Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash
The situation for women in Ireland is increasingly grim.
Every day, we hear of violence against women: assault, rape, and even murder. Women are unsafe in their own homes, harassed in nightclubs, and assaulted on our streets. If a woman cannot be safe at home, she can be safe nowhere.
Behind every statistic is a real person. In Ireland South alone, 21,097 domestic abuse calls were reported.
Women’s Aid states that at least 1 in 4 women in Ireland experience abuse from a partner.
More and more women are forced to choose between homelessness and staying in a dangerous home. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this crisis.
At the core of this issue is misogyny and systemic gender inequality. Ireland’s patriarchal structure prioritises male interests, evident in group chats, locker rooms, and male-dominated spaces.
To combat ingrained sexism, we need stringent measures, education, and direct action.
Ireland has a long history of oppressing women—from mother and baby homes to exclusion from the workforce.
Yet, women like Constance Markievicz and Maire Drumm fought for equality and social justice.
Despite some progress, domestic violence is still a scourge on society. Government promises mean nothing without concrete steps. While 280 refuge spaces by 2026 are welcome, we need a clear timeline. No woman should be trapped with an abuser due to government inaction.
The lack of women in politics exacerbates the problem. Only three women were appointed to ministerial positions in 2025—unacceptable. Gender equality in leadership is not about optics but about ensuring fairer policies. Political parties must prioritise female candidates in winnable seats and dismantle barriers that keep women out of power.
The housing crisis, created by successive governments, traps many women in violent households. Without safe refuge, survivors have nowhere to go. We need immediate solutions, not vague commitments.
The new Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, must prioritise reforming the justice system, making it victim-centred, and ensuring courts protect rather than retraumatise survivors. Education initiatives must challenge misogyny from an early age. Anything less is a betrayal of women suffering in silence.
An all-island approach is necessary, particularly for women in border areas. In the North, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has made tackling violence against women a priority. Dublin must follow her lead.
On a European level, Ireland must swiftly transpose the EU directive on violence against women into law. However, it has shortcomings like vague language on online abuse and failure to set an EU-wide understanding of consent. Only an explicit “yes” should mean yes.
The rise of AI and deepfake technology brings new dangers. Online abuse and digital harassment must be addressed. Women should feel safe online, not be subjected to further misogyny.
So much work still needs to be done and I will work hard every day on these issues.
Already, three women have been killed in the south of Ireland in 2025. How many more must die before real action is taken? Women’s lives are at stake – and we demand real action.
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The Author, Kathleen Funchion, is an Irish MEP and member of the Committee on Regional Development and the delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
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