E Library Resources
All resources are available for immediate download. We aim to bring you links to all the latest research and reports relevant to local women.
Provides a critical examination of the Northern Ireland Executive's latest childcare policy document, Bright Start, from the perspective of women in disadvantaged and rural areas.
Report by NERI exploring the differing costs of childcare throughout Ireland.
Provides a comparative study of childcare policies.
Estimates the economic ramifications of providing universal childcare in Northern Ireland using cost-benefit analysis.
Reviews childcare costs in Northern Ireland
Report by the NERI thinktank looking at 20 years of developent in Women's employment in NI
Summarises on an annual basis the latest figures on the cost of childcare.
Reviews the nature of government support for childcare costs within universal credit.
Childcare for All's annual report into the cost of childcare in Northern Ireland.
January 2019
Puts forward new standards developed to provide assurance of a consistent level of quality in childminding and day care services, and also to ensure a consistent regional approach to registration and inspection.
Sets out the type, extent and delivery of childcare provision necessary to maximise the economic participation of women within Northern Ireland.
This report aims to stimulate a fresh debate about one of the most important issues facing our society: how best to care for our children. We propose three changes to help overcome inequalities and move towards better childcare for all.
Presents a roadmap for the development of early years, childcare and family support services for Northern Ireland.
Women's Resource & Development Agency, Children in Northern Ireland and Women's Information Northern Ireland joint response to OFMDFM's "Delivering Social Change Through Childcare" Strategy, November 2015
A selection of people recount their childcare arrangements to illustrate the need for universal childcare in Northern Ireland.
This discussion paper makes the case for investing in free universal childcare services of high quality in order to reduce gender inequality in earnings and employment. It estimates the employment-generating and fiscal effects of investing in free universal childcare in three middle income countries: South Africa, Uruguay, and Turkey. It calculates the total annual costs of investing in high-quality childcare services that would cover the entire population of children below primary school age, using parameters relevant to each national context.
NIRWN's consultation response to OFMDFM's "Delivering Social Change Through Childcare" Strategy, November 2015
Explores childcare demand among ethnic minority groups in Northern Ireland.
Sets out the framework, principles and a range of key first actions to help deliver the Executive’s vision for childcare. A more comprehensive childcare strategy is set to follow shortly.
A Report by MATRIX into the impact of women in science.
Report by the Young Women's Trus into the value of unpaid work.
Draws learning from a range of projects and initiatives in Northern Ireland and beyond in working towards de-segregating the workforce through facilitating the access of women to non-traditional occupations.
This summary document outlines recommendations for Political Parties, Local Authorities and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on how to address women's under representation in Local Government.
Outlines issues facing minority ethnic women wanting to secure employment, while making a number of recommendations. Also compares and contrasts the experiences of the integration of minority ethnic women in business across the island of Ireland.
Explores key educational inequalities across the equality grounds in Northern Ireland.
The Women into Non-Traditional Sectors (WINS) project led by Belfast City Council and the Equal at Work project in Dublin, both part-funded by the EU Equal Initiative, commissioned research into mechanisms for brining women into non-traditional occupations north and south. Training for Women Network (TWN) carried out the work for Northern Ireland and the Women’s Education Resource and Research Centre (WERRC) at University College Dublin (UCD) carried out the research for the Republic of Ireland.
Executive Summary of the final comparative report of the Enlargement, Gender and Government project by Queen's University Belfast
Investigates the barriers to participation faced by women from minority ethnic backgrounds in starting up and conducting businesses in Northern Ireland, encompassing issues for businesses in general, issues for women and issues for members of minority ethnic groups.
Contains information on the economic status of women in Northern Ireland from the most recent quarterly labour force survey.
NWCI have launched research exploring women's under representation in local government. This was carried out by Dr Pauline Cullen and Claire McGing. It was kindly supported by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
ifty years on from the Equal Pay Act 1970, women are still fighting to make equal pay a reality. Far from this battle being won, this report shows that women are routinely unaware of what their colleagues earn, and therefore unable to secure equal pay. From supermarkets and councils to broadcasters and catering companies, men are still being paid more for the same work, work rated as equivalent, or work of equal value.
Evaluates the affect of careers education, careers guidance and other provision on the aspirations and choices of girls and young women.
A formal investigation into the treatment of pregnant workers and mothers in Northern Ireland's workplaces.
In most developed countries, economies are facing population ageing, falling fertility rates and stagnating labour force participation. The ability of governments to fund future pension and health-care expenditure relies to a large extent on income tax and social security receipts from workers. Policymakers are generally in agreement that increasing the labour force participation of women, without reducing the fertility rate, is needed. In the year 2000, with the aim of increasing women's labour market participation, a partial individualisation of the Irish income tax system was initiated. Using the Living in Ireland survey and a difference-in-differences framework, I investigate whether this reform had any effect on female labour supply and caring duties. I find that the labour force participation rate of married women increased by 5-6 percentage points in the wake of the reform, hours of work increased by two per week and hours of unpaid childcare decreased by approximately the same margin.
This paper by The Progressive Policy Think Tank (TPPTT) argues that automation presents an opportunity to narrow gender inequalities, and sets out four propositions for change based on this premise.
A leaflet looking at employer's duty towards pregnant employees and maternity leave.
This briefing paper from the New Economics Foundation summarises the case for shortening people’s working hours without a loss in pay and puts forward an initial policy framework for getting there. It also marks the beginning of a new stream of work supporting those in trade unions, industry and government seeking to pursue this cause in the UK and across Europe.
