LAVINIA KERWICK. AISLING Vickers. Natasha O’Brien. Hazel Behan. Nikita Hand. Ciara Mangan. Margaret Loftus.

The list could go on. All of these women are survivors of gender-based violence. By taking a stand and speaking out publicly, they, together with families bereaved through femicide, have changed our society’s response to violence against women.

Survivors are experts by experience, and their knowledge is incredibly valuable. The insights around the harmful effects of using counselling notes in sexual offences trials came from survivors. Jennie’s Law, named in honour of Jennifer Poole, who was murdered by her ex-partner, is a Bill pioneered by the victim’s brother and establishes a domestic violence register. And Coco’s Law, which outlaws image-based sexual abuse, was drafted in response to the family of a victim of gender-based violence, Nicole Fox.

Speaking out publicly can be empowering and healing for survivors and their families. Yet, the reliance on individuals recounting deeply personal and painful experiences to shape our laws can also be problematic. It can be retraumatising and come at a high cost, particularly if the stories are repeated across the media. Too often, there is also a risk that it is tokenistic.

Violence against women........

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