It was sign of change, big change. The press, the cameras, the film crews and the journalists filled a busy press conference in Dublin on Wednesday to launch Women in an Ireland of Equals, a policy document compiled by Sinn Féin's Election Directorate Women's Committee.

The press corps wanted to know what Sinn Féin thought about women, about violence against women, counselling for women in Irish speaking rural areas, about the lack of gender balance in representation in Ireland. That was change.

Anne Speed, who heads up Sinn Féin's Women's' Department, chaired the conference with great fluency. She introduced some of the candidates: Deirdre Whelan, (Dublin South) who spoke about the need for government funded child care; Frances McCole, (Dublin North Central), who spoke about the need for early start education for youngsters; Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin West), who spoke about the housing crisis and its affect on women and the high proportion of women who earn below the minimum wage; and Mairead Keane (Wicklow), who spoke of the special burden imposed on women by the unjustifiable two-tier health system. Finally, Lucilita Breathnach, Sinn Fein's Director of Elections, spoke of the National Plan for Women and the need for this to be implemented and monitored by local community groups.

"Normally Sinn Féin is fighting about minority rights - but women's' rights, in an Ireland of Equals, are about majority rights," Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said. "Women are the majority in our state. It's about changing the balance of power - men have to move over - to make room for women."

Adams referred to a lady from Ballyfermot he had met recently at an exhibition. She had said to him that male authority figures, and she counted Gerry Adams among them, needed to make it clear that violence against women is wrong. "I want to say that now, strongly and firmly," he said.

The policy document was written by Ann O'Sullivan, with input from Valerie Grieve, Anne Speed and Áine ní Gabhain.

Níl saoirse gan saoirse na mban

The following is an edited version of the Sinn Féin document. The full text is available from the Sinn Féin Election Directorate Women's Committee, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1)

The key inequalities in society are caused by inequalities of power, which are structural, economic, social and cultural.

Sinn Féin advocates the right to social, economic and cultural equality. This encompasses the equality of all women irrespective of their race, age, marital or family status sexual orientation, physical or mental capacities, ethnicity, social origin or political or religious affiliations.

Women's inequality and in turn gender discrimination, is an issue for all. For women, inequality is manifested differently when combined with other factors such as poverty, educational disadvantage, poor health care, violence and racism.

Sinn Féin wants to build an Ireland of Equals and we recognise the vital need for gender balance, gender proofing and gender equality in the decision making process. We argue that women's inequality is a structural problem, stemming from a patriarchal society. Men dominate all our cultural, social, economic and legal infrastructures. Women are not fully represented in either national politics or in local government decision-making structures. Less than 15% of TDs are women and involvement of women in politics at grassroots level is little better.

However, women occupying positions of power is not enough. The decision making process goes beyond the field of politics to all levels of society where decisions are made. We recognise the multiple diversities of women in Irish life. Discrimination is experienced at various levels, for example the Travelling community and ethnic minorities. Therefore we advocate their right to self-representation and furthermore to impact on policy making. Mechanisms for advancing gender equality should include legislation, positive action and gender mainstreaming.

Sinn Féin's aim is to build an Ireland of Equals. We seek to realise the potential for all-Ireland progress on the whole Human Rights/equality focus as set out in the Good Friday Agreement.

The Good Friday Agreement is an all-Ireland agreement. The majority of women endorsed it by their vote and are committed to and working towards its full implementation. Sinn Féin Women's Forum will host an all Ireland public forum inviting women across all backgrounds to discuss broadening and developing their role in the peace process.
We insist that the Six-County Human Rights Commission, as set up under the Good Friday Agreement be re-constituted in a fully comprehensive way to reflect, in terms of representation on the Commission, society as a whole, especially those sections most vulnerable, alientated or marginalised, which include many women. The rights of women must be included as a core component of any Bill of Rights that might emerge. Sinn Féin calls on the Human Rights Commission in the 26 Counties to begin functioning immediately. Sinn Féin supports the view of the United Nations that women's human rights should be centrally placed on the political agenda in Ireland.
The EU Convention on the future of Europe will address issues of substantial interest to women. While noting the advances in EU social policy, we call for a full public forum to facilitate women bringing forward their views on issues under debate. We also call for a public commitment from the three Irish representatives to the Convention to a two-way dialogue via such a forum.
Sinn Féin welcomes the National Plan for Women as a step towards addressing the inequality of women in Irish society and calls for the setting up of a representative body to monitor progress on its implementation. We recommend total implementation of this plan be anchored in the Department of the Taoiseach to ensure its delivery.
Sinn Féin calls for a public debate on the political structures which should be created to enable women engage more fully in all aspects of government.
Sinn Féin supports the call of the National Women's Council of Ireland for state and public bodies to implement 60/40 gender quotas on boards of management and in the policy making arena.
There are key areas of concern to women that require priority attention by a Dublin government. The Sinn Féin policy document presses for action on a programme for women making proposals with regard to poverty, the economy, childcare, health, violence against women, education, housing, older women, carers, and rural isolation.


The document concludes:

Sinn Féin's policy is based on the need for equality. We cannot have equality where structural inequalities are built into the system. Simple one-line solutions to the problem of gender inequality in society are not possible. We have strategies to change how we respond to these challenges. Fundamental restructuring at all levels of decision making are needed.