Debate contribution: International Women’s Day 2026

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 3 March 2026.

MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

3 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

International Women’s Day 2026

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5434938

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Women's Caucus for tabling the motion. Before I talk about the motion, as chair of the all-party group on UNSCR 1325, women, peace and security, I say that, on International Women's Day, we must remember the women of Sudan, Gaza and Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East. War is cruel, and women and children bear the brunt of the evil and instability that prevail in our world today. We must never forget them. International Women's Day is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary contribution that women make across every part of our society in public life, business and education and in our communities and families. Women's leadership enhances the quality of life for everyone. However, celebration must be matched with honesty. Women make up over half of our population, yet, across many of the most powerful roles in Northern Ireland, women remain unrepresented.

Just six of our top 100 companies are led by women. In the judiciary, women hold fewer than one third of the most senior positions. Two thirds of the most senior roles in the PSNI are held by men. Although women now make up 40% of MLAs, they account for less than one third of councillors, while only four of our 11 councils have female chief executives. Those are not isolated statistics: they reflect structural barriers that continue to shape who leads, who decides and who is heard. As an MLA, I am acutely aware that progress does not happen by accident; it requires deliberate effort and sustained political will. The growing threats that women face, particularly online, must also be confronted. The rise of artificial intelligence has enabled the spread of deepfake imagery, including the manipulation of women's photographs into sexually explicit content without consent. That is a profound violation, and it causes real harm. Female public representatives continue to face unacceptable levels of abuse and misogyny online. The anonymity of social media has created an environment in which intimidation is normalised. That discourages participation and silences voices. It damages not only individuals but our democracy. Alongside that, women continue to shoulder the majority of unpaid care. Nearly 60% of unpaid carers are women. Women are far more likely to provide care during their life, often at significant economic cost, and that economic cost goes right through to their retirement. The economic activity rate of women with preschool-age children remains substantially lower than that of men. Carers NI has been clear that inadequacies in social services, healthcare, education and childcare limit many women's ability to work or to progress in their career. It is not simply a women's issue but an economic issue and a question of fairness. If we are serious about equality, recognition alone is not enough. We must address representation, economic opportunity and safety. International Women's Day should remind us that talent is universal but opportunity is not. It is our responsibility to change that.

485 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:02 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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