First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have officially launched the 2026-2028 Delivery Plan for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG). The launch event was attended by survivors with lived experience, government stakeholders, and partner organisations, marking a further step in the Executive's long-term strategy to tackle the issue.

The new plan builds upon the Strategic Framework established in 2024, focusing on prevention, changing societal attitudes, and strengthening the collective response across Northern Ireland. Leaders highlighted the urgency of the initiative, noting that 30 women have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill stated: "We have launched the second Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Delivery Plan, and it marks an important next step in how we strengthen our collective response to this issue.

"We know violence against women and girls is one of the most serious challenges facing our society, and in the most tragic cases it has taken lives and left families grieving for daughters, mothers, sisters and friends. "This must stop, and while it will not be solved overnight, we also know it is not inevitable. Since we launched our Strategic Framework in 2024, we have seen greater awareness and more openness, and a growing recognition that this is something we can change together. This Plan builds on that progress and on the work already underway, but it also reinforces the need for all of us across government, communities and wider society to play our part in driving prevention, changing attitudes, and ensuring women and girls can live safely wherever they are."

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly added: "When we took up office, we said ending violence against women and girls was a priority and this launch reflects our continued commitment to tackling this important issue.

"Thirty women have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. They were daughters, sisters, aunts, friends and grandmothers and we owe it to them to do everything we can to bring this unacceptable level of violence to an end.

"Tackling the underlying causes of violence, abuse and harm towards women and girls and stopping it before it starts is vital which is why prevention is key.

"The second Delivery Plan builds on the good work already being done and continues with the collaborative approach to tackle this extremely complex problem. It is vital we all continue to work together and we would encourage everyone to play their part to help make that transformative change we need to ensure women and girls across Northern Ireland can feel safe and be safe."