The issue of domestic violence in Northern Ireland will be a key theme of the 7th Northern Ireland Community Nursing Network Conference to be held in Belfast on 22 February.
The conference comes after a spate of incidents in recent weeks in which a number of women died in alleged domestic violence circumstances in Northern Ireland.
The Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association’s Professional Officer for Northern Ireland, Briege Coyle said: ‘The domestic violence record in Northern Ireland is appalling. For women from all walks of life, domestic violence perpetrated by a partner or husband is a regular occurrence. However, for many, this is a taboo issue.’
‘Domestic violence accounts for one third of all recorded crime in Northern Ireland and a third of all domestic abuse occurs when a woman is pregnant. There needs to be greater public awareness of this issue, and health visitors and community nurses need to take a strong lead on this.’
The Changing Practice – Improving Public Health? conference at The Stormont Hotel will be addressed by Christine Mann, National Domestic Violence Co-ordinator, Modernisation Agency, Department of Health.
* To be a conference delegate, please contact Oasis Events: tel. 020 7379 5316
email.
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