#No Excuse Campaign Launched to Support Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in collaboration with Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Southern Health and Social Care Trust and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust have launched a new digital and PR campaign to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. The campaign will coincide with the UN Women 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

The #NoExcuse campaign begins today, Friday 22 November and will run through to Tuesday 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign will include 3 ‘Information Sessions’ taking place on Monday 25 November in Newry Leisure Centre, Tuesday 26 November in Down Leisure Centre and Wednesday 27 November in South Lakes Leisure Centre between 10am to 2pm, to raise community awareness of this issue.  

The ’Information Sessions’ are open to all and will enable women and girls to drop-in anonymously to learn more about what services are available across the district for those experiencing gender-based violence. Representatives from the Council’s Safeguarding Team, both Trusts and Women’s Aid and other support organisations will be in attendance.

The aim of the #NoExcuse campaign is to highlight the issues that are prevalent in our society in relation to violence against women and girls. Statistics used throughout the campaign show how women and girls are impacted from the harmful attitudes and behaviours exhibited by men and boys.

Violence against women and girls is a systemic and deep-rooted problem. People sometimes think of violence as physical assault only, however violence against women and girls takes many forms, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, misogyny, financial abuse, emotional violence, stalking and online abuse. There is no excuse to these behaviours and there is something that all of us can do in our daily lives to shape a better, safer and more inclusive future for everyone.

The campaign has been developed by the Council’s Safeguarding team and Women’s Working Group through partnership with Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Southern Health and Social Care Trust and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and will be promoted across local media and our social media channels.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne said, “Violence against women and girls is a deep-rooted issue and has most recently been highlighted across Government and PSNI frameworks and strategies, as it is a problem that continues to effect people across our District and beyond. There is something that we all can do to help with shaping a safer future for women and girls and we are delivering this campaign to raise awareness of this issue in our own communities to empower all of us to speak up and say there is ‘No Excuse’ for certain behaviours.”

Southern Health and Social Care Trust Assistant Director, Family Support and Safeguarding, Donna Murphy said, “There is ‘No Excuse’ for the abuse and violence of women and girls in Northern Ireland. No one should feel unsafe in their own home or community, where love and security should reside, not fear or pain. Sexual violence is a crime, not a private matter, it is time for every one of us to stand up and say; there is ‘No Excuse’ and this ends now. No woman or girl should ever have to endure fear in the place they should feel safest. We collectively need to break the silence, demand change and ensure a future where violence is never tolerated.”

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Sarah Duffy said, “Sexual violence against women and girls is endemic across our community. It can be inflicted by anyone, anywhere and at any time. The trauma it inflicts is foundational and becomes the root cause to so many social harms. We must remove those stigmas of society's victim-blaming culture and ensure anyone experiencing any form of sexual abuse is supported. There is a role for everyone in our communities to say enough is enough, gender-based violence is not normal, is not okay and there is ‘No Excuse’.”

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Assistant Director, Safeguarding and Family Support, Jason Caldwell said, “There is ‘No Excuse’ for the violence and abuse inflicted on women and girls.  Any female can become the victim of domestic and sexual abuse, your daughter, your mum, your sister, your aunt, your granny; there is no definition of a victim. Domestic and sexual violence and abuse destroys lives; it permeates every aspect of a victim’s life, not only causing lifelong impacts on them, but also their children and their families. We collectively need to take a stand and take responsibility and say this is unacceptable, there is ‘No Excuse’ for these behaviours and crimes against women and girls in our society.”

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.

For further information on the #NoExcuse campaign please visit www.newrymournedown.org/safeguarding.