NORTH-EAST women are today launching a manifesto demanding a fairer deal.
The Manifesto, titled 20-20 Vision and published by the North-East Women's Forum (NEWF), makes it clear to Government that if new elected assemblies are to deliver for women, big improvements are needed.
The manifesto also calls on the existing institutions and the political parties to take urgent action to accommodate the aspirations of women.
Geraldine Ormonde, of NEWF, said: "Where devolution has taken place elsewhere, the position of women in politics has been transformed and we need that here.
"The forum has listened to women in the region and we have come up with concrete proposals in our manifesto.
"We want an elected assembly with the powers that can deliver on the issues that are important to women in the region and the structures that make regional politics equally accessible to men and to women."
Dot Dawson, of County Durham's Twelve Villages Network, said women were "delighted to have the opportunity to feed into this important document and help shape the future for themselves and their families".
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