ActionAid Ireland urges Louth public to support women around the world experiencing gender-based violence

ActionAid Ireland has appealed to the people of Louth to support their work with women and girls around the world experiencing gender-based violence and discrimination this Christmas.

The charity, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, also thanked the Louth community for its continuing generosity and support over the last four decades. ActionAid CEO, Karol Balfe, said violence is a global problem, but women and girls living in poverty are most at risk.

“This Christmas we are appealing for support to help us continue to provide safe shelter, refuge, counselling, medical and legal help to women who are subjected to gender-based violence.  This will help us reach even more women in the next year.” she said.

Last year, ActionAid supported 976 survivors of gender-based violence in Uganda where it runs 10 shelters for survivors of violence across the country. The shelters provide women and girls with a safe bed to sleep, food and sanitary products. Some shelters also provide skills training so women can become economically independent.

Amongst those supported by ActionAid in Uganda in 2023 was Irene, a 42-year-old widow and mother of nine who for years was subjected to extreme forms of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband. 

One day he became so violent towards Irene that he beat her to unconsciousness and set fire to all her belongings. Thanks to support from ActionAid Ireland Irene is now safe and her husband is in prison. 

“We are proud of the impact of our work with women and girls over the last 40 years which has been made possible thanks to the generosity of people all over Ireland, including Louth.” said Ms. Balfe.

She said survivors of gender-based violence – like Irene - often don’t get medical support because they can’t afford it, or because they are too far away from a hospital and often don’t get access to justice.

“Many can’t or don’t want to go to the police, sometimes due to fear of retribution or because of an acceptance of violence in their society. Girls may drop out of school and end up being forced to marry early. Many are left dealing with the emotional and physical impacts of the abuse on their own.” she said.

ActionAid works with communities to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, and to create long-term change for good. It also funds women's groups and networks across the world who train parents, teachers, local police and legal advisers to recognise the signs of violence and to report it.

Ms Balfe said: “Grassroots women’s groups are the strongest advocates against all forms of violence and are part of a growing, worldwide movement to stop women and girls being abused by men. We work with women at the community level, but also support them and others to ensure governments provide for their human rights and safety.”

Learn more: https://actionaid.ie/ christmas-appeal-gbv- actionaid/