Written Answers - Violence Against Women.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:
213
Mrs. T. Ahearn
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
when the recommendations on the Government task force on violence against women will be implemented; the support and services provided to date; the proposals, if any, he has for action on violence against women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26061/98]
Arising from the report of the task force on violence against women, the national steering committee on violence against women was established in December 1997. It is chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Wallace, and comprises representative from five relevant Government Departments, various non-Governmental agencies working with women who are experiencing violence, the health boards, the medical and legal profession, the gardaí, the probation and welfare service and the clergy.
The recommendations of the task force report are being addressed on a structured and ongoing basis. The thrust of the report has been subsumed into the work of the national steering committee which has a wider remit.
The steering committee has a number of specific objectives to undertake, including the establishment of regional structures, the development of a public awareness campaign, the co-ordination and provision of advice in relation to the distribution of resources, the ongoing development of policies, the oversight and monitoring of individual agencies' written policies and guidelines, the undertaking of research and needs assessments, the promotion of inter-agency training and the development of codes of practice for collecting statistics and monitoring responses. Progress has been made in all of these areas and I would like to set out some specific examples for the Deputy below.
The national steering committee is in the process of developing a public awareness campaign to generate debate and to educate society about the problem of violence against women. This is the first phase in a process which is expected to last from two to three years. The primary aim of this phase of the campaign is to generate debate in a wide range of media which would reach all strata of society including both rural and urban areas.
Under the remit of the national steering committee, eight regional committees along the health board boundaries were established in May 1998. Membership reflects that of the national steering committee, i.e., key players in the field of providing services of victims of violence while at the same time taking due account of specific local circumstances.
A number of other initiatives have been put in place along with the national steering committee and the establishment of the regional committees. Earlier this year I launched a discussion document on the law on sexual offences. Interested individuals, groups and organisations were invited, to give their views on changes they would like to see made to the law. The issues identified in the paper were complex and sensitive and include the law relating to the protection of children and women from sexual offences.
The role of the gardaí in the area of domestic violence has also been significantly improved with the domestic violence and sexual assault investigation unit being given a national role since 1997. At present nominated inspectors monitor the implementation of the Garda policy in this area at divisional level. There is also ongoing training at in-service training schools in each Garda division on crimes of violence against women and children as well as practical on-the-job training which is monitored and evaluated by supervisors. Service providers also give lectures to gardaí at the Garda College and at in-service training schools. The development of the regional committees is facilitating closer working links between the gardaí and service providers.
The Department of Education and Science has developed a range of different programmes, of which the two most widely used are the social, personal and health education programme (SPHE) and the relationships and sexuality education (RSE), which are compulsory in all primary and post-primary schools.
In May 1998, a contract was signed with Women's Aid to act as a support agency to the community development programme. This programme is focused on supporting people living in areas of disadvantage. Women's Aid provides support and advice to CDP projects on how to deal sensitively with women in need of support.
The National Network of Women's Refuges and support services is developing a computerised bed bureau which will be operational in early 1999. This will be a practical measure to assist any woman who has to leave home as a result of violence. In relation to statistical data, the network collects data on the number of women and children availing of refuge accommodation, distress calls received and the number of women who cannot be assisted by refuges.
I am also concerned that courts dealing with domestic violence cases should improve the services directed towards family law cases. I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, will be taking these issues up with the Courts Service when it is up and running in the new year.
My Department has just commissioned a research project into the reasons why there are high attrition rates in bringing prosecutions in rape cases. This is being undertaken jointly by the Department of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork, Cork Rape Crisis Centre and Kerry Rape Crisis Centre. The project will examine, on a step by step basis, the obstacles which rape victims encounter before coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
My Department is also part-funding a research project into the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, 1996. The aim of the research is to provide a baseline of data and informed comment on the implementation of the domestic violence legislation. This project will document the way domestic violence is responded to by the Garda and processed through the civil law and criminal justice system. The system includes Garda lawyers, court officials, the judiciary and other professionals, such as probation officers, the medical profession and social workers who work as part of the court system.
I am satisfied that the new process which the establishment of the national steering committee embodies is making steady progress. I understand that the committee's first report will be published early in the new year.
