Violence against women not just a female issue

Ulster Unionist Women's Development Officer, Sandra Overend, has welcomed International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, due to take place on November 25.

"It is vital that we engage in the campaign to protect women, and this day serves as a valuable opportunity to raise public awareness of violence against women at all levels of society, in countries around the world.

"In driving home awareness of the harmful effects of domestic violence even, it is important to note that there is a visible overlap between domestic violence and child abuse. Reports have shown that at least 750,000 children a year witness domestic violence; in 75% to 90% of domestic violence cases the children are in the same or next room. Statistics also show that nearly 75% of the children on the 'at risk' register live in households where domestic violence occurs.

"Clearly a lot still needs to be done to tackle the issue of domestic violence, and in a step towards doing so the Ulster Unionist Party is looking forward to the introduction of Multi-Agency Risk Conferences (MARAC's). MARAC's will provide a forum to identify high-risk victims and allow information to be shared to increase safety and health of victims," the UUP spokesperson said.

"I must commend UUP Health Minister Michael McGimpsey's commitment to eradicating domestic violence, which accounts for one-fifth of all recorded violent crime in Northern Ireland, and an average of five people killed each year.

"The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will give us a chance to draw attention to the nature and sheer size of the problem.

"Domestic violence and sexual assault have long been seen as 'women's issues', for obvious reasons. But it's increasingly clear that violence against women is a 'men's issue' too; at the bluntest level, violence against women is a men's issue because when this violence occurs, it's nearly always perpetrated by men.

"It is men's wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends whose lives are limited by violence and abuse.

"To really stop violence against women, we need collective action and wider social change, to shift the social norms and gender inequalities on which violence against women is based. This will take personal commitment, community involvement, and political will.

"Violence against women will only stop when men join with women to put an end to it. And both men and women will benefit from a world free of violence."