To mark International Women’s Day on March 8 the SDLP’s Equality spokesperson Patricia Lewsley hosted a seminar aimed at raising awareness of drug-assisted rape.

The seminar on Friday evening in Stormont focused attention on the dangers of drug-assisted rape.

“While we should not be alarmist about this issue, it is important to be aware that it exists,” Ms Lewsley said. “It is essential that both young women and men are aware of this growing problem and take steps to protect themselves.”

Meanwhile across Belfast women support groups have marked the day in their own way. The Women’s Support Network, which acts for community based women's groups in the Greater Belfast, held a seminar on Friday morning hosted by Dr Ghada Karmi from Palestine. The subject of the talk was ‘The Struggle for Palestine: The Role of Women’.

The Windsor’s Women’s centre Belfast in conjunction with the multicultural Resource Centre celebrated International Women’s Day in Latin American style with a themed day which lasted from 8am to 3pm.

Earlier this week the Health Minister Bairbre de Brún opened new premises in for Footprints Women’s Centre which has been operating in the Poleglass area for around ten years. The Centre provides a range of programmes including support and development, training and education, childcare for children aged up to 11 years and community catering.

The Centre just moved into new premises at Colinmill that were funded at a cost of £777,000 by the Belfast Regeneration Office, the Childhood Fund, Lisburn Peace and Reconciliation Partnership and the Department of Social Development’s European Union.

In addition, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety made available grant aid totalling £70,000. (AMcE)