Feminist peace building group Hanna’s House has met with MLAs at Stormont ahead of a major All-Ireland Conference in Dublin on November 5.
The Conference entitled Delivering Women Peace and Security will address the need for both British and Irish governments to include Northern Ireland in their national action plans to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Shirley Graham, peace project co-ordinator of Hanna’s House, said the failure of the two governments to make provision for Northern Ireland in their action plans meant that women would continue to be under represented in politics, policing and the judiciary.
“UNSCR 1325 calls for the increased participation of women in those institutions specifically established as result of conflict. The exclusion of Northern Ireland from their Action Plans by both Governments means that women will continue to be under-represented in those institutions set up under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles in areas that can make a difference to communities still living with the aftermath of conflict.
“We organised this meeting today to help raise awareness of the importance of UNSCR 1325 and to invite representatives from the Northern Ireland Assembly to attend an All Ireland Conference on ‘Delivering Women Peace and Security’ at Croke Park Conference Centre on November 5. The conference will be the first time politicians from both sides of the border will have come together to discuss this issue with women from all across Ireland.
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins has been invited to officially open the Croke Park Conference, and there will be a keynote address by Professor Christine Chinkin of the London School of Economics, giving an overview of UNSCR 1325 from a global perspective.
There will also be contributions from Professor Monica McWilliams on gender mainstreaming within the judiciary and from PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie on gender perspectives on policing and security.
For more information about the conference and how to book, go to www.hannashouse.ie
