Tom Clonan (Independent)

I welcome our guests from the women's network. I want to speak on the issue of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. At present, 16 million women and girls in Afghanistan are subject to the most appalling interpretation of Sharia law. They are not allowed to access education or proper maternity services. They are being held in medieval conditions. Young girls and teenage girls who speak out suffer the appalling punishment of having their nose cut off and removed from their face. They mutilate girls and women who speak up and speak out. We have also seen in Gaza the killing of tens of thousands of women and girls. It is femicide and infanticide writ large. It does not matter whether it is a Wahhabi Salafist Taliban leader or Benjamin Netanyahu. They all have one thing in common, which is their absolute contempt and hatred of women.

I am sorry that we have learned of another attack on a woman in her own home in Ireland, a savage and brutal attack in which she suffered serious catastrophic burns. I am thinking of her and her family. We have a serious problem with violence against women. I stress also the intersectionality of this because of my area of special interest. Disabled women and girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. We had the case raised here over and over again by me on behalf of Caitlin Hassan whose mum, Louise Hassan, has attended here. We have had Commencement matter after Commencement matter. This is a young woman who was raped while in State-funded care. She is a contemporary Grace case.Louise Hassan is absolutely at her wits' end at the lack of support for, or response to, her daughter, who has been lying in the foetal position in their home for months now, having been raped.

I am in the process of drafting legislation on adult safeguarding for disabled citizens, and when that is drafted, I will circulate it to every Member of this House. I would appreciate support from both Government and Opposition colleagues because we are outliers in European terms in this regard. The future of our species and our planet depends on the empowerment of women and girls. It is the gold standard. The status and role of women in any society and their safety and security is the surest sign of the dynamism, safety, prosperity and relevance of any society.