Minister for Children, Disability and Equality welcomes UN progress report on Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Ireland
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 7 Iúil 2025
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley has welcomed the publication today by the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of their concluding observations on the periodic report of Ireland.
Minister Foley said:
“Ireland is firm in our commitment to international law and to multilateralism. We recognise the importance of having the UN Treaty Bodies, like CEDAW, hold States to account and greatly value the constructive engagement that takes place as result.
“We welcome the Committee’s acknowledgment of the progress achieved in Ireland on gender equality since our previous CEDAW review in 2017 and acknowledge that more needs to be done.”
The Committee’s conclusions, published today, note a number of positive legislative measures, including the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, which provides paid leave for victims of domestic violence, the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 bringing a greater focus to the wage gaps between men and women as well as prompting employers to take action, and policy efforts such as the National Strategy for Women and Girls, which aimed to promote women’s leadership and address systemic barriers.
Ireland also recognises that the CEDAW Committee highlighted significant areas where work still needs to be done to ensure gender equality in Ireland. These recommendations will be considered and worked upon across Government in the months ahead.
Ireland signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1985. Through this Convention, Ireland reaffirmed our commitment to achieving equality between men and women in Ireland.
Ireland also committed to having its record under the Convention reviewed periodically by the UN’s CEDAW Committee of international experts. Over the past year, Ireland has actively engaged with the CEDAW Committee on this eight periodic review and our first since 2017.
A State delegation, led by Minister of State Colm Brophy, met the CEDAW Committee in Geneva on 20 June 2025 to answer additional questions raised by the UN Committee members.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality will convene a meeting with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and with Civil Society organisations in the Autumn to discuss the CEDAW Committee’s recommendations.
Minister Foley and Minister of State Brophy would like to thank the CEDAW Committee for their detailed work in examining the issues faced by women and girls in Ireland and express thanks to the CEDAW Committee Chair, Nahla Haidar, and to Ireland’s State Rapporteur, Jelena Pia Comella.
Full details of the UN CEDAW Committee’s concluding observations on Ireland’s report are available at the link below.