City Hall’s anti-sexual harassment policy hailed
BELFAST City Council has agreed an anti-sexual harassment policy for its facilities and events.
All councillors and officers will engage in training delivered by the Raise Your Voice project on the realities facing victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.
Lord Mayor Frank Mccoubrey said it was “one of the most important motions ever brought before this council” and commended the “powerful” speeches during its consideration.
It was proposed by Alliance’s Sian Mulholland and seconded by the Green Party’s Aine Groogan.
It commits to an up-to-date anti-harassment policy for all staff and events with the aim of setting “a precedent for all hospitality venues, workplaces and events within this city to do the same”.
It also commits to working with voluntary organisations, such as Women’s Aid, to promote the wider campaign to address violent acts perpetrated against women.
The motion stated: “This council notes with sadness the recent murders of Stacey Knell and Karen Mcclean along with Sarah Everard in London, adding to the hundreds of women, trans women and girls across these islands who have lost their lives in gender-related attacks where a man has been convicted or charged as the primary perpetrator.
“We send our sympathies to their families and loved ones and we make clear our anger that these women and girls were taken from them.
“We are deeply concerned by the rising numbers of violent acts perpetrated against women and girls and we are committed to doing everything within our powers to make Belfast more safe, fair and equal for all women and girls.”
Ms Mulholland told the council: “For too long our streets, shared spaces, bars and gigs, parks and workplaces, educational institutions and places of worship, and for some their homes, have not been safe spaces for women to inhabit.
“This is not a new phenomenon, nor is this simply a women’s issue.
“This is an issue that affects every single individual in society.
“So be clear, this is a societal issue that demands a societal response.”