Social and legislative context
1918: Representation of the People Act allowed women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification to vote.
1918: Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act; for the first time, women are allowed to be MPs.
1928: Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act; all women over 21 can now vote – 52% of the electorate in Northern Ireland.
1947: Education Act (Northern Ireland) prevents female teachers from being dismissed after marriage.
1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
1968-69: Rioting and violence in Northern Ireland as the Troubles begin.
1970: Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland).
1975: NI Women's Rights Movement formed.
1976: Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order.
1979: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is founded.
1993: UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.
1998: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement includes the right of women to 'full and equal political participation'.
2006: OFMDFM launches Gender Equality Strategy.
2016: Northern Ireland Assembly Women's Caucas established.
