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Women's lives at risk in northern Ireland: Call grows for a dedicated Minister for womens safety and health.

The Athrú Project, a small youth-led organisation focused on spreading awareness about violence and injustice in NI, are calling for the establishment of a Minister for Women’s Safety and Health, with the authority and resources to tackle these crises head-on: 

• Violence and Harassment: A 2023 Ulster University survey of 542 women found that roughly 70% had experienced some form of violence or abuse within the previous 12 months.
   

• Femicide Rates: Northern Ireland has one of the highest femicide rates in Europe. Since 2020, 27 women have been killed in gender-based violence north of the border – a figure disproportionate for a population of around 1.9 million.
   

• Maternal Mortality on the Rise: The life expectancy of women in Fermanagh is decreasing each year, largely due to the lack of medical infrastructure. Life expectancy of women reduced by four years. The BBC reports: “Northern Ireland does not have all the necessary structures and processes in place to effectively drive equitable, region-wide improvement.” Also, there is “a lack of framework for effective interdisciplinary education and training”  

• Gynaecological Health & Treatment Delays: Women are waiting too long for NHS gynaecological treatments, and it is having detrimental effects for women in the country. The department of health admitted that waiting times were “unacceptably high” A report by Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) team outlines the dire situation; 37,000 women are on hospital waiting lists for treatment. In the words of Zara Corbett, "Women should not be left suffering this pain, it's not good enough" 

Pearse O’Neill, Project Manager of The Athrú Project said at the launch of the campaign: “As a wave of alarming recent statistics have highlighted severe gaps in women’s safety and healthcare in Northern Ireland - from rampant gender-based violence to extensive delays in medical treatment, particularly for conditions like endometriosis - women are being put in needless danger.” 

“These crises cross public safety, healthcare, justice, human rights, and gender equality. Currently, no single post or department in Northern Ireland holds responsibility for the intersection of women’s issues. Due to decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, the justice process in particular fails women as men are often at the centre of the crimes and policies being discussed.” 

Sign the Petition 

“Your voice matters. Sign this petition now to urge the Northern Ireland government to establish a Minister for Women’s Safety & Health. Together we can ensure that no woman dies because of neglect, violence, or system failure.”