GENDERINEQUALITY

IN
NORTHERNIRELAND

1.

Introduction

1.

2.

3.

ThisfirsteditionpaperhasbeencreatedforusebyRealFathersforJusticeNI,tocoverequalitybetweenmenand
women,peoplewithandwithoutdependants,peopleofdifferentmaritalstatus,andpeopleofdifferentsexual
orientation.
"...itsaddensmethatweevenhavetohaveawomen'smovementandamen'smovementbutreallytherewasnochoice.
Icouldn'tstopthefeministmovementfromhijackingmyworkinLondonatmyrefugeinChiswick.Theywanted
fundingandmywork,twentyfiveyearsagoasthefirstrefugeintheworldseemedheavensentforthem.Nomatter
thatItoldthemthatoutofthefirsthundredwomenthatcameintoChiswicksixtytwowereasviolentasthementhey
left.Icouldn'tgetanycoverageforthetruth.'Allmenarebastardsandrapists'istheonlytruththatthewomen's
movementwerepreparedtohear....Now,withthehelpofthisevilmovementfather'sroleinfamilylifeseemstobe
irrelevant....."ErinPizzey.
WithinNorthernIrelandsection75equalitylawsitisstatedthatthereshouldbedueregardtotheneedtopromote
equalityofopportunity

betweenpersonsofdifferentreligiousbelief,politicalopinion,racialgroup,age,maritalstatusorsexual
orientation
betweenmenandwomengenerally
betweenpersonswithadisabilityandpersonswithout
betweenpersonswithdependantsandpersonwithout

4.

5.
6.

Thispaperreviewsrecentresearchanddatarelatingtomenandboys,thegeneralpatternorpapersofthistypewill
usuallyportrayasubjectiveimagethatisdevoidofobjectivefactsinrelationtogenderinequality.Researchofthistype
ismerelyhighlightingthefactthatwhilethereistheneedforequalitybetweenmenandwomenitshouldbenotedthat
theinequalitiesfacebymenandtoanextentgirlsandboysallcomesecondplacetowomensrights
Fromresearchthereisalsotheneednowtodefineacodeofrightsandethicsintermsofmotherandfather.Whenfaced
withparenthoodthescopeofwhatisclassedasrightsneedfurtherdevelopment,theuseofoutdatedsocialstereotypes
cannotbeusedinfuturepolicymakinginNorthernIreland.
Equalitybetweengendershashighlightedfromresearchingdevelopedcountriesthattherightsofwomensupersedethe
rightsofmothers,men,fathers,andchildren.

2.

EqualitybetweenwomenandmeninNorthernIreland

1.

Theequalitydebatecanbedividedintoanumberofkeyareas
familylaw
matrimoniallaw
domesticviolenceandallotherviolence
criminallaw

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labourmarketrepresentation
povertyandsocialsecurity
education
mortalityandmorbidity

3.

Familylaw:

Withindomesticlawthereareseveralareasthataredevoidofgenderequalitybetweenachilds
biologicalmother(woman)andbiologicalfather(man)

3.1Parentalresponsibility

E1061/09EN,Mr.Barrot,onbehalfoftheCommission,16/04/2009Theregulation(Councilregulation(EC)
No2201/2003)doesnotusethetermsofdefinitionsoffatherormother,butonlythetermofholderof
parentalresponsibility,therebyunderliningtheEuropeanlegislatorswilltodrawnodistinctionbetweenthe
parentsandtotreatthemequally

Parentalresponsibilityisonlyautomaticallygainedbybiologicalfathersiftheyaremarriedtothebiological
mother
Parentalresponsibilityisonlygainedforunmarriedbiologicalfathersifthebiologicalmotherallowssaidfatherto
signthebirthcertificate
Parentalresponsibilityallowancesthatareaffordedtobiologicalfathersmayhavetobeorderedthroughjudicial
order,e.g.,educationandhealthissuesthataffectthechild
Parentalresponsibilityinallrealtermsisonlyenforceableintermsoffinance,thesamemeasuresthataretakento
enforcefinanceagainstfathersshouldbeusedagainstmothersintermsofthesocialaspectsofparental
responsibility

