To ask the Minister for the Economy for an update on her Department’s Tertiary Working Group to tackle violence against women and girls.

My Department recognises the critical importance of tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and is committed to supporting this Programme for Government priority. To this end, a Tertiary Working Group has been established to harness the collective expertise, resources, and influence of the Tertiary Education sector and its partners, enabling the sector to contribute strategically and collectively to tackling this issue.

The Group is chaired by Ulster University and includes representatives from higher education institutions, further education colleges, student unions, the PSNI, health and wellbeing professionals, and other key stakeholders.

The Group’s remit is to review, develop, and oversee the implementation of comprehensive interventions to prevent and respond to VAWG within our colleges and universities.

The Group has met on several occasions since its establishment and has held a sector-wide workshop to identify priorities and share best practice. Sub-groups have been established to focus on policy, training, and reporting, with cross-institutional membership.

A key milestone in the Group’s work was the delivery of a sector-wide Capability Building Day, held on 8 December 2025. This full-day event was designed to strengthen the capacity of members and sector leaders by providing expert insights into developing and embedding effective institutional policies, implementing best practice in prevention, including Bystander Intervention, and managing disclosures of sexual violence and supporting survivors.

The Group continues to work collaboratively to identify gaps, map training provision, and develop shared actions to progress this important issue.