Gender-based welfare criticised

The social welfare system continues to be based on a male breadwinner model which denies women full independence, a seminar on social welfare reform was told yesterday.

The seminar, organised by the National Women's Council of Ireland, brought together legal and human rights groups from around the country to identify ways to bring about change in the social welfare system through the law.

Orla O'Connor, head of policy with the council, told the seminar that the social welfare system reinforces the concept of women as adult dependants rather than as individuals entitled to benefits in their own right.

"It [ the social welfare system] fails to provide recognition for the unpaid work which is predominately undertaken by women and it does not recognise the reality of women's participation in the labour market," she said.

"Access to pension entitlement is fundamental for all women, particularly for older women so as to ensure that old age does not mean living in poverty."

Dr Niamh Reilly, of the University of Ulster, outlined international human rights commitments that could be used to challenge gender-based welfare inequality. The commitments included Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security".