3.2Contact

Achildhasnopresumptionindomesticlawtohavecontactwithitsbiologicalfatherandabiologicalmothercan
atanytimestopachildfromseeingitsbiologicalfather.Thisrunsagainstparliamentsintentionswhentheywere
creatingthechildrensactandsubsequentactsandordersthatwereinstalledinNorthernIrelandinwhere
parliamentstatedthatthebestinterestsofachildarebestservedbyretainingtheloveandcareofbothitsparents.
LawsthatconsiderchildcontactwithitsbiologicalfatherinNorthernIrelandarenotcomplianttotheEuropean
humanrighttofamilylifearticle8,andarticle7oftheUNconventionoftherightsofchildreninwhereachild
shouldhavetherighttoknowandwherepossiblehavethecareofbothitsparents
Socialservicescurrentlydonothavethepowertoenforcecontactbetweenachildanditsbiologicalparent,nordo
theyhavetrainingandguidanceontheemotionalstateofchildrenaffectedbyperiodsofnocontactwithoneor
moreofitsparents.
WheretheylawstatesthatdelaywillprejudiceachildswelfareinNorthernIrelandtheprocessforabiological
fathertogaincontactofhischildcanbeaprocessthattakes7monthsonwards.Thisprocessformsthebasison
inequalityinfamilylawtowardsthebiologicalfatherandaprocessthatcanbemanipulatedbybiologicalmothers
tofurtherfrustratecontact.
Contactisincreasinglybeinggiventofathersinchildcontactcentresbecauseofthedelayinvolvedincaseshas
emotionallydamagedthechildbutasofyetnorecognitionoftheemotionalchildabusethatisperpetratedby
mothersintheseinstanceshasbeenrecordedoractedon
InthefamilylawcourtsintheUKjudgesareallowedtoviolateabiologicalfathersEuropeanrighttofamilylife
ergoUKcourtsviolateabiologicalfathersEuropeanhumanrighttoafairtrial,bothviolationarealsoinflicted
uponthechildandsubstantiatesthefactthattherightsofwomensupersedetherightsoffathers,menandchildren.
Contactorderscanbeviolatedbymotherswithoutpunishmentanyotherjudicialorderthatisgiveninthefamily
lawcourtstofatherswillbepunished.Ithasbeenstatedbythehomeofficethatitisnotinthebestinterestsofthe
childtopunishthemother,thatsaidmothersarepunishedforexampleparkingticketsandhighlightsthe
discriminationthattakesplaceinfamilylawcourts.

E1061/09EN,Mr.Barrot,onbehalfoftheCommission,16/04/2009

theregulation(Councilregulation
(EC)No2201/2003)providesforjudgmentsonaccessrightstobedirectlyrecognizedandenforceableinall
MemberStates,whenaccompaniedbyacertificateissuedbythejudgewhogavetherulingwithoutany
intermediateprocedure(exequatur)required

3.3Residence

InnorthernIreland10%ofloneparentsarebiologicalfathers,biologicalfathersinthemajorityofcasesare

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advisedeventhoughitisinthebestinterestsofthechildforthemtoresidewiththeirfathernottoapplyfor
residenceofachildastheprocessofgainingresidenceofachildforafatherhasbeenmadenearimpossibleas
eventhoughinstancesofchildabusethathavetakenplacebythemotherwillnotaffectthecase.
Globalstudieshavefoundthatthemosthighriskresidenceforachildtoresideisinitsbiologicalmothers
residence,aresidenceinwherethebiologicalfatherisabsent.Risksincludeabuse,highlevelsofantisocial
behaviour,highdrugandalcoholuse,loweducationalachievement,mentalillness,povertyandsuicide.
AstudydonebyCIVITASin2002concursthatthemajorityofsocialproblemswithchildrencanbelinkedtothe
growingproblemoffatherlesshomes
GeographicallyNorthernIrelandisasmallcountrywithagoodinfrastructureandapresumptionofshared
residenceshouldbethenormwhenparentalcoupleseparate.

