‘Crucial Council remains committed to ending all forms of violence against women and girls’ - Ald Chelsea Cooke

Ald Chelsea Cooke (DUP) has thanked Council officers for “their continued hard work on the ending violence against women and girls agenda”.

She made her comments during discussion following the presentation of the ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls - Update’ report to Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Policy Committee on Tuesday afternoon.

Describing the work as “vital”, Ald Cooke said it was “crucial we remain committed to ending all forms of violence against women and girls”.

“I have met with some of the partner organisations involved in the work and they have raised a number of important points for consideration,” she added.

“These include the need for longer term funding arrangements such as three to five year funding cycles, rather than a year-by-year allocation, as many of the organisations plan their programmes and employ staff without certainty over future funding, which creates ongoing challenges for them.

“They have also highlighted the importance of placing greater emphasis on prevention and on challenging harmful behaviours as well - recognising that domestic abuse is only one aspect of the broader end of violence against women and girls agenda.

“There is a strong desire for the organisations to continue working more closely as a co-ordinated network, to reduce duplication and maximise impact,” she said.

Ald Cooke also called for the presentation made to the members of the Governance and Strategic Policy Committee on the issue of ending violence against women and girls to be made “publicly available” to enable everyone to have “a better understanding of the work that has been taking place”. 

Cllr Fergal Leonard (Sinn Féin) opened his remarks by placing on record his “sincere appreciation and thanks” to everyone who had in any way “contributed to delivering the advice, education and proactive measures” mentioned in the progress report “in our strive to zero tolerance for violence to women and girls”.

“Very importantly, I would like to also take time to commend all girls and women who come forward to seek help from various agencies. I know this is not an easy thing to do,” added Cllr Leonard. 

“To all girls and women, please remember that the only shame is on the perpetrators of coercive control and domestic violence.

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“With this in mind, our last consideration is given as to how to encourage more girls and women to seek help and advice in an anonymous way. Perhaps, for example, through the delivery of YouTube videos giving details of women’s experiences and stories and how seeking help has improved their situation.

“The idea being that girls and women can watch it at their own time, anonymously, and without going to a public event,” said Cllr Leonard.

Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP) said she believed there also needed to be “heavy investment on the education for boys and men” as part of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.

“The aftercare and supporting women and girls is really important and making the place safe is really, really important but it is also aligned to boys and men at the end of the day,” she added.

“We know that most of this is perpetrated by men. There are some there but the majority of these projects aren’t for men and boys. So, I think we could be trying to do something from a Council perspective to educate boys and men in a way that is meaningful to them. It would be really helpful,” said Cllr McDaid, who hoped the matter would not be discussed in 10 years time because “it will just be a safe place for women to live”.

Cllr Shaun Harkin (PBP) suggested Council could also examine a discussion on Relationship and Sexuality Education in schools.