Want To Help End Gender Based Violence? This Online Resource Shows Men Where To Start
Want To Help End Gender Based Violence? This Online Resource Shows Men Where To Start
Text: Izzy Copestake
The Ally Action List is available at www.womensaid.ie/men.
In a step towards combating gender-based violence in Ireland, Allianz and Women’s Aid have launched the ‘Ally Action List’—a comprehensive online resource aimed at helping men understand their role in ending violence against women. This initiative seeks to provide clear, actionable guidance to men who want to make a difference but are unsure how to begin.
According to 2024 research from Core, 69% of men in Ireland agree that men should actively advocate for women’s equality. However, often they don’t know where to start. The Ally Action List hopes to provide a clear, practical guide to breaking down this uncertainty and equipping men with the tools to become allies. Here are the four key pillars of the campaign:
- Actively reflect on your attitudes
- Think about the kind of man you want to be
- Reflect on your own actions
- Show strength by being open and real
- Lean into positive norms
- Be open to conversations about masculinity
- Embrace and promote positive ideas about masculinity
- Speak up when you hear sexist comments
- Step in when you see something wrong
- Listen to, learn from and support women
- Support women by standing with them
- You don’t have to fix everything
- Share care and household responsibilities equally in your relationship
- You and your community, working together
- Be the role model you once had
- Get involved in the movement for change
According to research conducted by the European Union FRA, 2024, 35% of women in Ireland have experienced psychological, physical and / or sexual abuse from an intimate partner, tackling violence against women should be a matter of urgency.
Speaking today, Women’s Aid CEO, Sarah Benson called on men to join the conversation. “Already this year, three women have lost their lives in violent circumstances. Our research shows that we need men to join the conversation and while a majority want to help, they aren’t always sure where to start. Together with Allianz, we are launching the Ally Action List to provide clear, practical steps to invite men into the conversation in becoming effective allies.”
“This isn’t about judgement or pointing fingers – it’s about specific, actionable ways for men to make a difference. 64% of men in Ireland agree that men should call out inappropriate jokes or comments about women, so the foundation is there for all of us to drive change.”
To highlight the issues, Allianz and Women’s Aid have launched their ‘The Dead Flower Shop’ today, on Valentine’s Day, at 110 Grafton Street, Dublin 2. The installation will appear as a typical flower shop from the outside, but once inside, visitors will find an exhibition of dead flowers—each bouquet symbolising the lives of women lost to gender-based violence.
Eight carefully arranged bouquets will represent women in Ireland who have been killed by current or former partners. At the centre of the exhibit, a larger bouquet of 274 dead roses will serve as a chilling reminder of the 274 women killed in violent circumstances in Ireland since 1996.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please contact Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.
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