Women make up the majority of those employed in the civil service but are underrepresented at the most senior grades, where key policy and operational decisions are taken. Action 8 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan commits to improving gender balance at each level, including senior grades. The present study was commissioned by a high-level steering group set up to oversee implementation of this action. It draws on a combination of administrative data, reanalysis of the Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey conducted in 2015, and in-depth work history interviews with 50 senior civil servants across four departments. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with staff involved in recruitment and promotion within the public service. This rich combination of data yields new insights into the processes shaping gender differences in representation at the most senior grades of the civil service and thus provides a strong evidence base to inform future policy and practice.
Summary of The Progressive Policy Think Tank paper arguing that automation presents an opportunity to narrow gender inequalities.
ICTU conducted a survey to explore how the menopause affected people at work in Northern Ireland.
Comprehensively evaluates the Live and Learn Project, which has run throughout the last five years and offers training, support and events for women through 14 women's centres based in local communities across Northern Ireland.
This article examines the impact of a large increase in female participation on occupational segregation. Increases in female participation may decrease occupational segregation if women enter male dominated sectors but may increase segregation if they enter already female dominated sectors. Using Ireland as a test case due to the recent large increase in female participation rates, we firstly carry out a decomposition analysis between 1991 and 2006 and find that the rise in female employment was driven predominantly by increased demand while between one tenth and one fifth of the rise was due to women increasing their share of occupational employment. Formal measures of segregation show that occupational segregation fell over this time period. The formal measures of segregation show that the level of occupational grouping is important with stagnation or smaller falls in segregation using a broad occupational grouping and sharper falls using a more detailed occupational grouping. Our findings support previous U.S. research that found a rise in female participation resulted in a decline in occupational segregation.
Alice Martin wrote for Tribune about the possibilities that a shorter working week would offer to parents, children and nursery workers alike.
Toolkit on how to end sexual violence and harassment in third level education.
discusses how gendered behaviours are perceived in the workplace. Comments on development of these attitudes over time.
This report sets out arguments for a much shorter working week. It proposes a significant shift in what is considered ‘normal’ – down from 40 hours or more, to 21 hours. While people can choose to work longer or shorter hours, we propose that 21 hours – or its equivalent spread across the calendar year – should become the standard that is generally expected by government, employers, trade unions, employees, and everyone else.
A review of data on the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment in Irish higher education settings.
A Working Paper by CCEA Investigating the Low Participation of Girls taking Computing in Northern Ireland Schools.
Booklet produced by TUC on women's rights at work relating to sexual harassment.
Looks at how humanitarian crises have a disproportionate impact on the secondary education of girls.
Report based on an all Ireland Trade Union survey.
Breif summary of PLAN International's report on the impacts of humanitarian crises on girls' secondary education.
Reviews international research evidence on the relationship between gender and education.
Explores women's community education provision as a key component of Northern Ireland's active and vibrant community learning sector.
Draws on research carried out during throughout the first half of 2014 to identify gaps and unmet needs in education and training affecting women in disadvantaged and rural areas.
A Unison campaign to recognise the work of support staff in schools.
Report assessming the impact of Women's Tec over a three year period.
Provides an overview of how programmes for a ‘hard to reach’ target group can be delivered successfully in a women’s centre setting.
While education levels of women have increased dramatically relative to men, women are still greatly underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) college programmes. The ESRI use unique data on preference rankings for all secondary school students who apply for college in Ireland and detailed information on school subjects and grades to decompose the sources of the gender gap in STEM.
Gender Stereotypes in Early Childhood: A Literature Review comprises a review of academic evidence on gender stereotyping from 0-7 years old.
Minimum wages are often advocated as tools to alleviate poverty as long as they are not set so high that they reduce employment. Because women are more likely than men to work in low paid jobs, minimum wages can also help to reduce the gender pay gap. This study examines how the gender wage gap changed following the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in Ireland in 2000 and the United Kingdom (UK) in 1999.
Proposes and details a conceptual framework to set out how equality responsive budgeting can be used within budgetary processes to further assist public authorities in promoting equality of opportunity and good relations.
Summarises the background to women’s representation in politics, outlines the legislative frameworks relevant to women’s representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly and reviews some mechanisms for increasing female representation.
A report on a pilot project seeking to develop a rights based approach to women's empowerment.
Gender differences in the impact of Irish budgetary policy over the last decade can be traced back to the fact that women are more likely than men to be lone parents, to be out of the labour force and to benefit from child-related supports.
Examines current progress towards action plan commitments at the mid-term point of the Gender Equality Strategy.
The paper summarises statistics on gender representation in decision-making positions in Northern Ireland.The statistics are set out in simplified tables to offer an at-a-glance view of gender and power in Northern Ireland.
Women are disproportionately in low‐paid work compared to men so, in the absence of rationing effects on their employment, they should benefit the most from minimum wage policies. This study examines the change in the gender wage gap around the introduction of minimum wages in Ireland and the United Kingdom (U.K.). Using survey data for the two countries, we develop a decomposition of the change in the gender differences in wage distributions around the date of introduction of minimum wages. We separate out “price” effects attributed to minimum wages from “employment composition” effects. A significant reduction of the gender gap at low wages is observed after the introduction of the minimum wage in Ireland, while there is hardly any change in the U.K. Counterfactual simulations show that the difference between countries may be attributed to gender differences in non‐compliance with the minimum wage legislation in the U.K.
This report by Plan International explores the perfect storm of discrimination faced by girls with disabilities.
Brings together qualitative research into women’s experience of violence in Northern Ireland.
new resource for women and women's groups working for change at local level in Plain English
Describes the role of women living in disadvantaged communities and details the barriers that make it difficult for women to fulfil their potential or participate fully in society.
