The myth that women are incapable of holding senior political positions has been "well and truly demolished" by the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, the President, Mrs McAleese, and the former president, Mrs Mary Robinson, an SDLP conference to celebrate International Women's Day has been told.
About 200 women politicians, trade unionists and business leaders attended the "Women in the New Political Era" conference in Belfast on Saturday. It was hosted by the SDLP on behalf of the Party of European Socialists.
The SDLP Assembly member and spokeswoman on women's affair, Ms Brid Rodgers, said it was important that the Belfast Agreement delivered on sexual, as well as religious and political, equality.
The sexist attitudes of some Northern Ireland male politicians will be challenged at a special debate at Stormont today. The Cuban television presenter, Ms Xonia Zayas Aguero, is guest of honour at the international women's day discussion.