Cases of gender-based violence are a worrying start to 2019

Labour Equality Spokesperson Cllr. Deirdre Kingston has said high profile cases of violence against women since the start of 2019 are a worrying trend.

Cllr. Kingston said:

“Since the beginning of the year, two women have already died from suspected male violence. Domestic violence and violence against women has not gone away. We may live in more equal times but that does not mean women live in as safe an Ireland as they should be able to.

“As has been consistently highlighted by the National Women’s Council of Ireland and domestic violence charities, one in five women experience domestic abuse in Ireland. Of women killed in Ireland, nine out of ten are killed by someone they know and a majority of those die at the hands of a partner, or ex-partner.

“In 2019 this is simply not acceptable.

“Our current housing crisis is only serving to exacerbate the situation with women not being able to find accommodation which would allow them to leave an abusive relationship. We also know that victims of domestic violence are not being counted in the official homelessness figures for political reasons.

“Domestic violence is a phenomenon that disproportionately affects women. EU statistics indicate that one in five women will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.

“It is high time that the Government prioritised the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. The Convention requires all ratifying states to adopt a framework to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.

“Ireland is one of eight EU countries not to have ratified the Istanbul Convention. For a country that wants to lead the way in gender equality, it is pathetic that the Government are continuing to fail women facing violence and domestic abuse.”