Debate contribution: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Rural Areas
Debate contribution by Ms Aisling Reilly on .
- MLA
- Ms Aisling Reilly
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 16 February 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Rural Areas
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5391302
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Violence against women and girls is an issue that affects all our communities, but we know that rural women and girls often face unique challenges. Often, living far from services and having fewer support options can increase their vulnerability and make it harder for them to get help, protection and justice. Together with the Agriculture Minister, we launched the community-led review on rural women and girls in October 2025. That review is led by the Rural Community Network and the NI Rural Women's Network; two organisations that are embedded in rural communities. The aim of the review is to investigate gender-based violence against rural women and girls through lived experience in order to understand fully the experiences and barriers facing women and girls, as well as the drivers of that violence, abuse and harm. The review will develop practical, rural-sensitive recommendations to shape and improve future policy and practice. The work is progressing well. We will absolutely share the results with you when it has concluded.
166 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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