Feminism and Equality to Conclude the ARISE campaign

Feminism and equality will be the ARISE issues for the month of June. And at the end of this month, ARISE will finish as the National campaign for Ógra, but we will continue to highlight all of the issues contained within the campaign.


Ógra Shinn Féin are committed to achieving a 32 County Democratic Socialist Republic, or as the popular Sinn Féin slogan says, ‘Building an Ireland of Equals.’

Irish Republicanism is built on equality; we are about promoting an egalitarian society and challenging inequality wherever it exists.

The northern state was built upon inequality, forcing nationalists and Catholics to live as second class citizens, while the current inequality, and gap between rich and poor in the 26 Counties, is a travesty considering the state’s wealth.

Our project of equality and fair distribution of wealth will challenge the inequality upon which these two partitionist states are built, and forge the way forward for equality and freedom.

The demand for equality and fair distribution of wealth globally, will also challenge international imperialism and exploitation.

Republicanism is also indivisible from feminism just as it is indivisible from socialism, anti racism and anti sectarianism. Republicans would not hesitate to describe ourselves in those terms – neither should we hesitate to call ourselves feminists.

The men and women of 1916 recognised that the Republic’s guarantee of “equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens” meant little if it excluded 50% of the population. That’s as true today as it was then – and despite undeniable advances in recent years, this goal has yet to be achieved.

It is important to keep the issue of gender equality to the forefront of the equality agenda. It’s the oldest form of discrimination after all – and often the most easily overlooked. Downplaying the importance of feminism ultimately feeds into a reactionary agenda which actively opposes equality.

We must be active this month through public awareness events, protests, letter writing campaigns, postering, leafleting, public talks and attending events that are linked to equality and feminism.

We must mobilise this month in heightening awareness, challenging inequality and to successfully conclude ARISE as our National Campaign.

Onwards to the Socialist Republic!

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ARISE video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaUE9akNS00