Agreement Reached in the Multi-Party Negotiations - Transitional ...

and human rights culture; ignorance about gender equality; other countries, where gains
made by women during liberation struggles were reversed after independence, provided
valuable lessons; international context and development agenda has placed a heavy
emphasis on mainstreaming and institutionalising gender considerations in all sustainable
development endeavours. 152 Several women’s organisations were formed, including the
Commission on Gender Equality, an independent statutory body, to tackle gender
discrimination and other oppression; the Office on the Status of Women to oversee and
coordinate policy on women; as well as a parliamentary committee on the improvement of
the quality of life and status of women to monitor progress in improving women’s lives.
(Although these institutions complain of being under-resourced.)
6.8 In Summary
Inequality was central to the conflict and addressing inequality was central to the peace
agreement. Dealing with sectarian inequality opened up the equality agenda for many
groups of people, including women. Section 75 should benefit women. However, to what
extent the inclusion of ‘gender’ as a category is the best way of furthering the equality
agenda for women is questionable.
The establishment of the Equality Commission should be a positive force in promoting
equality. The Commission has a clear understanding of the structural and systemic reasons
for discrimination against women. Review of existing discrimination legislation is an
opportunity to widen definitions of discrimination and to strengthen the role of civil
society in tackling structural and systemic discrimination. Whether government will adopt
the Commission’s proposals is another question. Likewise, the Single Equality Act should
harmonise equality legislation. The delay in bringing forth the Act, given the importance of
equality to the Agreement, is worrying.
Unfortunately, understanding of the structural and systemic reasons for discrimination
against women is uneven among the various public bodies. Most disappointingly, judging
by its gender equality strategy, the OFMDFM seems to lack a clear understanding. The
fear that pursuing equality for women under a gender heading may lead to a bland gender
neutral approach that obscures the gendered pattern of discrimination is borne out by the
OFMDFM document. Without clear action on the equality front, transition may mean
transitory gains for women.
152 Ibid.
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