand as a living
estimony .to the victims of the Trot.1bles.
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f we are to achi~ve this task we must do it
ogether. Not by htonopolising pow'er, but by'·
baring it. Not by seeking to shatteJr the
spirations of any secto~ of our society, but by
reating a space for them. Not by being
restricted by a politics of anger, re~;entment ·
nd rigidity, but!by daring to envisage a
olitics that can be open and imaginative, and
http://www.pitt.eduJ....:.novosel/northem.html
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ven courageous..
t is our belief that !!Iere are many around
his table who, through their actions, have
hown that such a politics is possible. We
elieve that the new politics we are now
·reating will.incorporate the principles of
quality, inclusiveness and human rights.
uman rights and equality are not a victory
or one group over another, they are basic
equirements that must form the bedrock of
ociety. A society which we should feel proud
o be able to fashion for our children.
e are mindful of all the support and help
hat we have received in getting to this point.
he unstinting, and skilful, work of our three
'ndependent Chairpersons- Senator Mitchell,
eneral de Chastelain and Prime Mini ter
olkeri :.. together with their magnificent staff
ho have shown such'enormous dedication.
he commitment of the Governments of both
he Republic oflreland and the United
ihgd01n, and the personal commitment
. h«:»wn by Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, David
ndrews, and of course Mo Mowlam, without
hose determination this process may well
ave faltered. The amazing pool of
'nternational good will that has always been
n call when needed. And perhaps most
'mportantly, the sense that people and
ommunities across Northern Ireland- and
eyond - willed and hoped and prayed that
his process·would succeed. Even in the
arkest of days over the last two years there
as always been that 'echo - "If only our ..
oliticians would sit down together, talk to
ach other and come to an agreement" - and
ow, at last, we have.
·
. e understand we .are only at the start Of a '·
eace process. Peace will not simply happen,
't must be built through a sense of mutual
espect and accommodation of our
ifferences. It requires honest recognition that
hange is inevitable, and that it is the primary
ole of political leadership to manage that
hange in a manner that will include people in
~lis divided ~ociety of ours. This policy of
'nclusion must also ensure that those
ommunities who have suffered most during
he years of violence, will benefit from the
e must develop a sense of confidence that
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4/17/98
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Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
ill allow us to envi.sage a future that is not
bout victory or d~feat, but is about forging
ew relationships. :~~ut only in this region, but
ithin this island, and between these islands.
his Agreement w~ll offer a framework, but it
ill take work and energy and a generosity of
ind to translate it into practice. Wt~ firmly
elieve that this ca'n be done; and we commit
urselves to working inboth the political
phere and throughout broader soci~~ty, to
.
elp achieve a future that will be woirthy of all
ur hopes and all our aspirations. To do less
ould not only selJ short the sacrifices of the
ast, but also the future of our children.
Delivered by Monica McWilliams- lOth
pril, 1998)
or further Informdtion Contact us at
iwc(a:)iol.ie.
.. :
onica McWilliams 5:f2187
I
ate Fearon 07771 886448
Information on the Peace Accord.
_,)); ...,~ .,Th
[_,));
rticle on Monica McWiliams from' the
rish Times.
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ou can go to. e newspapers 1ste
elow for nnformation. Please also go to
ur Discussion Page to let us know
bat you think.
· This does not endorse ~ny of these papers but
Sinn Fein's Statement from the Plenary hey will have the information you seek.)
Session.
belrish llndependent Online
(We will post each Party's statement as
bey become available to us.)
elfast Te.legraph Online home page
'Path to Peace" from the Irish Tim'es
he Irish News Home a e
l
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4/17/98
�·Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
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he Irish Times Home Pa e
he Times of London
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The NIWC wasformedin the spring of 1996to put forward an agenda of "reconciliation tlrrough
dialogue, accommodation and inclusion ". It is a non-sectarian, broad based coalition of women
of all political hues and religions. 70 candidates. ran in constituencies throughout Northern
Ireland. Two delegates were ele~ted to represent the NIWC in the Peace Talks. Pearl Sagar and .
Monica McWilliams represent thousands ofpeople in Northern Ireland who desire a peaceful
resolution to t!te conflict, one which respects the traditions of all the people of Northern Ireland.
The NIWC is working to raise the. profile of women in politics in Northern Ireland.. They aim to
higltlight women's contribution to society and to support their commitment to political progress in
Northern Ireland by participation in the Peace Talks
·
The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition represents, tlte perspetives of women in tlte home, in
business, trade unions, community groups, voluntary sector, education and all walks of life. They
are Protestant, Catholic, Unionist, Nationalist, Republican and Loyalist.
They share two common goals:
• - to include women on equal footing with men.
'. -to achieve an accomodati{)n on which we.can build a stable an.d peacefu(future.
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Breaking News:
Go to the latest Press Release from the NIWC.
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NIWC Discussion Page
http://www.pitt.edu/-novosel/northem.html
4/11/98
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e ave create a new~~=::....
iscussion Pa e:where. we encoqrage·
II our visitors ti) stop by say "Hirdlo!" .
nd also leave t~eirthoughts on the
eaceAccord. U(e would particularly
ike you to expre~s your-thoughts here,
n any aspect of this agreement."
1
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lfyou don't hav~ a browser that .can
ead "Frames" then click:
j.
f>
to lost a message and
.i.
~t
~ tJ read messages already
j left.
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On May 30, 1996 the Northeni Ireland Wohten's Coalition made history. In their first
. contested election the NIWC finished
the top ten partiles and thus gained two seats at
. the Peac_e Talks, which commenced on Jun io, 1996.
·
the NIWC at the Peace Talks are
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.
. Click on their Pictures to find out more· about them.
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CURRENT NE"VS ·.
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Northern. Ireland Women's Coalition
eetings
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arch 23@ 7:30pm at WellingtonParkHotel, Malone Road, Belfast.
arch 31 @7:30pm at the Glenowen Inn, Glen Road~ Belfast.
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pri120@ 7:30pm at the ParkAvenue Hotel, Holywood Road, Belfast
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Speakers· fro in tbe P~ace. Tal~ Te~m.
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All are welcome. -
' w~ will be updating this page every few days with press releases and statements .
· Jromthe Peace TalkS from tbe NIWC.
·. . · · ·
· · ·. · ,.. · · .
CD Human Rightsand P~ace- an Article'by.Ailyson HoggforFortnigbt
.
.
c:aD .NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN'S COAL~TION SUBMISSION TO ~HE FORUM
FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION
c:aD
IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT'- LEADING THE WAY TOWARDS A CULTURE
OF RIGHTS. Released February 11, 1998.
New NIWC Office.,.opens in Belfast ·
Celeber~ting the Grand Opening of the new NIWC office are:·.. .
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to right;--P~a~i' Sagar, M~nica-McWilliams(both NIWCrepresen~atives
· PartyPeace Talks) Joan Ruddock(Labour Minister for. Women) . · .
· Hinds (NIWCr~egotiator), and Ann McCann NIWC Administrator
..
..
at
.·Important R~centArticle.s
.
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~A Women's Party Outwits the Svst~m in Northern Ireland by Nell McCafferty
(from Canadian Women's Studies-19;~5)
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..... 199 7 interview with Map Blood.
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~Article from The Irish American Democrat on the NIWC.
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Previous Press Releases and Statements and Articles
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NIWC position papers on Strands l, 2 and 3. (Released December 22-23,
1997)
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Articles from 1996 Forum Elections
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Articlefrom·the Belfast Telegraph on NIWC's position on Sinn Fein
Let The People Speak- Released F~bruary 11,1998
>The NIWC program can be found here.
I
~IWC.
.This is not an "official" site for the
I am running itto provide a presence on the
WWW to get their message and informati()n out to the world. I will also be updating this page
continuously, so check back often. As they become available I will add pictures of the activists
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within the Coalition. Also, position paper~ a.· nd statements Will be added as they are ·
released. It appears that I will also be abl~ to put up weekly reports from the Peace .
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This site has been visited 001358 times according to
CountMan ·
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, A 256 Col'or SVGA Graphics Card and a 15"
This entire site is best viewed with
or above monitor.
lfyou have any questions or comments on.this'site you can contact Tony Novosel- the
webmaster.
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You can also go back to my Northern Ireland page, Mv Home Page ot my Great War Web page
here ifyou arrived via one of my other webl sites.•
.
Th~s page last updated on 04/ll/9.8 ~t 07:~1 PM
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4117/98
�~ROM
PHONE NO. I: 202.293 0089
STREET LRW INC
Rpr. 20 1998 06:27PM
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Saturday, April 19, 1997:HOME NEWS
FRON
.·Page l of2
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HOME.
S
Woineiiu·seek····miiliilate··-ro·rwork of coalition
By Carol Coulter-, in
Belf':'st··-·· ·
ltf#!t@·&i~fMU
e uar an
Online has a
comprehensive and
interactive guide to
the British general
election.
i
A year to the day after its fpundation, the Won;ten's
UK Election News
Coalition published its manifesto for its ftrst \Vestniinster
election with the s1ogan 11 \':ote women for a change".
Hume and Adams
The party is fielding three f.andidates: Ms Bro~agh Hinds
in North Antrim, Ms Annie Campbell in Belfast South
arid Ms Jane Morrice in North Down.
I
meet for TV debate
Abraham Lincoln
inspires favoured
man
I
. None of them realistically expects to win seat'>. But tliey
all expect to increase their!vote, and get a mandate to
continue the work of the Women's Coalition, which now
has 500 members throughc;>ut Northern Ireland.
