EVENT NEWS
NORTHERN IRELAND’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS UNITED TO HELP TACKLE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH AN EVENT HELD IN CO ANTRIM ON MAY 7… Building Respect conference
L-R: Eamon Magee, Water Solutions Ireland, with Seamus Donaghy and Aaron Hughes, Geda, event supporter sponsors.
L-R: Duane McCreadie, Sacyr UK&I, Sarah Heffernan, Farrans, Sarah Fearon, Stonelough Consulting, and Aisling Henry, AtkinsRéalis.
L-R: Ray Hutchinson, Gilbert-Ash, Fionnuala McKenna, Construction Futures, Bryan Vaughan, Vaughan Homes/CEF, Lynn Carvill, WOMEN’STEC, Sarah Travers, conference host, and Mark Spence, CEF.
Construction leaders in Northern Ireland have attended a first- of-its-kind conference aimed at exploring practical steps the industry can take to adopt a zero- tolerance approach to violence
International Security Director at the Asia-Pacific Foundation, and globally-renowned gender equality advocate Jackson Katz. Representatives of Longford Women’s Link spoke about the current domestic violence situation in the Republic of Ireland. There was also a series of informative workshops conducted by practitioners from four key partner organisations - White Ribbon NI, Women’s Aid, the Labour Relations Agency and Lewis Silken. CEF President Bryan Vaughan said the vision was to bring focus to the role of the construction industry in championing respect, safety and awareness. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director Ray Hutchinson said his company was proud to sponsor such an important event for the industry. “As an industry we must also work together as one to amplify the conversation around ending violence against women and girls and to create environments where misogyny is never tolerated,” he said.
Want to know more? If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, the following organisations can provide help and support. In an emergency when you need immediate assistance, phone the PSNI on 999. In a non-emergency
against women and girls. Construction Employers
Federation (CEF) partnered with WOMEN’STEC and Construction Futures to deliver Building Respect: Laying the Foundations for Change. The event took place at the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim on May 7 and was sponsored by Gilbert-Ash. Northern Ireland has some of the highest rates of domestic abuse and femicide in the UK and Europe with police reporting an incident approximately every 17 minutes. Against this backdrop and with females making up around 15% of the local construction industry’s workforce, the event urged companies to play an active role in helping to end abuse, misogyny and harassment. Building Respect heard from a world class line-up of speakers including Dr Sajjan Gohel,
when you need assistance or advice, call 101. If you are
experiencing domestic abuse and need support or information, you can contact your local Women’s Aid group Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. For more information, visit womensaidni.org
www.nibuilder.co.uk
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