Government announces new agency to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence

By Caoimhe Looney

The Government has announced its approval to publish a Bill to create a statutory agency to deal with issues of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), and to support victims.

The agency is planned to be up and running in January of next year as a part of the Department of Justice’s third national strategy to DSGBV, with a ‘zero tolerance’ approach.

The Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023 is set to be introduced by the end of September.

In announcing the Bill, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said: “A key plank of the Zero Tolerance Strategy is the establishment of a dedicated statutory agency to drive and co-ordinate the Government’s response to DSGBV and ensure the delivery of excellent services to victims, survivors and persons at risk of DSGBV.

“The Bill to establish this agency is a top Government priority under the autumn legislative programme.”

Minister McEntee said Garda figures show the majority of homicides in Ireland have had a domestic abuse motivation, which she says the programme recognises.

Changing attitudes

Women’s Aid, an organisation which works to prevent domestic violence and abuse, has welcomed the announcement of the agency.

“This agency will take on that commissioning role and we hope that with that there will be an increase in resources to meet what we are seeing at the cold face with is unprecedented levels of demand across domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services.

“We have services … but they definitely need more investment, and we hope that that will come with this dedicated agency,” CEO Sarah Benson said.

“Prevention is a brand-new part of the national strategy and the Minister talked about ending domestic and gender-based violence which also requires the changing of attitudes. It won’t just be about the frontline services when something terrible has already happened,” she continued.

“It’s also about investing in and making sure there is a whole of government response that will start in schools in terms of educating our children, our young people around respect, around equality, around consent.”

The new agency will be tasked with providing support to victims and persons at risk of DSGBV, including planning the development of refuge accommodation.

It will also be responsible for delivering public campaigns about DSGBV and researching for future policies and programmes.

Minister McEntee said: “The work on preparing this Bill also benefited from detailed earlier engagement with the non-governmental DSGBV sector under an agreed principle of ‘co-design’ with those delivering services on the ground.

“We have listened, we have consulted, we have researched, and I strongly believe this dedicated agency will be a success and will make a positive difference to the many lives devastated by these forms of violence and abuse.”