;
Their priorities are peace, poverty and public services,
according to Ms Hinds. S~e pointed out tha:t a.ll N orthem
Ireland representatives in Westminster and the European
Parliament were men. Women, who had succc.::edecl in
building bridges at comm~nity level, could bring a new
vision aod a new way of qoing things to politics in
'
Northern Ireland.
ls it really possible that v:ve will be in the 21st century
and still looking backwar~ instead of f~rwar'ds?" she ·
11
. asked.
Greens ;;;m,paign
for PR system
Mallon aiks leaders
to act on·North
No plate for
sectarian madness,
says Trimble
University
disclaims Rabbi's
remarks on schools
,
11
The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition does not
believe in raising people'~ passions for political
advantage. We do believff in the need to address people's
fears, especially their fears about change. But there must
be .change, and we believe in that •change."
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MsAnnie Campbell, a former trade union ac:.tivist and
community worker, said ~hat there wer~ over 5.000
·
com.tnunity groups in Northern Ireland, inv~lving 95,000
people. 11 We believe we should shape a political system. .
that can reach beyond
elected politicians and draw on
the'expertise of the many other interests in c•ur society, 11
. she said.
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Ms Jane Morrice is a former·BBC jour~alist and also was
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STREET LRW INC
PHONE NO.I
202 293 0089
Rpr .. 20 1998 06:28PM P3
Page 2 of'2
Saturday, April 19, 1997: HOME NEWS
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· the representative of the European Commission in Belfast.
Front 1!:iQ1!!£ I Finance I Foreigilf~;-p·oit I Opinion I Features I Letters
Crosaire 1Simplex I Duhlin Live I Back Issues I Contacts I F~~dback I History
©Copyright: The Irish Times
Contact: itwircd@irish-times.com
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�Ma ·- 21. -9·a 1. 2: 42
•. ·and lor rnrcing their Vlew~ nn otner
!f I!OCietieR..
" ':When
Keikr;~
was moved t.o
.'Newrort, it's estimatert that R<>mc
~-:: 71i0 million p"opll' w~tr.beo it pn
f televisir;~n," recall.!! Uallur Halls!!lln.
' · 11.'. former jnurnaliSt (rom Icelanrl
~ ~ho iS now leading t.ht ctltr\paign
~·' l'lerP. to free Kf.tilcn. "ll'a unbdtev·l··<· ~l)le. People lnkelanrlJ.·uRtlaughctl,
•
·
i
...., ·on.
Amerir.Rns. tht•Y'''""
c:-r~•:r,y.' .
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"Rut ~incc then." he ••.h.l,., "it'a
?..,·
. ;;:
thos~·
realiy ~t;ll·tPtl t!l gclt<Oir\g."
.,. lrelsnrl'ft growing interest in
·hringing K~·ik<l hP.rP. iRn'l. driv<'ll so
...
.
..
from a wavf;' r:>f pnpnlar dutflll(e
over the way he W;tl,! trPAtP.ri after
llj'lpP.Atinn in "Free Willy." '
The high point of lhP. film: eom<.:ll,
<tftcr all, when a young boy hclvs
the whale e~cape hia 1 c.rucl
aquarlum-kelc'per!i; with a little
hP.lp from the speciai-P.ffl:cl~ folk$,
thP. mighl.v man111111l lA shown lcuping a jetl.y to t.hp open ~e~li iiS th(•
w_v wav4l~ gnnrlhyP..
'
'l'h:H moving ~~··:n•: fniP.ri l.ht:
lllla,;inaliuna l•f tount.IP!!R: young
viewcrll-iltHI Wsll .fpllowr.d uy
shock.(•tl 1nrlifP111Lion vi·hcn' "Lif<.:'"
magitZine Lr11ckntl do~n thl;
then.~:· !~dVH Di~tH~ · H;~nH);rfHtL
HflOkP.MWnmRn fr'lr tht> !o't'+>f· Willy
Keiko Foundation.
W11rnP.r. Rro~ .. whkh hw.l put a
tnll·rree whttiP iilrrol'tltut.l<.oll nnm
her at the P.nt1 nr ··Jl'a·,-..-· v.,·,n v :· ......;,~
RWllnlperl hy r.;; II~ ft•nm' anj:(!'\'
mnvif!I(Per,., whn arrii~Prl th.;o $·~u·
din nf m.~king inillt(rlls (•ff K"'tkr.
anrllhnn .~hnnrlonm~ hm1.
T
fit' ;;tm!irJ SOIIJ!htlh!' II Hlp of lh<>
F.:n·t.h l~liu1•l lm<lilulc• an1l
ROtl\P. WP~Ithy' t((llllll''-' unrl had
Kt~iko·movPi!l.o roromy "''W ,J,Jl'' ol\
Ort·(lon. ~<"ilh an1piP. frr~h P.<'~W<Itc•r
l't•;;ll,\'
.~~f~lui
P.03
{H
:;l'f'
tJ11~; Jllfh'JH'fl~tl'Jil
dt'•f·(.~ltlrJ ~ !Imli.tflf4
"\'1-'lwllll'r h;:· dt:I.Piop~· all thP
~kill~ n<'<"C'~''''I'\' Lu tmrnml" ;·, wild
kilkr whah' i1gain ill .1n.vhndy'~
(!Iii'~:'· ... I !ammoml ~ay~. "ThP.rl'!·~
IIC'I'!'r l.•c·c·n ~ killer· wh~ll' th:H
,.iuyiJOiiy·~ trlt•d thiR willl. Wc•·n:
l.ort•i<kinn tww grouncJ evl'ry day."
'
('.:ttl
him
h•.. i'
ht>'.
'd~l,\'
"I
iup
"lk
l'f • ..,
Alllmut:h UH: killt~r wlmk i~ nor
au ('UfhiHH''f'l'd ~J!"t:itt::. HHu:mnwl
~i:l.\';4. :~JU' hOJlf'.'.; t h;t! )o!t'•!hu';; I'P1 ll.'f1
Wtfl of!t·t• ),."i:ill\i' ll~<'flll IO lhc
\\ lld!lft.· 1.~\\l(•~!lAt~ \\'ho ~n~ W<•rkinl!
"· 11 h PHdaugr·r~·d aqitltHI!: 1;,
(H)li.l\;l• ·hl·t'~thll((, pm!<I'Hnl~.
A
1\.•·H·:
\r;Hl
lht·.
rn~~;
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f.~·
IRELAND: Women's
···~·;,.Group
.· . C::..nUnued from Al
Leads Cause
fOr. a· "yu" vote on the
' stulring accoro.
pow~r
I
positlan Cr<:>m B wom<m." slit> .'ii!liri.
ThP. 3(). year S"ll't.llrilln "'ar <>Vl't
w!'IP.lhf!l' Northtll71 ll'P.IRnd belongs
with :Eirll11in or the 1risl1 R.!pnblic tu
the S<Jnth put other politic a I iaHU~'li
suc;h M wom11n'il rlght.ot on,Lhc uack
·. ,-· 'rtlP.ir double-rtccker l:llta,
. : BwalhP.d ill "YeR" bannci'S ami
· :Wtimen:a Coalition lltickers 11noi
burner, S11gar ant! McWilliAms say.
• j ·~acked wllh cheering 'Won!en 1111<1
; ;·. e!lllldren, rolla Lh'I'O\Igh thf! emerald
And womP.n in Northern Ireland
countryltirle em t.he d1111l miiJGion or · were so put pfl by 1hc vjoiP.nl, hepro!Tl(lting the h;uoi- faughL pe.1r.e
rrmn political dimute, by! th¥. culQSTP.P.ment and lagging women'a
r.ure of charactlc'r sMRIIRAinatiuu,
they didn't want allY, Jlllrl ilf il.
righl.l!.
. ·:one, t?~r:>, tbre<:, vote YP.R,'' thuy · Although wornP.n In th~: provinr.P.
ltliant. The other nH,.RIIge thcoy
have IOflf.l' Ahied Rway tr~otil pnliticR.
· .,. 'itppear to convey i$ lhRt while the
!.hey 1'1111'1 uaken the J)Ntte, iniliR.livc
before, In 1916, two NorthP.rn Ire. 'b:'oys jltP.· h<>111e hickering, the
·,· Women'11 Co:dltlon in o1.1t doing- . land peace actiVl!!t.1ft-tJ.uth
'.imloWing by cx.~mpiP. lltat Prote'ilwomen-won lh.: NobP.I PP.acc
/"'t.antll who&('C the~t~Aelv..s <I! BritiAh . f'rii!K! fnr lhcir cCfott~. 1\'fl.r.r win· alld Catlfo1ics who <'.all thcmlle)vP.a
nlng. however, Iktty Wii,liama and
·.Malrl\;ut C:nrril(an £ell 0111. nvP.r the
t';..'Jtllh
wnrk toglc'tber fot PCiH':e,
tllvJ•ion of thP. awartlmor/f.'.y. :
,. '-_ Mc.Williams. 44., ift a Cathclk
:. '.;· unlvP.raity profP.ARor ... nd r.o·
NP.ilher woman i!J invol.vctl in the·
Women's Coalition. William~.hus
~\':.founder Peat I Sa~;tl'r, :'19. is a Pro~
.:"·· -~r8tnnt. community worker; tliP.lr
moved to T"'xas, onrl Corri!l<~l'l. who
lives in Northern lreland, is still
· · 'i:QaUtio!l member~ l".ome from both
.. "i. .
....
active in pear.e i!!RilP.s lhw1.1gh tht'
·: .. cam,.....
..
gro1.1p tile two founded,: whkh on ,
•..:~'. ·N"rthc•.n trP.Iana ;,. not j11at a
Ionge!' hM nm~h influl'm::c.
