Committee publication · Correspondence · 10 September 2025
Correspondence with the Home office relating to ending violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland, dated 2 September and 17 July 2025.
From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Ending violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland
Summary
Correspondence between the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and the Home Office Minister for Safeguarding on violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Northern Ireland. The Committee's July letter raises concerns about cross-UK learning mechanisms, Northern Ireland's post-conflict context, technology-enabled abuse, and funding gaps. The September response outlines existing collaboration forums, legislative measures on intimate image abuse, and funding for England and Wales services, while noting most VAWG responses in Northern Ireland are devolved.
Key findings
- Committee identifies Northern Ireland's post-conflict legacy and ongoing paramilitary presence as creating distinct manifestations of VAWG, including normalised violence, trans-generational trauma, and distrust of police affecting reporting
- Committee finds women in Northern Ireland disproportionately experience intimate image abuse and online silencing effects compared to other UK nations, with higher proportion self-censoring in online spaces
- Minister confirms absence of formal UK-wide VAWG strategy coordination mechanism but notes five-jurisdictions forum facilitates shared learning among Home Office, devolved governments, and Irish statutory agency Cuan
- Government commits £300,000 to Revenge Porn Helpline (England/Wales only) and exploring extension to Northern Ireland; introduces new offences for non-consensual intimate images under Online Safety Act and Crime and Policing Bill
- Committee requests ringfenced funding for community prevention programmes and dedicated victim support services; Minister states most funding responsibility is devolved to Northern Ireland Executive
Government position
Partially accepts. Government acknowledges VAWG as national emergency and commits to shared learning through existing forums and evidence review incorporating Northern Ireland strategies. Accepts need for stronger technology company accountability and introduces legislative measures on intimate image abuse. However, declines ringfenced funding for Northern Ireland services on grounds that VAWG response is predominantly devolved; offers to extend existing Helpline services if desired by Northern Ireland Department for Justice. Commits to providing evidence after new VAWG Strategy publication.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Jess Phillips MP, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Home Office, Northern Ireland Executive, Women's Aid Northern Ireland, Naomi Long, Police Service of Northern Ireland
Notable line
“Northern Ireland's uniqueness within the UK as a post-conflict society may add another dimension to VAWG crimes there, which require their own dedicated focus.”
Key Quotes
“… violence against women and girls (VAWG) requires a cross-system, whole-society approach.”
“… paramilitarism " impacts and amplifies " the violence women experience.”
“Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a national emergency, and I am proud that every government of the UK is working to tackle these appalling crimes.”
“I was particularly concerned to read your findings that women and girls in Northern Ireland suffer disproportionately from intimate image abuse compared to the rest of the UK.”
“Most aspects of responding to VAWG in Northern Ireland are devolved and therefore the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.”
“… the proportion of women in Northern Ireland who experienced this silencing effect is higher than in other UK nations”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