Pilot scheme plans to address and prevent gender based violence in Waterford clubs
'We would hope with this pilot, customised for local needs, together we can challenge harmful attitudes by building safer and more inclusive clubs and informing communities about gender-based violence.'
A number of local initiatives addressing gender-based violence within the community have been implemented in Waterford recently.
Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership were asked what their plans were for "addressing, preventing and responding to sexual violence and abuse" in the community in a question submitted to the WLCSP by a member of the public at their most recent public meeting.
The partnership's response, delivered by WLCSP Coordinator Eddie Mulligan, was that the partnership would always encourage and strongly advise victims to report the matter to An Garda Síochana, who have a specialist protective services unit for such crimes.
He also mentioned the WLCSP Plan 2023-2028, which outlines the actions and groups the partnership engages with in the area of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
As an important part of their safety plan, the partnership regularly reviews and expands on domestic violence training and programme supports in ongoing interactions with agencies and community groups involved with those issues, Mr Mulligan explained.
These include school-run programmes, such as the recently implemented Consent Matters programme, which wrapped up this week after its delivery to nearly 2,000 young people across the city and county.
Their new pilot programme 'The Game Changer' is another example of this, as an initative run by the WLCSP in collaboration with local GAA clubs aimed at tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in the community, "a key action for us from the Community Safety Plan".
"We would hope with this pilot, customised for local needs, together we can challenge harmful attitudes by building safer and more inclusive clubs and informing communities about gender-based violence."
