Sarah Everard: NI 'women and girls are not safe on our streets' says Green Party MLA Rachel Woods

Women and girls living in Northern Ireland "are not safe on our streets" claimed Green Party MLA, Rachel Woods, who led the tributes in the Assembly on Monday to murdered 33 year-old Sarah Everard in London earlier this month.
Andrew Quinn
By Andrew Quinn
Published 15th Mar 2021, 12:44 BST
Updated 15th Mar 2021, 12:49 BST
Sarah Everard.Sarah Everard.
Sarah Everard.

Ms. Woods expressed sadness at the death of Sarah Everard and expressed frustration with the fact Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom without a violence against women and girls strategy.

"These are our streets too and we will reclaim them back," said Ms. Woods.

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DUP MLA, Pam Cameron, praised the "dignified acts of individual remembrance" that took place in memory of Sarah Everard in Londonderry and Portstewart over the weekend.

Women and men laid flowers in honour of Sarah Everard at the band stand in Clapham Common, London.Women and men laid flowers in honour of Sarah Everard at the band stand in Clapham Common, London.
Women and men laid flowers in honour of Sarah Everard at the band stand in Clapham Common, London.

Ms. Cameron said

"Government does need to consider what is needed in terms of a strategy on these issues and I know my party will be reaching out to organisations such as Women's Aid in Northern Ireland to talk to them about what is a very important subject."

Green Party leader, Clare Bailey, MLA, used the matter of the day discussion as an opportunity express her sadness about women killed their own homes in Northern Ireland since the Covid-19 pandemic began last year.

"Let us commit today to stop being gender blind," said Ms. Bailey.

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People Before Profit MLA, Gerry Carroll, said there "is a problem with violence towards women in our society".

Former Justice Minister and independent unionist MLA, Claire Sugden, called on all male MLAs to do what they can to address the issue and called on the Justice Minister, First and deputy First Ministers to bring forward a strategy on violence against women and girls for Northern Ireland.

"I am asking every man in this chamber to stand up for this issue and recognise it for what it is," said the East Londonderry MLA.

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