 We've got your 2014 resolution for you right here because all of our struggles go together! If you want to be more active in your community, learn about the challenges that others face in their fight for equality and find out what you can do to help build the activist network in your area then come join us at WINTER WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS. These sessions will run in early 2014 to promote community solidarity and understanding of intersectional feminism in Ireland today.
We have invited members of various activist, human rights and research groups to facilitate interactive sessions on how we can better build a community of engaged solidarity. The following workshops are scheduled for Jan and Feb in Comhlámh Offices, 12 Parliament Street, Temple Bar Dublin 2:
There will be a small donation requested at the door with proceeds covering basic costs and the rest going to the facilitating organisations themselves. Please register your interest on this page and keep an eye out for more details soon! All workshops take place in Comhlámh Offices, 12 Parliament Street, Temple Bar Dublin 2. Facebook Event Link
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 LADYFEST returns to Dublin after 9 years with a bang!! Bringing you the best Dublin's music scene has to offer in female focused acts, LADYFEST kicks off at 7:30 in Sweeneys on Dame Street!
Tickets: €7.00 waged, €5 unwaged - available on the door. Featuring: Bitch Falcon Fauve Chapman Elaine Mai Marita Connolly Temper-Mental MissElayneous Big Girls Big Band Toy Soldier + more to be announced Screening of 'Breaking Ground' - the story of the London Irish Women's Centre October 201326/8/2013  We're proud to announce the screening of 'Breaking Ground - The Story of the London Irish Women's Centre'.
The documentary follows an inspirational group of Irish women who chose to create their own artistic, social, cultural and activist community in London from 1983 up until 2012. The film was made by an all-female crew and is on limited release in Ireland so this is rare opportunity to see this work. There will also be a panel discussion and audience Q+A with Jean Cross, a former member of the LIWC and with the film's director, Michelle Deignan. Tickets are €10 and €7 for unwaged, student or senior citizens. Proceeds from the event will go to fund the work of the Irish Feminist Network and Mind Yourself, a charity dedicated to improving the health of Irish people in London. More info and trailer here: http://vimeo.com/60492225 Tickets: https://tickets.ie/event.aspx/tickets/screening-of-breaking-ground-the-story-of-the-london-irish-womens-centre-the-sugar-club-08-October-2013/HHXEK Press release after the jump.  The next book club will be held on Thursday, 5th of September at 7:30pm in Bewleys cafe. All are welcome!
As chosen by the last book club's attendees the book of the month is: Lean in by Sheryl Sandberg. "Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto." The TEDTalk: http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl_sandberg_why_we_have_too_few_women_leaders.html Sandberg actually has a whole website based around this book: http://leanin.org/ Read some reviews: http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/the-lean-in-book-club-1.1348868 http://www.theguardian.com/women-in-leadership/2013/jun/04/sheryl-sandberg-lean-in-work-smarter To facilitate discussion, we'll have these ground rules: -Everyone has the right to contribute to the discussion -Refrain from personal attacks, criticise the idea and not the person -Everyone is welcome to attend regardless of age, gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief, disability, membership of the travelling community, marital status or family status. We'll be in the back of Bewleys in the restaurant section. The reservation will be under Irish Feminist Network.  Our co-ordinator Emma was a guest on Gossip Radio's "tea time three" in which she discusses her work with the IFN and picks three songs which reflect different aspects of her experiences in feminist activism. You can listen to the interview here.
