08/03/2002

International Women’s Day celebrated across Belfast

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8 the SDLP’s Equality spokesperson Patricia Lewsley hosted a seminar aimed at raising awareness of drug-assisted rape.

The seminar on Friday evening in Stormont focused attention on the dangers of drug-assisted rape.

“While we should not be alarmist about this issue, it is important to be aware that it exists,” Ms Lewsley said. “It is essential that both young women and men are aware of this growing problem and take steps to protect themselves.”

Meanwhile across Belfast women support groups have marked the day in their own way. The Women’s Support Network, which acts for community based women's groups in the Greater Belfast, held a seminar on Friday morning hosted by Dr Ghada Karmi from Palestine. The subject of the talk was ‘The Struggle for Palestine: The Role of Women’.

The Windsor’s Women’s centre Belfast in conjunction with the multicultural Resource Centre celebrated International Women’s Day in Latin American style with a themed day which lasted from 8am to 3pm.

Earlier this week the Health Minister Bairbre de Brún opened new premises in for Footprints Women’s Centre which has been operating in the Poleglass area for around ten years. The Centre provides a range of programmes including support and development, training and education, childcare for children aged up to 11 years and community catering.

The Centre just moved into new premises at Colinmill that were funded at a cost of £777,000 by the Belfast Regeneration Office, the Childhood Fund, Lisburn Peace and Reconciliation Partnership and the Department of Social Development’s European Union.

In addition, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety made available grant aid totalling £70,000. (AMcE)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

08 August 2014
Nationalists Hit Out At West Belfast Bonfire
Nationalist politicians have hit out at a bonfire that was erected in west Belfast, after it caused a daycare centre for vulnerable adults to be closed. "Anti-social behaviour" at the 'anti-internment' bonfire at Beechmount Drive is thought to have led to the closure of the Mica Day Centre.
28 March 2023
Belfast Community Groups Explore Reimagined Titanic Experience
Thirsty six local community groups from across Belfast were joined by Deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Kelly for a special trip to Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic, as part of Local Community Day.
22 January 2013
Heavy Snow Closes Over 80 Schools
Over 80 schools across Northern Ireland have been closed as the heavy snow continues to cause disruption on Tuesday morning. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, as the snow is continuing to affect many roads. Areas which have been majorly disrupted include Lisburn, Castlereagh and Carryduff.
05 December 2003
Cross-border women’s group focuses on barriers to progress
A second joint committee meeting aimed at advancing the role of women in the public sector labour market in the Derry and Donegal areas of the north-west has taken place. The Cross Border Women’s Development Project met at Donegal County Council offices in Lifford on Monday.
14 November 2003
Equality Commission back joint 'women’s manifesto'
Launched this week in the run up to the Assembly election a women’s manifesto has set out a number of demands in key equality areas that women want the new Assembly to tackle.