DUP defends Foster after criticism over violence against women
THE DUP has rejected claims from the Labour Party that First Minister Arlene Foster is “almost underplaying” the threat of violence against women.
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh made the comments in a BBC interview while calling for a strategy to deal with such violence.
In response, the DUP said Mrs Foster had “strongly backed” a campaign for a plan to be developed and had raised the matter with the Justice Department.
The party also highlighted a Twitter post from Ms Haigh in which she praised Mrs Foster for agreeing to develop a strategy.
Following the murder of Sarah Everard in London, Mrs Foster was asked on BBC Radio 4 why Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK without a strategy to protect women from violence.
“Northern Ireland has a very low record of this sort of activity, but it happens,” she replied.
“Those of us who are in public life are fully aware of the threats of violence that we receive, so there is this atmosphere that needs to be tackled.
“My worry is that it’s putting young women off coming forward and getting involved in public life. It has a real chill effect and we need to tackle that.”
Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, Ms Haigh said the DUP leader had not gone far enough.
“It’s concerning to hear the First Minister almost underplay the level of the issue in Northern Ireland,” she added.
“Northern Ireland has had a specific issue with violence against women and girls because it is a post-conflict society.”
Ms Haigh also referred to research showing that, following the Troubles, violence on the streets had translated into violence in homes.
She said such crimes were under-reported “because of the nature of Northern Ireland society being a post-conflict society”.
DUP MLA Pam Cameron said: “Louise Haigh previously warmly welcomed the First Minister’s commitment on working with Executive colleagues to develop a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
“As someone who strongly supports the work of Women’s Aid, I very much welcome the First Minister’s strong backing for the campaign.
“Louise Haigh would also not be aware that the First Minister had raised the need for a strategy with the Justice Minister.
“Everyone will welcome that a paper on this subject is now to be brought to the Executive. This is an issue where there is support across the political spectrum, and the First Minister has been at the forefront of highlighting its importance.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long denied her department had been slow to tackle the problem and said it had already passed relevant legislation.
Ms Long added she raised the issue of an overarching strategy on violence against women at an Executive meeting on Tuesday.
She explained that while her department “deals with the consequences of these crimes”, there “is a much wider-ranging piece of work that needs to be done which deals with the root causes of victimhood”.
‘The First Minister strongly backs (the need for a plan)’