Debate contribution: Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill: Misogyny Aggravator
Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on .
- MLA
- Mrs Naomi Long
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill: Misogyny Aggravator
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5795882
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I will always work with the Committee to improve the Bill. People connect emotionally with the idea of putting misogyny in the legislation to send a message. My fear is that, if we have not bottomed out what that looks like from a legal perspective and how the evidence base underpins it, then it is a slightly different proposition. We have asked many of the partner organisations for evidence that having misogyny as a hate crime aggravator would change things, given that we already have domestic abuse aggravators that provide aggravation on sentences. We have not really been able to clarify with anyone what exactly it would add to the mix, which is an important part when we are legislating. Tackling misogyny is more about changing attitudes and culture than it is about providing more legislation. However, I am happy to work with the Committee. If there is a way to find some kind of reconciliation on that, I am more than happy to do that. Obviously, I am not going to stand here and say, "I don't want to do anything about misogyny". As I think Members will be aware, I do. I am just not sure that, without the evidence base, that is the right thing to do to tackle misogyny at this point in time. It may be that there are other mechanisms that would be better. In Scotland, they looked at a stand-alone misogyny Bill, which was meant to be much more robust. They took it out of their hate crime considerations and looked at a stand-alone piece of legislation. It may be that that would be more effective in doing exactly what the Member wishes, which is to highlight misogyny and, hopefully, draw attention to the consequences of engaging in it.
296 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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