Addressing violence against women in Northern Ireland
But the reality, particularly from a frontline perspective, is that these issues do not operate in isolation. They are interconnected, shaped by shared attitudes, structural inequalities and the legacy of conflict that continues to influence everyday life. If we are to meaningfully address violence against women and girls, we must begin by recognising those connections and responding accordingly.
In Fermanagh and Omagh, the scale of domestic abuse alone is significant. Police figures recorded 1,586 incidents in 2024, with 795 classified as crimes. Alongside this, Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid continues to receive hundreds of referrals each year, including from children and young people living in homes where abuse is present. These figures reflect not only prevalence but persistence, and they point to a pattern of harm that is deeply embedded rather than diminishing.
What is particularly striking is the disproportionate impact of domestic homicide within rural areas such as Fermanagh. Despite its relatively small population, the region has experienced a number of domestic killings that raises serious concerns about risk, isolation and access to support. These are not isolated tragedies; they are part of a wider pattern that requires closer examination.
Rural isolation plays a significant role in shaping how abuse is experienced and responded to. While rural communities are often characterised by strong social ties and resilience, they can also create barriers for those seeking help. Geographic distance, limited transport, and the visibility associated with small communities can make it more difficult to access services safely and discreetly. For some women, the decision to seek help is not only about recognising abuse, but about navigating how to do so without increasing risk.
Children and young people are also central to this issue. Growing up in a home where abuse is present has well-documented impacts on emotional development, mental health and future relationships. In Northern Ireland, this experience is often compounded by the legacy of the Troubles. Many families are already living with the effects of historical trauma, and when domestic abuse is layered onto that, the impact is cumulative rather than isolated.
To understand why violence persists in this way, it is necessary to look beyond individual behaviour and consider the wider social context. Northern Ireland is frequently described as a post-conflict society, but that description does not fully reflect the lived experience of many communities. The idea of “post-conflict” suggests resolution, stability and progression. Yet for many women, the question posed by Monica McWilliams — “post-conflict for whom?” — remains highly relevant.
During the Troubles, public and political violence dominated both policy attention and community concern. Violence was understood primarily through a political lens, with clear narratives about perpetrators, victims and legitimacy. In that environment, other forms of harm — particularly those experienced by women within the home — were frequently deprioritised, dismissed, or simply not recognised as part of the broader conversation about violence.
This had long-term consequences. When a society becomes accustomed to high levels of public violence, there can be a recalibration of what is seen as serious or worthy of attention. Domestic abuse, coercion and control may be minimised in comparison, or treated as private matters rather than issues of public concern. In some communities, informal systems of control and authority operated alongside, or in place of, formal justice systems. These dynamics could discourage reporting and reinforce silence, particularly where loyalty to community or political identity was prioritised over individual safety.
Research by Aisling Swaine and others has been instrumental in challenging the notion that gender-based violence was absent during the conflict. Instead, it highlights how such violence was often rendered invisible because it did not fit dominant narratives. The concept of a continuum of violence is particularly useful here. It suggests that violence should not be understood as something confined to specific periods, such as “during” or “after” conflict, but as something that moves across time and context, taking different forms while maintaining underlying patterns.
In Northern Ireland, this means recognising that the attitudes and behaviours associated with conflict — including control, dominance, territoriality and “us and them” thinking — do not simply disappear. They can become embedded within social norms and reappear in other areas of life, including intimate relationships. The shift from public to private violence is not a reduction in harm, but a reconfiguration of it.
This context is essential when considering the intersection between domestic abuse, sectarianism and racism. Sectarianism continues to shape everyday life in Northern Ireland, influencing where people live, where they feel safe, and how they access services. These divisions are not always visible in the same way they once were, but they remain deeply ingrained in social structures and behaviours.
For individuals experiencing domestic abuse, this can create additional barriers. Seeking support may involve crossing perceived community boundaries, which can carry both practical and emotional risks. In areas where identity is closely tied to place, accessing services outside one’s own community may feel unsafe or unacceptable. This is particularly relevant in rural settings, where options may be limited and community visibility is high.
