Achieving Women's Rights
Women's rights are about being involved in decision making that ultimately affects our lives.
Women's rights are about celebrating diversity and difference in the struggle for equality, regardless of colour, creed, race or class.
Women's rights are about attaining equality and recognition in public, private and political life.
Women's rights are about freedom from the fear of violence and sexual exploitation.
Women's rights are about working for a society that shares family responsibilities.
Women's rights are about hearing our voices and being understood.
Ultimately, women's rights, like men's rights, are about human rights.
These are the aspirations of women everywhere that are celebrated every year on 8 March, International Women's Day. But these aspirations need to be translated into real and meaningful change.
Equality for women means a fairer society for all, but specifically it requires recognition of the value and contribution of women's unpaid work, equal pay for equal work, the provision of a full range of child care options that suit the realities of parents' lives, thaving reproductive rights and control of our bodies and being able to walk the streets in safety and wear whatever clothes we choose.
``As we go marching marching, we battle too for men. For they are women's children, and we mother them again... Yes it is bread we fight for. But we fight for roses too.''
BY ROISIN NÍ DHOCARTAIGH
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