Photo (Left to Right): Antoin Moran, Project Manager ASPIRE Peaceplus; Seamus Bradly. EA Director; Paul Givan, DE Minister and Jayne Simms, EA Lead ASPIRE Peaceplus at today’s PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Conference.
05 November 2026
The PEACEPLUS ASPIRE conference, Educate, Empower, Protect: Supporting Schools to Address Violence Against Women and Girls, brought together delegates from across the education sector to examine the role education can play in addressing misogyny, gender inequality, harmful attitudes, healthy relationships and safeguarding.
The conference was hosted through the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE programme, a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The event provided an opportunity for attendees to hear from leading experts, engage with specialist support organisations and explore practical approaches to prevention and early intervention.
Delegates heard keynote addresses from Dr Siobhan McAlister, Reader in Criminology at Queen's University Belfast; Right Honourable Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and Education Minister, Paul Givan MLA, while Special EU Programmes Body CEO Gina McIntyre opened the conference.
Speaking at the conference, Education Minister, Paul Givan said:
“Today’s event brings together a wide range of organisations and individuals who are absolutely committed to ending violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. I share that commitment and I recognise the vital role that schools play in helping young people to develop healthy and respectful relationships and attitudes from an early age.
“The PEACEPLUS ASPIRE shared learning programme is helping to shine a light on this issue with the support of a wide range of stakeholders, recognising the wider impact of this issue in society. I want to thank everyone involved in today’s conference which provides an immensely valuable opportunity to support school leaders, teachers and practitioners in educating, empowering and protecting our children and young people.”
Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, said:
"Addressing violence against women and girls requires a whole-of-society response, and education plays a vital role in that effort. Schools and educational settings are uniquely placed to help children and young people build healthy, respectful relationships, challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours, and foster safe, inclusive environments where everyone is valued and supported to thrive."
"By working together, sharing best practice and maintaining our collective commitment, we can create lasting change and help build a society where women and girls are safe, respected and empowered."
Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of SEUPB, said:
“Education has an enormously important role to play in helping to end violence against women and girls. Through PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, we have an opportunity to support schools and settings in challenging harmful attitudes, promoting equality and helping children and young people understand the importance of healthy, respectful relationships.
“PEACEPLUS is about building peaceful, inclusive and resilient communities, and creating a society where women and girls are safe and respected is fundamental to that ambition. By connecting educators with specialist expertise, practical resources and support, this conference can help turn that ambition into meaningful action.”
Antoin Moran, Project Manager for PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, added:
"Education has a vital role to play in shaping the attitudes, values and behaviours of future generations. By bringing together schools, educational leaders and specialist organisations, this conference provides an important opportunity to share expertise, strengthen partnerships and support a collective effort to tackle violence against women and girls.
"Through PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, we are committed to supporting educational settings to promote respect, inclusion and positive relationships, helping to create safer communities for everyone."
The conference also supported the development of the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Educator Professional Learning Programme, which will equip schools and educational settings with the knowledge, skills and resources to address issues such as misogyny, gender inequality, healthy relationships and safeguarding.
PEACEPLUS ASPIRE (Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education) is a collaboration between Léargas, the Education Authority (lead partner), Early Years- the organisation for young children, National Childhood Network (NCN) and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It aims to provide direct and sustained contact between children and young people from all backgrounds.
To learn more about PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, check out our website here.