Comprises an audit of the work of WSN members in Europe.
Women for Changewas a National Women’s Council of Ireland initiative in response to the fact that there is little funding available to support training for women involved in, or interested in getting involved in, work to promote equality and social change.
Puts fowards the findings of a conference on global feminism.
Reviews the condition of gender equality and empowerment of women/girls in the UK in respect of UN member state sustainable development goals.
A graphical timeline of gender equality in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
ince 2014, Oxfam America and Gender at Work (G@W) have worked in partnership to implement the Gender Action Learning (GAL) Process in Ghana, Senegal, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Using the Most Significant Change (MSC) methodology, we have been able to reflect and learn about how change around gender justice happens on an individual, organizational and community levels. The last stages of this project were implemented in May 2016
Report by WUNRN looking at how Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) is being implemented in urban planning.
2019 report on girls choices in Benin, Togo and Uganda.
Report by UN Women detailing the financial implications of women gaining equality within family structures.
This paper presents a costing analysis for a set of family-friendly services and transfers: income protection for children, people of working age, and older persons; universal health coverage; and early childhood care and education and long-term care services. The social protection and care policies that are included in the costing have enormous significance for families and broader society, and their implementation would have particularly important impacts for women, since they are over-represented among those without income security, they face specific life course contingencies, and they take on a highly disproportionate share of unpaid care work.
Report by UN Women on the progress of gender equality in families.
This paper begins by presenting an overview of the latest research on cash transfers, gender protection, and empowerment outcomes. It continues by discussing some of the programme design features to consider when seeking to improve gender outcomes. Finally, the paper concludes with a set of research questions that can help shape future research and practice in this area.
A series of demands on gender equality issues, directed at local descision makers.
This paper sets gender in the context of both policy and practice, providing challenges to gender based work with young women and young men, as well as providing recommendations for policy developments in helping young people to understand and challenge the impact that gender has upon their lives.
Created by UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality provides a systematic approach and targeted platform where a global audience can engage and become change agents for the achievement of gender equality in our lifetime. This requires an innovative, inclusive approach that mobilizes people of every gender identity and expression as advocates and acknowledges the ways that we all benefit from this equality. HeForShe invites people around the world to stand together as equal partners to craft a shared vision of a gender equal world and implement specific, locally relevant solutions for the good of all of humanity.
Report by UN Women on the progress of gender equality within families.
A report by the UN looking at advancements in women's equality with regard to child custody
Men dominate every sector of politics, public life and business. Parity for women in most areas of public life appears to be decades away. The picture is even worse for women of colour – who are simply missing altogether from the highest levels of many sectors.
However, the 2019 general election shows change is possible and that a willingness to intervene can bring parity for women. For the first time, women MPs are in the majority in the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties. Women of colour were also elected in greater numbers – now making up 17% of women MPs, in line with the population as a whole. Now is the time for all sectors to actively work towards enabling women in all their diversity to reach positions of power.
Reviews the representation of women in positions of power in Northern Ireland and examines a selection of recent policy developments with regard to their impacts on women
Information for individuals on how to organise an event and network to explore how men can be allies in the process of gender equality.
The paper provides a basis to review the barriers, risks, and opportunities related to gender and the accessibility and utilization of digital finance, and to help identify pathways that could be leveraged for potential impactful investment returns for women.
Contains concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of the UK from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
A guide to best practice on involving women in public consultations.
Guide for creating a gender equal workplace
This study addresses the percolation and domestication of the United Nations’ “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Transforming our World” in Germany with a view to understanding its impact on domestic gender equality policies. Concentrating on federal-level policymaking, the main finding of the study is that the 2030 Agenda and SDG 5 have, as of yet, not had a discernible impact on domestic gender equality struggles. This is surprising, since the 2030 Agenda offers a holistic conception of sustainability, and thus has the “value added” advantage of merging and transcending the rather disjointed gender, social justice, and ecological sustainability policy strands.
Includes summaries of speeches, workshop discussions and policy recommendations given at a conference around the theme of bringing a gender awareness to the Shared Future agenda.
Explores the nature of the UK gender pay gap from 1995 to 2007 using data from the British Household Panel Survey.
Seeks to understand why Northern Ireland performs well on measures of the gender pay gap compared to the rest of the UK and examines what can be learnt from this.
Looks at the extent to which EU Member Statesand EEA/EFTA countries have developed gender equality considerations in their policies designed for the active inclusion of vulnerable groups in society. The report provides concrete policy examples across the three pillars of the active inclusion strategy, these being adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services.
The network publishes a yearly Journal covering a wide range of topics in the field.
Housing is one of the most urgent public policy issues in the UK . Our housing system is in crisis and the causes and impacts of that crisis are gendered. The report A home of her own, women and housing shows that housing is unaffordable for women in every English region.
This report by Stonewall exposes the profound impact that discrimination, violence and exclusion is having on trans people’s quality of life in Britain today.
This paper seeks to demonstrate the need and benefit of women-only services across Northern Ireland as well as providing the women’s community and voluntary sector with a tool to lobby for funding as well as to highlight the uniqueness and benefits of women-only services, not just for women but families and the community as a whole.
A summary of the the key findings of the larger report covering all local authorities in England.
Uses statistics to show the nature of participation of women in Northern Ireland in the labour market.
Summarises the current issues that matter most to local women based on views gathered at the launch of the Women's Regional Consortium in February 2014.
Report looking at the impact of the care burden on girls' lives.
