Campaign highlights domestic abuse

A campaign to highlight the experiences of the one-in-five women who suffer domestic violence was launched in Dublin today.

The Women's Aid charity released helium-filled black and white balloons outside Leinster House as part of a nationwide "Solidarity Balloon Action" to highlight the plight of victims of domestic violence in Ireland.

The launch also coincided with UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and marked the first day in a 16-day campaign by the charity, which continues until December 10th.

The charity called for legal protection for women who are in relationships with, but are not living with, abusive men. It said it is hearing from large numbers of younger women who break up with boyfriends and find themselves the subject of abuse.

The Domestic Violence Act 1996, amended in 2002, allows victims of domestic violence to obtain safety, barring or protection orders against partners, but victims must be married or have been living with their abuser for six out of the previous 12 months to qualify.

According to the charity, the loophole leaves women who have dated abusive men in a vulnerable position.

Director Margaret Martin said often very early a woman realises she does not want to stay in this relationship and breaks up with that person, but he doesn't accept it.

"Then they find themselves dealing with somebody who is stalking them, who is threatening them, who is texting them and who is getting on Facebook and sometimes saying very malicious things about them," she said.

She said if the co-habitation requirements currently in domestic violence legislation were removed, it would give protection to women in these situations.