Vigil at St Columb's in solidarity with victims of gender-based violence

The President of Derry and Raphoe Mothers' Union, Mary Good, says a vigil at St Columb's Cathedral on Saturday, November 26, will be an opportunity for local men and women to express solidarity with the victims of gender-based violence worldwide.

Mrs Good said Mothers’ Union was among 130 groups throughout Ireland supporting a United Nations 16 Days of Activism Campaign and that the vigil is an awareness-raising initiative aimed at ending violence against women locally, nationally and internationally.

Outlining the appalling level of domestic violence nationally and worldwide, she said: “Globally, one in every three women will experience some form of gender violence in their lifetime.

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“In Ireland, statistics show that one in five women is affected by domestic violence. In the 20 years since Women’s Aid began recording violence against women in Ireland, 211 women have been murdered.

“More than half of them were killed by their husband or ex-husband, a partner or an ex-partner.”

Mrs Good said Saturday afternoon’s event is an opportunity for the whole community – not just women and girls – to show their opposition to gender-based violence and to do something about it.

“We want to spread the critically important message that violence against women and children is never okay. We need to take action on this issue and we need to change attitudes,” she said.

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Mothers’ Union Dioceses will be holding vigils at a variety of locations through Ireland on Saturday.

The Derry and Raphoe vigil will take place at St Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry from 2-4pm.

Mothers’ Union operates in 83 countries and has 4 million members worldwide. It works to support stable family life and to end violence against women and girls, through prayer, practical support, advocacy and campaigning.

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