There has been very little systematic research into disabled women’s reproductiverights in Scotland. However, qualitative evidence gathered by Engender over anumber of years suggested to us that their reproductive, sexual and maternal healthwas being overlooked by the very systems and services that should have beenenabling their wellbeing
assesses the impact of austerity on the mental wellbeing of women in Liverpool
outlines health inequalities in Northern Ireland between the most and least deprived areas
A leaflet prepared by HereNI discussing fertility options for Lesbian individuals and couples.
This report, supported by Comic Relief,presents qualitativeand quantitativedata on the emotional health and wellbeingof lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGB&/T) peoplein Northern Ireland. This is the first reportof its kind, as previous work relating to the emotional health and wellbeing of LGB&/T people has been demographic or age specific, focusing on transgenderpeople, women, young people or young men specifically. This data willhelp inform government and service providersonwhat approachesbest meet the emotional health and wellbeingneedsof LGB&/T people in Northern Ireland.
Birthwise surveyed women who gave birth in NI from 2015-2019 and developed recommendations from this data. This document contains the survey questions, analysed results, recommendations and executive summary.
Disabled women’s lives and lived experiences have received limited policy attention in the UK, limited visibility, and limited inclusion in mainstream feminisms and feminist projects. Despite increasing movement towards intersectionality and intersectional agendas, disabled people have remained hidden in myriad ways.
Analyses the Breast and Cervical Screening Programme and Sexual Health for Parents programme delivered by WRDA.
Executive summary of the Birthwise Maternity Survey. The survey recorded the experiences of self selecting women who gave birth in NI between 2015-2019.
A consultation response on behalf of the Women's Policy Group prepared by the Women's Sector Lobbyist.
Examines evidence for interventions to promote gender equality in prevention of violence against women.
presents survey findings on women’s experiences of antenatal and postnatal mental health care.
Birthwise surveyed self selecting women who gave birth in NI between 2015-2019. This document lists the recommendations based on the survey results.
Women’s Resource and Development Agency response to 'A New Legal Framework for Abortion Services in NI' Consultation
Explores the relationship between gender equality, domestic violence and human rights in the Northern Ireland case.
Increasing evidence is emerging that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) exists within the UK. The aim of this report is to offer a better understanding of this practice within the UK, particularly in relation to human rights. This report provides an overview of the basic elements of FGM –the different types;how widespread it is;the main motivations behind the practice;the health consequences;and how to identify its use. Itsets outthe legal framework that has been setup in the UK to criminalise this practice; it considers thelack of convictions related to FGM in the UK;and it provides examples of good practice for measures that could be taken to help improve implementation of the laws that exist. The report also looks at FGM through a human rights lens, establishing the obligations that the UK has under international and regional human rightslaw in a bid to effectively eradicate the presence of FGM within the UK. It concludes with recommendations to be considered for improving the UK’s approach to eliminating FGM and adhering toits human rightsobligations.
This Care Zone Health Profile has been produced as part of the Care Zone project, which was established as a community development pilot to tackle poor mental health and reduce suicide in the Sacred Heart Parish area in north Belfast. The project is led by the Lighthouse Charity and brings together a number of key stakeholders that operate in the area, including statutory, voluntary and community organisations and local residents. The Care Zone Health Profile has been collated and produced by Belfast Healthy Cities, with input and support from the Department of Education, Department of Health, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Public Health Agency.
Examines the relationship between substance misuse and suicide within the context of Northern Ireland.
A report by the Women and Equalities Committee into abortion law in NI. The report recommends the UK Government clarify NI abortion law.
Examines the impact of loneliness on the well being of older people and potential policy and service interventions to address same.
Funding life-saving specialist domestic abuse support services, will cost £393 million per year. This investment would be a fraction of the estimated £66 billion annual cost to society.
This is the finding of Women’s Aid’s latest report, which examines the cost of fulfilling the previous government’s committed to delivering a statutory duty on local authorities to fund refuge services, alongside sustainable funding for wider specialist domestic abuse services.
A summary of the Women's Aid report on funding specialist support for domestic abuse survivors.
Attempts to measure social exclusion among older people in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI) and fill critical knowledge gaps.
A discussion note on the potential role of the UK parliament in introducing Abortion reform to NI.
Investigates the rights of older people in nursing homes in Northern Ireland.
Explores the trans-generational impact of the Troubles on mental health
Discusses the role of the UK Parliament in regards to Abotion in NI.
A report on the conditions in secure training centres for girls (in England) and a discussion on how the girls came to be imprisoned.
Women discuss mental health in their own words.
This briefing paper was commissioned to summarise the key approaches and principles based on the available international evidence,and guidelines that may help inform the decision making and shape and influence aspects of health and social care, as well as some of the contextual factors that affect the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.
PLAN International's report outlining critical areas that need to be addressed to achieve universal sexual and reproductive health and rights.
outlines health inequalities in Northern Ireland between the most and least deprived areas
2019 report ‘Women’s Health in Ireland - Evidence Base for the development of the Women’s Health Action Plan’ prepared by Dr Kathy Walsh on behalf of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, HSE and the Department of Health.
examines the effectiveness of current mental health provision in Northern Ireland
The Department of Health and Social Care has asked the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission to consider reforms to the law of surrogacy in the United Kingdom.Surrogacy is the practice of a woman (who we refer to in this paper as the “surrogate”) becoming pregnant with a child that may, or may not, be genetically related to her, carrying the child, and giving birth to the child for another family (who we refer to as the “intended parents”).This Consultation Paper sets out provisional proposals for, and questions about, the reform of the law of surrogacy.
