Women's Aid handled more than 11,000 distress calls last year

Women's Aid received over 11,000 distress calls to its helpline last year, preliminary figures indicate.

Speaking at the start of the organisation's annual awareness campaign, its director, Ms Margaret Martin, said the helpline received 11,000 calls in 2002.

"And early indications are 2003 will show no decrease and a probable increase. And we know that every time we raise awareness of the issue and publicise our helpline number, we see a surge in calls."

She said one in five Irish women were affected by domestic violence, that it was a "frightening problem" and "important that it is known about and acknowledged". Of the 11,000 calls to the helpline in 2002, she said 21 per cent related to physical violence, with over 75 per cent of these from women who had been beaten.

Some 10.8 per cent reported sustaining a serious injury.

The campaign will consist of outdoor and indoor poster advertising depicting an X-ray of a woman's cracked skull. Accompanying it will be the slogan: "Some men break more than their girlfriends' hearts".

Posters will be up in such places as bus-stops, shopping centres and train and DART stations.