Shocking news that 1-5 of girls aged 16-19 have experienced domestic abuse 

13th March, 2026

Last year, the Office for National Statistics reported that young girls in England and Wales aged 16 to 19 and 20 to 24 represented a larger share of those experiencing domestic abuse than any other age group. These statistics indicate that not enough is being done to tackle misogyny among young boys and toxic online influences. Sadly, in Northern Ireland the situation for young women and girls in is the same. An Executive Office report from 2025, found that over a 12 month period almost a fifth of 16 year olds (most of whom were girls) had experienced online violence (19%). Psychological violence was experienced by 18%. Eleven percent of the 16 year olds had experienced sexual violence and 7% had experienced physical violence.

A 2022 academic paper on misogyny and rape myths in Northern Ireland notes that “the moral conservatism of the province has led to attitudes of shame and stigma about sex, sexuality, sexual violence and reproductive rights. Young people are poorly informed about these issues, including what constitutes sexual consent, and are also influenced by rape myths. It is widely acknowledged that there is an urgent need for better sex and relationship education in schools, but Christian moral conservatism in education and politics is a barrier”.

Louisa Rolfe the National Police Chief’s Council lead for domestic abuse provided these statistics as evidence to the House of Lords. Rolfe told the peers the definition of abuse “does not currently capture the under-16s” experiencing abuse in their relationships, despite being the “fastest growing group of domestic abuse victims”. Rolfe notes that “there are some brilliant schemes around tackling misogyny with young boys in school and talking about toxic influence online, but nowhere near enough.

We are possibly dealing with another generation of women being subjected to abuse and violence in their relationships. The fact that cases of abuse are growing faster among teenagers than any other category should be ringing alarm bells that not enough is being done to challenge misogyny at all levels of society. When we have the rich and powerful men across the world treating women as possessions and subjecting them to sexual and physical abuse and denigrating them. It is an imperative that society as a whole tackles the situation.

Women and girls need to be valued in society, that means equality of treatment, in the home, in the workplace, in political life, and in salary structures. We cannot allow future generations of women and girls to be abused. Women and girls are entitled to live free from violence and abuse, and to walk our streets free from the fear of physical or sexual assault.

The Workers Party believes that young boys must be educated in the home, in school, and in other spheres of society, to understand that misogyny is a serious problem and is also a crime. Bringing in a Femicide Law would be a sharp reminder to all those who feel it is their right to abuse women and girls. Women’s Rights are Human Rights.