Does NI need a minister for women's safety and health?
BBCDisappointed and disheartened by news stories about women being attacked and killed, four teenagers decided watching the news wasn't enough.
Instead of scrolling on, the friends decided to take matters into their own hands and start a campaign of their own.
Now they are calling for Stormont to create a dedicated minister for women's safety and health.
According to the charity Women's Aid, 31 women have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.
In the vast majority of these cases the women were killed by a man or a man has been charged in connection with their deaths.
Helping to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) first inspired Eimear, Pearse, Aoísha and Devyn to form 'The Athrú Project'.
Athrú means change in Irish and that is what they are calling for.
In August 2025, Pearse O'Neill, now 19, noticed that he and his friends were seeing more and more about VAWG on the news.
Work experience with a charity made him realise starting a campaign was "not really this big daunting thing that was impossible and needed millions of pounds of funding".
Pearse asked his friend group in Ballycastle, County Antrim, if anyone would like to join him in trying to do something about it.
"We thought we'd send some emails to MLAs, but even before we sent them we knew it had to be more than that.
"It seemed to be getting worse and we thought we shouldn't wait any longer to do something about it."
'I feel scared'
18 year-old Eimear McCloskey got involved as she was "disappointed and nervous" over what she says is a lack of protection for women in her community.
"If I'm walking home from work, in a seaside town and rural area, there's not a lot of CCTV coverage or proper infrastructure like lighting.
"If anything was to ever happen to me, it would be a 'he said, she said' moment, with no evidence. It's very upsetting to know that's the case for many women today."
Devyn McAlister, who's also 18, feels politicians could do more.
"They say things and condemn it but no real action takes place. That needs to change.
"Seeing the news of women being killed, I feel scared to live in this country.
"At night, I look over my shoulders and I have a safety alert on my bag. I shouldn't need to take those precautions."
What would a minister for women do?
Aoísha O'Neill, 18, who is Pearse's sister says establishing a dedicated minister for women's safety and health at Stormont would bring together women's issues "so they can be tackled in a more efficient way".
It would be similar to the minister for women and equalities at Westminster, or the deputy minister for social care, mental health and women's health in Wales.
Pearse says they were drawn to the idea because: "A minister has a basic obligation to make legislation, and creating one could be a good step towards changing how women's safety and healthcare is approached in government."
Aoísha also believes a dedicated women's minister could help shrink healthcare waiting lists and improve sex and relationship education in schools.
"I think, currently, issues of women's health and safety are quite low on departments' priority lists," she adds.
Eimear agrees: "Women's safety and health is such a large and pressing issue that it's so difficult to keep up with.
"With a minister's resources and attention it could be tackled effectively."
For Devyn, it's "abhorrent" that women in Northern Ireland face lengthy waits for gynaecology appointments.
A Department of Health spokesperson said women's health was a "key area of focus" and work continues to improve services.
They added work is ongoing to develop a Women's Health Action Plan for Northern Ireland which aims to encourage "positive dialogue around women's health and wellbeing within our health and social care system and in our society".
"The department recognises the voices and views of young people as an important part of that conversation."
What has been done to tackle VAWG in NI?
Responsibility for tackling VAWG, healthcare and education sits across Stormont's departments for justice, health and education.
The first and deputy first ministers have both been involved in work to end violence against women and girls and the Executive Office (TEO) launched its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in 2024.
A spokeswomen for TEO said promoting the health and safety of women, including ending violence and abuse, is a priority.
"Addressing this long-term issue requires a coordinated, whole Executive approach, with all ministers working collectively."
The justice and health ministers have also launched a Domestic and Sexual Abuse strategy for Northern Ireland and Justice Minister Naomi Long launched a Victims and Witnesses of Crime Strategy in March 2026.
In 2022 the PSNI launched an action plan aimed at reducing violence against women and girls.
'Everyone knows someone affected by this'
The teenagers launched an online survey to gather more views on their plan and hosted a panel event with politicians, campaigners and other young people.
They believe that with political support, their goal could become reality.
"It's been really positive so far," Pearse says.
"There hasn't been any negative responses from politicians so we're looking to expand our support from anyone who will listen."
SDLP assembly member Cara Hunter, believes a dedicated women's minister is an idea "worth exploring further".
Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, she said the logistics and cost should be examined.
"Ministerial positions come with all the trimmings, and we need to have value for public money."
For Pearse, it's important that everyone should be involved when it comes to improving women's health and safety.
"People should feel obligated to speak out regardless of who they are.
"Everyone knows someone affected by this. It's quite simple."