Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
591. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on her plans to develop a strategy to address gender-based violence committed by persons under the age of 18 years and if she has consulted with the Minister for Education in respect of the introduction of a module in primary schools that focuses on dignity, respect for others and gender-based violence. [6746/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and to ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities.
The Deputy may be aware that the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 provides a developmental framework to enhance measures to address youth offending and the factors which contribute to it, including in relation to sexual offences. High-level governance and oversight structures are in place to guide implementation of the Strategy, as well as dedicated research support to support evidence-informed implementation
The Deputy will also be aware that I am currently leading work on a new whole of government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. This new plan will have a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring all victims including children are better supported. It will set an overall goal of zero tolerance in our society for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.The Strategy has been developed in partnership with the sector to ensure it is targeted, comprehensive and effective in achieving all of the goals set out.The new Strategy will be structured around the four pillars or goals of the Istanbul Convention which are -
- Prevention
- Protection
- Prosecution
- Co-ordinated PoliciesThe prevention pillar will focus on supporting actions designed to prevent DSGBV. Actions to be included under this pillar concerning people who are under 18 include:
- Education on healthy relationships, non-violence and equality between women and men in the formal curricula at all levels of education;
- Awareness-raising campaigns of the different forms of violence, and the impact that they have on adults and children.
The protection pillar will focus on actions designed to protect the safety and meet the support needs of adults and children who have experienced DSGBV. Actions under this pillar that are specially related to people under 18 will include:
- Ensuring the availability of accessible quality specialist and general DSGBV services across the state so that all people who experience DSGBV have access to integrated services;
- Recognising the child as an individual victim/survivor impacted by DSGBV.The prosecution pillar will focus on actions designed to support effective law enforcement and judicial proceedings that enable victims/survivors access the justice they deserve. The policy co-ordination pillar will focus on actions designed to support effective policy coordination and implementation at both national and local level. Actions under this pillar will recognise the voice of the victim/survivor both adults and children and young people and provide an opportunity for their voices to be heard at different levels.
Separately, the Programme for Government commits to the development of inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Social, Personal and Health Education and Relationships and Sexuality Education. This followed a review of the RSE curriculum by the NCCA which was commenced by the then Minister for Education and Skills in 2018.
My Department is engaging with the Department of Education to ensure that this important area of reform is included in the Third National Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
