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Campaigners have called on the government to tackle domestic violence at a protest on International Women\u2019s Day.<\/p>\nCampaigners have called on the government to tackle domestic violence at a protest on International Women\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people gathered on the iconic O\u2019Connell Bridge to protest gender inequality, rising levels of domestic violence and rape culture.<\/p>\n
A special cabinet meeting was held to mark International Women\u2019s Day and the government say they considered and approved a number of measures to foster gender equality and to promote greater gender balance across a number of areas.<\/p>\n
They have since been criticized for holding a photo-call with The National Women\u2019s Council of Ireland on Friday morning, where they formally ratified the Istanbul convention, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women.<\/p>\n
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger says ratifying the convention will prove fruitless unless more funding is made available for women fleeing violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the last week alone we\u2019ve seen Clodagh Hawe\u2019s relatives speaking, a woman murdered in her own home in Dublin and unfortunately today we\u2019ve heard reports of the two women killed in Newry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a global epidemic of violence against women and I support the convention that\u2019s been signed today, but that\u2019s pointless unless you resource refuges, and rape crisis centers, and we have to challenge and smash the culture that perpetuates violence against women in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cA photo opportunity this morning with the Women\u2019s Council was exactly what it was and I wouldn\u2019t have facilitated Fine Gael in that way because I believe these parties have not got a track record on women\u2019s rights whatsoever.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re now seeing it\u2019s fashionable to support gender equality but it\u2019s very token, and doesn\u2019t mean anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campaigners at the protest also noted the considerable effect the current homelessness crisis has on women, and that many women are forced to stay in dangerous situations as they feel they have nowhere to go.<\/p>\n
Another key theme in the protest was the lack of abortion rights in Northern Ireland, with organizers calling on the crowds to support the campaign on the issue to ensure \u201cno woman is left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n