One page summary of the NWCI report on women's health.
explores how ethnonational conflict in the jurisdiction has adversely impact mental health and wellbeing
A report on the growing issue of people ageing without children in light of government assumptions that families will fill the gaps in social care.
An overview of the key issues discussed in the full length consultation document.
From One Hell To Another finds that the Home Office is locking up women from China who have been trafficked to the UK, in contravention of its own policies.
seeks to measure the mental health impact of ethnonational conflict in the jurisdiction
We Are Still Here finds that vulnerable asylum-seeking women are still being locked up in immigration detention. This is a hard-hitting, critical report which was widely covered by Sky News, BBC and the Guardian on publication and whose findings have been frequently mentioned in Parliament.
examines the mental health and suicide impact of global recession
Executive summary of PLAN International's repor on the impact of unpaid care on girls' lives.
The Way Ahead lays out how to build an asylum process which does not rely on detention.
Assesses the evidence of the impact of the Northern Ireland conflict on mental health and well-being, with particular emphasis on suicide.
Explores the trans-generational impact of the Troubles on mental health
his is a report about the causes of poverty among women and the consequences that poverty has on women’s lives. It is part of a collaboration between the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) and five women’s organisations in Coventry to improve the support they provide disadvantaged women.
Presents projections of relative and absolute income poverty among children and working-age adults in every year to 2016–17, and in 2020–21. The aim is to estimate the implications for household incomes – and hence, income poverty – of what is known about tax and benefit policy and current forecasts for the macroeconomy.
Analyses data on child poverty and social exclusion in the United Kingdom, presenting a child poverty measurement
explores the relationship between housing and poverty in the United Kingdom
This is a report about the causes of poverty among women and the consequences that poverty has on women’s lives. It is part of a collaboration between the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) and five women’s organisations in Coventry to improve the support they provide disadvantaged women.
A report published in 2019 examining all aspects of poverty in the UK.
Provides an overview of the research evidence on the relationship between poverty and ethnicity in Northern Ireland.
Provides the latest data on poverty in Northern Ireland, focusing on associations between poverty, work, disability and age.
Detailed data about household incomes comes with a considerable lag. And while the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) produces economic forecasts for the next five years, these only tell us about averages. In this, our second dedicated Living Standards Outlook, we combine survey data, OBR forecasts, the government’s tax and benefit policies, and more, to project household income growth for different groups.
A report by the NEF into the impact of Austerity on the NI labour market and discussion of the direction of NI’s labour market and economic policy.
This paper examines the research on current debt levels and the different types of borrowing available with a focus on problem debt and high cost lending especially for those on low incomes. The overall aim of this research project is to explore the perspectives of women living and working in disadvantaged and rural areas of Northern Ireland on why they need to borrow money, where they go get this money and their experiences of using different forms of lending, particularly the more expensiveforms of credit.
Explores children’s experiences of poverty and educational disadvantage and their attitudes to education.
This report into the barriers facing women living in disadvantaged areas was commissioned by the Women’s Centres Regional Partnership with funding from the Voluntary and Community Unit of the Department for Social Development. The aim was to carry out a baseline study detailing the position of women in disadvantaged communities, providing analysis of barriers to participation and indicating key policy issues to be addressed.
Provides an overview of devolved strategies to tackle child poverty in the UK; builds on earlier work by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation assessing the impact of devolution for low-income people and places; and, looks at what more can be done within existing powers to tackle child poverty.
A report on the long term impact of the Credit Crunch on yound people entering the work force between 2008-2011. Dr Carole Easton, Chief Executive of the Young Women’s Trust comments on the particular impacts on young women.
Contains headline poverty figures drawn from the latest Households Below Average Income datasets for the period April 2011 up to the end of March 2012.
Summary of the impact of cuts to local authority budgets on women.
Identifies and analyses evidence on the links between gender and poverty and examines the impact of these links on policy approaches.
Report detailing how welfare reform since 2010 has endangered the right to food for the poorest people in the UK.
The first comprehensive review of 12 million data sets looking at the impact of child sponsorship.
Recommendations to achieve a gender equal economy in the general election 2019
Full report on the analysis of 12 million data sets looking at the impact of child sponsorship.
Examines in detail what has happened in Northern Ireland since the recession in terms of poverty and social exclusion.
Many analysts agree that the most challenging issue facing the labour market is the quality rather than the quantity of employment. The evidence presented in this Research In Brief however suggests that these headline figures have been masking a more worrying story about the changing nature and quality of employment in Northern Ireland. Specifically, this Research InBrief shows that insecure employment and low pay present particular challenges to improving the quality of jobs and providing decent work for all.
Examines the findings of a number of projects examining the associations between jobs, skills and poverty, with a view to identifying ‘sustainable solutions’ to in-work poverty and worklessness.
presents findings on the impact of the United Kingdom recession on suicide rates
This publication presents annual estimates of the percentage and number of people, children,working age adults and pensioners living in low income households in Northern Ireland (NI). The estimates are used to monitor poverty rates in Northern Ireland. The estimates for all individuals in Relative and Absolute Poverty,both before and after housing costs,are included in the Draft Programmefor Government. The data published is for the financial year April 2017to March 2018.
Explores the topical issues of rural isolation, poverty and rural community/farmer wellbeing.
Seeks to highlight solutions for telecommunication services within rural areas.
Examines issues of rural mental health, stigma and services in four council districts in Northern Ireland.
Case studies of rural women who are making a difference in their communities.
Provides DARD statistics on a wide range of rural issues, including agriculture, food, animal health, fisheries and forestry in Northern Ireland.
