NIWEP Northern Ireland Women's European Platform

Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform:

• Provides women in Northern Ireland with a platform to make their voices heard on domestic, European and international social, economic, cultural and political affairs
• Enables women to understand United Nations, European and domestic legislation, conventions and policies that focus or impact on women and to use them to advocate for equality
• Consults with women in preparing recommendations for discussion with government and institutions at domestic, European and international level
• Represents Northern Ireland women at European and international levels
• Jointly represents the UK on the European Women’s Lobby with partners in England, Scotland and Wales, and works with sister organisations in Ireland and across Europe
• Secures opportunities for women’s organisations to attend European and international events through its EWL and UN membership

At Home

• Brings European and international expertise to domestic policy development
• Supports women’s organisations and other partners with information, training and experience-exchange on equality and human rights for women
• Responds to government and public consultation on local and national issues

Across Europe

• Works with the European Women’s Lobby on equality in decision-making, women’s economic independence, violence against women, trafficking and other areas requiring action
• Generates and contributes to European debates and collaborates with women from other Member States to create opportunities for change
• Liaises with European institutions and the Northern Ireland Executive office in Brussels

Internationally

• Represents the views from Northern Ireland to the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)
• Uses its UN Special Consultative status to enable women from Northern Ireland to engage and share experiences internationally
• Promotes international treaties and conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security