:~.•
dl'rldetl ~QdeLy. McWilliamn
ThP. Wumcn'a Co:t lit. inn was
Pearl Sagar, ·co-founder.o! lhA Women's Coalition, says Northern irel<mt1 is '~''
•·. i<lnd Sagar say, but an extr!!mely
slappP.d together Ill 1,996, Rix week11
''fatl'iarch<'!l one. ·There arp. nu
before a pru"inC:I.'-WirlP. P.IP.r.tion for
Norlhorn 'trr.land will l'l'IIHiill par·t.
•·mt:.:<'d" ll<'•1Jlhll<lrhcxxlr-: 11n<1 an·"''
.women aiT!<mJI' Northern TrelancJ'II
mf!mber~ to the flP.IIt:l! rir.goli«ling
of J.lrilllin unl('t;~ H mn)<.•rlt.V nf tht<
l.hllllgh! W IJo• lit•eml l'n•L•·••t;u;L
·teRm, ilntl by ,,urad inn ·1% of t.h<:>
.. ~ 1~ ml!mbers of lhe British Parllil·
p~opl1· dedcl<:~ otlu.•rwtH'. It (•>1t;oh
Rllt <'\'1'0 I h,tl i~lfll'<l~\".
·. nrumL: and only RI.KJUt U% ol the
votP., l.hcy won· two Hf!lilA ill thl•
liRhP.~ ;; nt!W pmvinnal w;.<;•~lllhl_v
I
.
On S.lltlrlliiV. thl' i111,; I Till'<'kd
. ·Jttembcrs ot Inca! c<~unr.iiA arc .~~&
wilh buill-in !lWirmltl'l~ !.llat th•'
·. women, althnliji:h 52% o(thP. JlOpl.l•
from H;>lfil:;t. tht• pmvindi!l ""J.ulUI.
1'hcy have atLrilckt.l mt<·rn;"< ·
l"rotealanl n~ujorit,v ''''"''~'~~· thrt•• tP
,,;. f11LIDn Is tP.male.
.
~nllLh to :<t·a,i\1!· Nt'\\Tilt<lk. 11·hn•·
llonal' Ruppurl;-(rc•m F.mtt. T.any
lo the
it. t.hc· I.I:!Hlti'U ;!ul•.•i( tl.•lwwl nql,.lf•,,f
; , But wht:n It ·comP.A lo verbal
Hillary Rodham Clinton, 11mon!f <:rcult:H Cuthullt' illllll'll'lt.y. ~rul w
a ~r)tth Snmh hod.v
· I1•ts. :Somt· pr•(lti•ilrmw< '"'i<'nmr•ol
·,..;. ·~~~'~.women !Jet.tJ'Ieir fair 11hare.
oUu::rs...;.and crcJ.It for helpin,; kP.P.I'l
work wilb th<.· )l·J~h RPpnhlk nn
lhC' 1.\'i'llll'll ·awl pt'UIIIi~t·•t tn votp
· .~· "Ho" .1:11mpaign, hlinl-llne Protthe t:dkR on Lrac'k rlurili,; partkut·ros~- br)tdt'r lllliiiP!l anr.h ~~
, eatant )P.Btler the f!.ev. Iao PaiRlcy
larly oiit!icult perin<lR. ;
. <lf!I'ICU)t.llrf:.
".¥'-'"·" whilr· fltho•o·" Jlf•l!l!11.v
.
an·•·pt,.rJ·!lw fl•tq·,; :rn!ltn~kPd tlwn1
.).~ )iaslled <;>Ut at BritiSh Cabinet min'"They were.a fur«• at t.h<' talk:s."
AllhOIII!h lhe ill'('t)l•d I'N)Illl'P~
a \A 1!,~ _,\WI U!\IU,\• fathPt~ \Vi"!"fl h;n·.
..• illter ){arjarle· "Mo" Mow lam. He
s11irl Paul :f\P.w, a IJOI.Itlr'a(. ~rlenti~t.
Calholh:o lo po~l!Juu(· tll••ir· tlrP:ml
t!l!acrlbl!d Mowlam, Vthr;~ in dli!Ct ·tit Queens UniverSity in flelfiiSt.
au~~ n01w '·'' Jl:
nf a unitr.cl lrdamL inn!lt. ,\I'P
;. .': 11overns Northt:!rn Trelanrl, BR "that "They WP.I'P. 11 'cou~t<1n~ Rnur~~ of
"'l'nlu· it· with >'il." sll:t1'INI ·"'
Arab in a . turb8n." Not ev<Jn the
nplimiuol ~il ,;rin1 tlrnPA :tnd kP.pt. · f'Xpr.clcd lu l.oa\'11 it.· Rnt. Proti'Fl;ml
,.jd,.rl,v "'""
·w.,;: pu~hinl{ hi~
lfnioniNl~ <m: lo;dkm~t :.t lhr. agn·t·lo\lf"ttlil Wht'•o'•lt'hHII'.
· "~»omen in the .lllldience protested
thing~ n1oving alotlg." : .
nwnL The}· ui.!Ji'l'l tCI thr• r~•li•;IJHo uf
' .· ~" T.11clst Rhu oli }dQwlam. who hau
Amt ~-lrC<tllll. whut.r \'0\llH(I':<I.
lri~h Hqmbiit'iHI .Am·~· p1'1>'~•mN•s
hrothC"'r \\'W1 t,dlt•d lq· r,·,·ot.r·,;;·t..H1~
. <•t!nder,llnnc l'hemnthcrilp,Y ·lreutcWilll:tmA sa,;.~ l.h;il.'~ ht':tali~P
wilhsolwo -""'"·;:,..,1\d l.o ltH' po:<:<i,." ' mP.nt ~or ·c:-;mcer and ~olll~tlmP.ft
Lh~y talkl·ll a~rosa political
.)~tutt~wrl Hl·lfl72. rw;u·t:h'' bt•,t.:inuit:1~
hlln.:-; t.h:;l th~ IH ,\·,, fJt•Hlkiti "'Ill!~.
.
. W'!aro a turban Lo hi•.IP. t.hP. reRulling
11( :h .. !"'t'('tfH'tWl \ H.ili'IH'4'. \l ;1:: ~.iJt·
ami religiou~ boJ'rlP.rR when men in
~i11n FPin. will ioin tlw ll"" '''"
"
p:·L<•·d.,lldoli:''·'"·lu·li 1!,·1111' j,.,,..J r·~
i. · flait !<.IllS.
th~ ronm woult.l nnl ~p~nk lu r:uch
t't'ntnr.nl. hcr'CHT till' IJL\ !~tl ,.,., ;,j,l1~
OP!>f~...:itiilf1 !•111' l'l!!'llllf,llf'!*f•tl
n!.hP.r. ·"W<: (ll'P. tJscrJ: l<• nml\111~
~t
11\ a ineetiiiR of the N<:ll'l.hP.I'n
lc
WH~j)()n~.
pragmati(' I'IP.riRion~ 1-'nthf'r• !.han
l'rP.lahd Fut·um for Pr;~litir.ill Dia ·
"~lil.\ tw ·n ·,, f':/ -\\fl!!'f. lH'It'l:,!f II.•~
.t'tl.
Th,:. TR,\ :n1d Pn1lf.,':;laltt p;1r;1
vo~turilll'l ovP.r prinnniP. w,, would
'. logy~ lMt yP.ar. hu~IP.y'a son. lim
f11':tt'J•,Itql. l"!'! ::tlld~ .1 '11(•. \'Ill hri11~
\\.
m\lit:n·.v ~J:oup.~ iUT J1nnnn;t~: :1
n<:gnt.tat.F nl:e<i~ r;i'lh\:r· than
, .II'.. llrownf!d out Mr.Willi<uus' t.ll~·
1,,.~ 1ml,.,,· ,., .1r: t>ht• ::;ud. a.-: nturh \i)
rn:•?l'·firt·. a!Liot•l!Hll hp·;~i-.;11\'dl'
' . <'o\lr.'lP. with this enli,;hleniug mnlt.h·enm~ ... ~hc.~<~id.
;
h,.:·,:r•:l .;•: lfl :Jll.\"tHII' ,H'InH'.d l·h·;·,
).lmttp~ trolt: llwi!L\ In",. ,.,.,I ;I'···:·
;..· ·
m•mtary: .. Muou. moon. mooo.''
TJu: pow(·!' ~harinr, <t.t(n·enH•nt
i ,:u;. f ,,,·;~t·r·::!.ll',d \\"c .dw.~.,· ..:
will not :'.tlj!f"'rl '.lw o!· .,, l
n ..'~t.·ht.'d t:m Gnnd Fri11i.t." h;:l:; ~.:f!Hif~,
:.,!J,,.,; .lillliJI l :,,, ,·;t~f·!it
/.:. ·Tl.l<~r$. J.•<•r fnr the
Sagar
thin~ (01' P~t<"h Rid(:, IJt\1. :oh~n No$1.3
,'-•. ~aid. "ThP.tr allllUU<''I :.r., qu1tt·
Thr· \\~rmir-n·~: ('o,.JHirll: i ... II", ;;1:
'\ :111'\,•\: 11•11 l't'.i{\ \\'h,d il'i
. _;' .. r.uqunt.(!r(, anrl Rome m~ll ~t.tll
fm' both lh~l ;ore tui'IH1Hl' 0111 1.0 lH'
to r••,tCf! :II' ~.~:in;:·d~·~l ~0· ~~f ,r::
~·t·· ·~·. :·1
\ltl'.dl:l ".:;.. ~·~f ··11 .~
. . rhrnk WP ~houhl b<.: h~•lfiP birr.hin'.
h:1rrlf'r to ::;·llthan <'·:·;l ...;~!t>d.
f·t·:• •,d;u :,;t,\' ;1'"· .:~·t: .-:~1:1 ·.u ·:.·i >:··
.. •
: ~ .. :: : • ! 1; r. t.:
\\' !1 ,,. 1: f ; "
an
II'"''
~
~
~-
:~ .. Th~y can·t (1t.,.,.pt
_ ....
