Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls

Wednesday 21 May 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions with stakeholders in Northern Ireland focus on supporting victims and challenging attitudes that enable violence against women and girls.
  • The Minister met the executive unit responsible for police and justice to discuss legislative efforts to address violence against women and girls.
  • Ofcom consulted in Belfast on draft guidance for the Online Safety Act 2023, aiming to enhance practical steps for online safety.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lauren Sullivan Lab Gravesham
Northern Ireland Women & Equalities
Context

Rates of violence against women and girls are higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK. The strategy must challenge enabling attitudes.

Question

The strategy for tackling violence against women and girls must challenge the attitudes that enable it. What recent discussions has the Minister had with stakeholders across Northern Ireland to support these campaign efforts?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Fleur Anderson)

I have met and am supporting many groups, highlighting two that I have visited. The Foyle Family Justice Centre in Derry/Londonderry supports victims, and St Joseph’s Boys’ school in Creggan is doing fantastic work through the shaping mindsets programme with White Ribbon NI, which tackles toxic masculinity.

Answered
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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Women & Equalities
Context

Rates of violence against women and girls are higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK. Legislative changes and longer sentences are needed.

Question

What discussions has she had with the Minister responsible for police and justice in Northern Ireland to ensure that, legislatively, we are moving fast to try to stop violence against women and ladies in Northern Ireland?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Fleur Anderson)

I met the executive unit working with the police to tackle perpetrators, noting evidence that progress is being made. The Online Safety Act 2023 is being enacted through Ofcom, which undertook a consultation in Belfast recently on its draft guidance proposing practical steps for online safety and tackling misogyny.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address legislative changes explicitly asked about but discussed progress on other fronts like the Online Safety Act 2023.

How: Changed Subject To A Different Policy

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