Equality and Human Rights

Conference commends the ongoing work of Congress and Aff liates in protecting and promoting human rights and equality on the island of Ireland and in building a culture of respect for human rights and equality in our workplaces and trade unions. Rights violations and inequalities are still a feature of our workplaces and societies and we need to redouble our efforts, including:IHREC Group continue our engagement with employers in the advisory group set up by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to promote a culture of respect for human rights and equality in our workplaces.National Women's Strategy participate in the monitoring structures for the 2nd National Women's Strategy to seek to an Ireland where all women enjoy equality with men and can achieve their full potential, while enjoying a safe and ful lling life family Leaves building on the introduction of Paternity Leave, continue to campaign for paid parental leave and more equal sharing of caring responsibilities between men and women. Childcare continue our advocacy with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure the development of the single affordable childcare system equates quality with an agreed set of terms and conditions for those charged with working in the sector; Conference notes the unacceptably high cost of childcare in Northern Ireland and the burden that this places on families. Conference further notes that the absence of a comprehensive and affordable childcare system impacts disproportionally on women and their participation in the labour market. Comprehensive Employment Strategy for the Employment of People with Disabilities (CES) Conference welcomes the publication of the strategy, and calls for adequate resources and inter departmental cooperation to ensure that it is implemented effectively, with the aim of signi cant increased recruitment and retention of people with disabilities in employment. Conference is concerned at the failure of the NI Executive to publish long awaited strategic equality strategies. Whilst noting the uncertainty in relation to the political infrastructure, Conference calls on the NI government to publish, without delay, the Anti-Poverty Strategy as well as the Sexual Orientation Strategy and urges the NI Executive to update and properly resource other equality strategies including the Gender, Racial Equality and Disability strategies Equality within our unions to continue to monitor equality within our trade unions and to develop initiatives to improve the diversity in our leadership structures. Continue to call for the full implementation  of the Belfast Agreement, including the long awaited Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and Charter of Rights for the island of Ireland. As co guarantor of an international peace agreement, Conference calls on the Irish Government to robustly defend the equality and human rights mechanisms enshrined by the Belfast Agreement. Conference considers that this is more pressing than ever in the context of the withdrawal from the European Union and the UK Governmen threats to repeal the Human Rights Act Northern Ireland, Conference notes that savage cuts to the public sector are leading to the loss of thousands of jobs and vital public services. Job losses and cuts to public services will impact disproportionally on women as they make up two thirds of the public sector and form the majority of public service users. Conference continues to call on the NI Executive to comply with its statutory duty to impact assess the so called voluntary exit scheme in the public sector for impacts across the protected section 75 groups. Conference is dismayed at the failure of the  NI Executive to bring forward progressive abortion legislation, despite there being widespread popular support for changes to the law. Conference reiterates its support for the Alliance for Trust group and for their Trust Women Campaign. Conference reiterates its support for a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment in the Republic of Ireland. Conference notes that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland which does not enjoy civil marriage equality. Conference urges every party within the NI Executive to listen to the vast majority of people of Northern Ireland who support civil marriage equality and legislate for same sex marriage. Conference pledges continued support to the Love Equality Campaign.