€1m in Irish aid to combat violence against women during international conflict

The Government has announced €1m in funding to tackle violence against women and girls during conflicts or natural disasters.

Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello, TD, announcing the aid, said rape is often used in emergency and conflict situations to terrorise the population, break up families and destroy communities.

The UN estimates that at least 200,000 women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been the victim of rape since 1998.

The funding is being provided to the International Rescue Committee from Irish Aid’s Emergency and Recovery budget.