Debate contribution: Protecting Victims of Coercive Control

Debate contribution by Mrs Ciara Ferguson on 5 May 2026.

MLA

Mrs Ciara Ferguson

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

5 May 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Protecting Victims of Coercive Control

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5525212

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Violence against women and girls is one of the most defining challenges of this generation. It is a socially constructed stain on our society that is devastating and inhumane and that, sadly, operates on a continuum. Ending violence against women and girls and ending it for good means identifying the many patterns of behaviour that enable the control, isolation and abuse of women. While some aspects are easier to recognise, such as socially sanctioned misogyny, entitlement, objectification and aggression, others are less visible but require a serious focus. Structures and systems, including our justice system, although not consciously designed to be that way, can uphold and perpetuate gender-based inequality. Sinn Féin's motion recognises the continuum of violence. It emphasises how deeply and terrifyingly normalised the harm and heartbreak has become in our society and asks us to tackle the lived reality of how coercive control plays out in the courtroom for so many. To me, as an MLA and, prior to that, a family support coordinator, this is nothing new. It has continued for years. I am so proud of the individual women who have come into my office over the past four years and expressed the experiences that they have gone through. They are such strong women, and they want to see improvements. They wanted to meet the Minister, and the Minister met them on a number of occasions. They wanted to meet the Victims of Crime Commissioner, because they do not want what happened to them to happen to any other woman.

Yes.

Thank you for that. It is an absolute disgrace that that took place. The ladies whom I have spoken to have raised a range of issues, including the impact of prolonged and repeated litigation, the traumatic effect of direct cross-examination and the feeling of minimisation of the impact of coercive control and financial dependency. The lived reality of survivors is this: the continuum of violence does not and cannot end where justice begins in our current system. I welcome the role of specialist domestic violence court sitting days, the establishment of sexual offences legal advisers (SOLAs) and the recommendations in the 'Totally Invisible' report by the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime.

Each and every one of us should thank the individuals, male and female, who contributed to that report and had the bravery to share their story.

We urgently need to see the commencement of all outstanding protections under the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act 2021, as outlined in the recent Criminal Justice Inspection year 3 review paper. Additionally, we must strengthen the specialist training that is available to professionals; enhance the financial supports available to survivors, including through legal aid; and improve information sharing between civil and criminal courts, while keeping a constant eye on the dynamics and patterns of abuse. We must act collectively and with urgency to challenge absolutely anything that constrains a survivor's capacity for action. We must champion their ability to protect themselves, and often their children, in the toughest circumstances imaginable.

504 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:38 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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