To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the funding in place beyond March 2026 for the delivery of the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls.

Mrs Little-Pengelly

Mr Speaker, with your permission, junior Minister Joanne Bunting will answer this question and will group questions 4 and 14.

Ms Bunting (Junior Minister, The Executive Office)

Ending violence against women and girls is one of the most pressing challenges facing society today. We have invested over £5 million in communities, working with partners across society to raise awareness and to equip everyone to be able to take action to prevent it. Early results from regional programmes are positive, with 98% of participants surveyed reporting an increased knowledge of violence against women and girls and 96% reporting a better understanding of what a healthy relationship is.

In addition, the projects supported by the change fund reflect what communities need to respond to the crisis. Sports clubs, community groups, faith groups and children and young people and people from urban and rural areas, among others, are all engaged.

Budget planning for the period beyond March 2026 will, of course, depend on the outcome of the Executive's Budget process. To support the delivery of the strategic framework, future-year bids have been submitted that reflect the level of investment required to maintain momentum and deliver the programme's ambitions over the long term. The next plan will be brought to the Executive shortly and will continue to deliver the strategic framework objectives. While we are at the start of a long journey, we are laying strong foundations and will continue to assess the longer-term impact of specific interventions.

Ms Finnegan

I thank the junior Minister for her answer. Will she provide an update on the new campaign on coercive control?

Ms Bunting

I am grateful to the Member for her question. We recently conducted a pilot campaign on coercive control that addresses how it makes people feel, using the memorable framework of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes", which enables women and girls to check in with themselves to identify what coercive control is, understand whether it is impacting on or happening to them or other people whom they know and, from that, understand how to take action. The campaign was developed in partnership with Ulster University and engaged stakeholders, those with lived experience, importantly, and the youth sector, drawing on evidence-based research in its development. In September, a training toolkit for front-line services was delivered by our partners in Ulster University to 43 workers from 20 organisations across a range of sectors. They trialled that training in their own settings for a three-month pilot phase that ended in December 2025. An evaluation of the pilot is under way, and it is anticipated that there will be a region-wide campaign launch in the spring.

Ms Bunting

I thank the Member for her question. The Member will be aware that there is considerable collaboration across Departments. It is a priority in the Programme for Government and has so far involved many, if not all, Departments. It is clearly embedded. We know that such cultural change does not happen overnight. From seat belt campaigns and so on, we have seen that such things take time, so we are laying the groundwork. There are regular updates to the Executive on the work. I emphasise to the Member the extent of the collaboration across the Executive and how seriously the Executive take the issue. Key work areas in the delivery plan involve other Departments: for example, the Department for the Economy is looking at safer socialising, the workplace and tertiary education; the Department of Education is leading on an action plan to coordinate interventions that focus on healthy relationships and are targeted at children and young people; and the Education Authority (EA), along with a group of young people and stakeholders, developed a board game called "Raise Your Game", the launch of which junior Minister Reilly and I attended. The Member will be aware that there is a collaborative funding model for the extended late-night transport pilot. That is being delivered through the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for the Economy. Many Departments are involved, and we will continue to work together, because everybody in the Executive and in the House recognises that this is a serious issue that must be challenged and faced down.

Mr Dunne

Given the ever-growing concerns about new forms of abuse, which often include online abuse, will the junior Minister outline what measures are being taken to address violence against women and girls in the online world?

Ms Bunting

I am grateful to the Member for his question. We see that type of online behaviour all too frequently. Whether it is intimidation, harassment, bullying, humiliation, embarrassment or name-calling, it is meant to silence women and shut them down, and it is unacceptable. We are committed to ensuring that women and girls are safe and feel safe everywhere. Recent media headlines are a timely reminder of just how important the work is. We are actively engaged with Ofcom on the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023. Junior Minister Reilly and I recently attended an event to discuss Ofcom's new guidance on a safer online life for women and girls that highlights the growing risks in digital spaces. I attended a similar event on cyber safety for young people, at which similar themes were raised. I assure the Member that we continue to work with Executive colleagues, the PSNI and Ofcom on the online safety of women and girls to ensure that they have a safer life and presence there. Online safety is also a feature of the change fund, which is part of the EVAWG work.