M
,.,"I'll"·
1
:1
Jinlillc~l
'J'hc• ~J~:p·P~I'lh"i':l ~tj~~~HUIL/."~ l h~tl
t'l:
\'i·~·;•t;; ~~·.~.1
ol!',• 1!':1·:!!.! ~. :.1.~•
�!.
May~21-9B
........ - ._ ....... ,
1u;\·n ki!V·
"'"!< ~~~ LhP.
r.r,\.f
thf!'
younu
10\\'('d by
:1'1(~
l~.'ll
l,t\1
12:43
,
"'"'"'l¢?:i'....-:11'111 .,u•• nxeu:t~u UJt': l'fUItlin nr mnking millium; off I<Piko
and then a!Jannnning him.
T
he ~ludioanuj:fhl thl'! hP.Ip t)( llu:
E;u·th bland lnRI.il.ll~(· uml
~nmP. W!"althy •lonorR nnd lH1•I
l<P.ikn nw•·e<l tu ruumy nP.w di,:t~ 111
OrP.!fnn. with ll)llJih: fn:~/1 scl!Wi'ltm
ri•u"""" ~ trlf'PJ tnJR.W1Tn.lwcrc
hrP:Ikin::; ucw wound P.Vf.'I'Y u<~y."
Althuuf.!h lhP. killer whal!! ia not
!Ill l'n<!Hn~P.T~rl r.p~l'ks. Harimlntlll
t;i!YH ~hP. hnp,., th.;t K•·•ko't' 'n:l!lrn
will ,,rrrr ll'-'HUilF u~~ruJ lu lhP. ·
Wildlfi'•: l•Julti)lil•ls who arc w~rkiilg
with Pllllilll!~l.'rctl :1n1rn;ds ·in
('apli\'P·hr~r.·•hug progr:1m~.
~n's
i
"HP.'A hy.nc1mcar.~ """Jll.l~ ,-..hunt·
~r.
but he'H gnttll<· b<~Hi~.q down.:·
·A
l l.hP. _q,1lll<.' l~mP, ''Cl!~~inariicll:•
h~ \'l' bP.P.n tr,viog to·nmkt~ -Rill'<:
Kei~o hus no di~P:l$l'~ th;tt llll(:hliiP
tranRnllttCI.llo fiR'h f•llt'C hf! l'P.f'IJkr~
the wild. A dean hill uf lu~a!t.h ils il
milkn-or· ht<.•<tk rP.rput·L·ment f<•l·
.... ~.. -
~·
..... ~":"
p_o4
-~
...... J~~"·
Ill JII.V
opill!Ctll, hP ~.1y~. "Of rnmse. I rP
IP.f<SUJg KP-ikol haH .l lot to do u.-ith
pt·op~g.lnd" itlld humuu fP.P.Iings,
and ll.'~ h;ittl for 1111' 1n r,ct n1i:Kt><lup
m tlmt. I .thUJk lhPl'f' :on· a lol. nf
prnhl•.•mH in th•: wm·lt'l th<t\ ar~>
lfiOTP. IIHjJOrtanL Rut il lol. r.l fll'<IJilf'
ft•t•l hP nu~ht ln hf! ft·L•e, ~nrl !.hill'.>;
their huRiri<·~~:·
INDIA
Conlllit>cd hfllu
,._~
Ghm•ri iR lli!llll'!l nft.o;r
<1 Mu~h"L
Witrrior Wl't•) ddn!.P<.I Pril.hv1, n
TiuuJu IPtlllt•r. lndi.1·~ t·ump:ll'ahk
llli~~ilc i~ IHIIIIl'd-· Y<~s-l'ril.h\'J.
:<he Haid.
whkb i~ Rtm~·tl m:iir l.hf.' t'nki~l.al\1
bordcr nntl r(·utly lor lh:plnym~llt.
Sim•P-'Inrh"'!;tt:~tll WPr•: d<:Hign,,d t.L•
11/;H' 0\'AT
ul hf!longA
l Ppllhlir tn
. uc1·elnp w"J·hl••u!~ r.np:.~ulc or l'tdml'.
th!~ Prithv1 and LhP. nt:-w Agni l,r,oo:
milc·r3ngc miH~iiP,_ PukiMIAn. will
illmnRt r~rlilinly l'PSJ.>urul With ils
own nudL'ctr LPRt.~ in lhP ~·:.ming
knl iRR\IP.A
nl.hP bark
lliams!iay.
·n lrPiand
dlly~.
JOIAnt, hP·
Su whPI'C• do WP 1!/J !rum h~t·•:~
FirHl, il. musl I>!! rPlll(•muer.,.-1 that
lndi11 and .t'~kiRtnn ln<vP. h;ttl <~
' tho> rul·
.<~ina lion.
.of iL
nudP.ttt·W!~apnns v<tp~hiilty for
~pmvincP.
mnn.Y ycarR. O<oSJ.lile int.PW<~Lional
stringP.nt U.S. law.~.
m pnlitir.A,
nl\trt~gc anrl
• ini!.i!ILivP.
:.hern lre-
India's lt!Rlillg thua dnA~ hN O!!rR~.
!Htl'ily rP.prP.scnl a n1a.im· U!!Jlllrt.lu..,:
Nl'ilhP.r ~iuc haR hl!ilt or deplny.~<.J "
nuclear ;lrsi:nal. Though we tPn•J t.u
vil'w nnnvrulifer.Hiou as a ll1f;tral
uu~uJnte, India r~n JIC!inl to O(lf
'.A-h.nl.h
•P.I PPar.P.
.fter win·
lliamH and
'· UVG
!Jlc
:t:\',
\'~"Ill t.h·~
hum.~ htH~
.·ig:m. who
11i. IS Still
rough the
wh;
t'•.
tio.
HiX \\. ,,..,;
c<'llon fnr
::,:otialing
the
\ 'i
l~
or
at tlu:
inll'rn~
r~t L~tl.v
amon~
L
:an,tt kP!!fl
parli<'Ur~~ r.;llks."
,;riPnti~t.
. BPifa~t..
.<ourrP nf
;md kcpl
' bPr.~ll~f'
polilif'al
·n men in
'W P..Wh
makmg
:tPr th<'n
\'p wouhl
t•r
l
hau
;h'c'•f)JPtlt
.1::t ~nmP·
.b~t~ ro:::l~
!Ill! Ill ll<~
d.
,[,•;< .lh<t\
8,000 nnr.lc:.1r wHrhr~H<l~ an.-1 rw
t:n!lmy i11l!l lngitimrttdy rnntemJ
that. ifs .,JJ rP.Jattv•:. ThiR pM,·:; a
diiP.nHliic for Lhf' Wesl: Yn11 don't
want. tu turn Tntlia into n LitJYrl,
which lJ.S. l~w h«H. in P.rfPrt, dun!';
httt. nl lhl'l RMlt<' limP, ymt want t.o
· k<'l'j) lhP. hP.:'lt (If outrR!:fP r.:u:u~~cJ nn
India. IP.Rt the nonprnlcfl>rntir.n
l'.>J<J,()!;
l'('g'imc and the lel!l·han tre;Hy
Pe<HI Sag<~r, co-founder of the Women'!; Coalition, says Norther~ Ireland iS an extremelY, patriarchal society.
UIIC<!Vd. F'ol' It:; part. lnflli! IIHlMl h1>
mudc ln rP.nhze that it·iR nwn: likP.Iv
to 11IIRin thr: inlcrnatinn•d pre~l.l}:(;'
N<Jrtbcrn lrchmrl will l'Anwm 'p;irt
"milcNI" n..,.lghbL•rlltmd~ ancl ;H'(:•us
killin,c:!!, W<i' nil thuughl. t.hat woulrl
1t CO\'P.I.l! hy growing its •:connmy
of Flrtlillll unJi:ss a miijnrity nf t.hr,
thotJghl. to iw IJI.>ccal PrtilPRifo tlt.
pul an P.lH'I tn th•:· ,·iuh:nrP., hul :i,21l(l
9 'il· :• JPttr !or <~ rlP.~;·,oJ.:: Ill~ 11 bv
ptopk ,Jceitlcs otherwiRA. Tt. ML<tb··
fl~lu1til1g nukP.R.
·
·
Unt P.\'P.n thM.t.~u·t easy.
:
.
td~adj lilt.Pr,J)<:o)Jlt; are Rtilltdling
llshcs " n<!w prnvinr.ial a~$P.IIlbly
IIH 'no' t.Q i! ch;m<'C fur pAne e. ·
·
If thP.rP. is a nilvP.r lilung. ir, IS
On. f)~ t.tu·•.l1l}'. the hn!'( tl'avdetl
with buill-in gu:u·:.n(.('l'S IJlat the
lntli11'l! MSl'rlion lh.1t il o1ay ll•·"'
fr,lm l'k•IC:.u;l, the prm·inri:•J ;.,,(Jil<tl,
''WP11, I thiuk it rr•m<·~ · frnin "
t'ruLcslanl majority r~nll(lt dcCI.ul.t:
hHvP <dl the l"sl .inttt it nP.Ath~ ami
.•nmh t<• ~c;.umk llh:wr.astJ.:o., wlwn: .fMtr nf ·I'I'IHII8l:. I thin]< Ua•y jnst
lu the Catholir. min<:~l'lt,\'. ill'ld it.
