WOMEN’S COUNCIL OF THE ISLES: TACKLING THE FAR RIGHT AND MYSOGYNY

Delegates agree that societies must work together towards a more inclusive and equal future. Jackie Marshall NEC reports from Northern Ireland meeting curtailed by Storm Éowyn

The Women’s Council of the Isles took place in Derry/ Londonderry, with Northern Ireland TUC as the hosts, on 23rd and 24th January.

The council meet once a year to discuss issues that women face in the workplace and is made up of the TUC Women’s committees from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The event provides a space for women to share ideas, promote equality and inspire change.

Although held in 2025, this was 2024’s event, which had been postponed because of the general election. Topics discussed at previous Councils include:

• Gender-based violence
• Sexual harassment
• Insecure work
• Gender pay gap
• Pensions
• Care infrastructure deficit
• Paid and unpaid carers

The theme of this year's event was ‘Tackling the Far Right, Extremism and Misogyny’.

Unfortunately, a red weather warning was given for Northern Ireland because of Storm Éowyn and all delegates were advised to try to book flights home on the Thursday as no flights were expected to leave over the following two days. This meant that the meeting had to be cut short and not all exercises took place.

However, each of the Women’s committees gave a presentation.

Together they said the rise of far-right beliefs and misogyny poses a significant threat to democratic values and gender equality. These issues are often seen as extremist movements that frequently promote male-controlled structures and discriminatory beliefs. Addressing these challenges requires many different approaches that include policy measures, education, community engagement and online regulation.

Far-right ideas typically include nationalism, racism and authoritarianism, often accompanied by anti-feminist and misogynistic rhetoric. Misogyny is seen in various forms, including gender-based violence, online harassment, and general discrimination. Both ideas create an environment where hate speech and violence thrive, making it essential to address both issues at the same time.

To combat this governments must:

• Strengthen legislation against hate speech, domestic violence and extremist propaganda
• Educate to counter far-right ideas and misogyny
• Encourage community engagement and activism
• Have better control of social media.

In conclusion, combating the far right and misogyny requires a coordinated effort from governments, educational institutions, communities, and online platforms. By implementing strong policies, fostering education, engaging communities, and regulating digital spaces, societies can work towards a more inclusive and equal future.

The council ended with the delegates sending a message of solidarity to women workers across the world, recognising and saluting their struggles for peace, justice and equality. l

JACKIE MARSHALL NEC