Awareness campaign on violence against women

Awareness campaign on violence against women

27 November 2024

A MAJOR new campaign is being launched to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. 

The #No Excuse campaign launched on Monday which was the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women.

The new campaign — which is being spearheaded by Newry, Mourne and District Council in collaboration with the South Eastern and Southern health trusts and Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Council — runs for 16 days and ends on December 10 which is Human Rights Day. 

The campaign included an information session held in the Down Leisure Centre yesterday to raise community awareness of the issue and enable women and girls to learn more about what services are available across the district for those experiencing gender-based violence. 

Representatives from the local authority’s safeguarding team and the other organisations involved in the initiative were also in attendance.

The aim of the ‘#No Excuse’ campaign is to highlight the issues that are prevalent in society in relation to violence against women and girls. 

Statistics used throughout the campaign show how women and girls are impacted from the harmful attitudes and behaviours exhibited by men and boys.

The agencies involved in the initiative describe violence against women and girls as a “systemic and deep-rooted problem” in society. 

They say some people sometimes think of violence as physical assault only. However, violence against women and girls takes many forms, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, misogyny, financial abuse, emotional violence, stalking and online abuse. 

The organisations say there is no excuse to these behaviours and there is something that everyone can do in their daily lives to shape a better, safer and more inclusive future for everyone.

The South Eastern Trust’s assistant director for safeguarding and family support, Jason Caldwell, said there is no excuse for the violence and abuse inflicted on women and girls.  

“Any female can become the victim of domestic and sexual abuse, your daughter, your mum, your sister, your aunt, your granny; there is no definition of a victim,” he continued.

Violence

“Domestic and sexual violence and abuse destroys lives; it permeates every aspect of a victim’s life, not only causing lifelong impacts on them, but also their children and their families.”

Jason added: “We collectively need to take a stand and take responsibility and say this is unacceptable, there is ‘No Excuse’ for these behaviours and crimes against women and girls in our society.”

Council chairman, Pete Byrne, said violence against women and girls is a “deep-rooted issue” and has most recently been highlighted across Government and PSNI frameworks and strategies as it’s a problem that continues to affect people across our District and beyond. 

“There is something that we all can do to help with shaping a safer future for women and girls and we are delivering this campaign to raise awareness of this issue in our own communities to empower all of us to speak up and say there is ‘No Excuse’ for certain behaviours,” he added.

The local authority’s commitment to play its part in ending violence against women has been welcomed by Downpatrick councillor Conor Galbraith.

He tabled a motion on the issue at the start of the year calling for an end to violence against women and girls and is pleased the initiative is being taken forward.

The local authority plans to run a series of information sessions with various agencies and there will be a #NoExcuse social media campaign.

Cllr Galbraith said the importance of the violence against women and girls cannot be highlighted enough.

“In the past four years, 24 women have been killed in Northern Ireland. That is a tragic statistic and should force all of us to do some soul searching in how we want to be part of the solution,” he said.

“I don’t want to be in a position where, in four years’ time, we see these figures replicated.”

Health officials are on hand to support anyone who needs it with the contact number for the South Eastern Trust 0300 100 0300 between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

The 24-hour domestic and sexual violence helpline number is 0808 802 1414, while to talk to someone in confidence, while further information about the #NoExcuse campaign is available at www.newrymournedown.org/safeguarding.