Debate contribution: Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls: Implementation
Debate contribution by Mr Brian Kingston on .
- MLA
- Mr Brian Kingston
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 26 February 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls: Implementation
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4231096
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank all Members for their thoughtful contributions to the debate on the important matter of the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls. The purpose of our amendment is to highlight the need for the Executive Office and other Departments to prioritise funding for the delivery of programmes contained in the associated action plan and to clarify the need for the Government at Westminster to address the current inadequate funding of Northern Ireland, which is below the level of need, so that essential programmes such as this can be adequately funded. As a man, I acknowledge, reflecting on the attendance and on who spoke most during the debate, that, if we view this as a woman's issue, we miss the whole point. I will reflect on some of the comments made earlier. In proposing the motion, Emma Sheerin said that the commitment was outstanding from the previous mandate and that extensive co-design work had gone into it, including with groups providing support to victims and survivors. She said that the root cause is misogyny and the belief that women can be dominated by men. That is a challenge to men and boys to examine their attitudes. In proposing our amendment, my colleague Harry Harvey said that the issue has the potential to affect every home and that the onus is on all of us to recognise the issue and take action. The vision is one of a changed society, with the goal of eradicating violence against women and girls. I congratulate Connie Egan on her maiden speech. She pointed out that Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK and Ireland not to have such a strategy and that we need a whole-society approach in which misogyny and sexism do not go unchallenged. John Stewart, who chaired the Committee for the Executive Office in the previous mandate, during the consultation phase, said that it is important that we learn from what has worked well and not worked well elsewhere. He said that previous motions on the topic passed unanimously. Sinéad McLaughlin expressed concern that there was uncertainty over the funding for implementation. She pointed out how everyday phrases can commence a negative, escalating attitude. Deirdre Hargey pointed to changes in society and said that the four Ministers in TEO are now all female. We have a long history of mistreatment of women in society, however, so there are roles for all Departments to play. Diane Forsythe said that violence against women and girls is very real in Northern Ireland. She added that under-representation of women in senior positions has affected the prioritisation of many issues, including in the Assembly, so there is a need to change attitudes and educate society. Paula Bradshaw, as Chair of the Committee for the Executive Office, said that consultation had resulted in some changes to the draft strategy and that the task is not to tackle violence against women and girls but to end it. Linda Dillon said that there should be no acceptable level of misogyny and disrespect towards women. She added that we need to have challenging conversations with children from a young age and that abuse should not be ascribed to stranger danger but, in many cases, comes from people known to the victim, be she a woman or a girl. Cheryl Brownlee said that co-design, including involvement from the voluntary sector, government and the voice of lived experience, has been key to the strategy. She pointed out that men and boys also suffer violence and abuse and that that should not be overlooked. She said, however, that victims of gender-based violence are disproportionately female. It is estimated that domestic and sexual abuse costs Northern Ireland up to £1 billion a year. Sorcha Eastwood reminded us of the uneven criticism directed at female MLAs in many areas of the media compared with that directed at male MLAs, and she said that abusers can be at every level of society. Cara Hunter pointed to the need to educate young people —.
Yes, I will give way.
Absolutely. A recurring theme in colleagues' comments was that this needs to be a strategy that results in actions, not just in fine words. As I was saying, Cara Hunter pointed to the need to educate young people about what sexual harassment is and for them understand issues of consent. Sian Mulholland said that there is an important role for protection measures online. She said that men and boys are an important part of the solution and that a safer society for women and girls will be a safer society for all. Justin McNulty said that under-reporting is a major part of the problem. When lives are taken, their names are known, but thousands of others are abused in silence, and their abuse goes unreported.
Alex Easton said that lives, hopes and ambitions are being shattered by violence and abuse and that we need to address the root causes. Jim Allister pointed out that the debate was important and necessary, that victim-blaming is part of the issue and that the powerful testimony of Máiría Cahill, who suffered repeated abuse, was very relevant to the debate.
That is me finished.
866 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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