Debate contribution: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Strategic Framework
Debate contribution by Ms Joanne Bunting on .
- MLA
- Ms Joanne Bunting
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 2 February 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Strategic Framework
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5356459
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her question. The Member will be aware that there is considerable collaboration across Departments. It is a priority in the Programme for Government and has so far involved many, if not all, Departments. It is clearly embedded. We know that such cultural change does not happen overnight. From seat belt campaigns and so on, we have seen that such things take time, so we are laying the groundwork. There are regular updates to the Executive on the work. I emphasise to the Member the extent of the collaboration across the Executive and how seriously the Executive take the issue. Key work areas in the delivery plan involve other Departments: for example, the Department for the Economy is looking at safer socialising, the workplace and tertiary education; the Department of Education is leading on an action plan to coordinate interventions that focus on healthy relationships and are targeted at children and young people; and the Education Authority (EA), along with a group of young people and stakeholders, developed a board game called "Raise Your Game", the launch of which junior Minister Reilly and I attended. The Member will be aware that there is a collaborative funding model for the extended late-night transport pilot. That is being delivered through the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for the Economy. Many Departments are involved, and we will continue to work together, because everybody in the Executive and in the House recognises that this is a serious issue that must be challenged and faced down.
256 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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