Spiking not in NI strategy a 'missed opportunity'

Spiking not being included in the Northern Ireland Executive's Ending Violence Against Women and Girls strategy (EVAWG) is a "missed opportunity", an MLA has said.

Cara Hunter, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said young people, especially young girls, must be educated on how to protect themselves.

She expressed disappointment at Stormont's education committee on Tuesday over its omission from the strategy.

"The word 'spiking' is not even included once; many of us know somebody who has been spiked and spiking sadly comes hand-in-hand with tackling violence against women and girls," Hunter told BBC Radio Foyle on Wednesday.

"I really see this as a missed opportunity and an oversight".

BBC News NI has approached The Executive Office (TEO) for a response to Cara Hunter's comments.

The assembly member said the majority of spiking incidents in Northern Ireland "predominately involve females".

She told The North West Today programme: “I am quite shocked that with regards issues to do with sexual assault and ending violence as a whole, that this hasn’t been included in this important strategy."

A commitment to tackle violence against women and girls was included in the Northern Ireland Executive's programme for government (PfG).

The document, entitled 'Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most', sets out the executive's ambitions under several core areas.

It outlined nine "immediate priorities" the executive intends to work on this year and for the duration of its electoral mandate.

• Grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy

• Deliver more affordable childcare

• Cut health waiting lists

• Better support for children and young people with special educational needs

• Provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing

• Safer communities

• Protect Lough Neagh and the environment

• Reform and transformation of public services

• Ending violence against women and girls

There will be £3m of funding attached to the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) strategy and the executive said they will focus on four key areas over the next seven years:

• Prevention

• Protection and provision

• Justice system

• Working better together

Hunter said spiking can take many forms and that it is sadly becoming more and more prevalent.

“Spiking can be something put in someone’s drink, it can even be done by needle or by vape," she said.

“We have seen spiking by needle and by vape has become more and more popular.

“Vapes can actually be spiked with different drugs and can see people become unconscious, so it’s something that is ever evolving and ever changing and we must educate our young people.”

Hunter said she has engaged with many young women and said there is need for greater education around protection and knowing the warning signs around spiking.

“In the last year we have had over 70 reports to police, but that is only the people who have come forward to talk about their spiking experience – many don’t due to embarrassment, shame or self-blame but victims really need to know that spiking is something that happens to you and not because of you," the East Londonderry MLA said.

"We want to do all we can to move away from victim-blaming.

"We must teach our young people about spiking and the importance of consent."