3.4Familylawcourt

Thesecourtsrunmainlyonthesocialstereotypesofmenandwomenandapplysaidstereotypestomothersand
fathers.Thecontinuingsocialstereotypethatallwomenarevictimsregardlessofthecircumstancehasledto
judgesholdingwhatissaidbymothersinthesecourtsasbeingtrue
Thesecourtsmakejudgementsbasedonabalanceofprobabilitiescoupledwithsocialstereotypingwithouttesting
ofevidencetheinequalityofaprobablylawservesafatherandchildrenaninjustice
Therearemothersrights,therearetoanextentchildrensrightsthereshouldbefathersrights.Whenwehavethese
rightsthenthereshouldbeparityinequalityofrightsandnoonepersonrightscanbeheldaboveanothers,if
parityofrightsisnotachievedthenforfathersandchildrenthentheydonthaverightstheydontgetequality
theydontgetjusticetheygetinjustice.
Therecognitionofchildabuseintermsofparentalalienationshouldberecognisedandshouldbeanimportant
factorindeterminingtheresidenceofthechildtoprotectthechildsbestinterestsfrombeingabused
Evidencegivenbypartiesandoutsidepartiesshouldbedeliveredunderoath
Thecourtprocessshouldbeopenandaccountabletothepublic
Breakingofallordersshouldbepunishableunderthelawsofthelandasitisnotinthebestinterestsofachildto
bepartytoaparentwhoopenlyfloutsthelaw
AsnapshotfromCOACin2006fromthefamilylawcourtsinnorthernIrelandshowthatfathersmakeupover
halfoftheapplicantstocourtincomparisonsocialserviceapplicantsmakeup10%,theveryfactafatherhasto
applytocourtforcontactiscloggingupasystemthatisnotactinginthebestinterestsofchildrenwhoreallydo
needhelp
Theprincipleofnodelayisnotinteroperatedintodomesticlawandthe[processesofthecourtsworkbackwardsin
termsofthewrittenlawandleadstoinequalitytofathersandchildrenwhenanycaseconcerningresidenceor
contactisbroughtbeforethem

4. Matrimoniallaw

Thelegalityofmarriagecannowbeseenasabreachofhumanrightsformen,theemergenceofnofaultdivorcehasledto
thecourtsopenlydiscriminatingagainstmenintermsofchildrenandfinanceandisblatantlyseentothosewhohavewent
throughtheprocessofaacrimoniousdivorceisthatwhenawoman/motherappliesforanofaultdivorcethefinanceaspect
takesprecedentoverthechildren.
Thedivorceindustryhasthrivedonsocialstereotypesofmen/afatherthatisunderlinedwithasubjectiveideologythat
women/mothersdonowronginrelationships.
Upondivorceaman/fatherwhohavedonenowrongbyhispartnercanfindhimself

Homeless
Lossofcontactwithchildren
Lossofsavings
Lossofpension
Lossofotherassets

Theywayinthatthelegalindustryworksondivorceworksonthesameprincipleofprostitution,thecaseisputforwardthat
thewoman/motherhassacrificedherbodyorlifetoherhusbandandinreturndeservespayment.

4.1
Atpresent75%ofalldivorcesarecalledforbywives.The
Emperor'sNewClothes
surveyofdivorcemenfoundthata
manpays29,306tohislawyersandtransfers57,966tohiswifeofwhichshethenpays20,000toherlawyers.Thus

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lawyersbenefitby49,306onaverageperdivorce.Ifamantakesthestepofmarryingandhaschildren:

Hehasa50/50chanceof:divorcing,losingcustodyofhischildrenandpaying87,272(avg)
Hewillhavea1in3chanceoflosinghishome
Hewillhavea1in10chanceoflosingcontactwithhischildrenforever

Ifawomantakesthestepofmarryingandhaschildren:

Itisalmostcertainshewillkeepherchildren
Shewillalsohavea1in3chanceoflosingherhome
Havea50/50chanceshewillbenefitby37,966(avg)

5.

