Women’s organisations call for cross-border cooperation to tackle domestic violence
Published: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
National Women’s Council and Women’s Aid Federation NI launch new report examining the issue of domestic violence across the island
26 November
Today (26 November) the National Women’s Council (NWC) and Women’s Aid Federation NI (WAFNI), publish a pivotal new report, North South Co-operation to Tackle Violence Against Women, spotlighting the issue of domestic violence across the island of Ireland.
The report makes several recommendations on fostering practical cooperation and implementing an all-island response to this significant all-island issue, ensuring that no woman is impeded by jurisdictional barriers, whether North or South, so that victims-survivors have the support they need, wherever they seek it.
The report finds many commonalities North and South, including: the prevalence of and huge societal cost of violence against women across the island; significant barriers to services for certain groups of women; and the impact of the border for women and children in accessing services. It also highlights the vital role that civil society organisations play in both jurisdictions in this area.
NWC Director Orla O’Connor said:
“In both jurisdictions there is an epidemic of violence of women, which comes at a significant emotional and economic cost. There are multiple barriers to accessing supports, particularly for certain groups like migrant women, disabled women, and Traveller and Roma women. These difficulties can be compounded if women who live on the border attempt to access services over the border, which may be closer to them. Brexit has only added to the complexities here.
Women can sometimes wish to ‘start fresh’ across the border but can face difficulties, for example, in having protection orders recognised. By the same token, perpetrators can sometimes flee across the border, and we need to know that the PSNI and An Garda Síochána can collaborate quickly and efficiently. These are just some of the issues that need to be looked at on an all-island basis.”
Despite significant progress on both sides of the border in tackling gender-based violence, the recent spate of murders and attacks in Northern Ireland highlights just how much work still remains to be done.
Sarah Mason, CEO of Women’s Aid Federation NI, said:
“Femicide is a serious issue across the whole of this Island and should be regarded in the same light as terrorism. Violence against women transcends Borders and we need to create an Island that is safe for all women, no matter what County you live in or your background. It is a very sad indictment to this Island that 58 women have been murdered since 2020, and we need meaningful cooperation across the Island to address violence against women, this is vital if we hope to reduce our high levels of femicide.
I believe this is achievable, as my personal reflections on the workshops that created this Report, are a warm tapestry of conversations with a shared passion and ethos to create change. So let’s be the change makers in addressing violence against women on this Island and continue the conversation.”
Today’s report calls on both governments to co-ordinate on violence against women to ensure any woman who needs support can access it. The Shared Island Initiative must centre violence against women as a cross-cutting issue. It is particularly crucial that funding for supports in the North is reinstated and ramped up significantly. The experience in the South of a Justice Minister who prioritised violence against women shows how much can be achieved when the political will is there.
We have a significant opportunity and need to increase collaboration at this point in time. Both jurisdictions have seen significant progress in policy and legislation related to intimate partner violence in recent years, and a common international framework (the Istanbul Convention) to tackle violence against women. However, Brexit have added uncertainty and barriers to women and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse.
The report was produced with the support of Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Shared Island Civic Society Fund.
-Ends-
For comment: Orla O’Connor and Sarah Mason
Find here the report: https://www.nwci.ie/images/uploads/North_South_Cooperation_to_Tackle_VAW.pdf
For more information, please contact Silke Paasche on 085-8589104
Notes:
What: Launch of new all-island report North South Co-operation to Tackle Violence against Women
When: Tuesday 26 November, 11am
Where: The Atrium, Dept of Justice, Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.
About NWC
The National Women’s Council is the leading national representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland, founded in 1973. We have over 190 member groups and a large and growing community of individual supporters.
The ambition of the National Women’s Council is an Ireland where every woman enjoys true equality and no woman is left behind. This ambition shapes and informs our work, and, with our living values, how we work.
We are a movement-building organisation rooted in our membership, working on the whole island of Ireland. We are also part of the international movement to protect and advance women’s and girls’ rights. Our purpose is to lead action for the achievement of women’s and girls’ equality through mobilising, influencing, and building solidarity. Find out more on www.nwci.ie
About WAFNI
Women’s Aid is the lead voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland addressing domestic abuse and providing services for women and children.
The Women’s Aid movement in Northern Ireland began in 1975 and is made up of eight local Women’s Aid groups and Women’s Aid Federation. Each Women’s Aid group offers a range of specialist services to women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. They are all members of Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland.
Women’s Aid exists to challenge attitudes, structures and systems which perpetuate domestic abuse. We seek through our work to enable women, children and young people to live free from violence and abuse.