First Step Toward More Equitable Ireland Achieved
The Equality Budgeting Campaign, a group of over 30 civil society organisations, has responded to yesterday’s vote on the Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013. The bill, which was tabled by Sinn Féin, would have placed a positive duty on all public bodies to ensure equality of opportunity. It would have added new equality categories to existing equality legislation, and would have introduced mandatory impact assessments on budgetary measures. Spokesperson for the campaign, Dr. Clara Fischer, said that “the campaign was delighted to have the support of Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, United Left Alliance, all Independent TDs, and former Labour Party members for this bill. Although the government voted against it, we feel very strongly that this is a turning point in our campaign.” “We are disappointed that Labour, in particular, have voted against equality-proofing, and thereby against their own official party policy. However, the campaign for increased equality in Ireland continues, and has been given a vital boost by yesterday’s vote. To have the issue of equality and impact assessments, particularly in relation to the budget, discussed in our national parliament is a significant achievement. We look forward to working further with our supporters to make equality budgeting a reality in Ireland.” Equality Budgeting Campaign www.equalitybudgeting.ie equalitybudgetingcampaign@gmail.com www.facebook.com/EqualityBudgetingCampaign twitter.com/EBCampaign Further information on the bill: http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/27075 The Equal Status (Amendment) Bill 2013 was tabled by Sinn Féin on Tuesday, 2nd July, as a Private Members Bill. The bill was defeated by the government, with 89 votes against 46. SF, FF, ULA, Independents and former Labour Party members voted in support of the bill. About the Equality Budgeting Campaign: The Equality Budgeting Campaign is a broad-based coalition of NGOs, trade unions and concerned individuals seeking the introduction of equality budgeting in Ireland. Members include the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the Irish Feminist Network, SIPTU, SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids), Campaign for Labour Policies, and Union of Students in Ireland. The campaign was set up in light of research showing increased levels of inequality in Ireland and the disproportionate disadvantaging of certain sections of Irish society by successive governments since the beginning of the economic crisis. Facts:
Further information on equality budgeting available from here: http://equalitybudgeting.ie/index.php/campaign-resources/eb-campaign-documents/ Time to put policy ahead of politics to ensure Ireland brought in line with other jurisdictions
A group of over 30 civil society organisations, the Equality Budgeting Campaign, today welcomed the launch of Sinn Féin’s Equal Status (Amendment) Act 2013. The new bill proposes a radical overhaul of existing equality legislation in Ireland by imposing a positive duty on public bodies to ensure equality of opportunity. Spokesperson for the campaign, Dr. Clara Fischer, said that “the proposed legislation would bring Ireland in line with other jurisdictions, such as Northern Ireland and Scotland, by ensuring public authorities equality-proof their work. At present, Ireland is lagging behind its neighbours, especially as much our equality infrastructure has been dismantled since the onset of the economic crisis.” The bill also entails publication of impact assessments, which would bring much-needed clarity and transparency to the budgetary process. “The budget is carried out in secret by four government ministers and the Taoiseach, with limited input from the rest of government, our legislature, and civil society stakeholders. It is unclear how decisions are arrived at, despite the fact that inequality has increased in recent years. Impact assessments, undertaken before final decisions on the budget are made, would allow us to examine how specific cuts or tax increases affect different sections of Irish society. Decision-making could then be based on evidence, in public, and with due regard to equality and justice.” Spokesperson, Louise Bayliss said, “many of the measures proposed in this bill are already official Labour Party policy, adopted at last year’s Labour Party Conference. We hope TDs will put policy ahead of politics tonight, and show their support for equality.” Further information on the bill: http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/27075 About the Equality Budgeting Campaign: The Equality Budgeting Campaign is a broad-based coalition of NGOs, trade unions and concerned individuals seeking the introduction of equality budgeting in Ireland. Members include the Irish Feminist Network, National Women’s Council of Ireland, SIPTU, SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids), Campaign for Labour Policies, and Union of Students in Ireland. The campaign was set up in light of research showing increased levels of inequality in Ireland and the disproportionate disadvantaging of certain sections of Irish society by successive governments since the beginning of the economic crisis. Facts: · 1 in 10 people in Ireland experiences food poverty – Carney & Maitre, “Constructing a Food Poverty Indicator for Ireland using the Survey of Income and Living Conditions”, Department of Social Protection, 2012 · The deprivation rate of families headed by lone parents increased from 44.1% in 2009 to 56% in 2011 · The percentage of children living in consistent poverty increased from 6.3% in 2008 to 9.3% in 2011 · Those who are unemployed saw their deprivation rate increase from 34.3% in 2009 to 42.4% in 2011 - CSO EU SILC 2011 · Following a report on poverty in Ireland in 2011, the UN Independent Expert on Human Rights and Poverty called on Ireland to immediately implement a human rights review of all budgetary and recovery policies Further information available from here: http://equalitybudgeting.ie/index.php/campaign-resources/eb-campaign-documents/  We had a fantastic time marching in the 2013 Dublin Pride parade. Not only was it the 30th anniversary of gay pride in Ireland, but it was also the 20th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. It's amazing to think we've come so far as a nation in terms of LGBTQ rights in such a short time. However, there is still so much more to do. Marriage Equality, parental rights and more widespread acceptance and respect for LGBTQ people are still to be achieved. Judging by the huge numbers, energy and great atmosphere at Pride this year, it's only a matter of time! Check out some photos of our banner and display below. 
