Women should never have to choose between their safety and their identity.

Women should never have to choose between their safety and their identity.

Understanding domestic, sexual and gender-based violence experienced by migrant women — and challenging the barriers that stand in the way of safety, support and justice.

Hosted by Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service (ODVSS)

Esker's Arts Centre, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Wednesday, 21st October 2026, 9.30 am–2.00 pm

Keynote speaker: Professor (Hon) Roxanne Khan, PhD, who will speak about Honor-based abuse and the Three-Phase Model of Perpetration (Control → Punish → Protect)

More speakers will be announced soon.

Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence can affect anyone. But for migrant women, experiences of abuse can be shaped by additional barriers — including immigration status, language, isolation, racism, financial dependence, cultural assumptions and difficulties accessing appropriate support.

Breaking the Cycle: Ending Harm Without Stigma will bring together practitioners, community organizations, advocates, policymakers and others working to create safer and more inclusive responses to violence against women.

The conference will explore:

· The particular forms and experiences of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence that migrant women may face

· How racism and discrimination can create additional barriers to safety, support and justice

· The reality of navigating services and systems as a migrant woman experiencing abuse

· How assumptions about culture can affect how women are understood and supported

· What anti-racist practice looks like in reality

· How services, communities and systems can work differently to build trust and improve responses

The event will feature two keynote speakers, alongside shorter contributions from other speakers with expertise and lived or professional experience in this area.

There will also be a panel discussion exploring how we can build trust and develop genuinely anti-racist responses for migrant women experiencing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Launch of the NEMDA Strategic Plan

The conference will also mark the launch of the NEMDA Strategic Plan, setting out a vision and priorities for strengthening responses to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence affecting migrant and ethnic minority women and families.

The plan represents an important step forward in identifying the changes needed across services, communities, policy and systems.

Who is the conference for?

This event is particularly relevant to:

Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services

Community and migrant organizations

Health and social care professionals

Gardaí and justice sector professionals

Local authorities and public services

Policy makers and advocates

Community development workers

Organizations working with migrant and ethnic minority communities

Anyone interested in anti-racist and culturally responsive practice

Description supplied by the event organiser.