Action ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls' - Derry council

Derry City and Strabane District councillors have voted unanimously for the Executive Office’s ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy’ to be “urgently progressed”. 

It followed a Motion brought before January’s full Council meeting on Wednesday by Waterside councillor Cáitlin Deeney (Sinn Féin).

Cllr Deeney’s motion read: “This Council believes there must be a zero tolerance approach to all aspects of violence against women and girls, and calls for the Executive Office’s Ending Violence against Women and Girls Strategy to be progressed urgently, in order to tackle the causes of this violence by challenging everyday sexism and misogyny at its roots.”

Cllr Deeney said she had brought the Motion to Council because “the North of Ireland has the joint highest rate of femicide [murder of women] in Europe”.

She added: “One woman is killed here every three months. Domestic abuse and violence against women and girls claims the life of 16 women every year and is impacting on thousands of women every day. 

“We are all aware of violent and horrific attacks against women in this Council area and we know that many women and girls continue to live in fear. That is completely unacceptable. All society must stand against this horror. 

“There should be zero tolerance for misogynistic violence and abuse. Tackling violence against women and girls must be a priority right across our society. There can be no place for tolerance for sexism and misogyny. 

“We need to see the urgent implementation of the Executive Office’s ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy’ to tackle the cause of this violence by challenging everyday sexism and misogyny at its roots. To do this, we urgently need the Executive in place and the full funding of the strategy to transform how society understands and responds to violence against women and girls,” said Cllr Deeney.

Cllr Deeney criticised the British Secretary of State’s “significant” budget cuts to public services.

“This includes funding to Women’s Aid. This greatly reduces the level of support available to victims and the ability of first responders to spot the signs of abuse early and prevent it going too far.

“Victims of rape and sexual assault are also still facing unacceptable obstacles in our justice system. These were addressed as part of the Gillen Review but the outstanding recommendations of this Review could not be addressed because of the DUP’s boycott of the Assembly over the past two years.

“This is completely unacceptable and we cannot allow the position to pertain where victims of sexual offences continue to be further traumatised by the criminal justice process.

“We need robust and full funding of the Strategy to transform how society understands and responds to violence against women and girls,” said Cllr Deeney.

Supporting the Motion unequivocally, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) said:  “Every party and every individual in this chamber is going to speak with one voice and say that violence against women and girls has to stop.”

Speaking in support of the Motion, on behalf of the DUP, Ald Chelsea Cooke said violence, abuse and harm against women cut across all generations and communities.

She added: “It exists everywhere, in our schools, universities, workplaces, sports clubs and many, many more.”

People Before Profit’s Councillor Shaun Harkin said violence against women and girls was “far too prevalent”.

“As other speakers have said, it is on the rise,” he added.

“As a council we have to do everything we can to put actions in place that will challenge that. I also think the Executive, if it is re-convened in the next few days, should act on the policies that are sitting on the shelf. 

“We have to have a zero tolerance approach to any violence, whatever its form is to women and girls.”