In Ireland, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, NWCI, and the Irish Observatory on Violence Against Women held a seminar and launch to mark the publication and launch of their new document “Violence Against Women: An Issue of Gender” aimed at highlighting the issue of gender in analysing and responding to violence against women.
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The document was launched by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, during the 16 days of action, part of a European wide strategy to highlight the need to implement the Convention.
The panel discussion was chaired by Justine McCarthy. Speakers on the panel included Greg Heylin, Director, COSC; Jim Clarken, CEO, Oxfam; Margaret Martin, Director, Women’s Aid.
In Ireland, one in five women will experience rape or gender based violence at one point in their lifetime. The SAVI report tells us that some 42% of women have experienced some form of sexual abuse or assault in their lifetime.
There can be no real equality between women and men if women experience gender-based violence on a large-scale and state agencies and institutions turn a blind eye.
The Observatory called on for Ireland to sign, ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, to eradicate all forms of violence against women, specifically rape.
Ireland must sign, ratify and implement the Istanbul Convention to eradicate all forms of male violence against women, specifically rape.
Orla O’ Connor Director of NWCI said,
“There can be no real equality between women and men if women experience gender-based violence on a large-scale, and state agencies and institutions turn a blind eye. The Council of Europe Convention is a benchmark at international level, and Ireland must show its commitment to eradicating all forms of male violence against women by signing, ratifying and implementing the Convention as a matter of urgency.”
See more information at the following link.
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womenlobby.org
12 July 2025
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