A woman’s place is in the world!
Dublin Castle 20/02/2015
#Beijing20 A woman’s place is in the world!
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the National Women’s Council of Ireland have organised this conference to highlight women’s rights and equality in Ireland and globally. It coincides with the United Nations Beijing +20 process, reviewing progress in achieving the goals of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action since 1995.
The conference will explore key Government commitments and examine progress in advance of the Beijing +20 review process in March 2015. It is an opportunity to recognise improvements in women’s rights and equality, set out the challenges that remain and propose ways to overcome them.
We see this conference as an important opportunity for cross-sectoral engagement, discussion, and reflection. We hope it will provide a legacy for future action to progress women’s rights and equality in Ireland and globally. Beijing+20 Process
In 1995, 189 countries including Ireland came together in China for the 4th UN World Conference on Women. The Conference adopted the United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which has 12 areas of critical concern.
The Platform for Action is a visionary roadmap for the achievement of women’s human rights and empowerment throughout the world. Beijing+20 marks the 20th anniversary of the Platform. In March 2015, the UN Commission on the Status of Women will meet in New York to review progress on the Platform and the global achievement of women’s rights and equality. Ireland will be represented there. 12 areas of critical concern
Women and the environment
Women in power and decision-making
The girl child
Women and the economy
Women and poverty
Violence against women
Human rights of women
Education and training of women
Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
Women and health
Women and the media
Women and armed conflict
09:00 Participants seated 11:15 Plenary Session 1 for arrival of Women, Power and President of Ireland, Decision Making Michael D. Higgins Chair: Prof. Monica McWilliams Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster 09:30 Welcome Nóirín O Sullivan Emily Logan Commissioner of An Garda Síochána Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Dr. Micheline Sheehy Equality Commission Skeffington Orla O’Connor National University of Ireland Galway Director of the National Prof. Siobhán Mullally Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice & Human Rights, School of Law, University College Cork 09:40 Women’s rights: One of and Member of Irish Human Rights the great ethical issues and Equality Commission of our time Laura Harmon President of Ireland, President of the Union of Michael D. Higgins Students of Ireland (USI)
10:05 Beijing+20: a game 12:20 Plenary Session 2 changer for women’s Overcoming Women’s empowerment and Poverty and Achieving gender equality Economic Independence Lakshmi Puri Chair: Dr. Ursula Barry Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy School of Social Justice, Director of Executive Director, UN Women MA in Women, Gender and Society, University College Dublin Finola Brennan 10:25 Poetry Reading National Collective of Community Rita Ann Higgins Based Women’s Networks - Donegal Dr. Mary P. Murphy 10:35 Break Lecturer in Irish Politics and Society, Maynooth University and Member of Irish Human Rights and Equality 11:00 Beijing+20: The Commission Climate Justice Way Jane Xavier Mary Robinson Domestic Workers Action Group, Former President of Ireland Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and President, Mary Robinson Esther Lynch Foundation – Climate Justice Legislation and Social Affairs Officer of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality will give a morning address. 13:30 - 14:30 LUNCH followed by PARALLEL SESSIONS
Women’s Health Reproductive Health Chair: Dr. Shari McDaid and Rights Director of Mental Health Reform Chair: Prof. Fiona de Londras Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald Durham Law School, Durham University Director of Public Health, Dr. Rhona Mahony Health Service Executive Master of the National Maternity Jacqueline Healy Hospital Holles Street Women’s Health and Human Catherine Forde Rights Worker, NWCI Lawyer Ailbhe Smyth Stereotyping (Young Convener of the Coalition to Women) including Repeal the Eighth Amendment Media & Sexism Chair: Una Mullally Women, Racism, Journalist, The Irish Times Migration & Integration Sophie Bennett Chair: Anastasia Crickley Co-Director of UK Feminista Head of Department of Applied Áine Ryan Social Studies, Maynooth University, Vice President UN Committee for the Journalist Elimination of Racial Discrimination Maria Joyce Care Work Coordinator of the National Chair: Edel McGinley Traveller Women’s Forum Director of Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Gabi Muntean Prof. Kathleen Lynch Community Worker for the Roma Project, School of Social Justice, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre University College Dublin Amel Yacef Toby Wolfe Chairperson of AkiDwA Policy and Research Officer, Start Strong Migrant Women Network of Ireland
Violence Against Women Institutional Mechanisms Chair: Her Honour Judge for Change Rosemary Horgan Chair: Carole Sullivan President of the District Court Head of Equality Mainstreaming, Irish Tom Meagher Human Rights and Equality Commission White Ribbon Campaign Advocate, Roisin Mallon The Men’s Development Network Senior Policy Officer, Equality Ursula Regan BL Commission for Northern Ireland Solicitor and Chair of Women’s Aid Dr. Anne-Marie McGauran National Economic and Social Council (NESC) Plenary Session 3 Co-Chairs: Emily Logan Women’s Issues in Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and the LGBT Community Equality Commission Chair: Dil Wickremasinghe and Orla O’Connor Social Justice and Mental Director of the NWCI Health Broadcaster, Co-Founder of Insight Matters Lesley Fitzpatrick 15:45 New Places The LadyBirds Group, Different Spaces BeLong To Youth Services Maynooth University Moninne Griffith Community and Youth Chair of NWCI and Co-Director Work Students of Marriage Equality
16:00 Address Women and Disability Aodhán O Ríordáin TD Chair: Dr. Eilionóir Flynn Minister of State at the Department Acting Director of the Centre for Disability, of Justice and Equality with special Law and Policy, and Senior Lecturer with responsibility for Equality, New the School of Law, National University of Communities and Culture Ireland Galway June Best N.I. Ambassador, Office For Disability 16:15 Reflections Issues, (ODI) UK Strengthening Senator Katherine Zappone Disabled Peoples User-Led General rapporteur of conference Organisations Programme Suzy Byrne 16:30 Conference Closing Disability Activist Frieda Finlay Parent and Advocate for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Women & Institutional Abuse Chair: The Honourable Justice Catherine McGuinness Claire McGettrick Justice for Magdalenes Research Louise O’Keeffe Campaigner for victims of sexual abuse in national schools IRISH HUMAN RIGHTS AND NATIONAL WOMEN’S EQUALITY COMMISSION: COUNCIL OF IRELAND: The Irish Human Rights and The National Women’s Council Equality Commission (IHREC) of Ireland (NWCI) is the leading was established under law on 1 national women’s membership November 2014. Our purpose as organisation seeking equality an independent national human between women and men, founded rights and equality institution is to in 1973. Our mission is to lead and protect and promote human rights to be a catalyst for change in the and equality in Ireland. We aim to achievement of equality between build a welcoming organisation women and men. We articulate that nurtures a culture of respect the views and experiences of our for human rights, equality and members and make sure their intercultural understanding voices are heard wherever in society. decisions are made which affect the lives of women.
Irish Human Rights National Women’s & Equality Commission Council of Ireland 4th Floor, Jervis House 100 North King Street, Jervis Street, Dublin 1 Dublin 7 Lo-call: 1 890 245545 Tel: + 353 (0) 1 6790 100 Tel: + 353 (0) 1 8589601 Fax: + 353 (0) 1 604 0345 Fax: + 353 (0) 1 8589609 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.nwci.ie Web: www.ihrec.ie Twitter: @NWCI Twitter @_IHREC Facebook: /NationalWomensCouncilofIreland