Domesticviolenceandallviolenceagainsttheperson

Themalegenderregardlessofagearethemostlikelygendertobethevictimofviolentcrime
Malevictimsofdomesticviolencedonothaveaccesstothesamefacilitiesasfemalevictimsofdomesticviolence
Fatherswhoarevictimsofdomesticviolencehavenorefugetoseekshelterforthemselvesandtheirchildrenfrom
aviolentpartnerandarenotaffordedbylawtotakeautomaticresidenceoftheirchildrenwhenfacedwithan
abusivefather
PSNIfiguresshowthatintermofreporteddomesticviolencecrimes,crimesagainstthemalepopulationhasrisen
andthatacrimeagainstfemaleshasdecreased.
TheHomeOfficerecognisesviatheBritishCrimeSurveysthatthereportingofdomesticviolenceinmenisthe
mostunderreportcategory
The1in4figureusedtoportraydomesticviolenceagainstwomenhasbeenusedinappropriatelyandisdefinedby
theHomeOfficeasanillustrativeterm.Thisfigurehasinfiltratedallaspectsofsocialandcriminalpolicy
involvingdomesticandhassurpassedallstandardsinequalityandmutatedintooneofthebiggestinequalities
againstmenandchildrenindomesticviolencepolicy.Thefinalwordonthis1in4figureisthatintheearly
1990sthisfigurewasgivenfordomesticviolenceagainstwomen,recordedcrimesagainstwomenhavefall
drasticallyyetitstillaffects1in4women,mathematicallythisisnotpossiblebutyetissubjectivelyusedasfact.
In2005/06,34,408violentoffences(violenceagainsttheperson,sexualoffencesandrobbery)wererecordedby
thepolice.Forthoseoffenceswherethegenderofthevictimisknown,58%weremaleand42%werefemale
(Source:CentralStatisticsUnit,PSNI2005/06).
Inreviewingliteraturefromelsewhereondomesticabuseagainstmen,GaddetalciteBrogdenandHarkinsstudy
inNorthernIreland(BrogdenandHarkin,2000).Thisstudyinvolvedinterviewswith50menwhohadexperienced
domesticviolence,3inrelationshipswithmalepartners,andtherestwithfemalepartners.Fewreportedattacksas
isolatedincidents,butmostregardedemotionalabuseasmoresustainedandsignificantthanphysicalviolence.
Concealmentofabusewascommon,thoughsomemenreportedreceivingsupportfromfriends,though
sympatheticandhelpfulresponsesfromstatutoryserviceproviderswereararity
Thehelplinereceivesmanycallsfrommenwhoarevictimsofdomesticabusewhorefusetoleavetheirhome
becauseoflosingcontactwiththechildren.Thisfear,whichiscommonwithfemalevictims,iscompoundedfor
menbecauseofthepoorreputationandbiaswithinthefamilycourtsystemagainstequalparenting.Theyfeelthat
iftheyfleethefamilyhome,theywillneverseetheirchildrenagain.Inaddition,theywillnotleavetheirchildren
withamotherwhoisviolent.
MankindUK,2008

8%ofmalerespondentssaidthattheysufferedfromdomesticviolencecomparedto15%offemalerespondents,as
PSNIfiguresshowthatcrimesshowathreefolddifferenceitisapparentthatnotenoughresearchiscarriedoutin
NorthernIrelandintermsofmalevictimsofdomesticviolence
Thetypesofviolencemostfrequentlyreportedbymalerespondentswerekicked,bittenorhit(reportedby4%),
andstoppedfromseeingfriends/relativesandpushed,pinneddownorslapped(bothreportedby3%).
DomesticcrimesurveyNorthernIreland2008

Theadultvictimisationrateformaleswas6.6in1997and3.9in2003/04comparedto2.4in1997and3.2in
2003/04forfemales.

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6.

Criminallaw

1.

itisnotinthebestinterestsofchildrentopunishtheirmothersyetitisinthebestinterestofchildrento
punishtheirfathers
AmotherwhokillsheryoungbabyintheUKisnotheldresponsibleformurderbutthelessercrimeof
infanticidethisisnotapplicabletofatherswhomaybesufferingstressordepression.Thishelpsmothersbut
doesnothingtoprotectvulnerablechildren
menare20timesaslikelyaswomentobestoppedandsearched.(homeoffice)

Convictions

Thevastmajorityofthoseconvictedincourtaremen89%(23,478)ofallindividualcourtconvictionsin
1999,comparedto11%(3,046)forwomen.
Ofallcourtconvictionsmenaremorelikelytobeconvictedofindictableviolenceagainstthepersonoffences
(24%)thanwomen(20%).
Source:AllfiguresabovefromGenderandtheNorthernIrelandCriminalJusticeNIO/NISRA,2002.

ThevastmajorityoftheaverageNorthernIrelandprisonpopulationismale(1,393male,41femalein2006).
96%ofprisonersaremale,thebestindicatorofsentencingisgender(Homeofficestudyfrom20023)

7.

