Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026

Correspondence from the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls relating to a correction to the record on feminicide rates in Northern Ireland, dated 2 June 2026.

From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Ending violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland

Summary

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Natalie Fleet corrects the parliamentary record regarding a statement by her predecessor Jess Phillips MP about feminicide rates in Northern Ireland. Fleet states that Phillips's claim that rates are higher than in "quite a lot of the world" cannot be verified by official statistics, though affirms commitment to addressing all femicide.

Key findings

  • Minister Fleet disputes the accuracy of predecessor Jess Phillips MP's statement that femicide rates in Northern Ireland are higher than in "quite a lot of the world"
  • Government officials have been unable to verify statistics on femicide rates in Northern Ireland that would support Phillips's claim
  • Fleet reaffirms that all femicide is intolerable and commits to urgent, coordinated action in her new ministerial role
  • The correction is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament as part of the official record

Tone

Procedural

Topics

violence-against-womenfemicidenorthern-irelandparliamentary-record

Key actors

Natalie Fleet MP, Jess Phillips MP, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Notable line

This statement does not appear to be accurate, and my officials have been unable to verify any statistics on femicide rates in Northern Ireland that confirm this.

Key Quotes

I would like to correct the record regarding a statement made by Jess Phillips MP, that femicide rates in Northern Ireland are higher than in "quite a lot of the world".
Natalie Fleet MP · announcing the purpose of the letter
Nevertheless, all femicide is intolerable and demands urgent, coordinated action.
Natalie Fleet MP · reaffirming commitment despite the correction
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

Correspondence from the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls relating to a correction to the record on feminicide rates in Northern Ireland, dated 2 June 2026. | Beyond The Vote | Beyond The Vote