A 24-hour helpline for women affected by domestic abuse received almost 16,000 calls last year - that is around 44 calls every single day.

The figures are highlighted in the Women's Aid Impact Report 2016. Women's Aid is a national organisation that has been working since the 1970s to help women affected by domestic violence and their children.

According to the report, a total of 19,115 contacts were made with Women's Aid direct services, including the 24-hour helpline and the Dublin-based one-to-one support service.

During these contacts, almost 17,000 disclosures of domestic violence against women were noted, while an additional 3,823 disclosures of child abuse were made.

"In 2016, women told our confidential services that they had been isolated from family and friends, called derogatory names, had their lives and their safety threatened. Women disclosed that they were hit, beaten with weapons, stabbed and cut with knives and strangled.

"For some women they were beaten and strangled while they were pregnant. We heard from women that their partners had raped them, coerced them into sex, had prevented access to family planning and some had explicit videos and images made and shared online without their consent," explained Women's Aid director, Margaret Martin.

She said that because of financial abuse, many women ‘were being forced to choose between staying in an abusive relationship and facing poverty'.

"Financial abuse disclosed in 2016 included partners running up debt in women's names, women being denied access to the family finances and women's salaries or social welfare being controlled," Ms Martin noted.
She said that the impact of abuse cannot be understated.

"Last year, we responded to 15,952 calls (44 per day) on our 24 hour helpline. We also met with just over 1,000 women in our Dublin based one-to-one support services. During these contacts women revealed the horrific abuse by their boyfriends, partners and husbands and the impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing.

"Women were left with broken bones and teeth, bruising, head injuries and internal injuries as a result of rape. Some women experienced miscarriage because of an assault, while others were experiencing post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression and exhaustion," she explained.

The report noted that last year was the first year that the helpline was available 24 hours a day. Prior to that, it had only been available between 10am and 10pm. During its extra opening hours (10pm to 10am), it responded to an extra 4,910 calls, which in previous years, would have been left unanswered.

"We know the safest time for many women to call is in the quiet hours of the early morning when everyone else is safe in bed. For them, there is obvious relief in finding someone at the end of the phone to talk to. We are committed to being here for every woman who needs us, at any hour of the day or night.

"So far we have been able to provide the extended service due to the generosity of the public and corporate donations, but this arrangement is not sustainable. We need the Government to fully resource the 24 hour helpline to ensure our essential and trusted service survives," Ms Martin emphasised.

Meanwhile, the 2016 report places particular focus on the disclosures made about child abuse. Research suggests that domestic abuse is a common context in which child abuse takes place, and the more severe the domestic violence is against the mother, the higher the risk of abuse against children in the home. This is supported by Women's Aid's own experiences.

The organisation is calling for greater understanding of the links between domestic violence and child abuse, and is calling on the Government to take steps to increase the safety of vulnerable children.

"Domestic violence is a serious crime against women and children in Irish society, but one that is hidden and minimised. I am very concerned about the number of disclosures to Women's Aid of children being directly abused and exposed to domestic violence.

"In 2016, women told us on 3,823 occasions that their children were being hit, slapped, shouted at and called names, and in some cases, sexually abused. Children have been told they will be killed alongside their mothers. At times, the perpetrator of the abuse has deliberately targeted the children as a way to hurt both them and their mother," Ms Martin pointed out.

She noted that many children have witnessed appalling abuse and violence involving their mothers, with some even seeing their mothers being raped. For those who have not directly witnessed the abuse, they have seen the aftermath, such as bruises, broken bones and damaged belongings.

Women's Aid emphasised that abuse often does not stop when a relationship ends. Some 26% of abuse reported to the organisation is being carried out by ex-partners, often during access arrangements.

"It is heart-breaking to listen to women who are living in a constant state of fear for their children and themselves. This fear is heightened when women have to facilitate access to the children for the man who has been perpetrating domestic violence. A father's right to access should not outweigh a child's right to safety. Child protection and safety should be prioritised in all custody and access proceedings," Ms Martin stated.

The report makes a number of recommendations on this issue. For example, it says that the courts should consider the safety and wellbeing of any children when granting a barring order and take interim measures to protect them. To this end, experts should be made available to the court to professionally assess any threat the perpetrator poses to the children.

The Women's Aid helpline is available 24 hours a day on 1800 341 900. Anyone who would like to donate to the organisation can click here or text the word ACTION to 50300 to donate €4.

For more information on Women's Aid, click here