Over 120 women have been murdered in Ireland since 1996, a significant number by a partner or ex-partner. This is the most tragic consequence of domestic violence. Women's Aid responded to more than 15,000 calls to the Women's Aid Helpline in 2005, which represents a 26% increase on the 2004 figures. However, we could not answer over 10,000 of the calls to our service. In 2003, 8,452 call outs were responded to by by An Garda Siochana (Irish police). In 2004, 10,944 calls were received by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. These statistics indicate the prevalence of violence against women and thus the dire need for organisations such as Women's Aid.

As an organisation providing direct Services and Training on the issue of violence against women, we are only too aware of the reality of violence against women. There is a constant demand for all our services. We hope that you will help Women's Aid continue to support women who are being abused as well as join with us in our struggle to create a society which does not accept violence against women.

Women's Aid has been responding to the issue of violence against women for over 25 years. (Click here for History of Women's Aid) During this time, we have developed a whole range of services which provide appropriate support to women and children who are experiencing abuse.

More than 30 years ago, Women's Aid took the first step in the process toward making violence against women unacceptable. The first simple yet radical step was to name the issue and to begin to provide services and support for women. This was an extremely powerful political gesture in itself, as domestic violence was hidden behind closed doors and never spoken about. Today, we continue to run the following services which over 9,000 women access on an annual basis:

• National Freephone Helpline

• Support Service

• Outreach Service

• Court Accompaniment

• Creative Development Programmes run in Dublin refuges.

  Over the past 30 years, there has been great denial about the reality of Domestic Violence. Women's Aid has struggled to take the issue of domestic violence out of the private sphere into the public arena. We have used many methods - The provision of services to women and children who are being abused, research, public awareness campaigns, training and information, networking and lobbying.

  Today, we are encouraged by a recent Eurobarometer Survey which highlights the dramatic change in public attitudes towards domestic violence which has taken in place in Ireland. According to the survey, Irish people take the issue very seriously - they consider psychological, physical, sexual violence and the threat of violence to be very serious.

  Indications of increased awareness of the seriousness of domestic violence are, of course, very encouraging, however, there remains much misinformation about the issue. People still ask " Why does she stay?" instead of asking "What are the obstacles that are preventing her from leaving?". The challenge now is to dispel the myths that surround the issue and educate people on the dynamics of abuse and its root causes. The challenge is to make Domestic Violence unacceptable.

  Women's Aid works to keep domestic violence recognised and treated as the serious crime that it is. We work with the Irish Police force An Garda Síochána to help them develop appropriate responses when working with women experiencing abuse, and to treat domestic violence as a serious crime.

  We work with Health Care Providers, such as doctors, nurses and social workers, across the country - training them on the issue of domestic violence and working with them to develop methods to identify and respond to women and children experiencing abuse.

  We have developed education programmes as a preventative measure. These programmes explore young people's understandings and experiences of relationships and abuse. Women's Aid's Community Development Support Agency work with community-based organisations to develop a response to domestic violence in their local areas and help groups to develop and deliver services locally.

  We hope you will support and join us in our work to say no to domestic violence.

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