More help and support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and coercive control are urgently needed in Northern Ireland, according to leading trade union Unite
Unite has challenged the Northern Ireland Executive to make real its Programme for Government priority of ending violence against women and girls. This includes Safe Leave (paid annual leave to allow access to accommodation, healthcare or the legal system) and locally-accessible emergency accommodation.
Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in Western Europe to be a woman but Stormont has yet to deliver actions to protect women who are living with threat or coercive control.
The union highlighted the two-year delay on the Stormont commitment for ‘Safe Leave’ for female workers experiencing violence and are unable to attend work. There is also a huge shortfall of local emergency accommodation, in particular for those with dependents – making it more difficult for victims and survivors of domestic abuse to leave dangerous situations.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: “Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in western Europe to be a woman or a girl. The recent murders of women in the region shows that things are not improving but getting worse. This is a devolved matter where Stormont has the needed powers, the executive cannot continue to fail to act and must protect victims and survivors.” Continue reading
