Category: 80:20 News

Loreto Bray and 80:20 launch ‘Use Your Art to End Gender Inequality’ poster series

Press release

March 8th, 2019

Thirty-six students from the Loreto Bray Peace and Justice group, in conjunction with human rights and human development education non-governmental organisation 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World, are launching a poster art series on International Women’s Day 2019 on the themes of women’s rights and ‘on this day’ historical events.

A central idea to the posters will be shared at the launch event at 1.30pm at Bray Library in Bray, Co. Wicklow by the students and project team, which speaks in celebration to past achievements in the women’s rights movement and in protest when comparing them to similar and ongoing daily struggles experienced in the lives of women and girls in today’s world.

Actions, not words; four stealth bombers greater than or equal to the annual cost of ending maternal mortality?; the gender pay gap; education and ‘the girl effect’ – a sample of some of the most important issues for girls and women raised by the group in the poster work discussions and exercises.

In developing the Use Your Art to End Gender Inequality posters the Peace and Justice group marked the centenary year of suffrage activities and commemorations as reference points for young people, particularly girls, to learn about and be inspired to act on women’s rights (and wrongs); as a reminder of and a tribute to the power of posters historically in generating conversations and interest in women’s issues and as a mirror to highlight examples of gender discrimination and violence women face every day in public life, in the labour market and at home.

ENDS

Contact details: Tony Daly, co-ordinator, 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World, email: tony@8020.ie or call (01) 2860487

Notes to Editors:

Participants have been involved in a range of cluster group activities over the last 17 months, including:

  • Exploring (1) centenary of women’s franchise events and debates, (2) global trends and realities of violence encountered by women every day, including the #MeToo movement, (3) a series of key international standards such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with international development targets to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity, and (4) selected case studies, such as the Rohingya crisis, through a gender lens.
  • Reviewing artwork from previous women’s rights poster campaigns over the last 100 years
  • Meeting the chair of the Vótáil 100 committee to mark the centenary of women’s suffrage in Ireland, Senator Ivana Bacik, and visiting an exhibition on women’s suffrage in the Seanad ante-room
  • Hands-on poster art making workshops and action-research ideas
  • Forging links, making visits and sharing peer learning across an informal network amongst teachers and students in Bray.

Other notes:

  • Free copies of the A3 posters are available by request. Contact info@8020.ie
  • Research data and Use Your Art to End Gender Inequality education and poster project details are available at 8020.ie/use-your-art-gender-inequality
  • The Peace and Justice group in Loreto Secondary School Bray is a voluntary student-led group of mixed age range of students from 13-18 years old which raises awareness of justice issues both at home in Ireland and abroad. More info: loretobray.com/peace-and-justice
  • International Women’s Day is the annual international UN designated day to celebrate the historical, cultural and political achievements of women and to champion the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.

About Let’s Talk

‘Let’s Talk’ is an education and action project which involves young people discussing, debating and taking action on issues of conflict, peace, reconciliation, climate change, sustainable development and justice in Ireland and beyond.

The project has been running for over 20 years, co-ordinated by 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World, and is supported by Concern Worldwide.

Gráinne McGettrick announced as chairperson of 80:20

Human rights and social policy advocate Gráinne McGettrick has been announced as the new chairperson of human rights and development education non-governmental organisation 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World.

Gráinne was appointed on June 12th, 2018 and takes over the role from Gerry Duffy, who has acted as chairperson since 2006.

As with all 80:20’s Board roles, the position of chairperson is undertaken in a voluntary capacity.

Gráinne has been a member of 80:20’s Board since 2015 and has been involved with 80:20 since 2002 on 80:20’s study visit to Brazil, on the Finance Sub-Committee and as Staff Liaison on the Board between 2002 and 2011.

Speaking on her appointment, Gráinne said that she was “delighted” to take on the role.

“It’s an honour to be appointed chair of 80:20 with a history of education and active citizenship on human rights, underdevelopment and action in this context – now 20 years in the making.

I’ve been a supporter and member of the Board for many years and look forward to strengthening our governance to the highest standards as a small NGO which is a priority for the organisation in order to continue building trust and confidence with the public, donors and supporters.

“I am also hugely thankful to our outgoing chairperson, Gerry Duffy, whose leadership on the Board as chair of the Northern Ireland Sub-Committee, chairperson of 80:20 and as an educationalist has left its mark on the Board, on the organisation and programme work, particularly in the context of engaging young people and communities north and south of the border in Northern Ireland in creative human rights education interventions”.

Tony Daly, co-ordinator of 80:20 Educating and Acting for a Better World, added:

“Gráinne’s in-depth knowledge, experience and strategic approach to long-term thinking has been a rich source of support for us in 80:20 over a number of years. This is an exciting period for the Board and the organisation under Gráinne’s stewardship as we grapple with unjust finance, human underdevelopment and ongoing contradictions and challenges in realising the Sustainable Development Goals over the next five years under our strategic plan 2018-2022.”

Gráinne is currently policy and research co-ordinator with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.  Prior to this post she worked for more than ten years as policy and research manager with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Spanning over two decades, Gráinne has worked for a variety of advocacy and human rights campaigning organisations in the community and voluntary sector in the fields of disability, older people and dementia.

See more about 80:20’s current Board of Management here.