·might be willin~:: t.o Hign on V; :•omP
tht• W(IUJ('IIJ!ul uif lo hnntl oitt. kafdon't. wmn tu ~hlolrP j power 1. llhmk
.1~j)CdM or l.hf' t<:•,•l·h~n I.T~ill.Y ~nt'l
c:rP.~tP.R 11 Nm•th. Sou til l;utly lll
1<'!.~ Sunw fl!~tln~tri:~ns \vdculll('f1
wnnh~ll \'opc:rinll.v shoulrl $Cl!
r.unsidor :mnl.h~'r lrcnlY !.hilt would
work wit.h t.hp ln.~h H L'j.lllilli~ on
t.hr "mucn ~nfl p!•omti(·d lu ··ow
hPyn11.-l t.hig.'' Hhf: ~mtl.
.·o>ud vrorlnrt.ion •.•f oomh nmtcrinl.~
croflA·bnrdP.r IS~Iil'~ ~udl a~
")'f•~ ... whi,ll• othP.rs (lfiltf.l:•ly
F:rrthPI' ~uuth. in pro>•l•.•minanl.!y
!'illl'~·. liH' !nrli:m ~l<tlcmf>llti< w<·rp
a!frkullurl!.
·
· ~Cf'P(i!r•d Tfl•: flil'f~ ~nrl lllrkP<I t.hf'lll
C•tholir 'N'<'Wr.''· Lim r;ltll(.lili!fnPr~·
amhtt>,umu;, hut. th1.• lJnitPfl Stul"~
All.hnngh t.ht.· U<'CUfll n:quirnR · aw;,y. ,\ 11•1 m:.u1.v !Jllu:r~ w..rP h:l\' ·
Rpirii.A WI'!'C fili,:u:d h_v " uotahiP
rllllllut afforn In li.'t <tny oppr.J·Imtil.y
1
(~.,thnlir!( 'to p<J$Lj;unc UJl'ir cln:am
ill~ !101\(• •:tl Jl.
..
inr.rP~RI' m the prnfP~~(·d .. .)IPR"
shv away. lt. shuulcl· imttu,diatPiy
<1 lll'lll('!J ln•J!11ttl; IIIUlll. ;irf'.
b(•gin ud!<,11 With !ndin t.n J)t:niunllr•
·.. T .• k<' •I will1 ya," ~nllr.IPtl ar•
vntP.r!!.
·
P.)>.lJP.C:te(J to hnck It llull 'rolt•:•lHnt
N'•:w Vel hi;_ ami 1-'ilkisr.nn, CYI~Il if 1t.
l'!tl••rl\' m.on whu wm• flll,hinJ: hi~
"YP.8. 0Pill\ltf'l,l· ye~·... ;l ll!UII on
t<:sl..l:-:-to ~ign both trP.;•l.i(•s. Snr
tinioni~Lg arP. t>:tlkmo: at. t.lw HP.rc<.'·
wifl' iii a whPt'khall'.
,
the :;Ln~P.L told A1111 !.lilly., " •19t'l'~s woulrl ·~'lluuh: Clinton ·lo a~k
mP.nL ThP.y ohjP.rt ~.<)the t·c)!:·;i~·: of
Ann MrCnnn. wlw~•· v<iunj!c~t.
vcar-nld holll<'riwkt•r •nil li•~W
C"nngrP.R~ fur nf'w· lcgiMl.Hinu
Irish 1-!P.f'lllhlir~n Anuy ·~•tJ~um:r~
. hrolhPJ' w;~~< hJJI,,d l;y PmtH~I.ant.
~uuwr tn politic:~ .
mc:r.mpling luclia from $imclinnA. ·
·within two Y"-'~'$, <~11<1 1.1.1 th..: puHHi·
!mnmf•ll m 1!)72, IH':tl' t'lw l.•ct\inning
'Tv11 aiW(I:V$ ff.'it n:ry powPl'kw· ·
MP.;mtimP., C'llt'tiun·ll ph•mlNI vJHil.
hilily that l.hP. IRA·~ polltn·at \VUJ)t.
11( ltH' ~c>rl.ari~n \•inl,.ll•'(•. W!•~ :mr·
With •II t.hP .gllll$.1\':; !lard fnr mr, tu · to Tnuia Rhnul<J JlulllA cMw<:·lct! hnl.
Sinn I<'P.in, will JOin the new· I(!!\'·
i1ri~f·d .ind fh!'l.llrhf'il b,v th,·· ln•:l of
t:Uffil! roll!. in pubJcc !Jut l J'!:f'l f h(ll'l~
<l!;•.:d w P.l(})lorc adnitiorlitl war~ tn
PrnmP.nt l:u~fm·.;o llw UtA ~ivc::; up il.~
oppn;itlnl1 ~hf• <'!lNilliJh:n••t. j
·
lo 1ln .~(>mNhlut(.': :<tlill O•ly. whu i~
wltiP. 11[' uudoal' )ll'tllifcration Ill
WP;l)JCJilS.
fwm N..w,·v "I n·ml Hbmit th!!
South A-~iil. w .. must rc~i~l th•:
"!\1.1 rlw :c •····~· ··•t•u't brim; ur.
Th•~· IHA and l'rolf'~Lln!. p:ll'>~ .
JH'~r ... .'hnt. ,.,.. ,.,:"''11;. ;c 'w.t' w i!l hrin_q
lt:mpL;;t!nu lo liPnll)llit.•: lndiil llltl
Wonum·~ n-ialil.ion Ill tlll' nP.W.~tJil·
it;l'utmizt• lhlll NAw Tli:hli ··;mn<'•l.
·nulil.ur.v f.roup:; <tn: honnc'lllJ! "
f.u:r nne I joinP•l it.··
II" 11101'1' W.11·." ~ht' ''illfl. •1·' IJII!<'il l.o
cnntmw: :1lno!i itM rhoRf'll unr!.·ar
l'('H~C: • flrP, tl lt.hlltli'( h l,lrt'I\Kll\\ 1\ ."
hi'•J't'!'jf H:-: \(1 Hl1\'f•1H'' ,11'1'11111d h4•f:
MrWilh•w1,; ul,~o 11·a~ h11•.:y!•d hy
puth ~llhont rm_vin~ ~~tiff IWiN· .
>:r•.tups from th•' IR ,, h,.,.,. ''·•i•ll h•·-'
"I don·•. und;T~Iand. \\"•' \.JwayH
th+> t·.-·~pnth~l'·:; ''ll<.' .v.oL .~r. tlw Butw1ll ,,,.,\ ~upporlth~ II''" I.
·lt\rrr;~tH.,. !llhnpJ!Ifl,l{ ,t'(;ntfil· TJw_v
~~dl-t(~d· al u!tT. tlH' ..,..iknt m,••Jfll'tl,v
RniJc..-/ .•1: lvl11r;nillg, u ft•t.~liH Sla/1
\•. ht,\ \.\',tfllf•d pl'nn:. \Vh;tl !f thf ,\.·1'1'
..
\'\:ere l!UOd-PXr•··pt' J\1r onP Jnau Hl
ThL· Wom<"n·~ Coalltl"ll i" lr.• uw
l.lt•Jutr/111<'11/ l•<•li<·ll nd. ~.<nr, Is n
l;tJl :t:t rp'~" \It c·~\011 tt:-<:k1'1L ··Tt:~
h1.< mi•l-:!0~ ·\l'h,-, -'ll•.o:cl!•d: ... Y,m
!.(• t·•:neh ttw r·~l.im"r ... l :!rv; "' '"'
.W·Ilillr (d/Oi!.' 11111/ liirt't'/111' tlf ..l.,i~r•r
r•J·~ wliu :•w-; Lhf\v ."tl"l"' ,:t!IJI tlt'ldt•t·td
~H:d f)~· r:·urht,•n•n.l:, \rttf··n n~~·
t\'l.llflt'!L .\·6n'I·f'· ;,!) ~·t;!Ht~·.·ttl::t~:.
.~/1({/rn; Ill //11· l.'fHOll'i/ otl p,,.,.ll/fl
l•rn\lt<·:· "'"·'\c!lt·d !l'.:tlw.ti! -~for·t.11
V\'h•.'r" llrt' l.h<'· I'M•n'.'"
r'•d .. \'l'ii\u;·in~ ·in!'' 111l!i>llo\ r !"''''·
Rduli<•n.,.
'
of
1
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�May-21-98 12:41
Oases, tho;;~ rare antl precious
plar:~s of sweet water ;mc:l vNrtanl
pctlm groves in the mirl;;t of
par~hed Rand~;, have long captivuted the popul11r imagination.
F'rom Rudolph Valentino'::~ celluloid deacl't "h~ik to Maria
Muldaur's' tune "Midnight at t.hr:
Oo:t8ill," thr:y have come to symboli~e .;M~nity, romance and escape.
But. thr:y're changing. Newly
opened to the outside wol'lrl by
tdr:vision, modern l.decurnmuuications anli paved roads built a~
part of Ep:ypr.'s put'lh to modm·ni7.~
and extr:nd infrastructure aero::«~
the country, the r~al-lifr: oases in
Jt~gypt and elsewhere a1·r~ unc.lr.l'going an epor.hal tran!lformalinn.
After l~enturir:s of isolation.
inhllbit.ant;; of plctces ::~uch as Rl
Qasr hav~ been fast-forwudeu
into the future. TV soap operas,
plastic garbage bags and pickup
trucks are sUfJplanting storytdling,
frug~;~lily and camels. Asphalt. roads
now follow the ilg~-old caravtm
routes, (lnd buses link l<~gypt's
oases Lu thr: Nile Valley more
closely th11.n ever br:fore possible.
