Violence against women within intimate relationships has largely been seen as a private and personal matter in Irish society. Although this view is changing and the silence around this abuse is being broken down, there is still much misunderstanding and lack of awareness about the issues surrounding the abuse of women within relationships with violent men.

Women's Aid has been engaged in an educational programme about the issue of violence against women for the last four years. One of our primary target groups has been second level students and young people involved in training and education programmes.

Why target teenagers with an education programme about abuse and violence within adult relationships?

Women's Aid believes that it is vital to educate young adults, as we believe that the elimination of violence against women lies with future generations.

Preventative education is a vital strand in work towards the elimination of violence against women.

The aim is primarily to focus on young adults and teenagers attitudes, expectations and values, in an attempt to facilitate them to become critically aware of the socialisation process and structures within Irish society that lead to the prevalence of male violence against women.

The aim of our preventative education programme is for participants to:

• examine more specifically how gender inequality is a root cause of violence against women and become more aware of the prevalence and nature of gender based violence.

• become critically aware of their own expectations of and attitudes to intimate relationships through examining the norms, values and attitudes prevalent in society.

• explore ways in which violence free relationships can be created and to examine their rights and responsibilities in this respect.

• become creatively involved in exploring gender-based violence and violence free relationships so that they can clarify, formulate and communicate their own ideas and feelings about these issues.

• enable participants to become individually and collectively empowered to create positive relationships and a society in which there is zero tolerance of violence against women.

• Education and Awareness Main Page

Back to Home Page