At the same time, Northern Ireland is becoming more diverse, and with that has come an increase in racially motivated incidents. For women from minority ethnic backgrounds, experiences of abuse are often shaped by multiple, overlapping factors. These may include language barriers, immigration status, economic dependency, and limited access to support networks. In some cases, perpetrators may exploit these vulnerabilities, using threats related to immigration or isolation to maintain control.
This is where the concept of intersectionality becomes critical. Originally developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality recognises that individuals do not experience inequality in a single dimension. Gender, race, class, disability, age and community background can intersect in ways that create unique experiences of both vulnerability and exclusion.
In practice, this means that a woman experiencing domestic abuse in Northern Ireland may also be navigating sectarian division, racial discrimination, rural isolation and economic disadvantage simultaneously. These are not separate challenges; they interact and reinforce each other. A response that focuses on only one aspect risks overlooking the full picture.
For example, a migrant woman living in a rural area may face barriers in accessing support due to transport, language and immigration concerns. At the same time, she may be socially isolated from both her own community and the wider population. If she is experiencing domestic abuse, these factors combine to significantly reduce her options and increase her dependence on the perpetrator.
Similarly, individuals from divided communities may experience additional pressure to remain within their own social networks, even where those networks do not offer safety. The legacy of conflict can influence not only attitudes towards “the other,” but also expectations around loyalty, reputation and belonging. These dynamics can make it more difficult to challenge harmful behaviour or seek support outside established boundaries.
Understanding these intersections is not about complicating the issue unnecessarily. It is about ensuring that responses are grounded in reality. Violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland does not occur in a vacuum; it is shaped by a complex interplay of historical, social and structural factors.
This complexity is also reflected in the nature of abuse itself. Coercive control, now recognised in law, involves patterns of behaviour designed to dominate and restrict autonomy. This can include financial control, isolation, monitoring and psychological manipulation. It is often less visible than physical violence but can be equally damaging. In many cases, it is these patterns of control that are most closely linked to the broader issues of power and inequality discussed here.
The point at which someone attempts to leave an abusive relationship remains one of the highest-risk periods. The loss of control experienced by a perpetrator can lead to escalation, making safety planning and support essential. This reality challenges common assumptions about why individuals may remain in abusive situations and highlights the importance of understanding the risks involved.
These issues are increasingly being reflected and amplified in online spaces. Digital platforms can reinforce harmful attitudes, including misogyny, racism and extremist ideologies, creating environments in which such beliefs are normalised. For younger generations, exposure to these narratives can shape attitudes in ways that contribute to the continuation of violence.
Taken together, these factors illustrate that violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland cannot be understood or addressed as a single-issue problem. It is part of a wider system shaped by historical conflict, ongoing division and structural inequality. Addressing it therefore requires an approach that is equally interconnected.
Frontline services such as Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid operate within this complex landscape, providing support to individuals at different stages of their journey, from those beginning to question their situation to those in immediate crisis. This includes practical assistance, advocacy and emotional support, as well as working with children and young people affected by abuse.
However, no single organisation can address these issues in isolation. Effective responses require collaboration across sectors. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council plays an important role in supporting community-based prevention and engagement, while healthcare services within the Western Trust are often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing abuse. Community and voluntary organisations provide essential links to local networks and help reach those who may otherwise remain unseen.
There is increasing recognition that a stronger focus on prevention is needed. While crisis response remains essential, it does not address the underlying factors that allow violence to persist. Prevention involves challenging harmful attitudes, promoting healthy relationships and creating opportunities for early intervention. In a society shaped by conflict and division, this work must be both intentional and informed.
As part of this approach, Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid is engaging with communities across the district through a series of consultation events designed to inform future programmes focused on prevention and healthy relationships. Individuals and organisations are encouraged to register via Eventbrite and contribute to shaping this work.
Ultimately, addressing violence against women and girls requires a shift in perspective. It requires moving beyond the idea that abuse can be understood or addressed in isolation and recognising it as part of a broader system. It requires acknowledging the ongoing influence of Northern Ireland’s history, the impact of division and inequality, and the ways in which these factors intersect.
If we are serious about building safer communities, we must be willing to engage with that complexity. Only then can we develop responses that are not only effective in the short term, but sustainable in the long term.
For anyone affected by domestic abuse, Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid can be contacted in confidence on 028 8224 4155.
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