Combating Violence Against Women and Girls continues to be a priority for local councils

Local council meetings in both Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and Glens have shown a commitment to tackle violence against women and girls in our society.

A recent Mid Ulster Council meeting revealed the commitment of the NI Executive and councils to combat violence against women.

The Development Committee meeting received a deputation presentation from the NI Executive Office on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls by Director Claire Archbold.

During the presentation the Director highlighted the work being done to combat the ongoing violence on women and girls throughout Northern Ireland.

She said: “We have been asked by the Executive not only to look at the violence against women and girls but to get to the root causes of the problem. This is our theory of change, this is where the problem comes from. We have a damaging culture with systemic inequality in it. We all grow up with damaging attitudes and beliefs that women are less able than men. Also that women are less deserving of a place in certain aspects of life. That leads to unwanted behaviours which are tolerated. We promote what we tolerate. We create a culture in which criminal offences are more common.

“We are focusing on prevention through what we call ‘The Change Front’. This will focus on prevention. We will have local grant schemes that we will be working with councils and community groups on. We have funding for councils to create and skill up groups where support is required. We also will have a regional grant scheme which will support experts to deliver tried and tested prevention based training. This will focus on challenging attitudes, behaviour and culture, education on healthy and respectful relationships and ensuring women and girls feel safe and are safe everywhere.”

South Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Cora Corry expressed her gratitude for the continued work on this topic saying: “We really appreciate the hard work that yourselves are doing in bringing forward this strategy. Also the work of our party leader Michelle O’Neill, local MLAs. The stats since 2020 are shocking. 25 women killed and 21 of those are in their own homes. So anything that we can do to try and tackle this is to be more than welcomed.

“A few years ago we did the ‘Raise Your Voice’ campaign. Things like that are really good for people to know what is appropriate in relationships and behaviour. During the course there were things that sparked people’s memory into thinking back on things that were totally inappropriate and recognising things like coercive control. That is very important, if we have as many local community groups involved as possible. Community groups, sports clubs, the education sector, anyone at all that we can go to tackle this issue a the root cause so much that it becomes totally unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council a motion was brought forward by Sinn Féin councillor Niamh Archibald and seconded by her party colleague Councillor Leanne Peacock.

The proposal called for the urgent implementation of the Strategy to End Violence Against Women and Girls.

The Proposal said: “Which must address violence at its roots, tackling everyday sexism and misogyny, working with Women’s Aid and other community and voluntary organisations and most importantly with those women who are victims and survivors and families of those who have been killed.

“This Council supports tackling violence against women and girls being a priority in the new Policing Plan 2025-2030 and calls on the local PCSP to include tackling violence against women and girls in the development of the local PCSP plan and work with the community and voluntary sector and statutory bodies to deliver on this priority.”

Councillor Archibald spoke further on this saying: “The issue of violence against women and girls goes beyond just policy. It is a matter of social justice and we need to confront the epidemic that devastates the lives of countless women in our communities. Behind every statistic is a woman, someone's daughter, mother, sister, friend whose life has been affected or whose life has been tragically lost. This violence just does not happen in isolation; it is rooted in everyday culture of sexism, misogyny and the deep structure of patriarchy which normalises abusive behaviour and silences voices of victims. Our work places, school places, public places and leisure facilities should be places of safety and respect and it begins with educating our young people.

“This work will require close collaboration with victims and survivors and organisations like Women’s Aid. The strategy should also be prioritised between the policing frameworks to move towards real transformable change. Violence against women and girls in society is utterly unacceptable and must be eradicated. We must come together and say that enough is enough. It is time to act now.”

A spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Council said: “You will be aware all councils are working in partnership with the Executive Office to deliver against priority one of the violence against women and girls strategy. This involves momentum funding expanding by the end of March 2025. This will include research and helping existing local support provision, training to recipients of the grant funding and training for council employees. There will be delivery of this fund by April 2025 for local groups to deliver appropriate projects.”

The motion was passed during Causeway Coast and Glens Leisure and Development meeting.

In a strategic framework document published by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2024 it revealed, in the UK, 71% of women of all ages have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, 75% of girls experienced street harassment at least once in their lifetime, 1 in 2 girls, aged 16, have received an unwanted intimate photo/video at least once in their lifetime and 77% of all victims of sexual offences recorded by PSNI were female.

In a joint ministerial statement released by the NI Executive First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “Violence against women and girls must stop and we need to act now. Prevention is key. We need everyone to understand what violence against women and girls is and know how to help prevent it.

“We want to support victims and survivors on their journeys to access the services they need, to build their confidence in the justice system, and ultimately prevent more harm and abuse. This is a problem that is hidden in plain sight and every day we see how it is affecting the lives of women and girls, where they learn, live and work. We are determined to deal with this urgent situation, working with our partners and communities we can bring about the change we all need to see. Together we must create a better society for everyone, where violence against women and girls is never accepted, and which enables everyone to thrive and be safe. We are committed to seeing this happen.”