Ruth Coppinger's 10 Point Gender Based Violence Programme

  1. Outlaw character references in cases of Gender Based Violence. They can retraumatise victims & sway judges to mitigate abuse.

  2. Protect confidentiality - no access to counselling notes for defence legal team.

  3. Provide Advocates and representation for complainants in the court process.
     
  4. Compulsory training of the judiciary and juries regarding sexual and gender based violence. Outlaw rapes myths and victim blaming by defence lawyers in court cases.

  5. Invest and recruit court personnel so that nobody waits more than a year for a SA, rape or GBV case.

  6. Education programme in schools, colleges (and wider society)  to challenge misogyny and gender violence.

  7. Introduce mechanism to recall and make accountable judges who make misogynistic and insensitive rulings.

  8. Introduce ‘Valerie Law’ to block any parental or inheritance rights for those who kill spouses.

  9. Femicide and intimate partner violence training for Gardai.

  10. Introduce Domestic Violence Register / ‘Jennie’s Law’ to make available information about anyone with a conviction for domestic violence.