Organisations across Northern Ireland offered Specialist Training to End Violence Against Women and Girls in NI

Today, ahead of International Women’s Day, Nexus, a Charity supporting people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships, has launched a suite of training initiatives to help End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Northern Ireland.  

 With the support of funding through The Executive Office (TEO), these initiatives aim to equip schools and youth organisations alongside 30 businesses, charities, or organisations, with the knowledge and tools to play an active role.  

Joanne Barnes, Nexus CEO, said: 

“Through TEO’s Change Fund, we are proud to offer specialist training and educational workshops that address the root causes of gender-based violence.  

“Across these programmes we will educate on healthy relationships, equip organisations with knowledge to create and embed policies to challenge harmful behaviours, and empower people to intervene safely and effectively.  

“Tackling this issue requires a collective effort, and we encourage groups and organisations to sign up.” 

The statistics in Northern Ireland highlight the urgency of addressing this issue: 

• In Northern Ireland since 2020, 24 women have been violently killed, all but one by a man, with 42 confirmed femicides since 2017 – the third highest rate in Europe and the highest in the UK and the island of Ireland per capita. 

• Between December 2018 and November 2024, 92 attempted murder offences were recorded where the victim was female. 

• Many more women and girls have faced harassment, abuse, and intimidation within their homes and communities.

About the Initiatives 

The professional training and educational workshops are designed to tackle the root causes of violence against women and girls by challenging misogyny, promoting gender equality, and equipping people with the skills to intervene safely.

For businesses, organisations and charities, Nexus will: 

• Support them to take the ‘EVAWG Pledge’ by: 

• Providing specialist Workplace and Organisational training to raise awareness of the root causes of violence against women and girls  

• Help them to create safer environments by developing and embedding best practices, policies, and procedures to prevent violence against women and girls. 

• Identify EVAWG Champions who will be nominated representatives within their organisation and trained on handling disclosures of abuse and signposting survivors to specialist organisations.

   

Alongside this, for Children and Young People, Nexus will: 

• Deliver healthy and respectful relationships education sessions for young people aged 11-25, helping them recognise the four cornerstones of a healthy relationship: Communication, Respect, Trust, and Equality. 

• Challenge them to become Healthy Relationship Defenders enabling them to identify and safely challenge inappropriate behaviours using the ‘5 Ds of Intervention’ – Distract, Delay, Direct, Document and Delegate

How to Get Involved 

Nexus is inviting businesses, organisations, charities, schools and youth groups to sign up to these specialist tailored programmes.  

For more information and to register your interest, visit our Training EVAWG Page