Socialist feminist group ROSA organising standout at Dail on Wednesday

Socialist feminist group ROSA is organising a socially distanced standout outside Leinster House on Wednesday, calling the Government to respond to the “ongoing rise in gender violence.”

In a statement, ROSA says that the standout is essential “because of ineffective government response to the ongoing rise in gender violence in what the UN calls ‘the shadow pandemic’.”

It is calling for emergency action and funding by the Dáil to help tackle the matter.

Among the issues that will be visually highlighted will be the problems faced by women refugees, the 43% rise in calls to Women’s Aid during the pandemic, lack of funding towards women’s safety, and the lack of action against victim blaming the courts.

“ROSA is a socialist feminist organisation which has been campaigning on the issue of gender violence,” it says.

“Activists attending a protest at the Spire last week had their names taken by Gardai but say safe protest is essential during a pandemic of gender violence.”