Aims to provide an overview of the main approaches being taken to alleviate rural poverty and increase rural development, as well as exploring whether these approaches have specifically targeted or benefitted rural women.
Snapshots the position of women in rural Northern Ireland on public bodies, voluntary agencies, political representation, etc, to illustrate the low levels of representation in decision making, in the context of the Review of Public Administration (RPA).
Considers issues of gender mainstreaming and the use of focus groups and audits to illustrate understanding and demonstrate current levels of representation.
An indepth exploration of NIRWN's priority areas, Caring responsibilities; Rural Transport; Rural Development; Education and Training of Women; Rural Women, Poverty and the Economy and Social Isolation, Health and Wellbeing.
Contains commitments on rural issues by all Departments and provides a framework for a more integrated approach by the Executive in seeking to address the challenges facing our rural communities.
Provides a picture of the current rural women's infrastructure, their representation in rural community activity and decision making; the level of rural community activity for rural women; and the level of community development skills within the women's sector. Recommendations are made for DARD, Rural Women's Groups Strategy Partnership and Rural Community Network.
Looks at the barriers affecting women's access to public and statutory services in rural communities in Northern Ireland.
This leaflet was compliled by Rural Residents' Forum to help explain how rural communities can get their area identified for a rural housing needs test and how individuals can apply for social housing.
This is the first report to study transphobic hate incidents in Northern Ireland, the effect such incidents have on trans individuals and the issues that might constrain trans persons from reporting such incidents to the PSNI. The core focus of the report has been to give a voice to the views, opinions and experiences of trans individuals in relation to hate crime and the way in which experiencing a transphobic incident impacts one‟s perception of safety and also one‟s emotional, physical and psychological well-being.
Offers a profile of advice and support service provision in women’s centres within greater Belfast.
This report was produced by The Fawcett Society and global law firm Hogan Lovells.
How a culture of stigma and silence have turned periods into a hidden public health issue.
Captures a snapshot of women's perceptions of the demand for and the actual/potential role of community-based women-only advice in the context of ongoing austerity and associated poverty.
The future is digital and girls must be in it, but harassment online and a lack of rights is driving them away.
Manifesto put together by coalition of 29 organisations striving for gender equality and women’s human rights.
The Belfast Domestic & Sexual Violence Partnership has developed a leaflet on financial abuse – what is it, how to recognise it, and how to break free from it.
The guide includes vital information on legal options, managing debt, and what to do once you leave an abusive partner.
A booklet helping venues design and understand gender neutral toilet signs.
The National Women's Council of Ireland's manifesto for the 2019 European elections.
The executive summary from the annual wide ranging survey by Parenting NI
The full report from Parenting NI's annual wide ranging survey.
A statement from The Religious Institute outling a faith based case to support women's right to choose.
Briefing on the impact of the issues outlined in the UK Government Brexit risk report on women.
A report by Housing For All NI proposing an action plan for dealing with homelessness among destitute asylum seekers in NI.
A review carried out by Queen's University Belfast on behalf of the Department of Justice looking at the impact of 2014 criminalisation of payment for sex.
The third report by Criminal Justice Inspection NI on the topic of how cases of domestic violence and abuse are handled.
Department of Justice review of the report by QUB on the impact of the criminalisation of payment for sex.
A four year eveluation of the Muslim Women's network UK helpline.
A summary of the Criminal Justice Inspection NI third report on how cases of domestic violence and abuse are handled.
A report on the prevalence and types of sexual harassment in the UK.
Summary of the review into the impact of the criminalisation of sex in NI.
A leaflet prepared by Youth Action.
A report by Housing4All looking at the human rights abuses faced by people seeking asylum particularly in relation to housing.
Brief summary of PLAN International's report on sexual harassment in the UK.
Women who have come to the UK to seek safety are instead being made homeless, hungry and vulnerable to abuse. ‘Will I ever be safe?’ is the largest recent research into how asylum-seeking women in the UK who are made destitute survive (with no access to statutory housing, financial support or right to work).
this resource was developed by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) following engagement with women through our Women for Change project. This resource was made possible by the support of the Training Links Fund through the Department of Education and Science.
PLAN International's global report on girls and young women in modern slavery.
This booklet has been developed by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership and will provide guidance for how support can be provided by the Mosque Community and how victims can obtain support.
Case for making misogyny an independent offence in Scotland
A pack by Restored looking at how domestic abuse can be challenged in the context of Christian Communities.
Examines the specialist advice services available to women in the greater Belfast area.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the local public procurement and tendering landscape.
A leaflet prepared by HereNI discussing coming out to your friends and family.
The Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin is a quarterly bulletin containing information on new housing starts and completions, homelessness, the NI House Price Index and new house sales and prices.
Article by the Trussell Trust looking at how Universal Credit can make it harder for women to leave abusive relationships.
Explores how the social housing sector might ‘address poverty and help prevent tenants from moving into problematic debt and rent arrears’, in the context of welfare reform and wider austerity.
Assesses the impact of austerity on low income households in the United Kingdom.
Analyses the impact of the financial crisis on women, including lone parents, migrant women, young women and older women, with a particular focus given to pensions, welfare reform, debt and credit, housing, and energy debt. Includes a summary of policy recommendations for each government department.
Explores the effects of cuts in welfare expenditure on social landlords and tenants.
Examines the impact of austerity on inequality across Europe.
Examines the cumulative impact of welfare changes on women in Scotland.
Examines the impact of austerity in the housing sector across EU member states.
Outlines the Northern Ireland specific impacts of the summer budget 2015 for benefit claimants (including tax credit claimants).
