MEPs demand funding to help stop violence against women
European members of parliament have demanded €125m in funding over the next six years to help support groups to better tackle violence against women and children.
The parliamentarians are urging the EU Commission to increase the level of monetary assistance for these groups, which are funded through the "Daphne" programme.
They also want domestic violence and victims of genital mutilation to be included as part of the programmes objectives.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald says the issue has to be given top priority.
"People at the hard edge of this issue who deal with people coming from violent relationships and violent situations they tell you the big barrier is almost a barrier of shame," she said.
"The invisibility of the issue not only hides the issue but keeps people captive. I think every time we discuss the issue, every time we make it a political priority we're doing a very positive thing."
