Help please from posters in Ireland on letter writing for IWD

[Dontbeme]

I have decided to write to my local elected representatives for Internation Women's Day this year but am having trouble drafting a letter that is concise and clear, I seem to descend into lunacy when trying to word the points I want to get across.

So far I have decided to write about the safe housing of female prisoners in women's prisons here in Ireland, noting that 95% of the women inmates are serving sentences less than one year (75% less than three months)and mostly for crimes like shop lifting, handling of stolen goods or non payment of fines, addiction and homelessness were the main reasons behind the offences. These women are now being housed with violent trans identified offenders and face further harm despite already being vulnerable.

From there I just flounder, is it more impactful to go with the prison safety issue only, rather than a catalogue of issues?

I don't know if a letter outlining a wide range of issues (mother and baby homes scandal, HSE cervical scandal)will land as well so is it better just to focus on one issue?

Also does anyone have any links to information of the number of women prisoners that have previously suffered domestic abuse in Ireland, any figures I have found are for the UK. Thanks vipers.

The only Ireland specific statements I've seen on prisons are on The Countess website. They might help, if you've not seen them. thecountessdidntfightforthis.com/statements/

Thank you Molly will have a read

On the last page of this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4180758-MOJ-Prison-Policy-JR-TODAY

there is a letter written/signed regarding UK prisons.

Perhaps some of the signatories have political/legal friends, family or colleagues in Ireland.

Worth a try contacting them.

Just seen this thread on twitter .. might help.
twitter.com/TCDFFT/status/1367457816986927106

"I seem to descend into lunacy..." That made me laugh! You sound altogether sane.

Are there no discussions of women's topics or interests on any Irish online forum dedicated to politics, current affairs or general issues?

A chance the Craicnetters may be able to help.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/craicnet

Thanks all, lots of good stuff from the Countess, just trying to track down stats to include in the letters as proof of what I'm writing.

As to discussions about this, not sure about online forums but in real life my experience is most everyday people don't even know we have the GRA 2015, let alone understand the implication for safeguarding children and women. They are restrictions on reporting so most newspapers didn't write about Barbie Kardashian for example, just an announcement was sent out that the general public were to be aware that a dangerous teenage girl was being released and to be aware she was dangerous Eventually an online paper revealed that BK was trans and then a few mainstream papers followed but here we seem to prefer to stuff our fingers in our ears and hum "forty shades of green". If we are not allowed to report the potential issues or problems sure they are no issues or problems, we have self identified our way out of problems, it's all grands lads.

"They are restrictions on reporting...."

Oh wow. Glad the online paper picked it up.

Good luck

gript.ie/homicidal-biological-male-who-has-threatened-to-rape-and-kill-women-has-been-placed-into-a-female-prison/

For anyone who wants to read the initial statement about a dangerous teenage age, and information that the Tavistock clinic stated this person was not dysphoric but the Irish gov housed them in a women's prison anyway.

?!

my experience is most everyday people don't even know we have the GRA 2015

Very true, and those who do know presume there are some kind of checks in place rather than filling out a form.

It's quite alarming.