Prof. O’Neill: Strategy for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls is strong but must be implemented

Transcript

00:00So, over the past few years, I've learned that strategies are really, really important,

00:04but it's implementation of those strategies that are fundamental, and we need to scrutinise

00:08that to ensure that the strategies are implemented.

00:11So, looking at our strategy for tackling violence against women and girls, it's strong.

00:16It sets out a really important goal of changing attitudes, behaviours and social norms to

00:21tackle the root causes, and it includes a forum to coordinate work on equipping and

00:25supporting families, children and young people to enjoy healthy, respectful relationships

00:31using the curriculum, and that includes RSE.

00:33So, I'm asking the committee to look at whether that forum has been established.

00:37There's no, I don't think there's evidence of it just yet, but that's really, really

00:41important.

00:42So, we need to know what's happening with that forum, because this is the area where

00:46you have a low-cost, universal intervention that fits with a strategy that does need to

00:51be implemented, and it's recognised as part of that effort that we're all making to eliminate

00:56or reduce violence against women and girls.