Labourmarketrepresentation

Menareunderrepresentedinvariouslabouroccupations,namelyineducationandhealth.Figuresfor
employmentofmenintheseareashavewidenedwithfewermenbeingemployedinthesesectors.
Unemploymentrateinmales2006was5.5%incomparisonto3.1%oftheparticipationnumbers.Women
maybeunderrepresentedinthelabourmarketintermsofparticipationbutthisreflectsonthefactthatgiven
thechoicetobeastayathomemotherorladyofleisuresomewomendomakethischoice.
In2005/0684%ofprimaryschoolteacherswerefemaleand16%weremalewhile64%ofpostprimary
schoolteacherswerefemaleand36%weremale.Forteachersworkinginspecialschools,82%werefemale
and18%weremale.
In2005/06,ofthefulltimeacademicstaffatNIHigherEducationInstitutions,1,730weremaleand985were
female.Oftheparttimeacademicstaff,140werefemaleand70weremale
Whatgoesunrecognisedbycurrentpolicymakersisthatmenhaveanapproxworkinglifeof45yearsandthe
inequalitiesconcerningrepresentationatmanageriallevelandpaygapsbecomingequalwilltakesome45
yearstocomeintofruition.
In2005/06,ofthefulltimeteachingatNIFurtherEducationColleges,1,097weremaleand1,045were
female.Oftheparttimeteachingstaff,2,178werefemaleand1,287weremale.
Therearemoregovernmentfundedprogrammestoenablewomentostarttheirownbusinessesthanmen.
Thisnotonlyshowsinequalitybutshowsthatregardlessofabilityfundingisgenderspecificandfunding
maybewastedonbusinessesthatshouldnotbefunded.
BusinessesinNorthernIrelandintermsconstructionandmanufacturinghavedecreasedtomakewayfora
moreservicebasedindustry,manymenlacktherelevanteducationskillstogainemploymentinthissector
Femaleparticipationintrainingandemploymentprogrammeoccupancystandsat40%in2001asmentioned
inareportfromthegenderequalityunitin2002andishighlightedasasourceofinequalityinwomen.This
figuredoesnotincludethenumeroustrainingprogrammesthatareprovidedthrougheachlocalwomans
supportgroupsthroughoutNorthernIreland.Thisextratrainingthatispublicallyfundedisnotequally
affordedtomen.
22%ofmencomparedto4%ofwomenusuallyworkover48hoursperweek(Source:LFS,AprilJune
2006).

7.1
Womenhavemultiplelifestyleopportunitiesversusmen'ssingleopportunityi.e.work.Atpresentwomenhavethe
optionto

Work
Stayathomeasahousewife
Stayhomewithchildren
Workparttimeandcareforchildrenparttime

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8.

Povertyandsocialbenefits

Menhavetopaythemajorityofthetaxes(men:77B/yearwomen:39B/year)butbenefittheleastfromthese
taxesespeciallysincetheydie7yearsearlierthanwomen.
Theretiringpensionagesformenandwomenareunequali.e.womenretireat60andmenhavetoretireat65.
Thiswillnotbecorrecteduntiltheyear2020.Sincewomenlive7yearslongerthanmenitcanbesaidthatmen
receive12yearslessbenefitsfor5yearsmorework
Marriedmenareespeciallydiscriminatedagainstcomparedtoloneparents.Foreverylevelofearningsa
loneparentwithchildrenhasmoreleftinherpocketthanamarriedmanwiththesamenumberofchildrenwho
hastosupportoneextraadult(P.Morgan:FarewelltotheFamily).Thisisbecauseloneparentshaveearnings
disregardsandextrabenefits.
Personalallowancescanbetransferredfromthehusbandtothewife,buttheycannotbetransferredfromthewife
tothehusband
Nearlytwiceasmanysinglemen(6,709)thansinglewomen(3,405)presentedashomelesstotheNIHEduringthe
financialyear2005/06(Source:NIHE).
In2005/06,41%ofmaleadultinformalcarerswereinfulltimeemploymentcomparedto25%offemaleadult
informalcarers.

9.

Education

Theagegroupforboysandgirlsoftheageshowsthatthereare3600moreboysintheageofGCSEandAlevel
examinationage.Fromthisonly202moreboyssatGCSEexaminationsandintermsofAlevelexaminationsgirls
outnumberboycandidatesby1890candidates.
Only39percentofboycandidatesofGCSEenterintoAleveleducationcomparedto55%girls.

(SourceNorthSouthastatisticalprofile2008)

Girls (53%) outperform boys in terms of achieving two or more A levels or equivalent in 2004/05 compared to
boys(36%)(Source:Schoolleaverssurvey2004/05,DE).

