The news this week that over 40 organisations have called for the establishment of a survivor-led council to help shape government decisions on gender-based violence was a little surprising, but mainly because it brought attention to the fact that there isn’t one already.

The National Observatory on Violence against Women, which is made up of a variety of organisations that work for improved policies and service provision for prevention and support of women victims of male violence, have published a study which says that violence against women is at ‘epidemic proportions’ with over 65,000 calls to gardaí in 2024 on domestic violence alone.

The report found that while there has been substantial work in recent years to include survivors, ‘government efforts and understanding of survivor engagement were felt to be inconsistent across departments’.

They say that a ‘paradigm shift’ is urgently needed, and have outlined a pathway to build on recent efforts from the government to take a more systematic approach to tackling the problem.

Part of the rise in domestic violence in recent years can be put down to old-fashioned attitudes around reporting such incidents starting to thaw.

However, those 65,000 calls to gardaí are only the tip of this depressing iceberg. An EU gender-based violence survey in 2024 found 35% of women in Ireland have experienced psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse from an intimate partner, while West Cork Beacon said they were contacted 4,592 times in 2024 – an increase of 581 from the previous year.

Of the 280 individuals who contacted the local service, 186 were new clients. If history tells us anything, there are many more suffering in silence.

Technology moves with the times too. West Cork Beacon had to purchase a tracking detection device recently as they have so many cases where women are being put under surveillance by current or former partners, with one egregious example coming when a tracking device was hidden in a power bank charger given to the woman by her partner.

We’ve been here before. Too often have we relied on incredibly brave women to step forward to tell their story in public in spite of the pain it brings, with politicians and the rest of us saying ‘never again’, until the next time. Too often women who have experienced gender-based violence are retraumatised by courts or in the media, while we also have a history of silencing survivors by imposing harsh secrecy measures – the report also advises a change to the In Camera rule in courts, where certain family cases are heard in private, with no public access to the courtroom.

Women are treated like heroes when they come forward but have historically been among the last to have input into policies that could help prevent that violence in the future. Placing them at the centre of our collective response to this endemic problem is the least we can do.

Sun spells fun

THE welcome spell of sunny weather puts a different perspective on things. West Cork comes alive in the sunshine; its spectacular coastline really is at its finest under a clear blue sky.

So as holiday season begins it begs the question: why jet off to foreign shores when we have vistas to rival the French Riviera or the Amalfi coast right here on our doorstep?

With the cost of living spiralling and fuel prices soaring it really does concentrate the mind. And when you live in such a glorious corner of the globe it can be argued that the best things in life are free.

The first cruise liner arrived in Bantry last weekend signalling the beginning of a busy tourist season. They are welcome to sample the delights of West Cork; but we get to experience them 365 days a year.

Let’s hope that the weather gods are kind this May Bank holiday weekend. The forecast is optimistic so let’s go with the flow!

Whether you’re at the rowing regatta in Rosscarbery on Friday, dipping in and out of the Ballydehob Jazz Festival, or just taking a stroll on your favourite beach, enjoy the sunshine and long may it last.