Time to Act Now
By Denise Charlton
Have we really reached a moment when policymakers will finally act to end sexual, gender-based and domestic violence? That is the question campaigners, advocates and women across the world are asking as they mark the start of the annual Sixteen Days of Activism.
It is now 30-years since the days between the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25th November and International Human Rights Day sixteen days later was designated for concerted attention to end violence against women.
This year with increased awareness through a global spike in recorded cases during Covid-19 the ambitious theme is ‘Orange the World, End Violence Against Women Now!’ It is clear a moment has arrived. It is a moment which if seized could really move the dial on an issue, which has been hiding in plain sight for too long.
Complex Issue
Making every home in Ireland safe for women and children is a huge challenge in and of itself, but this is a complex multi-layered issue.
To truly end violence we must also look at those women and girls who are trapped in a cycle of commercial sexual abuse.
The HSE Women’s Health Service together with researchers of the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP) at UCD have through a recent study ‘Confronting the Harm’ given voice to 144-women whose lives have been all consumed by a ruthless trade centred on abuse, threats and violence at its very core.
The experiences of the women, more than half of which entered prostitution between 16 and 25-years of age, face not only the danger of pimps, traffickers and thugs – but also violence from buyers the majority of which are married men in their forties. The women speak of harassment, threats and the refusal of buyers to wear condoms – often without the knowledge of the woman until it is too late.
Ending Gender Based Violence also requires much greater awareness of ‘consent’. This is a conversation which as a country and society we simply have not had.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has undertaken ground-breaking research showing that 70% of people believe we have a problem around sexual consent in our country. While 84% want age appropriate sex education in schools.
If we are serious about ending sexual violence then that is a very good starting point. The Rape Crisis Centre is now using its findings to decide next steps including those to further increase public awareness.
New Approach Needed
Both of these significant pieces of research have only been made possible through philanthropy. Private donors to The Community Foundation for Ireland have come forward with a view to making a difference and ensuring women and girls are protected. Without that support this work would not have happened. The support being provided also extends to ensuring domestic violence helplines are answered, that internet support is significantly increased and the provision of safe places for those in immediate danger. One of our donors has this year made the first ever domestic violence refuge in West Cork a reality.
If we are to succeed in truly ending violence against women then it will require a full partnership approach. Government working with communities and those donors who have vision and a goal.
Other countries find that philanthropy working hand-in-hand with public funding can deliver real and permanent social change. We see this in the UK where the Government is matching private funding of £100m with a further £50m of public monies – the result will be an endowed fund to grant supports to communities where it can really make a difference.
There are many other examples stretching from Japan, to New Zealand to the United States where Government and Philanthropy have been working together since the 1960s.
Here, despite the commitment of private donors to areas such as violence against women, we are not seeing the levels of larger gift giving which is taking place in other countries.
In order to change that the Government has made a commitment to deliver a new National Policy on Philanthropy – but it has yet to happen.
This year our donors will allow for almost €20 Million in grants, protecting women from violence is one of those areas which will benefit. While the figures involved is a tribute to each and every one of our donors we believe that if Government were to take a partnership approach that other support could be leveraged.
The combined resources would then give power to the campaigns which are seeking to make a difference and bring us much closer to achieving that goal of Ending Violence Against Women Now!
Denise Charlton is Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland