Campaign Launched to Highlight Violence Against Women and Girls

A new digital and PR campaign to raise awareness of a range of gender-based violence, abuse and harm which is disproportionately targeted towards women and girls has been launched by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The aim of the ‘#End It Now’ campaign is to highlight some of the key impact of men’s inappropriate sexual behaviour towards women and girls and the issues with the criminal justice  system in tackling offenders.  

To support this work, we have partnered with Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Southern Health and Social Care Trust and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to promote our new ‘#End It Now’ campaign across local media and our social media channels.

Violence against women and girls is a systemic and deep-rooted problem in our society. It is a problem that is hidden in plain sight and every day we see how it is affecting the lives of women and girls in our communities, wherever they learn, live, and work. Whether its sexual harassment in a public place to receiving unwanted intimate photos or videos we all need to work to ending this now! 

Newry, Mourne and Down District Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne said, “Violence against women and girls causes significant harm to those experiencing it and can a have significant long-lasting impact. It is clear that the biggest difference we can make is to tackle male violence and misogynistic attitudes. Women and girls’ safety will not come from changing the behaviour of women and girls but from changing the culture in our communities that fails to tackle this issue. To highlight this, we are delivering this  campaign to raise awareness and encourage each of us to say ‘end it now’.”  

The latest campaign has been developed by the Council’s Safeguarding team through partnership working with Southern Health and Social Care Trust, South Eastern Health Social Care Trust and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. 

Donna Murphy, Assistant Director, Family Support & Safeguarding, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, said, “The Trust’s Safeguarding Team, including the Southern Area Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnership, welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Council to promote awareness about domestic violence. Together we can change behaviours and culture by changing minds and attitudes through speaking out to end violence against women and girls.” 

Both the Health Trusts are ensuring that their teams are on hand to support anyone who needs help or support. The key phone numbers which are promoted as part of this partnership are as follows: Southern Health and Social Care Trust 028 3576 7100 and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust: 0300 100 0300 and the 24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline: 0808 802 1414. The campaign is also supported by a range of online resources which are available on the Council’s corporate website: www.newrymournedown.org/safeguarding and from here other support services for women and girls are available. 
   
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Sarah Duffy said, “We can all help stop violence against women and girls in our everyday lives. We need to end it now. By speaking out, by discussing the issue on social media, in public and at home, we can improve people’s understanding of these issues and challenge attitudes and beliefs. By working closely with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council , the Southern Trust and South Eastern Trust we can share this message widely and protect women and girls in our local communities.”

For further information on the #End It Now campaign and to view the infographics please visit www.newrymournedown.org/safeguarding.