Afterleavingschool75%ofgirlsprogressedtofurtherorhighereducationcomparedto56%ofboys(Source:
Schoolleaverssurvey2004/05,DE).
In20014%ofgirlsleftschoolwithnoGCSEqualificationcomparedwith8%ofboys.66%ofgirlsleftschool
withatleast5GCSEA*Ccomparedwith50%ofboys.
In2005/06therewere9,015femalesgaininganundergraduatequalificationcomparedto5,045males.Intermsof
alltypesofhighereducationqualifications,females(11,585)wereawardedalmosttwiceasmanyasmales(6,840).

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10. mortalityandmorbidity

Suicide,menare3timesmorelikelytocommitsuicidethanwomen,Thereislittleresearchorpublicfundinginto
thehighestcauseofexternaldeathinIreland,malesuicideoutnumbersroadtrafficaccidentsandyetmillionsare
spentonourroadseachyear
AlcoholismandDrugAbuse,thenumberofregisteredvictimsinbothcategoriesareinthevastmajoritymen.
Directstrategicallyactionplansneedputinplacetocurbthisincreasingnumber
Theproportionofmalesthatreportconsuminglevelsofalcoholabovethesensiblelevelwas17%in1990/91and
33%in2002/03.Theproportionoffemalesthatreportconsuminglevelsofalcoholabovethesensiblelevelwas
5%in1990/91and11%in2002/03.
Persistentlyhigherincidenceofsmokingisfoundamongstmalescomparedtofemales.Theproportionofmales
thatreportedbeingacigarettesmokerwas33%in1990/91and27%in2004/05.Theproportionoffemalesthat
reportedbeingacigarettesmokerwas31%in1990/91and25%in2004/05.
Stress&Depression,socialeconomictriggerssuchasunemployment,familylawanddomesticviolencearemajor
causesofstress&depressioninmen.Menaremorelikelytobeunemployedandwhenunemployedforlonger
periodsthananyoneelse.
Cancer,prostatecancerneedsanearlyscreeningprocess,anNHSsurveyin2005showsthatsuffersofprostate
cancerhavetowaitlongerfortreatmentthanmostothercancersandinthewaitingperiodthesuffermore
deteriorationandaretwicelesslikelytoreceiveadequatepainrelief.
Cancerskillmoremalesthanfemaleseachyearyetcancerresearchformalecancersareunderfunded,uptodate
healthtargetsfortheUKinclude:B1reductionofbreastcancerby25%,andB2reductionofcervicalcancerby
20%.Thereisnotevenamentionofprostate,ortesticularcancertargets
TheEuropeanagestandardisedrate(EASR)forallcancersformaleswas569per100,000in1993and543per
100,000in2004.TheEASRforallcancersforfemaleswas451per100,000in1993and443per100,000in2004.
Somaticillness,anillnessthatcannotbediagnosedbyanyonesymptomandisusualtheyeffectofseveral
differentfactorssuchasstress&depression,unhealthylifestyle.Studieshaveshownmenareunlikelytoseek
medicalhelp,atrendthatwillbereversedtroughourcharity.
Physical,themalepopulationisatthehighestrateofanyvictimofphysicalviolentcrime.Coupledwiththe
currentculturaltabooonalevictimsthisgroupneedsextensivehelp&support
Preventativehealthcare,asofyetthisapproachhasnotyetbeenfullyimplementedwithinthemalepopulation,
thereisaneedfordedicatedhealtheducationandservicesthatareapplicabletothemalepopulation.
Unsafesexuallifestyle,intermsofalcoholism,druguseamongothersthepracticeofunsafesexualpracticescould
occur.Thisinturnleadstowidespreadsexuallytransmitteddiseasesandunplannedbirthsthefurtherresultin
futureongoingsagaofthoseaffected
Debt/poverty,separatedfathersorpartnerscanfaceanarrayofforcedpaymentsregardlessoftheirneedfor
shelter,food,heat&lightandclothing.Thisinturncanleadtoseveralhealthproblems,lowstandardoflivingand
inmanycasessuicide.
CircumcisionoffemaleshasbeenagainstthelawintheUKformanyyearshowevercircumcisionofmalesisstill
widelypracticed,andislinkedtodisease,injury,andpsychologicalproblems

References

1. IrelandNorthSouthStatisticalProfile2008
2. GENDEREQUALITYINDICATORSFORNORTHERNIRELAND:ADISCUSSIONDOCUMENT.2004
3. Genderequalitystrategy20052016,OFMDM

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