Every woman and child deserves to feel safe.
Reaching out is hard but we are here to help

As the Christmas lights are switched off and the crib is packed away for another year, we are turning the spotlight on the difficult issue of domestic violence, but more importantly, on what we can do together to make Ireland a safer place for women and children in 2022.
We have just spent the last few weeks celebrating Christmas. At the centre of our holiday is a mother and child. As a society, however, we are failing 1000s of women and children who live with coercive control and domestic abuse every day.
Christmas is extremely stressful and often dangerous. The days and weeks which follow it are the busiest for our affiliated domestic violence refuge and support services across the country. With ongoing restrictions as a result of the Omicron variant, women and children face further entrapment over the holiday period.
Woman and Child, the campaign has been made possible with funding from The Community Foundation for Ireland and Irish Women in Harmony.
Here are four simple but powerful things we can do to be more aware about coercive control and domestic abuse.
our powerful, 1 minute film.
We have partnered with award winning director Marion Bergin to make Ireland’s first short film ad about coercive control. Please watch and share it.
about coercive control.
Coercive control is a crime. It is a persistent and deliberate pattern of behaviour by an abuser over a prolonged period of time designed to achieve obedience and fear. It does not have to be physical to be domestic abuse. Know the signs.
to help us protect more women and children.
In 2022, we hope to emerge from the pandemic. But, ongoing restrictions are in place and may remain for some time. For most of us, this means staying at home and limiting our social contacts. For women and children living with an abuser, this means the dread and risk of more months of threats, stress, coercion, abuse and violence.
and advice.
If you or someone you care about is living with control and abuse in their home, staff in domestic abuse services across the country are highly trained and experienced. They will hear you and respond to your needs.
If you are experiencing abuse, you are not alone. There is support available to you.
Domestic violence is everyone’s business. Get involved and help make Ireland the safest country in the world.
As part of our 5-year Strategic Plan we committed to hosting two International Summits on Domestic Violence in Ireland in 2016 and 2018.
Read our Publications here.