Oasis youtru travel out to ~arn
more money, while increa::~ing
numbers of baC'kpackers ilnd tourists with c:lifferenl ways trick I~ in;
Government officiult! in Egypt
say thi~ is good-o<~IJiR dwellers are
Please see OASES, A5
Hll'l sr.n~ni1Je ilUtln!r a :>u-aay
period from lat.e: October to midDecember indir.iltrs that he rushed
11ar:k . tmd forth t.o the E<tst. Co<tst
atul up ;tnrl down Cttliforniu raising
money.
;
Davij;, whose cLimptlign has
louted his two dtj('at.les ofhands-on
government experieilct:', was out uf
th~ Jltlltr. on six clay~ whr.n he wa;;
designateu to pel'fol'm his most.
important duLy as lieutt:"nant guvernor: (l('.ting
governor wh~n
~vr.r Pete Wilson leaves C<ilifornia.
In an mt~:>rviejW. D<~vis said lt1ilt
campaigning durmg business hourt!
. is vittllally un11voidilhk ilnfl that he
has fulfilled all cif hia duticl'l. He aiRo
notr.d that high -ranking state offi·
dale do not have to keep rr.glllar
offir.P. honrs.
"You have tu. just get. your job
rionP.," he said. "If you want to work.
~dl weekend ;.nd rili!le money for
I·
•
..
Please se.e nAVIS, AS
as
-·~--,..,
P.02
-----· / .., ••• ~•"1•'""'""'.1'
rlowi1L:lll.
If Suhart.o, who hils reigned in
lndonesill as a sort of CEO in
m'onareh's dothe~. i~c~ forced lo st.~p
dilWtl, as nuw st:"ems likely, he will
join a long list of d~posr.o' dictators.
·who mistook public obNiir.n1~e fur
a~:iulatiun, thout~hl that nepotilllll
ami corruption were perks of pow1~1·
<dHI didn·t. unt.\l?.rstand the need to
. open .:ltJmocriltic vt>nt::~ tlU peoplr:
could IP.t orr ~;te<lm.
Suharto. 76, coulri havr. lr:ft. offir.t.·
in March with his kgenrl int-.1~t.
Instead, he ·r.ngin·e~r·~d hi~
'
.
..
• TAKING NO SIDE
IJ.S. offiC:ials al'e moving ciiU. t.inu~ly on lndonr.l\iil. A:l • JAKARTA EIOOUS
'l'housands of bu;;in~I\Sp~opl c
h;:.ve fkrl to Singapor~. ~5
r~deC.hon to a ;;evcnth l'iv1~-yt~ar
tr.rm. Having stiflr.rl oppollition fur
:12 yr:ars-he r;:m unoppo!lel\ all
~~~vcn tim.r:~-and hilving never
prep.ared for snc:r.csl'!ion, he had no
one to· tell him that people wt:.>re
rlt<~rting to (Jilk openly about th~
i1buses of the Slthilrto f;.mily.
Though he· was a tough soldier
. ' . Please see SUH 1\RTO, Al
.
~
..
: . '·1;,
..
'
.,
. .
,.
,i
A beleaguered
for live broad• ·
Foes Ske
ofLeade1
to Step IJ
By DAV1Dl.AMI
• ·fiMr;S.~IM:~WKIIlH
,IAKAR'TA.
Anti-Suharto
·rejt!cted <1s 1
presiuenl.'s ann·o
will hold new r
down once lnil
proce.s~ i.~ rr.form
Though ~uh~
. would havr. hc:<"!t<
thre~ month8 a(~·
Silid hr. wi II t!t:
rdormnt.ion-a 1
takr: monthi.l-1•
siam; t.o heliev•·
Pl.:
Where Protestants ahd Cath(j>lics Are ·one
EDUCATION
• N. Ireland: Women's Coali~ion lead.;
nonsectarian effort for peace accord.
By MARJORIE MILLER
TIMI::S STAFF WJtiTl::JC
NEWCASTLJt~. Northern Ireland-Oh, Monical
McWilliams recall11 with good htJmor nnd an Iri::~h lilt,!
thP.y have been called wench!:'$. whinrm:l and fe('kl~l>!>}
stupid, sllly womr.n.
:
Also eowll, ciogs, scum. And then t.IH)t\~ 11re. thr. insults
that McWilliams. co-founder of thr. Northr:rn lrdancl
Women's Coalition, would rather not r·epeat in pi1blir.. ~
"Men think we're not r.apablr. of intelligent re~sui1-:
ing," Me: Williams says With a knowing.limile.
· 1
lntelligent reasoning it1 just what the Women's Coil-;
lition proVIded 11uring two yet~rs of negotiations to ~tHI
the sectarian violence between Prut~!';t.ants and Romo:tn
Catholics in Northr:rn lrelanrl. The nom;r.r.tarian grm1r~
offercl1 voice!! of reason. con;;en.sus-builrliny, und pr;:1g.;
matir. decision-making in crafting thr: peace "ccorci
th11t will l{u to i! vote in Northern Irt'l~·IIHI on F'ridti_Y.
Now, with pro-nr-it.ir;h Prnt.r.~;t.;lnts ,.i,'iOII~I,Y .split
OVI:'r the accord i'l nd Ci!t.l1nlir· nnt.ioi1nlist~ ·tvin,g low
<Ill not to frightP.n off the IJrulesLunts. t.l1r Womim's ·
<:AHLfl!; J.OrF.7. TIAilTT.l.AliF. Fn•·'l'ho··l'mw'
Coalition i1:1 <It the forefront of~~ flllm!t:'l'tar·ian r.amp<tig~
. Monica McWilli<~rTis addresses rally in Belfa~t.
Ple11.~"' ~1'\e N. IRELAND.
.so
Cal Stat
Alumni
Years o
Garland l.
fir·st blal·k :
appuintl:'d in
di~tril·t ~w<l
Uua\:Jumb•
!<~sealant~:-·~
rliMdvant~1~fl
kirlt'l. dr~un.
"St.anll and
t.h.;o worlcJ' ~~
.sc·huul mnt.h
il rl:' pulitiC'ii<l.
MitXin~·
V\';
l•~rlwanl
Tc.1r:
All ;1 rl:' ,.
aliHI!IIi of C:·
which 1'1·!1'1•
Yf:I'RfJ!'Y 'rllc.·
"l
I
~-c, 1 1'7
f'
�!
f,
'
LO l'ld!:J
Hl'lt:.K.!.L.Hf'l L.UN::>ULHit:. \Jt:.l'\1 t'"dX;Ul-L.JL-L.J';;UlO
:Jo
.l.'-1•'-IL
!.
NIXWOftA' J;t:IUI/'1:'
EU Action Plan for !the Women of Europe
European Union Ministers for
EQual Opportuni.ties and Women
met in Belfast at the beginning
of May for an informal Council
to discuss the issue of women's
employability and childcare. The
Council, organised by the UK
Presidency, was. the first of its
kind in Europe and was aimed at
presenting an EU action plan to
tackle the problems women in
Europe face in combining work
with family responsibilities.
The Ministers reached a
consensus on the following key
points:
Affordable. accessible and
high quality childcare,
parental and other leave
schemes. The need for
far'nily·friendlyworking
policies was stressed for'
women and men to combine
work and family
responsibilities
Equality between women and
'
.
I
.
men must·be mainstreamed
in all employment policies,
both at national and at EU
level, so that measures to ..
improve e!TJployability t.uid to
support th,e unemployed take
the rights and needs of
.
I
•
women an,d men fully mto
account
of
Meetings
Ministers for
Women and for EqualitY
provide useful opportunities
for the exc;hange of ideas and
best practice and developing
strategies.' They intend to
meet at least once a year' in
the future.'
The Council ~as preceded by a
·seminar orga'nised by the
Nortt'lern Ireland Equal
Opportunities Commission. The
seminar was 'add~essed by Joan
Smyth, Chair; and Chief
Executive of the Nl Equal
Opportu~ities Commission; Ms
Harriet Harman, Secretary of
State for Social Security and
Minister for Women (UK.) and
Padraig Flynn, European
Commissioner for Employment,
Industrial Relations and Social
Affairs.
Speaking after the Council, Ms
Harman said:
"/shalf ensure that-in our
preparations for the European
Summit in Cardiff, we rake full
account' of our discu'ssions to. day. That will mean that the key
points of concern to women are
before the Heads of
Government of the EU. This is
an example of how we can
make Europe work for all rhe
people of Europe • women as
well as men."
The Belfast Communique on·
Women and Employability is
available from the Department
of Social Security.
Tel: 0171 712 2171.
I
EU Ministers for Women and Equal Opportuni~ies picwred with E:urope.211 Commissioner Pudraig Flynn
l'
�!'
Mond~}·, June 8, 1998 : 1RELA~D
hltp ://www.irish-Limes.com/irish-times/paper/1998/06081hom28. htm I
I·
...
I
FRONT iiRflANDf FINANCE WORLD FEATURES SPORT ;OPINION LETIERS
IRELAND
Monday, June 8, 1998
... .. ........ -·
~--
...
. . .. ..
g busine~s into ~.
·
Celt1c Ongms
the · roces· of peace.
p
.
s
~~s:~o~~~r
A member of
the Notting Hill, By Carol Coulter
1
·
Dm~~rum~
.
Osborne King
heads in Derry
.
. · .
.
. ; .
.
Irish llroperties
at the weekend The busmess commumty must be mvolved m
for Sale
as the group led the process of peace for it to succeed, the US
the Walled City Secretary of Commerce said on his arrival in
Festival Para_de Belfast yesterday. .
I .
through the c1ty.
