Violence Against Women and Children
Male violence against women is an extreme expression of inequality, and there are high levels of both sexual and domestic violence in Ireland. Women have responded by setting up services, some of which are supported by the state.
Women's Aid and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre were set up in the 1970's. There is now a growing Network of Rape Crisis Centres a network of refuges and support services, SAFE Ireland, and there are a number of other organisations. Many of the service and support organisations are members of the National Women's Council of Ireland.
Through our membership of the European Women's Lobby, the NWCI chairs the Observatory on Violence against Women, which prepares annual national reports, and nominates an Irish expert to represent the Observatory in the EU. Reports have been prepared on prostitution, pornography and migrant women.
The NWCI is represented by our director on the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women, which is facilitated by the Cosc office directed by a senior civil servant at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.