Police Service of Northern Ireland welcomes launch of the Executive Office’s Ending Violence against Women and Girls Strategy

Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher commented on the Executive’s EVAWG strategy launch today, Monday 16th September, saying: “In September 2022, we launched the first Tackling Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan for policing in Northern Ireland and have made significant progress, already completing 33 of the 41 actions within in the first two years.

“In this document, we made it clear that to really put an end to harassment, intimidation and violence against women and girls, it would need a commitment from all in our society.

“We have played our part in the co-design process and have welcomed the partnership approach to development that has been taken in the development of the Executive Office’s strategy.

“We are pleased that their EVAWG Strategic Framework has formally launched today. We would encourage all in Northern Ireland to review this landmark document and take an informed approach to scrutiny of the actions laid out within.

“This is a framework for all partners and the wider public, it is the beginning of a roadmap for us all to play our part and make a real change to our local communities so that all spaces are safer for women and girls.

“Violence against women and girls remains a plague on our society and a problem that we cannot simply arrest our way out of. In the last month, three women in Northern Ireland lost their lives to VAWG, change is needed now.

“This is a welcome and long awaited development for Northern Ireland and one that we hope will provide the necessary tools and resources for us all to work together in the fight against VAWG.”

For further information about the Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls and the first Delivery Plan, and to access the full documents, please visit: https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/topics/ending-violence-against-women-and-girls