Tuesday 23rd March 2021
The NI Assembly has this evening supported Rachel Woods MLA’s call for standardised and comprehensive Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) to help eradicate sexist attitudes and build lifelong, positive relationships.
MLAs debated an Assembly motion on Violence Against Women and Girls today and voted in favour of an amendment from Rachel Woods MLA on the provision of RSE as part of a cross-departmental, fully resourced Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.
Rachel Woods MLA said: “The importance of standardised and comprehensive Relationship and Sexuality Education across all schools has been a long-standing call from the Green Party NI.
“The ground has shifted in recent times and the tragic murder of Sarah Everard in England and the horrific killings of Karen McClean and Stacey Knell in Newtownabbey have brought the issue of violence of women and girls into sharp focus.
“At last, we are talking about ingrained gender inequality and the epidemic of gender-based violence. At last, we are speaking about society having normalised the murder of women and girls, sexual violence against women and girls, misogyny and abuse and harassment directed against women and girls.
“But discussion won’t solve the issue - we need urgent and concerted action to develop and implement a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and RSE delivery across schools.
“I am committed to working through the Justice Committee to ensure that the Justice Minister and her Executive colleagues make swift progress on the measures we need to save the lives of women and girls.“
ENDS
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