Women’s Aid urge Mid Ulster stakeholders to join White Ribbon Campaign

Started in Canada in 1991 by a group of men horrified by the brutal massacre of 14 female engineering students in Montreal in 1989 - the campaign is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women.

The men got together because they wanted to do something special to mark the students’ deaths.

What was so horrifying about the attack is that the women were separated from their male colleagues and killed by a gunman who shouted ‘I hate feminists’ as he fired.

Martina Watson, Manager of Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid said: “The most widespread violence against women is from husbands, partners, boyfriends, or other family members and can take a number of forms, including physical, sexual and/or financial.”

In Mid Ulster the PSNI were called out on average four times a day every day in the last year, while Mid Ulster Women’s Aid provided accommodation, support and/or intervention to over 500 women and children who were in a domestic abuse situation.

If you have suffered or are suffering any form of domestic violence and would like accommodation, support or information, please contact Women’s Aid on 028 867 69300 in office hours or ring the 24 hour Domestic and Sexual Violence helpline on 0808 802 1414. This is a Freephone number from all phones.

You can also make an appointment or drop in and speak to a trained and experienced worker in person at the Women’s Resource Centre at 27 Old Coagh Road in Cookstown.