State called to account for 100 murdered women

TODAY the Government will be called to account for the 100 women murdered in Ireland during the lifetime of the current coalition.

It will happen as women’s groups gather in the National Library to launch the domestic violence election manifesto.

After a 10-year wait the Government is expected to unveil a strategy on domestic violence soon.

With this in mind, women’s groups have identified the General Election as a opportunity to end the ad-hoc manner in which domestic violence services currently operate.

The event is being organised by Women’s Aid who have invited guest speakers to outline areas in need of urgent attention.

These are the protection of women during custody visits and the unique difficulties faced by immigrant victims.

Women’s Aid director Margaret Martin called on all political parties to prioritise the action in this area.

“Many services including our own helpline received no funding increase since 2002. Despite the allocation in the 2007 budget, we are still managing the impacts of chronic under-funding.

“We need a commitment to the long term development of services, secure, multi annual funding to ensure we can respond to every woman in danger,” she said.

The manifesto’s launch is happening almost 10-years to the day since Labour Party Minister of State Eithne Fitzgerald published the Task Force Report on Violence Against Women.

That coalition left office within six weeks of the report’s release and groups have decried the scant progress made by the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat since the 1997 report.

Today’s document will echo many of the sentiments of the original report including the need for training for judges and methods to evaluate the work of the gardaí.

The documents theme of protection and prevention will aim to send a clear message to political parties.