Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

An education campaign should be considered for schools. We know that 60% of abuse starts before the age of 25 years. We need proper sex education and education on healthy relationships. The religious teaching of some schools is a barrier in this regard. We need to challenge the macho culture and misogyny endemic throughout many of the parts of Irish society.

We need to discuss the balance of the campaign. I have in mind one of the advertisements I saw last night. Of course there are male victims of domestic violence - that is indisputable. However, the advertisement seems to give equal weight to the two. It could be read by people in that way. However, the figures show that what we are dealing with is a gender and power relationship. Once women do not have power equal to that of men, they will always be more likely to be victims of domestic violence. According to SAFE Ireland, one in four women are victims. Fully 25% of all violence crime involves a man assaulting his partner. We have to challenge the patriarchal culture that exists under capitalism everywhere. Sometimes it excuses and victim-blames rather than putting the emphasis on the perpetrator.

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