Shocking Testimony: MP Reveals Rape Threat During School Visit Amid Calls for Action on Violence Against Women

During a recent debate in the House of Commons, Sorcha Eastwood, an MP from the Alliance Party, revealed a harrowing personal experience of receiving a rape threat while hosting a group of school children at Stormont, highlighting the dangers faced by women in Northern Ireland. Eastwood, who identifies as a ‘survivor of abuse,’ expressed her concerns about the alarming statistics of femicide in the region, dubbing it one of the most dangerous places in Europe for women.

She recounted how she received her first rape threat in 2017, when she began her political career, underlining the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls. Her remarks in the Commons were part of a larger discussion that highlighted the disturbing phenomenon of ‘incel culture’—a subculture where men feel entitled to sex and often express anger and violence towards women. Eastwood emphasized the necessity for collaboration between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to combat this pervasive issue, particularly urging for a focus on the root causes of such violence.

Eastwood articulated her disappointment over the absence of fellow Northern Irish MPs during this crucial debate and called for all members of Parliament to address systemic issues that leave women vulnerable. She shares that many women approach her office for help, having faced years of abuse while being failed by the very systems meant to protect them. She concluded with a call to challenge societal norms that normalize violence, insisting that human rights and the regulation of social media, crucial in preventing such incidents, must not be neglected.