The Importance of Students getting involved in the 16 days of Action against Gender-based Violence
During the 16 days of Action against Gender based violence I cannot stress enough the importance of everyone across our society, including students and our supporters, standing together for change. As a movement we have the power to light up the night and stand up for a better world, free from violence and abuse!
Our students deserve the right to feel safe and protected; whether that’s in the lecture hall, walking home from the library, in their accommodation or off campus. There should be no fear in these spaces- but we know that is not the case. Between April 2022 and March 2023, 4,232 sexual offences incidents were recorded in Northern Ireland. This is an increase of 4.7% on the previous year and the number of domestic abuse crimes recorded has also increased. This must end!
These statistics underscore that violence against women and girls is not just an isolated or sporadic occurrence, but a deeply entrenched, structural issue rooted in gender inequality and discrimination. Gender-based violence impacts everyone and can take many forms- whether that is physical, financial, emotional, online or in the form of everyday harassment that is excused away as a bit of craic.
We need a coordinated response in terms of education, policy and law enforcement to prevent gender-based harms from occurring. The power and collaboration our cross-sectoral leadership has demonstrated by co-creating the Executive Office’s draft Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls represents the wide buy-in we need for long-lasting change. This is a collective fight where everyone has a role and responsibility to build a safer and more equitable future.
Education is knowledge and from knowledge we draw power. We need to embed a preventative approach by raising awareness of the varied types of gender-based violence, demanding better RSE and engaging young people in conversations to end stigmatisation, creating life-long spaces to challenge misconceptions and deepen societal understanding of what healthy relationships should look like. In doing so we will give the invaluable gift of safety and respect so everyone here in NI and beyond can thrive.
We also need to provide support to those impacted by the violence. For example, in the student movement, we are looking at creating a safer nightlife environment by lobbying for spiking testing centres in nightlife venues, trauma-informed reporting processes, and culturally competent mental health services for those impacted to share without judgement or blame. Everyone has a role to play- look to your workplaces, your home, your life- what could you do to help make a change around you?
So keep safe, stay supportive and help us take action against Gender-based Violence from 25 November to 10 December- Together, we can make a difference.
About the Author - Chloe Ferguson is President of NUS-USI the nation Students’ Union in Northern Ireland.
