Protestors demand action on domestic violence
Hundreds of protesters will be gathering outside the Dáil today to call on the Government to tackle violence against women.
Supporters of Amnesty Ireland are marking International Women’s Day with a demonstration to draw attention to the issue of violence.
The campaigners are calling for increased funding and support for voluntary domestic and sexual violence support services, which they say are underfunded and oversubscribed.
Amnesty also wants a review of the justice system to ensure violence against women is effectively dealt with, as well as specialist training about gender-based violence for members of the judiciary and other personnel dealing with the issue.
The protest will follow the handing over of a giant petition – made up of the handprints of thousands of Amnesty supporters – to Minister of State Frank Fahey at the Department of Justice.
The organisation is also calling on the Minister of State to ensure that women fleeing violence in areas of armed conflict are dealt with appropriately in the Irish asylum process.