Summarises research on the impact of austerity on lone parents’ everyday lives.
Outlines the anticipated impact of proposed welfare reforms on the Northern Ireland economy.
Explores the impact of welfare reform on Northern Ireland, including on pre-existing poverty.
A report on the impact of welfare reforms in NI.
A report by leading academic Professor Sylvia Walby, UNESCO Chair in Gender Research, and Jude Towers at Lancaster University, raises concern about the implications of public expenditure reductions for the provision of local violence against women services.
Examines a range of quantitative and qualitative data and analysis on the impact of UK austerity measures on women.
Considers the cumulative impact of spending cuts and other austerity initiatives on vulnerable groups of women in Liverpool.
Examines how the poorest families in the United Kingdom have been affected by benefit cuts.
Examines the projected cumulative impact of tax and benefit reforms on Northern Ireland households.
Reviews ‘the impact of changes in the structure of employment and pay on income inequality and poverty’.
Explores the gender impact of cuts to jobs, services and welfare.
Considers the impact of austerity cuts on some of the most vulnerable in Camden.
Examines the impact on household income distribution in the United Kingdom of recent tax, tax credit and benefit reform.
A report by the Women's Budget Group looking at how sspects of the social security system undermine the UK Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill.
Explores the nature of the uptake of benefits by pensioners in Northern Ireland.
An assessment of the cumulative impact on single mothers of 2010-15 tax and benefit reforms.
This is a summary of a report from the Women’s Budget Group, Surviving Economic Abuse and the End Violence Against Women coalition, supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Universities of Bristol and Strathclyde.
Explores the impact of austerity-driven cuts on different population cohorts.
Explores the impact of austerity on the everyday lives of families in the United Kingdom.
Article by Italian Feminist group, F COME, exploring the connections between food and femininity and the history of female uprising.
Explores the participation of women in dealing with the past within post-conflict society, focussing on the Northern Ireland case.
Supported by a bursary from NI-CO, the TWN Policy and Research Officer went to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5-9 November 2007 to make connections with organisations working in the area of gender equality and to investigate comparisons between the post-conflict contexts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland in terms of women’s empowerment.
Reprot by WUNRN (Women's UN Report Network) looking at Custormary and Informal Justice Systems. CIJS resolve 80% of disputes in the developing world but are often skewed against women, favoring male-dominated structures, patriarchal values, and discriminatory and harmful outcomes for women.
ECNI's submission to CEDAW.
The goal of this project was always to produce a Women’s Charter for Change, and to do this by having a cross-community group of women in North Belfast to work together to produce it. The Charter itself was designed to look at some of the most entrenched issues in society here; issues around cultural expression and shared space, and to chart a way forward – lessons we can use to build a toolkit that can be adapted and used in different circumstances and in different places.
Draws on the experiences and differences that women went through alongside their male counterparts during the conflict in Northern ireland and examines the needs of women today in our post-conflict society.
An analysis of the effectiveness of women's participation in the NI peace process.
Think Tank article about the challenge to traditional politics by young feminists.
Assesses how far the promises of the Belfast Agreement have been achieved in providing the necessary resources to meet the needs of victims and places women within the context of the victims sector.
Research aiming to map individual women's experiences of violence in NI.
Investigates women's role in peacebuilding. Debates relating to innate passivity in women, socialisation processes, differential impact of conflict and coincidental factors are explored. Notions of civil society are also examined and how women are included (or not) in the theory.
Looks at the key instruments, initiatives and activities related to UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, with particular focus on Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Explores and highlights the difficulty that the notion of ‘Forgiveness’ poses in attempting to accept and resolve issues about historical events, such as those that occured during the Northern Ireland conflict. The report itself has been a result of a close working partnership between TWN, The Institute of Governance (QUB), The Forgiveness Project and various community, victim and voluntary groups across the Northern Ireland.
An article from the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy updating readers on the Migrant Crisis.
A report by the Fawcett Society looking at how women's inclusion in devolved structures could be improved.
This peace monitor report, the fifth in a series of monitors, highlights the challenges facing our peace and political processes in the honest and comprehensive way that is needed for all people who can influence for the better going forward. The challenges are significant, and overcoming them will be more exhausting still because they exist in a political vacuum.
Offers local decision makers guidance on how best to incorporate the views of women into peacebuilding and the development of policy.
The Women’s Resource and Development Agency carried out this research to give voice to women in North Belfast, by capturing their lived experiences and how they individually, their families, their communities, and in turn, their geographical and cultural relationships have been affected.
Discussion of the need for a shared vision as a means to unite a fractured society.
This article focuses on the role of women in the negotiations leading to Colombia’s peace agreement, recognized as history’s most inclusive peace deal internationally.
This paper is a summary report on the findings and recommendations of the Reclaiming the Bonfires project.
A booklet providing a useful overview of reports and programmes in this area.
Explores women’s accounts of their own experiences of the conflict in Northern Ireland.
A summary of the latest predictions regarding the impact of Brexit on NI.
Relays women’s experiences of community service placements in three women’s centres in Northern Ireland.
Sets out the findings of a 2013 NICVA member survey examinning issues affecting the sector including bureaucracy, charity registration and the introduction of automatic pension enrolment.
