McKevitt launches new Assembly Women’s Caucus at Stormont | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

McKevitt launches new Assembly Women’s Caucus at Stormont

Local MLA Karen McKevitt has officially launched the Assembly’s first Women’s Caucus at Stormont.

mckevitt16Dedicated to enhancing the role of women in public and civic life, the new Women’s Caucus is a cross party group of female MLAs who will lobby for greater female representation in the Assembly and within political parties.

Speaking in the Assembly on International Women’s Day, McKevitt said, “For too long, the politics of the North has been represented by three words – pale, stale and male.

“Even though women make up 51% of the population in Northern Ireland, only 21% of MLAs are female. That’s just not good enough and we all have a role to play in breaking down the barriers to more women entering political life.

“That’s why a group of female MLAs has come together to create the first Assembly Women’s Caucus. Our goal is to provide support and assistance to women entering public life, regardless of their background or political views,” she explained.

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LearnSpark1“In a society where women remain the primary carers, it can be difficult for many to choose an intensive career in politics where childcare options are much more limited.

“We need a gender-based political revolution in the North. Every political party can do more to promote women within their ranks. The SDLP was the first Executive party with a female leader, we have a female General Secretary and I’m proud to be the party’s Assembly Whip. But we, too, recognise the need to keep doing more.

McKevitt added, “I look forward to working with female MLAs on a cross party basis to improve gender representation in public life.”

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Posted by on Mar 15 2016. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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