An organisation that aims to help eradicate violence in the home has been launched in Dublin. The Aoibhneas Foundation will develop programmes for women and children and the perpetrators of domestic violence.
The foundation said its vision was to "see a future in which every home can be safe from abuse and violence". It is based on the work of the Aoibhneas women's refuge in Coolock, which opened 15 years ago.
Foundation chairwoman Ms Terri Morrisey said: "Under our five-year strategic plan, the foundation aims to build on the 15 years' experience in research and crisis intervention in our refuge in Dublin. In particular, we aim to address additional challenges such as the prevention of violence in the home and post-crisis personal development of victims including, most importantly, children."
Foundation chief executive Dr Mimi K Kin said that, globally, domestic violence affected between 20-50 per cent of women at some stage in their lives. "In the US, the victim-related economic cost of violence costs public and private businesses €65 billion every year."
There were three pillars to Aoibhneas - prevention, intervention and personal development, she said.