Justice Secretary Helen McEntee said she would introduce new laws on stalking and non-fatal strangulation in the coming weeks to make them stand-alone offences.
This morning, the minister delivered a keynote speech on combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin.
She said that violence against women and girls is the main obstacle to achieving gender equality in Europe.
Ms. McEntee recognized the importance of criminal law and said the government is increasing the maximum sentence for stalking, one of the most common crimes associated with domestic violence, from five to 10 years.
However, she said that prevention is key in the fight against gender-based violence and that she was studying new initiatives on consent, abuse of intimate image and public awareness of the rights of victims.
The minister said that we all need to contribute and do our part in our daily lives to help create an environment where women and girls feel safe and secure.
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