Éírígí Activists Join 'No Woman Left Behind' Rally
Éirígí activists were in attendance at last Saturday's 'No Woman Left Behind Rally' in Dublin - an event organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland to mark International Women's Day.
A new Éirígí banner, featuring the slogan ‘Ní Saoirse Go Saoirse Na mBan’ and images of some of Ireland's most prominent revolutionary women, including Helena Moloney, Elizabeth O'Farrell, Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, Kathleen Lynn and Constance Markievicz received much positive comment. Speaking after the rally, Éirígí spokesperson Fiona Moran said,
"It was really important for us as a party to attend this rally today. As republicans, we stand for the creation of a society that will undo gender-based discrimination and deliver real, meaningful equality. While there have been signficant advances made in securing the rights of girls and women, there is much more work to be done.
New Éirígí banner was on display for the first time
The issue of male violence against women was once against brought to the fore with the horrific murder of Ashling Murphy earlier this year. The outrage that followed her murder included much furore from the establishment parties - the same parties that have yet to implement the Istanbul Agreement that they ratified in 2019.
This failure includes a chronic and dangerous lack of beds in women’s refuges - including nine counties that contain no such beds at all.
Despite the fact the archaic Eighth Amendment was repealed in 2018, women in the Twenty-Six Counties still face many barriers when trying to access abortion services; while women in the Six Counties are faced with horrific anti-woman legislation as a result of the DUP.
In the workplace too, there is much that still needs to be done to overcome gender inequality. Women remain significantly more likely to be working in part-time, insecure and unpredictable work than men. And they are also likely to be getting paid less for comparable work than their male equivalents.
These are just three examples of where both states on this island are failing women; there are unfortunately many more examples.
‘A Woman’s Place Is In The Revolution’ - one of several Éirígí hand-painted placards at the rally
Today our members stood behind a banner which featured images of some leading female republicans. These women fought for an all-Ireland republic that would deliver liberty, equality and justice for all women.
That republic was defeated by a counter-revolution one hundred years ago, and the two states that grew out of partition pushed Irish women out of public life and back into the kitchen.
While some of the effects of this counter-revolution have been rolled back in recent times, women are still fighting for equality in Irish society.
Only a New Republic, with new political, economic and social structures can deliver full equality of the sexes - at home, in education, in the workplace and in every other area of life".
If you’re ready to join Éirígí as we build momentum for true equality and a New Republic you can do so here.