·
1
I
Photograph: · Mr William Daley is leading a d~legation of
Trevor
17 business leaders to build links in the .
·
.
McBride
region. They will visit Belfast, Qerry and
IN THE
NORTH
Sligo.
·;
Brendan Behan
0926:-1964 )'
i
"We are extremely optimistic that the
resounding vote for peace will not only bring
an end to the violence for good, put also
GAA missed
bring the economic stability that:will allow
'glorious·peace
1
opporrunity' people to prosper," Mr Daley sai d. "This
region has much to offer: .an edu~ated, skilled ·
and motivated work force.
I
Opinion: Peace "This delegation is here to suppdrt the.peace
must not bypass process by facilitating business ~elationships
Protestant
·
.
~
·
deprivation between the US and the pnvate $ectors of .
Northern Ireland and Ireland.
.
1
···---·-········-··---·..-······
·
,--~----··-.
"Peace will help to e- tablish a sfuble business
s
Opinion: · environment. We are here to listen and talk
Afilgreeb~ent_t · about .how we can build on the foundation ·
1s o
tves
.·
·
,
. .
· ofSDLP, but estabhshed by the peace accord,;'
not of
i .
republicans · Welcoming the visit the Sinn Fe, n leader, Mr .
i
Adams, said he and his party colleagues had·
already. met Mr Daley in Washington.
fui
~ec
r::::::.:~:-::::::.:··::·.-::···
"Mr Daley comes froni ·a strong i
I of2
06/07/98 15:08:31
�' i\Jio,i'di.v, June 8, 1998:IRELAND
I
..
.;r"'
http://www .irish-timcs.com/irish-timcs/paj>cr/1998/06081hom28.html
,
' Irish-American tradition and is very
supportive ofthe efforts for peade," he said .
. "He understands the importance ,of
consolidating the peace process ~y ensuring
that an economic peace dividend, in terms of ·
jobs and investment, impacts onjthe
·
day-to-day lives of citizens."
i
Today Mr Daley will-meet business and
community· leaders in Belfast an9 receive an
official welcome from the Lord "tv1ayor. Later
he will meet Mr Adam Ingram, the Minister
for Economic Development and;security. ·
~
I
Further meetings will be held tomorrow in
Derry and on Wednesday in Sligo, where Mr
Daley will address a final press eonference.
On Thursday he will meet .the Taoiseach, Mr
.
.
I
..
Ahem..
·
.
•
I
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I Feedback I Hist:Qry
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06107198 I 5:08:34
�...
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Friday, May 8, l998:IRELAND
~'FINANCE WORLD FEATURES SPORT OPINION .lETTERS
IRELAND
Friday, May 8, 1998
Clinton accepts advice
to delay NI visit
THE PATH
TO PEACE
By Joe Carroll
A comprehensive
guide Ireland p res1.d ent ci·mton h as d ec1.d e d not to VISit N arth em
. . .
Northernto the
Settlement, with a Ireland during the referendum campaign following
detailed hi~tory ·advice from the British government and some of
and analys.Is of the unionist parties. Instead he has announced a.
the conflict
modest package of aid measures.
·
He has also asked Mrs Hillary Clinton to take part
British plan £5m in a conference in Belfast next autumn dealing .
aid package for with women's issues. Called Vital Voices, the
North's victims . conference will be co-sponsored by the US.
The President will be disappointed that his plan to
Dissidents set up go to Belfast while in Britain next week for an
new 'IRA'
economic summit has had to be dropped in face of
structures
. unionist warnings that it could be seen as
interference. His adviser on economic initiatives
for Ireland, Mr Jim Lyons, said yesterday that he
IN THE NORTH would not rule out a visit by the President later in
the year.·
Editorial: Fair
Wind for the
Agreement
Mr Lyons said that it was regrettable that the extra
support the President might have inspired for the
peace agreement might now be lost.
Mr Clinton yesterday met .I 0 victims of political ·
violence in Northern Ireland who have-been
Opinion: Cruise visiting the US. He said in a statementthat he was
O'Brien proud to
be a Paisleyite "inspired by their courage in rejecting violence
and working for lasting peace." .
·
Describing the Belfast Agreement as offt~ringthe
Opinion: Belfast people of Northern Ireland "the chance of a
accord alters lifetime to secure a lasting peace,".the President
North's place in
said, "It is time for all the parties to say no - once
the Union
and for all- to v:iolence and yes to hope."
He urged voters in Northern Ireland "to make a
Opinion:
decisive break with the past and launch a brighter
Essential Yes future."
.
margin leaves no
room for doubt
Announcing a series 9f actions to "bolster the
foundations of peace",'the Preside'nt said that
since 1993 his Administration and Congress had
contributed $100 million to the International Fund
I of2
,rue;:,"";.,.:;;.,;,'·'
l~~.
if . ISHEafO
NII:W~PAPRA
lug into
Irish-America
i
�..
Friday, May 8, 1998:1RELAND
for Ireland to aid Northern Ireland and the Border
counties of the Republic.
Mr Clinton said he would work with Congress to
secure $5 million to complete the £70. million
Springvale Campus project on the peace line in
Belfast. Mr Lyons denied a news agency report
that the White House press secretary had saidthat
Mr Clinton would urge Congress to support his
request for $75 million over two years for the IFI.
The present budget is $19.6 million annually.
· The other ~conomic measures announced by the
President yesterday include support by the US ·
Information Agency for the Springvale Campus
and for Worktrain, a Northern Ireland
"welfare-to-work" scheme. ·
Some US funding wiH also be made available to
help the communities in Northern Ireland "build
the new institutions created by the April 1Oth
accord". This could involve bringing politicians to
the US to study American methods.
Finally, there will be a: high-level US business
delegation to Northern Ireland in early June led by
the Secretary of Commerce, Mr William Daley.
Front I Ireland I Finance I World I Sport I Opinion I Features I Letters
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�;.
Monday, February 16, 1998: IRELAND
.,
,,
WORLD. FE A
lURES SPORT OPINION LETTERS
IRELAND
Monday, Ft:bruary 16, 1998
Women's Coalition
'middle class'
Postgraduate
Study Options
Ms Pearl Sagar
(right) at a Dublin
weekend
conference, and
the SDLP's Ms
Brid Rodgers.
By Padraig O'Morain
SWIFTCAll
The Women's Coalition, formed to win
20¢1~1
representation for women at the Northern Ireland
Click or Call
'ddl
peace . ta.lks, has become a "t'tg ht, m 1 e-c Iass
1-888-BE-SWIFT
circle", a conference heard at the weekend. "I am
Photograph:
the only·one who is working-class," Ms Pearl
Matt Kavanagh Sagar told the annual women's conference of the
Union of Students in Ireland in Dublin City
University.
While she had hoped the Women's Coalition
would bring more working-class w~>men into the
process, "other working-class women haven't
become involved." Absence of sufficient child
care was one of the major barriers tb women's ·
involvement in politics and business.
"We want our children to grow up to be these
wonderful people and we won't even provide for
it. Part-time workers and. many fullt:ime workers
don't have en~mgh to pay for a child-minder."
Women face major barriers both in the home and
·
out of it, according to Ms Brid Rodgers, the
SDLP spokeswoman on women's issues. "Those
who stay at home whether.by choict~ or necessity,
to do the important work of nurturing and caring,
find that while society pays lip-service to the
importance'oftheir role; this is not r'einforced
with practical recognition of any smt. Invariably, ·
in later years the hand that rocks the: cradle finds:
itself dependent and disadvantaged.
"Those who by choice or necessity t,ry to enter
the job market must confront a huge variety of
obstacles," she said. These included low pay and
poor conditions. "Women still earn only
three-quarters ofthe male average and men are
twice as likely to reach managemept level, even
in the health and education sectors, where
women form the bulk of the workforce."
Thirty per tent of Fine Gael members ~ere
women, said Ms Joanne Harmon of Fine Gael.
The proportion of women in seniorpositions in
I of2'
·'
�Monday, February 16, 1998: IRELAND
•'
the party was higher. She also said lack of child
care was a barrier. Any woman who doubted her .
ability, she said, had only to look around at some
of the men in politics.
She related her dismay at attending a Young
Unionists' conference only to find that she was
the only woman in the room. "I just couldn't
believe it. Afterwards the girlfriends came in and
stayed for the social." · ·
·
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Thursday, October 24, 1996: Presid ... suffer worst effects of inequality
<0
TBilWJI~
.......... ·'J
0
F~oli\E•¥FINAAC£ll!'iFOR£1 ·tf'P"SPOR1"" 0P1tl1 OffllifOI• ORrP:f:Y'J!tET>lEIB
T'
HOME NEWS
Thursday, October 24, 1996
President says.women
not in system suffer
worst effects of
inequality
The President, Mrs
Robinson: positive
developments in
the North recently
By Suzanne Breen, in Belfast
The President, Mrs Robinson, has said women on
the margins of society must not be ignored in the
struggle for sexual equality and th<i.t "the gla~s
floor, not just the glass ceiling'' must be tackled.
She was speaking in Belfast at a conference to ·
mark the' 20th anniversary of the Northern Ireland
Equal Opportunities Commission ..Mrs Robinson .
chaired the commission's first conference in 1977.
About 200 people attended.
Sh~ said 'great strides had been made in the past
two decades but women outside the system, who
suffered the worst effects of inequality, must not
be forgotten.
As the 21st century neared, there was ·still work to
be done to ensure the "gender dimension" was
considered in policy-making. Women's needs must
be addressed in education, training,:· employment, ·
transport and other areas, she said.
Mrs Robinson welcomed the trend for an increased
proportion of EU structural funds to be targeted at
women and for the Peace and Reconciliation
.
