22 November 2004

Domestic violence highlighted at Belfast conference

The plight of women who have suffered at the hands of domestic violence are to be highlighted today at a conference in Belfast.

The Stop Violence Against Women event, organised by Amnesty International and the Northern Ireland Woman's Aid Federation, will see the symbolic placing of shoes - each pair representing a woman lost to her family because of domestic violence inside the last five years - on the steps of Stormont on Monday.

Hilary Sidwell, director of Northern Ireland Woman's Aid Federation, said there was “no excuse for abuse”.

"It is everyone's responsibility to protect the woman and children of Northern Ireland from domestic violence and to hold violent men accountable for their actions,” she added.

UK Solicitor General Harriet Harman will be one of the speakers at today’s event where she will highlight efforts by Government and local groups at bringing perpetrators of domestic violence to justice in Northern Ireland.

Ms Harman will join other speakers at the event including the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Brian Kerr, The Hon Mr Justice Gillen, a judge of the family division as well as speakers from a US counselling programme for male abusers, a professor of women's studies at the University of Ulster and a Crown Prosecutor.

(MB/SP)