‘It’s time we had a Minister for Women sitting in the Cabinet’
Leading Welsh women’s groups have come together to draw up a manifesto they want to see put in place to ensure equality for women and girls in Wales. Ruth Mosalski reports
WALES needs a specific government minister for women, it has been claimed. Politicians and women’s groups gave the proposal their support at the launch of a manifesto calling for equality for women and girls.
The manifesto has been jointly drawn up by Women’s Equality Network (WEN) Wales, Chwarae Teg, Women Connect First and Welsh Women’s Aid.
It lays out 10 things they believe need to take place to make Wales fairer for women.
That includes prioritising women’s health, making the Welsh Government accountable to women and girls and equal leadership.
The 20-page document includes the call for a cabinet secretary for women to be appointed by 2021.
Sian Gwenllian, AM for Arfon, has been calling for a specific women’s minister for a number of years.
“I have been calling for a minister for women to sit in the Cabinet,” she said. “I think that is needed going forward. Not just in terms of having one person co-ordinating work across Government but creating a national policy of action.
“Also, the symbolism of it would be important. Some people have said what about a minister for mental health or other issues, yes, absolutely, but I go back to the phenenomenal inequality for women in Wales.
“We have to take action and I think having that cabinet role at the top Government is crucial”.
Catherine Fookes, from WEN Wales, said: “We agree that a cabinet secretary for women is needed by 2021. It does send a message. We believe that the leadership of having a cabinet secretary would deliver results”.
There was cross-party support for the launch of the manifesto.
Labour’s Jane Hutt joined Ms Gwenllian, Conservative Suzy Davies and Ukip AM Caroline Jones at the event. Ms Jones said she agrees with the proposal.
She said: “I think it would definitely offer something especially the highlight the inequality that prevails. If we had a cabinet secretary it would show equality was being taken seriously because we have equal footing on which to stand.”
The Conservative party confirmed they would appoint a Minister responsible for women and equalities if they take power.
The women’s groups say they will continue to work together to lobby UK and Welsh Government leaders to take account of their comments.
Other suggestions include a 50:50 gender balanced cabinet at the Welsh Government.
Ms Fookes said: “Our manifesto covers everything from women’s health to representation as women face many inequalities in all areas.
“We are calling on the Welsh Government to be ambitious in their approach to achieving gender equality by ensuring we have at least a 50:50 National Assembly by 2021 and by appointing a Cabinet Secretary for Women in a gender balanced Cabinet.
“It’s high time that we had a National Action Plan for Women in order to bring about real, long-lasting gender equality in Wales.”
The manifesto says that involvement of a number of organisations is “crucial” to change.
“Women, girls, and women’s organisations are absolutely crucial to change.
“We recognise the diverse experiences of women and that women and girls can face multiple forms of discrimination as our identities intersect.
“Now is the crucial time for us to work together, to call out the problems that women and girls face in Wales and create the solutions.
“This document names the violence, the harassment, the gender inequality that we experience, hear about and see.
“It also spells out the actions that need to happen in Wales to end gender inequality and ensure women’s rights are realised. It will not be easy and we share bold, ambitious actions to achieve our 10 aims.”
Cerys Furlong, CEO of Chwarae Teg said: “Chwarae Teg is pleased to join forces with other women’s organisations in Wales to outline our vision for making Wales a world leader in gender equality. To ensure a thriving, successful economy and society we need to address the continued inequality that women face and ensure that everyone in Wales can prosper, regardless of their background. This manifesto sets out clear actions in a range of policy areas that will deliver the change we need to see and we look forward to working with women throughout Wales to ensure they are implemented.
Eleri Butler, CEO of Welsh Women’s Aid said: “We need to make sure no woman is left behind as we strive towards a Wales in which violence against women is eradicated from our communities, women’s rights are recognised as human rights, and women’s equality is central to everything we do.”
Maria Mesa from Women Connect First said: “Women Connect First is committed to improving representation of BME women in public, political and economic spheres in Wales and we hope Welsh Government will agree to an action plan to advance BME women’s participation.”