Agenda item

            In accordance with notice on the agenda Councillor Mulholland proposed:

“This Council notes with sadness the recent murders of Stacey Knell and Karen McClean, along with Sarah Everard in London, adding to the hundreds of women and trans women across these islands who have lost their lives in gender-related attacks, where a man has been convicted or charged as the primary perpetrator.

We send our sympathies to their families and loved ones and we make clear our anger that these women were taken from them.

We are deeply concerned by the rising numbers of violent acts perpetrated against women and we are committed to doing everything within our powers to make Belfast more safe, fair and equal for all women.

The Council welcomes the recent developments made by the Minister for Justice regarding a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and so the Council agrees to write to the Northern Ireland Executive to ask that an open, transparent discussion and consultation about what needs to be in the strategy takes place. It is imperative that the Executive listens to the voices of women and girls to provide direction and meet their needs within such a strategy.

The Council will work with voluntary organisations, such as Women’s Aid, to promote the wider campaign to address violent acts perpetrated against women.

We will ensure that Belfast City Council has an up-to-date Anti-Harassment Policy in place for all Council facilities and Council-run events. The Council believes that this should set a precedent for all hospitality venues, workplaces, and events within this City to do the same.

The Council will issue a commitment that Elected Representatives and officers of all genders will engage in training delivered by Raise Your Voice on the realities facing victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Groogan.

            At the request of Alderman Copeland, the proposer agreed to amend her motion to provide for the inclusion of the words “and girls” after the word “women” in the third and fifth paragraphs.

After discussion, the motion, as amended and set out hereunder, was put to the Council and passed:

“This Council notes with sadness the recent murders of Stacey Knell and Karen McClean, along with Sarah Everard in London, adding to the hundreds of women and trans women across these islands who have lost their lives in gender-related attacks, where a man has been convicted or charged as the primary perpetrator.

We send our sympathies to their families and loved ones and we make clear our anger that these women were taken from them.

We are deeply concerned by the rising numbers of violent acts perpetrated against women and girls and we are committed to doing everything within our powers to make Belfast more safe, fair and equal for all women and girls.

The Council welcomes the recent developments made by the Minister for Justice regarding a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and so the Council agrees to write to the Northern Ireland Executive to ask that an open, transparent discussion and consultation about what needs to be in the strategy takes place. It is imperative that the Executive listens to the voices of women and girls to provide direction and meet their needs within such a strategy.

The Council will work with voluntary organisations, such as Women’s Aid, to promote the wider campaign to address violent acts perpetrated against women and girls.

We will ensure that Belfast City Council has an up-to-date Anti-Harassment Policy in place for all Council facilities and Council-run events. The Council believes that this should set a precedent for all hospitality venues, workplaces, and events within this City to do the same.

The Council will issue a commitment that Elected Representatives and officers of all genders will engage in training delivered by Raise Your Voice on the realities facing victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.”