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12,000 Irish Girl Guides join UN Women in calling for gender equality by 2030
Dublin, 08/03/2016 – Irish Girl Guides (IGG) is calling on the 158 newly-elected TDs to step up action for gender equality.
At the current rate of progress, gender equality will not be reached worldwide until 2133, according to the World Economic Forum.
This is simply not soon enough, says IGG, whose 12,000 members are joining with UN Women and the 10 million other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide calling on all countries to step up action to reach a world of gender equality by 2030.
While welcoming the record number of women elected to the 32nd Dáil, IGG would like to see all TDs commit to working towards gender equality both here and overseas.
“Today on International Women’s Day we recognise and applaud the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide,” says IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon. “We congratulate, in particular, the 35 women who won seats in the recent election and thank them for being positive role models for our younger members.
“Everyone can take steps to help achieve gender parity – for example, respecting value and difference, calling for gender-balanced leadership and helping girls and women achieve their ambitions. Globally – with individuals pledging to move from talk to purposeful action and with women and men joining forces – we can collectively help girls and women advance and develop to their fullest potential.”
Concannon says women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world: “We believe gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity.
“We believe the confidence, leadership and other essential life-skills our members are gaining from their involvement in Guiding from age 5+ will help them become the change-makers of the future. We encourage them to be the best that they can and to aim to realise their dreams while striving to make a difference to the lives of others and inspiring others to create change, participate in decision-making and pursue leadership roles.”
ENDS
Contact:
Fiona Murdoch, Communications Officer, Irish Girl Guides
Tel: 085 8570565
Email: communications@irishgirlguides.ie
Notes for editors:
Irish Girl Guides has approximately 12,000 members. Guiding started in Ireland in 1911 and operates throughout the 26 counties with 1,800 volunteer leaders providing an informal educational programme of fun and challenging activities that foster confidence and leadership skills in girls and young women, enabling them to develop to their full potential and to become responsible citizens. Girls from age 5+ can choose to earn a wide range of badges, including Community Action, Cultural Diversity, Disability Awareness, Drug Awareness, Online Surfer, Science Investigator and Global Traveller.