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Call over violence against women
November 25, 2004 – (BBC) The government should redouble its efforts to end violence against women in Northern Ireland, the Human Rights Commission has said.
There should be a fresh campaign against gender-based violence in all its forms, said the commission.
This included domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment and violence against women in armed conflict, it said.
The call is part of its response to International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Thursday.
The date of 25 November came from the brutal assassination in 1961 of three political activists - the Mirabal sisters - in the Dominican Republic.
On 17 December 1999, the General Assembly of the United Nations recognised the date and invited governments and international organisations to organise activities to raise public awareness of the problem.
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Although government has enacted legislation banning violence against women and launched campaigns to make all sections of society understand that such action is unacceptable in any form, much more needs to be done
Brice Dickson
Chief commissioner
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The commission said that in recent years there had been increasing awareness of violations of the rights of women and girls.
It had highlighted inadequate prison conditions for female prisoners in Northern Ireland, it said.
Chief Commissioner Brice Dickson said: "Unfortunately the shocking level of violence against women continues to be widespread, blocking progress towards equality, peace and human rights for all.
"Although government has enacted legislation banning violence against women and launched campaigns to make all sections of society understand that such action is unacceptable in any form, much more needs to be done.
"We hope that the government will revise laws, prosecute perpetrators and continue to research the root causes as a means to implementing a specific strategy eliminating violence against women."
Earlier this year, the commission lobbied the government to adopt laws to deter perpetrators and provide adequate social, financial and legal support to the victims of domestic violence, it said.
On Monday, women killed in Northern Ireland through domestic violence in the last five years were remembered by politicians.
Fourteen pairs of shoes were placed on the steps of Stormont - each pair representing a woman lost to her family because of domestic violence.
The event was organised by Amnesty International and the Northern Ireland Woman's Aid Federation.
From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4039611.stm
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