Shocking Figures Reveal Extent of Domestic Violence in Ireland
SAFE Ireland announced today, International Women’s Day, that 770 women and children received support from domestic violence services on just one day.
The network’s one-day census for November 4th 2011 shows that 429 women and 341 children were accommodated or received support from a domestic violence service in just one day.
On just one day around the world 56,308 women and 39,130 children sought support from domestic violence services.
This is SAFE Ireland’s fourth annual one-day count. It is being announced this year in tandem with the global release of a global data count – a snap-shot of one day in the lives of women seeking domestic violence support around the world.
Of the women counted in Ireland, 10 women were known to be pregnant and 11 were over 65. Just shy of 500 (499) women and children were living in refuge or supported housing meaning that they could not stay in their own homes safely, according to Sharon O’Halloran, Director of SAFE Ireland. Ten women could not be accommodated in refuge because there was not enough room. In addition, 127 helpline calls were made to the services.
“These figures show the enormity of domestic violence in Ireland and the disruption it causes to the fragile lives of women and their children, most of them just school kids,” O’Halloran said. “They bring into sharp focus the number of women and children living without the right to a home environment free from violence and trauma. Domestic violence continues to be the greatest human rights violation for women, here and globally.”
“Staff in these services work tirelessly to meet the needs of these women but no one service can operate in isolation, ”O’Halloran continued. “Our strength as a network is our capacity to reach into the community for all the services that women need. But, we need help. There has to be a whole country response to domestic violence. This is not just our business. This is not just women’s business. Domestic violence has to be everyone’s business.”
On just one day around the world 56,308 women and 39,130 children sought support from domestic violence services. The global data count represents information provided by 25 domestic violence networks in 36 countries, including Ireland
The women and children needed a range of supports including emotional support, information, advocacy, accompaniment to legal, social and health services, referral services, counselling, safe refuge accommodation, transitional housing, child care services, after care services and group support.
For more information contact: Edel Hackett, Tel: 087-2935207 or Caitriona Gleeson, Tel: 087 2037177.
