A new digital and PR campaign has been launched to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.

The '#No Excuse' campaign, a joint effort by Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Southern Health and Social Care Trust and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, highlights the issues that are prevalent in today's society in relation to violence against women and girls and coincides with the UN Women 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

Statistics used throughout the campaign will show how women and girls are impacted from the harmful attitudes and behaviours exhibited by men and boys.

An information session took place today in Down Leisure Centre, Downpatrick, with another scheduled for tomorrow in South Lakes Leisure Centre, Craigavon, between 10am to 2pm, to raise community awareness of this issue.

The sessions are open to all and enable women and girls to drop-in anonymously to learn more about what services are available across the district for those experiencing gender-based violence.

Representatives from the Council’s Safeguarding Team, both Trusts and Women's Aid and other support organisations will be in attendance.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Sarah Duffy said: "Sexual violence against women and girls is endemic across our community. It can be inflicted by anyone, anywhere and at any time. The trauma it inflicts is foundational and becomes the root cause to so many social harms.

"We must remove those stigmas of society's victim-blaming culture and ensure anyone experiencing any form of sexual abuse is supported. There is a role for everyone in our communities to say enough is enough, gender-based violence is not normal, is not okay and there is 'No Excuse'."

Meanwhile, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Pete Byrne, added: "Violence against women and girls is a deep-rooted issue and has most recently been highlighted across Government and PSNI frameworks and strategies, as it is a problem that continues to effect people across our District and beyond.

"There is something that we all can do to help with shaping a safer future for women and girls and we are delivering this campaign to raise awareness of this issue in our own communities to empower all of us to speak up and say there is 'No Excuse' for certain behaviours."