End Violence Against Women

Conference recognises that misogyny and violence against women and girls, including digital abuse, are endemic in Northern Ireland. This is a workers’ and workplace issue and presents a fundamental challenge to our movement.

Conference notes that, while the Stormont executive states that the issue a priority, the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) act 2022 has still not been delivered. This also gives rise to concerns that promised legislation to criminalise sexually explicit deepfake images relating to adults may be similarly delayed. The NI executive continues to underfund support services for victims and survivors, and Women’s Aid is the only such service in the UK without core government funding.

Conference further notes that, although the LRA has issued guidance on workplace sexual harassment, there is no NI-wide reporting mechanism on how complaints are raised or how many perpetrators are disciplined or dismissed. This contributes to significant underreporting due to a public lack of confidence in the system as well as fear of victimisation.

Conference therefore:

• Demands the immediate delivery of the Safe Leave Act
• Demands immediate operationalisation of the promised amendment to the Justice Bill criminalising sexually explicit deepfake images relating to adults
• Demands that Stormont provide adequate multi-annual funding for Women’s Aid and other specialist support services
• Mandates the incoming executive to campaign for mandatory reporting by employers of sexual harassment complaints and outcomes, with penalties for refusal and the establishment of an ombudsman to investigate employer failures.