SOCIETY blames women who stay with men who abuse them, but fails to provide safe places to which they can go, according to the chairwoman of Women's Aid.
Ms Roisin McDermott was speaking at the start of a 16 day international campaign to oppose violence against women.
With few refuge spaces available, many women stay to be abused because there is nowhere to go or because they cannot afford an alternative, she told a meeting outside Leinster House yesterday.
The meeting was attended by women from groups around the State.
Women still face an uphill struggle to leave men who beat them, sexually assault them or subject them to emotional abuse, according to Ms McDermott.
But in spite of the obstacles in their way, "countless women do leave every year, women do get out and go on to make safe, loving homes for themselves and their children. They do it with the support of other women in their communities, other women who believe, support, understand and, most importantly, don't judge."
"Women are angry and we want the means to protect ourselves and our children," she said. "Violence against women and children exists at all levels of Irish society. We must have access to safe refuge, advisory services, the courts and long term housing if we are to make real choices for our futures."
During the 16 days, events will take place around the world to raise awareness of violence against women and to seek action to prevent it.
International statistics distributed by Women's Aid suggest that violence against women is common in both rich and poor countries.
In Sweden, one woman is battered to death by her partner every 10 days, according to the statistics presented by Women's Aid. There are 125 refuges in Sweden which are constantly full. In Bangladesh, at the other end of the economic scale, half of all murders involve the killing of wives by their husbands.
FBI statistics, again quoted by Women's Aid, suggest that in the US battering by partners is the main reason women are admitted to casualty units and is the major cause of injury to women. Four thousand American women are murdered by their partner every year.
The week's events in Ireland will include a vigil in Dublin on Thursday evening to remember all women who have been victims of violence, especially those who have been murdered. It starts at 6.30 p.m. in Temple Bar and then moves to St Stephen's Green.