Political opinion: Nicola Grant Workers Party Regional Spokesperson has outlined a number of Party activities to mark the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Ms Grant said 25th November until the 10th December will see Party structures and branches discussing the growing level of Violence against women and girls across the world. The Party has made a number of submissions on the violence faced by women and how little progress has been made on protecting women through legislation, policies, and government funding. One of the policies we will be looking at is the Safe Leave Provision as the Party made a detailed response to the consultation document. Yet, there is still no progress or detailed response from the Executive on its implementation.
The Workers Party in its submission on the Safe Leave consultation highlighted the following points. While it is vital to raise awareness, provide support, and demand an effective strategy to create a safer environment for women. It is also essential to locate the sources of oppression and exploitation of women within society and the capitalist system. This system not only fails to address the root causes of the exploitation of women, but it also contributes to their continuing oppression.
The system and society we live in, undervalues women in the workplace, in the home, and in every other aspect of their lives. Women are the unpaid carers in the family, the underpaid workers in the workplace, they are exploited by the use of zero-hour contracts, precarious employment and the gender pay-gap. Working class women are held back by the sticky floor and the glass ceiling.
The misogyny that is expressed and encouraged nationally and internationally is growing and is uncontested by those in power. The Donald Trump latest misogynistic comments to a woman journalist by saying “quite piggy” went unchallenged. When powerful men feel empowered in the use of verbal abuse, those who feel they also have the right to physically and violently abuse women feel they are empowered to do so. Young men and boys can assume this is normal and permissible behaviour.
Ms Grant ended by saying the Workers Party Women’s Committee, Workers Party Youth, branches and the Central Executive Committee will all be holding discussions and awareness sessions to address this important issue. All aspects of violence against women including state violence will be on our agenda.