“There’s a lot of talk, but tangible results are lacking; much of it feels like mere lip service,” said Nelson. She emphasized the need for honest evaluations by bringing together women from diverse backgrounds to discuss whether the assembly is fulfilling its promises.
“Unfortunately, the consensus often remains unchanged – it’s a resounding ‘no.’
Despite the power-sharing agreement renewing over a year ago, tangible actions are still awaited. The recent executive program touches on critical matters such as combating violence against women and enhancing childcare access.
While organizations have applauded these commitments, many stress that the measures are far from sufficient.
At the Shankill Shared Women’s Centre in Belfast, the Women’s Policy Group recently convened approximately 40 women to evaluate the assembly’s performance over the past year.
The executive has rolled out a new strategy against violence targeting women and girls and initiated a childcare subsidy scheme, attributing additional needed measures to limited financial resources.
However, Sophie Nelson criticized politicians for what she perceives as “lip service” rather than substantive action on women’s issues.
Katy Allen conveyed her frustration: “I recognize the challenges they face in advancing laws within the executive, but we need to witness genuine progress in the upcoming years,” she shared with BBC News NI.
“For the LGBTQIA+ women I support, their needs are overlooked, clearly absent from the government’s agenda, which is disheartening.”
She gave the executive a score of “four out of ten” for its past year’s performance, stressing the importance of addressing various pressing issues beyond just violence and childcare, including shifting societal attitudes.
‘No meaningful change’
Siobhan Harding from the Women’s Support Network expressed discontent, stating, “There’s been a lack of genuine efforts to instigate meaningful change or hold leaders accountable.”
Many women, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, feel disregarded by Stormont. Though some progress has been made concerning welfare assistance, significant shortcomings persist.
“We had hoped to see a stronger focus on tackling poverty, as women are often the ones who bear the brunt of it at home,” she lamented. “This sentiment is echoed in our discussions with local women, and we are disappointed it’s not prioritized in the program for government.”
Catriona Goldhammer, present at the event, highlighted the necessity of having more women in political roles to elevate women’s issues on the agenda.
“Progress is underway, and there’s an initial push towards prioritizing women’s issues, yet there’s still much work to do,” she noted.
With International Women’s Day approaching, she underscored that activism is pivotal for prompting greater responsiveness from politicians. “The more we unite in spaces like this, the stronger our voices become, amplifying our impact,” she stated.
