Tackling Gender Based Violence
Passed at National Conference 2022
Outline the issue facing students
Gender-Based Violence is an epidemic across the world. Statistics show that Northern Ireland is the most dangerous place in Europe to be a woman, with three times more murders of women than England or Wales, yet Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK or Ireland without a strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
The United Nations High Commissioner described gender-based violence as "one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world [yet] one of the least prosecuted crimes".
Why is this important to us as a movement?
In Northern Ireland, students represent a significant proportion of the population most vulnerable to Gender-Based Violence, with students’ unions serving as front-line support and signposting services.
Despite this, student representatives continue to deal with educational institutions treating the issue as new and unchangeable. We need legislative support through a strategy.
What would the world look like if we solved it?
The Northern Ireland Executive would have a Violence against Women & Girls strategy, including representation of the specific needs of students within the strategy. This would include the responsibility of educational institutions to address the issue.
Local councils would provide a named contact for students to report safety issues around campus and surrounding areas.
Students’ Unions would have support to ensure they can lead on campaigns to tackle these issues locally
National Unions would have an intersectional approach to the issue which recognises the added vulnerabilities associated with being disabled, a migrant, working class etc.
