A new initiative has been launched to tackle violence against women and girls in rural areas of Northern Ireland. The Rural Community Network (RCN) and the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network (NIRWN) will jointly lead a community-led review aimed at developing targeted recommendations for preventing and responding to gender-based violence in rural communities.
The review, announced to coincide with the International Day of Rural Women, is a joint effort by the Executive Office and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the initiative reaffirmed the Executive’s commitment to ensuring that every woman and girl can live free from fear and harm, regardless of where they live. She acknowledged that perpetrators often exploit rural isolation to further control victims and expressed confidence that the review would provide practical insights to improve access to support and protection for rural women and girls.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly highlighted the unique challenges faced by women in rural areas, including barriers to support and justice. She called for widespread participation in the review to ensure that rural voices and experiences inform future policy and action.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir emphasised the importance of community engagement, noting that the findings will inform executive and cross-sectoral measures to address violence against women and girls. He urged community groups, sports clubs, faith organisations, and men to contribute to the review, stressing that building safer rural communities requires a collective effort.
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