Ending violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland: MPs holds first oral evidence session – Wednesday 18 June at 9.30am
MPs will hold an evidence session on violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Northern Ireland - focusing on victims' experiences and the Government’s role in tackling the problem.
Meeting details
Academic research suggests that Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe for women, with violence against them rising since the end of the Troubles. Following allegations of this sort of violence in the past week, disturbances have taken place in parts of Northern Ireland, raising wider issues including the adequacy of police funding to deal with these situations.
Next week’s Northern Ireland Affairs Committee evidence session will examine trends in the prevalence of VAWG in Northern Ireland, how the experiences of violence compare with other parts of the UK, the impact it has on women and girls and the wider community, and the role of education in tackling it.
It will also explore the Northern Ireland Executive’s approach to protecting women and girls and what more the UK Government needs to do to end VAWG in Northern Ireland.
Earlier this year, the committee met with organisations in Northern Ireland which support women who have suffered violence and will hold a further evidence session before the summer recess focussing on online VAWG.
Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said:
“The unacceptable prevalence of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is not just a statistic – but a grim daily reality for many. The scale of the problem should shock us all into action. As a committee, we are determined to shine a light on the experiences of those affected and will be examining what more the Government and others can do to put an end to an intolerable situation that must not go on any longer.”