With violence against women and girls continuing to be a devastating reality in our society, a powerful conference in Armagh yesterday delivered a clear message – we all have a role to play in ending this violence.
Organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, the ‘It’s In Your Hands’ conference brought together around 200 participants to hear from high profile speakers who highlighted how violent misogyny and the ‘manosphere’ are impacting gender-based violence.
The ‘manosphere’ is a group of online communities, social media pages, podcasts, websites and forums that promote harmful views about women – views that are increasingly shaping the attitudes of young men and boys around the world.
Speakers shared shocking statistics on the rising levels of digital abuse towards women, along with evidence of how toxic masculinity – including dominance, aggression and violence – is being normalised and embedded in society.
Discussions also focused on the need for government, organisations and society to work together to ensure women and girls feel safe, the urgent demand for grassroots funding to support awareness and intervention, and the importance of equipping and empowering communities with the tools to help end violence against women and girls.
Speakers on the day were Debbie Ging (Dublin City University), Aishling McMorrow (Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr Aimée Walsh (Mirror Group London).
The event was funded by The Executive Office.
For more information, help or support on this issue please log onto: https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/safeguarding/
