The SDLP's female candidates in next week's Assembly elections have launched the party's first Women's Manifesto. They are calling for the new Northern Ireland executive to appoint an equality minister.
Speaking at the manifesto launch yesterday, Ms Brid Rodgers, the party's candidate in Upper Bann, said: "We believe that a minister [for equality] should be appointed with responsibility in the new government. This could be of significant help in encouraging proactive gender equality movements in the media, arts and sport world."
Six of the SDLP's candidates are women. Ms Rodgers agreed that this was inadequate but said it was an improvement. "I would like to have seen more women running but there are legal restrictions in terms of affirmative action when choosing candidates," she said.
"I remember when we had only one woman candidate. We are moving in the right direction and all our women are standing in winnable seats."
The SDLP women would not be urging voters to give their second preferences to the Women's Coalition, Ms Rodgers said. "We are asking the electorate to transfer to other pro-Agreement parties who will work positively in the Assembly. We are not making any other recommendations," she said.
The SDLP's five other female candidates are Ms Patricia Lewsley in Lagan Valley; Ms Carmel Hanna in South Belfast; Ms Olive Mullen in Fermanagh and South Tyrone; Ms Marietta Farrell in North Down; and Ms Annie Courtney in Foyle.
The eight-page manifesto, Caring about the Future - SDLP Priorities for Women in the New Assembly, calls for a major overhaul of the law on sexual discrimination and equal pay to produce a single piece of legislation.
The party is opposing British government proposals to amalgamate the Equal Opportunities Commission, which focuses on sexual discrimination, with the Fair Employment Commission, which tackles religious discrimination.
The SDLP is calling for the implementation of a reasonable minimum wage and guaranteed minimum rights for all workers regardless of contractual status. It is also urging the establishment of targets and timetables to enhance the representation of women in both the public and private sectors of the economy.
The party says Northern Ireland has the worst maternity pay and conditions in Europe and this must be immediately addressed. It is also demanding more publicly funded childcare.
However, the SDLP is opposed to the extension of the 1967 British Abortion Act to the North. "We believe in the equal right to life of the child and the mother," Ms Rodgers stated.
She said she was excited about the new opportunities in the North. "Until women are enabled to take their positions and participate fully in public life at all levels, there will be a serious democratic deficit," she said. "A society which excludes such a large section of the population from participation in the decisions which affect their lives cannot be described as a genuine and inclusive democracy."