 The next book club will be held on Thursday, 4th of June at 7:30pm in Bewleys cafe. All are welcome!
As chosen by the last book club's attendees and those in the online group, the play of the month is: Hedda Gabler (& A Doll's House) by Henrik Ibsen. You can read these texts for free from: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4093 & http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2542 "Hedda Gabler is the name, to my mind, of Ibsen's greatest play, and of the most interesting woman that Ibsen has created." "Over the years, Ibsen has been called a revolutionary, a nationalist, a romantic, a poet, an idealist, a realist, a socialist, a naturalist, a symbolist, a feminist, and a forerunner of psychoanalysis." Read more: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/ibsen.html http://thebluebookcase.blogspot.ie/2011/03/review-dolls-house-by-henrik-ibsen.html To facilitate discussion, we'll have these ground rules: -Everyone has the right to contribute to the discussion -Refrain from personal attacks, criticise the idea and not the person -Everyone is welcome to attend regardless of age, gender, race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief, disability, membership of the travelling community, marital status or family status. We'll be in the back of Bewleys in the restaurant section. The reservation will be under Irish Feminist Network.  Press Release & Podcast: Group of organisations to raise common points and reservations regarding Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill
Following the Oireachtas hearings with medical and legal experts on the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, a group of 11 organisations not represented at the hearings come together today at a press conference to demand a range of changes to the proposed legislation. Representatives of the organisations collectively called for the following amendments to the Bill: 1. Offence Criminalisation: the proposed legislation replaces the Offences against the Person Act 1861 rather than repealing it. The government must repeal the relevant sections of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 and decriminalise abortion. Criminalisation does not work; it causes pain and suffering to women, is incompatible with international human rights norms and according to the ECHR has a chilling effect on women and doctors 2. Risk of loss of life from self-destruction There is no medical or clinical justification for the requirement that a panel of doctors authorise an abortion on grounds of risk to life arising from risk of suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy. The requirement of a second psychiatrist does not apply when a pregnancy is not involved. The Mental Health Act 2001 requires only two medical practitioners to authorise the involuntary detention of an individual on mental health grounds, including risk to life by suicide. The proposed legislation requires up to seven practitioners to assess risk to life by suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy and authorise a termination on grounds of such a risk to life. An arbitrary distinction is being drawn between physical risk to life and risk to life arising from risk of suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy. The current proposal requires unanimity between an obstetrician and two psychiatrists for the approval of abortion, giving the obstetrician – with no competence in suicide assessment power of veto over two consenting psychiatrists. Consultation with the woman’s GP should only take place with her prior consent. 3. Conscientious objection There should be an explicit duty to treat in a medical emergency regardless of any conscientious objection. Legislative provision must be made to ensure that medical professionals are required to declare anti-choice views, and that they have a duty to absent themself from any panel deciding on abortion. Any panel should only consist of non-conscientious objectors. It must be ensured that non-objecting providers are accessible and available throughout the country. 4. Formal medical review procedures A two-week review period is unrealistic and could result in serious and potentially fatal repercussions. Best international practice is that a decision is made within 3 days. Realistic timeframes must be included in the new legislation. 5. Broaden the scope of the legislation to include fatal foetal abnormalities and pregnancies resulting from rape and incest. Organisations supporting these changes include: National Women’s Council of Ireland, Action on X, Abortion Rights Campaign, Doctors for Choice, ICTU Women’s Committee, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Irish Family Planning Association, Irish Feminist Network, Termination for Medical Reasons Group, Cork Women’s Right to Choose Group and Galway Pro Choice Group What: Press Conference – Common points and reservations on Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill When: Wednesday, 22nd May, 10:30 am Where: Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin Listen to a podcast of the press conference here: |
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