Sinn Féin MEP hosts domestic violence conference

MANSION HOUSE: Mary Lou McDonald MEP, Women’s Aid Director Margaret Martin, former MEP Marianne Eriksson and Dr Ailbhe Smyth

A SINN FÉIN conference, Domestic Violence: Experiences and Responses, hosted by Mary Lou McDonald MEP in Dublin’s Mansion House last week, heard contributions from Women’s Aid Director Margaret Martin; Dr Ailbhe Smyth, Department of Women’s Studies at UCD; Rita Fagan, a community activist with St Michael’s Family Resource Centre in Inchicore; Nobuhle Nduka of the African Women’s Network (AkiDwa); and Marianne Eriksson, Swedish former MEP and member of the Swedish Left Party.
Ailbhe Symth opened with a detailed analysis of the problem of domestic violence. She referred to the recent survey carried out by the Irish Examiner which showed a significant proportion of respondents believed that women are themselves partially responsible for incidents of sexual assault or rape.
Marianne Ericsson addressed the link between domestic violence and wider issues of violence against women, in particular highlighting the massive growth in sex trafficking. The sex trade is now in third place, coming after the drugs and arms trade. She expressed concern about the normalisation of the sex industry and the commodification of sex which places women in great danger.

WOMEN’S AID
Women’s Aid Director Margaret Martin pointed out that an ESRI study in 2005 showed that 1 in 7 women experiences severe violence. A significant proportion of these women require medical treatment and in some instances hospital treatment. Domestic violence, however, is not just physical abuse and can include many forms of emotional abuse, including control over access to money, food, family or friends. The effects on children growing up in an abusive household is of particular concern. Women’s Aid continues to focus their energies in the areas of prevention, protection and provision of services.
Nobuhle Nduka of AkiDwa, the national network for African migrant women living and working in Ireland, outlined particular difficulties facing migrant women. The issue of residency permits makes it particularly difficult for a woman experiencing domestic violence to report the problem if she is dependent on her spouse for a residency permit. In addition, pressure is sometimes exerted from the extended family in Africa to stay in the situation and she may be considered a traitor if she reports the abuse to state and social services here.
Rita Fagan spoke of the response developed in her community when a colleague died as a result of violence. She spoke on the need for more community action in this area and called for greater engagement by political parties on this issue.
Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan reiterated the party’s commitment to working with all the stakeholders on this issue and in continuing to raise it in the political arena.
Mary Lou McDonald MEP closed the conference by echoing this resolve and pledging to keep all delegates informed of further action on this issue, including a Sinn Féin postcard campaign which will take place in the summer.