New minister required to tackle domestic abuse
A member of Wexford Soroptimists has called on the Irish Government to install a minister to deal directly with the issue of domestic abuse.
Speaking after the group’s successful Orange the World campaign which saw them work towards raising awareness of the effects of domestic violence in our communities, Barbara Harrison said the issue is not receiving the attention it should.
‘It’s getting worse and worse, the numbers are going up every year and one of the difficulties is the Government aren’t taking it seriously enough,’ Barbara said.
‘There’s not enough financial support, we need a real push from government. TDs need to know more about domestic violence, they don’t fully understand the problem.’
‘There should be a minister dedicated to it, and more places of support, not just physical refuges but also a greater number of counselling services.’ The Soroptimists had actively ran a 16day campaign entitled ‘Orange the World’ an international event designed to raise awareness of the effects of domestic violence in local areas, thus reducing the stigma associated with this abuse, so that, with greater understanding, abuse might be reduced.
This saw them take up residence in the County Council buildings in Carricklawn, their aim being to inform and educate as many members of the public as possible.
‘We had an absolutely superb response. Details of services were made available to persons or families needing help and support. We saw councillors, social workers, teachers, many members of the public, and people affected by domestic violence,’ Barbara said.
‘We wanted to make people aware of the immediate care and after care supports available for victims of domestic abuse.’
Part of the problem, according to Barbara, is that those who endure domestic abuse, whether physical or emotional, end up blaming themselves.
‘All types of people present with problems. And still attached to it is the belief that the victim is to blame, that they must have done something to deserve it,’ she said adding that changing this mindset was one of the primary aims of the campaign.
Something else which she and the rest of the Soroptimists hope to change next year and in succeeding years is the number of men involved in the Orange the World campaign, a greater representation required to move the campaign forward.
This recent initiative was just part of two-year project being carried out by all 16 of the Wexford Soroptimists groups entitled ‘Safe Home, Safe Community’. This project included hosting a seminar called ‘Breaking the Silence on Domestic Violence’ at the Riverbank House Hotel in May of this year.
Featuring speakers from Wexford Garda Division, SAFE Ireland, the Wexford Women’s Refuge, and MEND, the event was partly responsible for the Irish branch of the Soroptimists receiving recognition from SIGBI, the federation under which all Soroptimist groups in Ireland, Britain, Africa and the Caribbean operate. The project won the Best Practise award in the Violence and Conflict Resolution category at the awards.