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MILESTONES | |
| 1974 | Women's Aid formed - Nuala Fennel affected by UK programme she sees about domestic violence in which many of the women speaking are from Ireland, who had nowhere to go. She sends a letter to the Irish Times highlighting the problem and asking if anyone wants to join with her to do something about it. Receives a huge response |
| 1975 | Fast is held by Women's Aid (GPO) to highlight the lack of services for women in Ireland |
| 1976 | First legislation of domestic violence introduced. Women can avail of barring orders for the first time. They last for 3 months, but no implementation |
| 1981 | Fire in refuge on Harcourt street + accommodation crisis for Women's Aid. Improvement in domestic violence legislation. Protection orders introduced and barring orders increased from 3 months to 12 |
| 1986 | Rathmines Refuge is opened - first custom built refuge in Ireland |
| 1992 | Arts Project started in Rathmines Refuge - way of working on the issues which violence brings up for women and children through art |
| 1992 | Hospital Project - research in St. James's hospital into the identification and responses to women who have been abused. Research shows that where staff are trained on how to respond to domestic violence, more women are opening up and disclosing real reason for injuries |
| 1994 | Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline is set up - This Helpline receives approximately 8,000 calls a year. It has received 58,000 calls since it opened in 1994. The Helpline provides information, support and access to accommodation services for women who are experiencing physical, sexual and/or mental abuse in their own homes. Women's Aid Advisory and Court Accompaniment Services are set up. The advisory service is a one-to-one service between the woman and a Women's Aid worker. It provides more in-depth information and a closer look at the woman's options. The Court accompaniment service is provided to women on request. The Women's Aid workers attend court with the woman and provide support on the day and help the woman come to terms with the court's decision. Roddy Doyle's The Family is broadcast on RTE- huge effect on Helpline - the number of calls to Helpline increase hugely. Women's Aid homilies on domestic violence in Churches |
| 1995 | Making the Links Research is published - first research into prevalence of domestic violence in Ireland - shows that almost 1 in 5 (18%) Irish women have been subjected to violence. Zero Tolerance Campaign - The Bus stop campaign - Flowers Chocolates and Multiple Bruising, Postcard Campaign - this is a public awareness campaign. Beijing - Irish woman (from Women's Aid) speaks at UN Conference about her experience of violence in Ireland. Schools Work begins -working with transition year students about what they expect of relationships, their understanding of what and what is not violence in relationships. Women's Aid begin training Garda recruits on responding to domestic violence. First Women's Aid fundraising cycle. Bus Project - Bus which travelled to various areas in Ireland, highlighting issue of violence against women - from this project a number of support services were set up outside Dublin, including Women's Aid, Dundalk (speaker attending) and Wexford. Forum Theatre - interactive theatre which explores the obstacles to women leaving a violent relationship |
| 1996 | Sonas is opened -medium term housing for women made homeless as a result of domestic violence - 25 houses in a northside suburb, with support workers. Now project (European funded) - capacity building of women who have experienced violence, most of the women went onto further education or entered the workforce. New Domestic Violence Legislation - expanded the law to include abuse by people who were not spouses - cohabitees, parents, children. 16 Days of Action against Violence against Women used to highlight the issue of violence against women and to keep on the social and political agenda - T-shirt protest. Sceal Mna - Art group for women who have left abusive relationships |
| 1997 | Shops Opened - WaWa charity shops. Training Unit set up - to train statutory and non-statutory groups who respond to domestic violence in their work. Violence at Home - Support at Work - Joint Trade union campaign. Publication of Government Taskforce on Violence against women |
| 1998 | Community Development Support Programme - Women's Aid provide support to Community Development projects who are responding to violence. Starting Over Group A support group for women who have left abusive relationships. Extension of Helpline hours to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. 16 Days of Action protest outside the Dail |
| 1999 | Outreach - Advise visits which take place in the community. Safety and Sanctions - research into the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act. Koffee for Kosovo - fundraiser coffee morning hosted by Women's Aid in aid of the women victims of rape as a weapon of war in Kosovo. Violence as a Health Issue - Launch of training manual on working with health professionals in the Accident and Emergency hospitals on responding to women experiencing violence. 16 Days - commemoration of the 50 women who have been murdered in Ireland in the last 4 years
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| 2000 | Personal Development through Arts for women and children expanded to other Dublin refuges. Women's Aid celebrates 25 years. Beijing Plus 5 Review |
| TODAY | We supported over 11,000 women in 2002 who are experiencing violence. We operate a Freephone National Helpline, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. We support women on a one-to-one basis, giving them information and support on financial, legal, housing and social welfare matters. We support women through the court system. We facilitate access to crisis and long-term accommodation for women and children who have been abused.We train statutory and voluntary agencies such as the Gardai, medical and health professionals, Accident & Emergency unit staff, legal professionals and community workers on how to recognise and respond to women experiencing domestic violence. We deliver creative personal development programmes for women and children who have been abused. We assist groups all over the country to set up services in response to domestic violence. We provide on-going support to women who move on to start new lives for themselves and their children. Women's Aid influence policy and lobby for improved legislation. We provide quality research and vital information to the media and public |