The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition has criticised the British government and the main political parties for the lack of female representation on the new Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Addressing her party's annual conference in Bangor, Co Down, on Saturday, one of the Women's Coalition's two Assembly members, Prof Monica McWilliams, said that while women had applied in "huge numbers" for posts on the 19-strong board, only two were selected.
Of 583 applicants, 143 were female, Prof McWilliams told delegates. Of those, only 17 had made it on to the final shortlist for the nine independent members, and only two were eventually appointed, while among the 10 political nominees there was not a single woman.
"Both the Northern Ireland Office and the other parties should explain themselves, given everything that has been done on women and decision-making in Northern Ireland.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same as far as women's involvement is concerned", she added.
Prof McWilliams also called on the Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, to ensure that women were adequately represented among the new recruits to the force. "If the police are to move away from a hierarchical, predominantly military command structure towards a more problem-solving community style of policing, then they should have a less macho, more problem-solving approach to their work", she said.
Prof McWilliams also condemned the fact that there were no women on the Parades Commission.