28th February 2014
The Union of Students in Ireland and the National Women’s Council’s Y-Factor Projecthave teamed up to bring you GenCon 2014. The event is the first national student conference on gender in Ireland. The event is free of charge and takes place in NUI Galway from today with introductions and registrations (Friday 28th February 17.30pm) and the main conference is on Saturday March 1st from 9.30am until 5pm.
Modules will include Pro-Choice Activism, Trans* Activism and modules relating to reproductive health rights, anti-sexual violence campaigns and LGBTQ Health.
USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship Laura Harmon said:
”We are really delighted to be co-hosting this event with the Y-Factor. Students on campuses across the country are doing amazing work on gender equality issues and we wanted to foster links between activists and facilitate the sharing of ideas by bringing them together. We still live in an unequal society and gender equality activism, including feminism and Transgender equality campaigning, are as needed today as they ever were. As the national students’ union, we are proud of the work that our members are doing on this area and we will continue to work with them and support them as best we can. Hopefully, this is an event that will be continued on an annual basis.”
Louise Riordan, The Y Factor Coordinator with NWCI said:
“The Y Factor was set up to empower young people to become advocates for gender equality and connect and support young women’s organisations tackling gender inequality. We have seen the burgeoning of feminist societies within third level education all over Ireland in the past few years. It’s important for them to feel they are not alone in tackling inequality in their universities and The Y Factor and the USI are delighted to have an opportunity to bring them and the LGBTQ and Pro Choice societies together and create positive energy for better campuses for everyone.”
Follow #GenCon14 on Twitter to get involved in the conversation.