Group says child charter depends on treaty

WOMEN'S ALLIANCE:The pro-treaty campaign group is calling on women to vote Yes in acknowledgement of the progress made by the EU in securing equality for women and to ensure that these rights are protected in the future.

Úna McGuirk, senior counsel and Fianna Fáil member of the Forum on Europe, said that while the treaty restates the values of equality and human rights which underpin the EU, it is the Charter of Fundamental Rights that will give these rights equal value to economic rights. However, she said, the charter cannot become binding if the treaty is not passed.

"For the first time, there will be equality between economic rights and social rights. When the treaty is ratified, the charter becomes binding and every single EU policy decision will have to be checked to ensure compatibility with the charter. However, if the treaty is not ratified, the charter will absolutely not become binding."

The women's alliance is part of the Irish Alliance for Europe, which has been campaigning for a Yes vote.

Brigid Laffan, professor of European politics at UCD, said it was extremely important to remember how women were treated before Ireland joined the EU and the progress made in terms of women's rights in the past 30 years.

"Without membership of the EU, gender legislation would have been a busted flush. I feel privileged to have reached adulthood during Ireland's membership of the EU," she said.

The provisions of the treaty which enhance co-operation on cross-border crime, would help combat the trafficking of women and children, Olive Braiden, Human Rights Commissioner and Arts Council chairwoman, said.

"It is estimated that 500,000 women and children have been trafficked into Europe over the last 10 years. Women and children are usually trafficked for sex.

"The treaty addresses this problem by extending co-operation among member states into the areas of border control, police administration and crime prevention." She said it was important to realise how beneficial EU membership had been for women so far.

"It is important for women to vote Yes to the treaty. Remember what Europe has done for us. It has given us equal rights for equal pay. Younger women don't realise that."

Patricia Callan, director of the Small Firms' Association, and Jillian van Turnhout, of the European Economic and Social Committee, also called for a Yes vote.

Ms Callan said women now made up 43 per cent of the labour force, with more than 960,000 women actively engaged in the labour market.

"Ireland is a small, open economy which must export over 80 per cent of every product and service it produces. Through our membership of the EU and the creation of the single market, Irish business can now sell many of its products and services to 486 million customers throughout the EU," Ms Callan said.