Catherine McGinty, 5 Feb
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.”