Progress Report - Two Years On: Is the Assembly Working for Women? ​

09 March 2026 - In February 2024, when the Assembly returned, the WRDA led Women’s Policy Group (WPG) produced 15 high-priority requests referred to as the “Day 1 Asks”. These were followed up with more detailed briefings, personalised to each Department and sent to each Minister along with a request to meet. Two years on, the WPG have assessed progress against the Day 1 Asks and against the priorities identified in the Briefings. The progress report also assesses whether Ministers or their staff have met with the sector to hear our concerns and answer our questions in person.

The updated report, Two Years On: Is the Assembly Working for Women?, was launched on the 9th March at the Shankill Shared Women's Centre. The launch event featured speakers on specific areas and a panel discussion on childcare;

• Clare Moore - Workers Rights
  Irish Congress of Trade Unions

• Megan McClure Botha - Online Harms & Far Right Misogyny
  Women’s Resource and Development Agency

• Alexa Moore – LGBTQ+ Rights

  The Rainbow Project

• Becca Bor – Poverty & the Anti-Poverty Strategy

  Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network

Childcare Panel chaired by Dr. Meg Hoyt – WRDA

• Kellie Turtle – UNISON

• Alex Brennan – Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group

• Raissa Baldunio – Melted ParentsNI

The report uses a traffic light system to track progress across various departments, highlighting areas of achievement and those requiring urgent attention. ​ Key findings include:

• The Executive Office (TEO): Funding for the EVAWG Strategy has been achieved, but no progress has been made on the Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. ​

• Department for Communities (DfC): Welfare mitigations have been achieved, but there has been no progress on banning conversion therapy, and the Social Inclusion Strategies remain disappointing. ​

• Department of Justice (DoJ): The Domestic & Sexual Abuse Strategy has been achieved, but hate crime legislation remains stalled, with no inclusion of misogyny or transgender identity. ​

• Department for Infrastructure (DfI): Concessionary fares have been protected, but the All-Island Strategic Rail Review has seen no progress. ​

• Department of Education (DE): Some progress has been made on Early Years and Childcare Strategy, RSE curriculum implementation, and SEN provision, but significant gaps remain. ​

• Department of Finance (DoF): Gender budgeting tools have been introduced, but oversight of budget EQIAs remains poor. ​

• Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Considerable progress has been made on the Just Transition regulations, but there has been limited progress on the Independent Environmental Protection Agency and no progress on achieving Sustainable Development Goals. ​

• Department of Health (DoH): While abortion regulations have improved, there has been no progress on establishing a Mother and Baby Unit or advancing trans healthcare. ​

The report also highlights ongoing challenges, such as the delayed implementation of Safe Leave for Domestic Abuse survivors, resistance to gender-neutral school uniforms, and the need for stronger commitments to women’s health and rural women’s support. ​

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:
Elaine Crory, Women’s Sector Lobbyist, WRDA – elaine.crory@wrda.net
Meghan Hoyt, Policy Assistant, WRDA – meghan.hoyt@wrda.net