Young women are being reminded that they do not have to live with a partner to be in an abusive relationship.

Women's Aid has launched its annual 2in2u national awareness campaign, which aims to highlight the issue of abuse and violence in dating relationships.

Now in its third year, the two-week annual campaign ‘is designed to show the reality for many young women who are experiencing abuse, control and violence at the hands of their boyfriends'.

According to Women's Aid, by targeting younger women, it is attempting to ‘prevent the next generation of domestic abuse'.

"Young women don't need to be in a 'domestic' relationship to experience domestic abuse. Abuse can happen to any woman, at any age and in any type of relationship, including dating relationships," explained Women's Aid director, Margaret Martin.

The organisation noted that following previous 2in2u campaigns, it experienced an increase in calls from young women in abusive relationships, as well as parents who were concerned about their daughters.

It also noted that it repeatedly hears from women in domestic violence situations who say the signs were there from the beginning of their relationship.

"Again and again, we hear from women living with domestic abuse that the signs that her partner was possessive and controlling were there from the start. But to her and those around her, it appeared like he was just so into her," Ms Martin said.

Meanwhile, Women's Aid has said it is very concerned about the rising phenomenon of stalking in intimate relationships, particularly via the use of digital devices.

"Stalking by a current or former boyfriend is one of the most common forms of stalking, but it is not explicitly addressed in current legislation. Stalking is intentional behaviour that is designed to keep women under great duress, controlled and isolated.

"Callers to our helpline have disclosed that their stalker is constantly following them, turning up at their workplaces, homes and social gatherings, damaging property and breaking into their homes or cars, gathering information on them from family and friends, harassing others close to them and threatening to kill them, their families or threatening to self-harm. It can often include physical and sexual assaults," Ms Martin explained.

She said that more and more, technology is being used for this purpose, for example, women having their mobile phone calls and texts monitored or being bombarded with abusive texts.

"We also hear from women whose online use was being tracked and scrutinised and whose boyfriends demanded access to their private email and social networking accounts. We hear from women whose boyfriends and ex-boyfriends had placed lies about them on internet sites. We hear from women who had been photographed and filmed without their consent, sometimes having sex, and having the images uploaded to the internet," Ms Martin said.

Women's Aid is calling on the government to recognise that abuse within relationships does not have to be ‘domestic'.

"Young women who have never lived with their boyfriends are not covered under the Domestic Violence Act and therefore cannot avail of legal protection. Eligibility for safety orders must be extended to this group of women.

"Women's Aid also calls for stalking, including digitally-assisted stalking, to be explicitly recognised as grounds for applying for a safety order. Until these changes are made, young women in dating relationships remain outside the law," Ms Martin insisted.

The two-week 2in2u campaign includes an online, poster and postcard campaign aimed at women aged 18-25.

If you would like to receive copies of the posters and postcards to display locally, email laura.shehan@womensaid.ie

The 2in2u website can be accessed here, while information on dating abuse can be viewed here