An all-island approach to tackling violence against women
Violence against women is a crisis that knows no borders, devastating lives across the whole island of Ireland. Despite progress in legal protections and better awareness, both north and south, the epidemic persists, writes Orla O’Connor, the Director of the National Women’s Council (NWC).
A recent report from the National Women’s Council in collaboration with Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland (WAFNI), highlights the need for harmonised, all-island solutions to combat violence against women, in particular, intimate partner violence. The report is both a call to action and a roadmap for change.
Intimate partner violence is a shared crisis across this island and the statistics are eyewatering. In 2023, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) responded to a domestic abuse incident every 16 minutes, while An Garda Síochána handled similar calls every 10 minutes.
Since 2020, 58 women have been murdered across the island, with Northern Ireland disproportionately accounting for 40 per cent of these deaths despite representing just 30 per cent of the total population. The North’s femicide rate is the second highest in Europe.
The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic creates unique challenges for survivors and the service providers supporting them. Women fleeing abuse often encounter additional barriers when seeking housing, social protections, or legal recourse across jurisdictions. The ability of a woman to flee across the border and get a house and a job could be the difference between running to safety and staying in an abusive relationship. Unfortunately, we know that these complexities tragically force many to return to unsafe environments.
Brexit has exacerbated these challenges, particularly for marginalised women, disrupting mechanisms like European Protection Orders and other cross border agreements. Perpetrators have also exploited the border to evade justice. While informal collaboration exists between PSNI and An Garda Síochána, the lack of formalised structures undermines seamless support. Greater all-island coordination is essential to address jurisdictional gaps, improve efficiency, and ensure no survivor is left unsupported.
Women’s organisations across the island are at the forefront of addressing the epidemic of violence against women, often filling gaps left by the State. These groups provide critical services – ranging from refuge spaces to court accompaniment – but remain chronically underfunded.
The report emphasises the urgent need for sustained investment in civil society. Funding must be multiannual, and ring fenced to support lifesaving services, trauma informed interventions, and public awareness campaigns. Targeted funding must address Brexit-related services gaps, the report states.
The report sets out actionable steps to create an all-island response to intimate partner violence. For example, it calls for the harmonisation of legal protections for survivors. Authorities must clarify cross border rights and entitlements, remove immigration barriers, and introduce humanitarian exemptions for survivors who fail to meet residency requirements like the Habitual Residence Condition.
Formalised cross border partnerships between law enforcement, social services, and civil society organisations are vital to streamline responses and close jurisdictional loopholes, particularly those exacerbated by Brexit.
This report is a rallying call for a better all-island approach. Its recommendations offer a pathway to more harmonised, effective responses that build on the strengths of both jurisdictions. However, the responsibility to act lies with policymakers. Civil society cannot shoulder this burden alone, we need decision makers to provide the leadership and resources needed to support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.
Ending violence against women demands urgency and true commitment. Its impact ripples through communities, affecting health, justice, and economic systems. But by acting now, with coordinated efforts and sustained investment, we can create an Ireland where safety knows no borders, and every woman’s right to live free from violence is fully realised.
The full North South Cooperation to Tackle Violence Against Women Dialogue Report, published in November 2024, be read here:
www.nwci.ie/images/uploads/North_South_Cooperation_to_Tackle_VAW.pdf
