27/3/25: Amid the spring sunshine at Glencree, a delegation of EU Ambassadors visited the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation to engage in a dialogue with Dr Aisling Swaine, Professor at the Sutherland School of Law, UCD. The focus of the meeting was Dr Swaine’s recent research into coercive control against women in Northern Ireland, particularly in the context of ongoing paramilitary influence in communities.

The discussion explored key findings from the report which highlights the gendered impact of coercive control linked to paramilitarism and examined potential pathways to alleviate its effects. The research, produced in partnership with Women’s Aid Foyle, the Foyle Family Justice Centre and Marie Brown MBE, aims to deepen understanding and inform responses to the harm experienced by women and girls. The full report is available on the Women’s Aid Foyle website.

Sharing her findings with the EU Ambassadors and the Glencree team, Dr Swaine emphasised the importance of advancing dialogue and knowledge as vital steps towards preventing gender-based harm impacting women and girls. Dr Swaine's work continues under the European Research Council-funded Coercive In/Justice project at UCD.