Initiative for Northern Ireland to take account of
women.
She praised the commission's work over the past
20 years and recalled attending its f·irst conference
in 1977 when it was breaking new ground. She
paid tribute to the women who had worked for the
organisation and tho~e who had tak~n cases and
. sometimes paid a high price for their actions.
There had been positive developments in the North
recently, she said. The Womeri's Coalition had
been set up, women's issues were debated at a
political level more regularly and women's
networks had sprung up everywhere, often with
1 of2
�..
...
.· Thursday, October 24, 1996: Presid ... suffer worst effects of inequality
'
cross-Border links.
The chairwoman of the commission said more than
14,000 people had come to it for help since its
. fonnation.
MsJoan Smyth said: "By having the courage and
determination to ask us to help them challenge ·
discrimination, they have helped to make society
fairer."
J
She said that 20 years ago 42 per cent of women
worked outside the home or were looking for
work; today it was 50 per cent. Women now made
up half the workforce, compared to 40 per cent in
1976.
Only 12 per cent of members of public bodies were.
women then but a third were now. Girls were
outperfonning boys in most subjects at GCSE
level.
Women made up 45 per cent of medical students,
compared to a third-in 1977. There were more
female than male undergraduates today and nearly
half of all postgraduates were women.
However, women remained seriously
under-represented at all levels of decision-making.
There had not been a woman MP in Northern ·
Ireland for over 20 years and there: had never been
a woman MEP. ·Only 12 per cent of councillors
were women, an increase of only 4 per cent in 20 ·
years.·
Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC, who took many of
the commission's early cases, said he was certain it
would continue to work "patiently, bravely and
effectively" despite the depressing prospect of
renewed paramilitary violence. After addressing
the conference, Mrs Robinson visited Methodist
College in Stranmillis where she inet members of
the school's current affairs society.
·
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2 of2
�Saturday, May 16, 1998: IRELAND
~·.
Fl NANCE WORLD FEAIURES SPORI OPINION
IRELAND
lf.IIERS
Saturday, May 16, 1998
Women's ·Cou1ncil
criticised
over treaty support
THE TREATY
A guide to the
forthcoming
By Padraig Y~ates Industry and E:mployment
referendum on the
'
Amsterdam
Correspondent
Treaty with daily
news updates
The deputy general secretary of ICTU has ·
--
criticised the National Women's Council of
Ireland for not supporting a Yes vote: on the
30% still
Amsterdam Treaty.
undeclcte<tabout
-
__ , .. s:.
I
vote on
Amsterdam
Treaty
Speaking at aniCTU-organised conference on the
treaty in Dublin Castle yesterday, Ms Patricia
O'Donovan left her script to criticise those
campaigning against the treaty because it did not
EU treatv still
widely viewed as go far enough in securing more worker rights.
--
irrelevant .
--
"We would have preferred stronger social rights,
more specific targets and dates to achieve them
Voters favour Yes ourselves" she said. "But this was a negotiated
although most · sett1
'
· c
·
know little on
ement. Th e questiOn 10r us ·IS w1 her there 1s
1et
detail . .
enough in the Amsterdam Treaty to ~;ay Yes. It is
- - .a significant step forward as far as we are
concerned." ·
Yes speech
bubbles greet
women's group
The treaty included a new title on err.,ployment
and, for the. first time, required the EU
--memberstates to co-operate fully at policy level to
Drapier:. No
tackle employment and unemployment. A major
getting up a sweat gain for Ireland was the elimination of the UK
on Amsterdam opt-out from the Social Chapter that existed under
Trea~{
Maastricht. This would help preserv<:: workers'
rights and competitiveness for Irish business.
_
Turning to discrimination and women's rights, Ms
O'Donovan said Amsterdam strengthened.
women's rights, those with disabilitie:s, older
workers and others discriminated ag;:linst in the
workplace,
• t.
"I am surprised that the National Women's
·council hasn't found itself able to participate in
. this campaign, to say that what has happened in
this treaty is a significant step forwarid for
women."
The general secretary of the Irish Narional
Organisation ofthe Unemployed, Mr Mike Allen,
1 of2
• J
�S~turday,
May 16, 1998: IRELAND
told the conference it was "impossible to believe
· . that an overwhelming Yes vote will be interpreted
as anything other than a go-ahead fi)r the existing
policies. Th~se have resulted in mass
unemployment arid growing poverty in Europe.
"The only way that ordinary citizen~ have of
expressing their reservations and criticism is to
vote No. Three-and-a-half million jobs have been
·
lost in Europe since Maastricht." '
Speaking on the neutrality issue at the conference,
Prof Brigid Laffan, professor of European studies
at UCD, said Ireland was living in a world of ·
illusions, Marie O'Halloran writes. "Ireland is
surrounded by states which will nev.er invade us
so we don't have to extend our secudty. If there is
trouble in Europe, it will hit there long before it
reaches us," she said. This "benign" situation
· meant Ireland did not have to take seriously issues
of external security in the way Finland and
Norway did on the borders of Russia. She
described the neutrality de~ate as "extraordinary".
But Prof Laffan said whenever Irish interests were
directly affected by third countries it was just as
aggressive and direct in its defence of those
issues. She cited Ireland as the only country in the
EU in 1975 which moved to stop the import of
35,000 tonnes ofBotswanan beef.
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2 of2
�PI~ACE
AGREEMENT
An historic peace settlement was approved in Belfast on April10 (Good Friday).
Overwhelming majorities in both Northern Ireland and the Republic voted in favor of the
Agreement ·in June in separate referendums. Successful implementation of the
Agreement provides the best opportunity in this century for lasting peace and
reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
The "Good Friday" Agreement calls for the creation of a 108-member Northern
Ireland elected assembly, to be overseen by a 12-minister Excxutive Committee in which
unionists and nationalists will share power. The Assembly will·constitute the province's
new, autonomous government. The settlement also required a modification of the two
articles of the Irish constitution that lay claim to the North; and it provides for a BritishIrish Council, including representatives of the British and Irish Governments, the
Northern Ireland institutions~ together with the devolved bodies in Scotland and Wales.
There will also be a continuation of the relationship between London and Dublin set out
in the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 (now supplanted).
Under the Human Rights provisions of the agreement, the parties affirmed their
commitment to the mutual respect, civil rights and religious liberties of everyone in the
community. Inter alia, the parties,particularly affirmed the right.to equal opportunity in
· all social and·economic activity, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender or ethnicity; ·.
and the right of women to full and equal political participation.
Elections for the Assembly were held on June 25. The results c<;mfirmed that four·
parties will play a dominant role in the new legislative body: the Ulster Unionist Party
(28 seats) .and Ian Paisley's DUP (20 seats) will represent the unionist agenda; on the
nationalist side, SDLP won 24 seats, and Sinn Fein 18 seats. Assembly members are now
meeting in "shadow" mode while preparing the procedures and modalities for the
assembly's full functioning at the beginning of 1999. The Assembly's first task will be to
set up a North-South Cross-Border Council that will include ministers from both
Northern· Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a key nationalist demand. These two
bodies -- the Assembly and the Council -- will have certain interlacing powers and
responsibilities, but the accord fulfills the unionist demand that the North-South Council
be accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Agreement faces a very set~ious test very soon, as D~vid Trimble, the new First
Minister (Ulster Unionist Party), and DeputyFirst Minister Seamus Mallon from the
SDLP, will have to pull together a functioning Executive Committee to run the
government when the Northern Ireland Assembly reconvenes on September 15. This
requires that pro-agreement unionists and Sinn Fein leaders meet and interact, ~omething
the Unionists have refused to do tc>' this point. The difficult issues of prisoner releases,
reform of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and decommissioning of paramilitaries also
must be addressed in coming months.
�
Dublin Core
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Title
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First Lady's Work on Children’s Issues and Women’s Rights
Creator
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White House Office of Records Management (WHORM)
Caligraphy Office
Chief of Staff
Domestic Policy Council
First Lady’s Office
Management & Administration
Millennium Council
Public Liaison
Special Envoy for the Americas
Women’s Initiative and Outreach
Date
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1995-2000
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36054" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
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2006-0198-F Segment 4
Description
An account of the resource
<p>This collection contains records regarding conferences and events attended and hosted by the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. The key events in this collection consist of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Vital Voices, Beijing +5, and the Early Childhood Development Conference. The records include background materials in preparation for each of these conferences.</p>
<p>This collection contains records from the following offices: White House Office of Records Management, Calligraphy Office, Chief of Staff, Domestic Policy Council, First Lady's Office, Speechwriting, Management & Administration, Millennium Council, Public Liason, Special Envoy for the Americas, and Women’s Initiative and Outreach. The collection includes records created by: Ann Lewis, Harold Ickes, Cheryl Mills, Linda Cooper, Ann Bartley, Lisa Caputo, Lissa Muscatine, Marsha Berry, Eric Massey, Nicole Rabner, Shirley Sagawa, Christine Macy, June Shih, Laura Schiller, Melanne Verveer, Alexis Herman, Ruby Moy, and Doris Matsui.</p>
<p>This collection was was made available through a <a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/freedom-of-information-act-requests">Freedom of Information Act</a> request.</p>
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Office of Records Managment
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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11/14/2014
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301 folders in 30 boxes
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Paper
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Vital Voices in Belfast 9/2/1998: [Correspondence and Background Information] [1]
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Box 12
<a href="http://clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0198-F-4.pdf">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="http://catalog.archives.gov/id/1766805">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
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First Lady’s Office
Speechwriting
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2006-0198-F Segment 4
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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Adobe Acrobat Document
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Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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Reproduction-Reference
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11/14/2014
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42-t-20060198f4-012-008
1766805