Write a commentToday marks the centenary of women’s suffrage and Newry and Armagh MLA and marking the day Sinn Féin Equality spokesperson, Megan Fearon has said it should act as a reminder that the struggle for equality is ongoing.
“Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Representation of the People Act which extended partial franchise to women.
“That represented a major milestone for the Women’s Suffrage movement. It paved the way for the eventual extension of voting rights to all women."
Ms Fearon pointed out that it was more than five decades after that before universal suffrage was acheived in the North.
Th MLA concluded “We also mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement this year and both these events should serve as reminders that the struggle for rights and equality is ongoing.
“It is 2018 and we are still discussing basic human rights as if they are optional. Issues including the gender pay gap, equal representation and access to healthcare must be addressed if we are to move towards a rights-based society founded on genuine equality.”
