2022 Review: ‘It was the worst year for violence against women in a decade’

Just twelve days into 2022, 24-year old Aisling Murphy was murdered as she went for a run along the canal in her hometown of Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

“What really struck everybody was the ordinariness of what she was doing that day,” said Irish Times columnist Jennifer O’Connell.

“It was a day we’ll never forget.”

O’Connell was speaking on The Irish Times Women’s Podcast Review of 2022, alongside journalist Alison O’Connor, Iranian academic Mahya Ostovar and podcast presenter Róisín Ingle.

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“A further ten women have died as a result of violence this year, making 2022 the worst year for violence against women in a decade,” O’Connell added.

2022 has been an extraordinary year. A year which saw the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the overturning of Roe V Wade and the women of Iran and Afghanistan continue their painstaking fight for freedom.

Reflecting on the women’s resistance in Iran, Galway based Ostovar described the moment she witnessed Iranian women, in clear defiance of the Taliban, removing their head scarves and waving them in the air, “watching this was like a dream coming true for me,” she said.

The panel also took the opportunity to share their hopes for the new year ahead, with Ostovar yearning for change to finally come to her home country.

“I’m wishing for Iran to be a free country, and for people to get rid of the Islamic republic and have a secular democratic country,” she said.

With the events of 2022 taking their toll on everyone’s morale, a quiet year ahead is what the rest of our guests are wishing for this Christmas.

“After a really draining year, I’ll be looking ahead to doing less of everything next year,” explained O’Connell.

“Less time on screens, less spending on things I don’t need, less procrastination and less worrying.”

Alison O’Connor was in agreement: “A very boring time will do me, thank you very much.”