Minister Foley welcomes publication of the government’s Zero Tolerance National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Strategy
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 28 June 2022
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister for Education Norma Foley has today welcomed the government’s publication of the Zero Tolerance Third National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Strategy.
This will be the third national strategy and has been developed in close collaboration with the National Women’s Council of Ireland and Safe Ireland (the umbrella body for women’s refuges). It is intended as a whole-of -government strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and has a particular focus on prevention, as well as ensuring that the criminal justice system and other services better support victims. It aims to bring about the attitudinal and system changes needed to ensure that there is zero tolerance in Irish society for DSGBV.
The education sector has a vital role in the development and implementation of this Strategy and will deliver on this by:
- updating and redevelopment of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE)
- providing training aimed at improving teacher confidence and competence in the areas of SPHE and RSE
- promoting gender-based violence free environments within our schools and ensuring that issues such as sexual harassment and identity bullying are considered as part of the department’s Action Plan on Bullying and Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools
Minister Foley said:
“Schools and teachers are already doing so much good work in this area and implementing the Third National Strategy will give renewed impetus to this good work. My department is committed to ensuring that Relationships and Sexuality Education is delivered to children and young people across the continuum of the schools system, in an age appropriate manner and we continue to review and expand our work in this area.
“We now have a golden opportunity to address these challenging societal issues during children’s formative years and we know the very positive influence teachers and schools can play in this.”