Derry council support secured for gender budgeting

SDLP Foyleside Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr has secured the support of Derry City and Strabane District Council for a measure to assess the impact of budgets on gender equality and take that impact into account when developing policies.

She was speaking after proposing a motion on the measure, which passed unanimously. 

As a result of the motion, Council will compile a report on measures that Council could take to introduce the practice, including considering gender impact assessments in budget statements and annual reports. Council will also engage with the NI Women’s Budget Group to explore the feasibility of a pilot project in the Council. 

Cllr. Seenoi-Barr said: “As elected representatives, setting a budget is core to Council’s responsibilities and all Councillors would want the impact of those budgets to be fair on everyone in our community, regardless of gender. Yet far too often, that is not the case and public spending impacts men and women very differently. For example, in Brooke Park, where female members have no access to appropriate changing facilities.

“Gender-responsive budgeting is something that the Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group has been raising for some time now, as an internationally recognised tool to assess the impact of budgets on gender equality and take that impact into account, so budgets can be more effective and the outcomes can be more equitable for everyone in our community.

“With International Women’s Day around the corner, this motion was an opportunity for our Council to send a strong message on gender equality and lead the way. I am very pleased that Council has chosen to unanimously support this important measure.”