A new national strategy for women and girls sets out a series of actions to promote women’s equality across all areas of life.
The strategy, for 2017 to 2020, was launched today by Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.
It aims to encourage women into leadership roles in the workplace, sport, politics and the arts; it also wants women to participate in decisions that will shape the future of Irish society.
Ms Fitzgerald described the initiative as an all of Government Strategy which will ensure that a gender perspective is integrated into decision-making on a wide range of policies.
It is hoped that its implementation will improve the lives of women, be they old or young, rural or urban.
In the first year of the strategy, by the end of this year, the Government will advance socio-economic equality for women through a new national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of quality childcare.
It aims to advance women in leadership at all levels, and will include recommendations to increase female representation in the leadership of sports organisations in the new national policy framework for sport.
The strategy provides for the conclusion of research by the ESRI on barriers preventing women from application for senior positions in the Civil Service.
The strategy also aims to advance the physical, mental health and wellbeing of women and girls.
A national strategy for women and girls sets out a series of actions to promote women's equality in the workplace, sport, politics and arts. pic.twitter.com/29MrHhgb94
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 3, 2017
To combat violence against women, the Government will enact the Domestic Violence Bill to enhance the protections available to victims of domestic violence, and will bring forward legislative proposals to provide for offences relating to harmful communications, including an offence to target revenge pornography.
The overall goal of the strategy for the 2017-2020 period is to change attitudes and practices preventing women's and girls' full participation in education, employment and public life, at all levels.
It wants to improve services for women and girls, with priority given to the needs of those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, the poorest outcomes.
Minister Fitzgerald said: "The strategy's key theme is to promote equality for women and girls across all areas of life, in the workplace, in education, in the family, on public and corporate boards, in sport and in the arts. Women's needs have to be taken into account.
"At this time of global challenges, we need to ensure that each of us can participate fully in the decisions that will shape our futures."
The National Women's Council of Ireland welcomed the new strategy and called for all Government departments to get on board to ensure the aims are realised.
