VAWG: Meet the teenagers calling for action in Northern Ireland

Aoísha O’Neill, 18, who is Pearse’s sister says establishing a dedicated Minister for Women’s Safety and Health at Stormont would bring together women’s issues “so they can be tackled in a more efficient way”.

It would be similar to the Minister for Women and Equalities at Westminster, or the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health in Wales.

Pearse says they were drawn to the idea because: “A minister has a basic obligation to make legislation, and creating one could be a good step towards changing how women’s safety and healthcare is approached in government.”

Aoísha also believes a dedicated women’s minister could help shrink healthcare waiting lists and improve sex and relationship education in schools.

“I think, currently, issues of women’s health and safety are quite low on departments’ priority lists,” she adds.

Eimear agrees: “Women’s safety and health is such a large and pressing issue that it’s so difficult to keep up with.

“With a Minister’s resources and attention it could be tackled effectively.”

For Devyn, it’s “abhorrent” that women in Northern Ireland face lengthy waits for gynaecology appointments.

A Department of Health spokesperson said women’s health was a “key area of focus” and work continues to improve services.

They added work is ongoing to develop a Women’s Health Action Plan for Northern Ireland which aims to encourage “positive dialogue around women’s health and wellbeing within our health and social care system and in our society”.

“The Department recognises the voices and views of young people as an important part of that conversation.”