To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the progress of actions in the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Delivery Plan 2024 – 2026.

The Executive’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework 2024-31 and first Delivery Plan 2024-26 were launched on 16 September 2024.

Since then, progress has been made across multiple areas, reflecting consistent momentum toward achieving the six outcomes within the Strategic Framework.

£3.2 million has been allocated to the EVAWG Change Fund. We launched the EVAWG Local Change Fund on the 8 January 2025 and will open across 11 Councils for applications between January and March 2025, with delivery commencing from April 2025.

Momentum Funding of £600k is also being provided across all 11 Councils in 24/25 to enable them to implement emergency responses, raise awareness and build on the ground momentum.

We also announced £1.2m investment under the EVAWG Regional Change Fund on 21 January 2025. This funding will be available until March 2026 and will support and partner with eight Community and Voluntary Sector expert organisations who are already leading the way regionally in preventing violence against women and girls.

They will raise awareness of violence against women and girls, increase understanding of the issue, and build capacity to take action, and equip people to have safe and healthy relationships.

Following an open competition, six suppliers have been selected to develop a range of Phase 1 proofs of concept, as part of the Small Business Research Initiative [SBRI] Challenge Fund.

Work is also progressing in collaboration with partners to advance other elements of the Delivery Plan.