Blog post from SafeLives exploring disabled women's experience of domestic violence.
explores the relationship between Brexit and Northern Ireland
Penal practices in Northern Ireland are fashioned around the legacy of civil unrest and the imprisonment of politically affiliated prisoners. Women represent a small percentage of the prison population, and most are sentenced for minor ‘offences’, including non-payment of fines. Women exiting prison share histories of severe social exclusion and complex unmet needs in relation to housing, employment, income, education, training, and mental and physical health. Recently,the introduction of a strategy for the management of women who offend, gender specific standards for working with women prisoners and the establishment of the probation-led Inspire Women’s Project, have marked an acknowledgement of women’s penality by the Department of Justice. This paper draws upon primary qualitative research data on women’s resettlement experience in Northern Ireland to consider the correlation between gender responsive measures and the increasing criminalisation and imprisonment of severely disadvantaged and marginalised women. It explores the failure of gender responsive initiatives to reduce the Northern Ireland female prison population, it examines professional discourse which privileges the responsibilisation of women and the language of choice and reflects upon the up-tariffing of women on the basis of their unmet need rather than the seriousness of their offending.
Presents the findings of a pilot Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of two programmes within two different organisations, Ardoyne Women’s Group and Women’s Information Northern Ireland (formerly Women’s Information Group).
A series of demands on gender equality issues, directed at local descision makers. Issues covered include childcare, education, equality law and violence against women.
A guide on the issue intended for employers. Includes a sample workplace policy.
A report by the Human Rights Commission on Women in NI prisons.
Analyses the findings of a pilot Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of three programmes in three Belfast women’s centres.
considers how Brexit might potentially threaten working women’s rights.
A summary of the work of the Foyle Women's Information Network.
critically examines the different ways in which Brexit may potentially impact the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland adversely, proposing corrective action to help address same.
Article by the New Economics Foundation looking at the gendered impacts of climate change and what a move to a zero carbon economy would mean for women
University of Wisconsin paper looking at potential feminist responses to climate change
A summary of the October work of the Women's Resource and Development Agency
Seeks to provide all stakeholders with the purpose, direction and vision to take the NW women’s sector forward in a meaningful and co-ordinated fashion.
A summary of the work of the Women's Resource and Development Agency in Nov/Dec
Aims to create comptetitive, connected, creative and caring L'Derry for everyone.
Identifies the social and economic development activities and good practice in the work of eight women’s centres.
Reviews evidence and data on housing and communities’ inequalities for groups associated with each of the section 75 equality grounds of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Report on women's opinions about Brexit. The report also looks at the possible gendered impacts of Brexit.
Analysis of a survey conducted by QUB into attitudes to Brexit in NI.
Cases were identified from the helpline database where Muslim female service users had come into contact with criminal justice institutions such as the police, crown prosecution service or judiciary and the responses they received were insufficient or inadequate. These cases are analysed of examined for how the criminal justice system responds to Muslim women who have been victims of violence and abuse and whether they are ‘getting justice’ and what factors are contributing to any ‘justice gap.’
Explores sustainability in community based women’s sector, presenting toolkit on same.
Asks whether money is a cause of fundamental differences in children’s outcomes.
Explores policy approaches to framing the issue of ‘peace walls’ and issues around the Executive’s ambition to remove all such interface barriers by 2023.
A summary of the larger report 'Brexit: Women's Perspectives'. This summary looks at the major concerns women have regarding Brexit and lays out the WRC's recommendations for mitigation.
A round up of the work of the Women's Resource and Development Agency in August
Summary of the report from Muslim Women's Network UK into the impact of poor service in the Criminal Justice System.
Summarises findings of SROI pilot projects on programmes in Belfast women’s centres and WINI.
Explores research evidence on a wide range of social issues related to poverty.
Critically evaluates recent government delivery on children’s rights.
Three themes emerged as key factors to ensure engagement of women from disadvantaged and rural areas in the Community Planning process.
Outlines strategies for equality bodies to enable lesbian, gay and bisexual people to secure their rights under equality law.
Explores the role public policy ‘should play in supporting progress on a living wage’.
WRDA's response to DSD consultation "Charities (Accounts & Reports) Regulations 2015", October 2015
Report by the Muslim Women's Network UK into how Muslim women can be included equally in recruitment.
explores the relationship between Brexit and Northern Ireland
Offers a brief history of women’s contribution to Belfast, with individual biographies of notable women.
sets out the United Kingdom government’s position on Brexit and Northern Ireland and Ireland
explores the potential impact of Brexit on low-income households
A gender audit of the manifestos of the main parties for the 2019 General Election
WBG has set out it’s concern about the impact of Brexit, particularly a no deal Brexit, in multiple reports1and briefings2since 2017. Based on our analysis WBG has concluded that Brexit will have a damaging impact on the UK economy, with a ‘hard Brexit’, likely to be the most damaging3. Although the Brexit deal proposed by Boris Johnson avoids some of the most catastrophic impacts of no deal, it represents a very ‘hard’ version of Brexit. It rules out a new customs union and a close relationship with the single market. For many women, particularly the poorest, black and minority ethnic (BAME) women and disabled women, this could mean job losses, cuts to services, squeezed family budgets and reduced legal protections.
explores the potential implications of Brexit for Northern Ireland
Foyle Women's Information Network's September newsletter featuring a poem about Mo Mowlam.
A women's Manifesto for the 2019 General Election
measures progress in gender equality across the European Union
Women’s Aid NI is committed to being the best we can be for children and young people – we believe they deserve the best. We want to provide a safe place for every child and young person who uses our services, a place where they can get support without stigma. We want to provide high quality services, informed by children and young people that effectively respond to and meet their needs. We want the experience of Women’s Aid NI to be positive, supportive and one they will remember for the rest of their lives. We are also committed to creating social change and to empowering and supporting everyone to play their role to make a difference for all children and young people, because our belief is that everyone can do something.
Article by Italian Femnist group, F COME, introducing the concept of environmental feminism.