West Belfast schoolboys learning to tackle violence against women

Tahnee McCorry, founder of White Ribbon NI, said the boys have “a massive role to play in ending violence against women and girls”.

“The strategic framework to end VAWG has been launched, but it will be nothing but a pile of pages on a desk or a file on a computer if they don’t put their all behind it.”

She said: “They are the generation which can make change, and we need men and boys to step in and be part of the solution.

“Hopefully we’ve given them and equipped them to be able to do that.”

The programme is called Listen Learn Lead.

“It’s about listening to the voices of women, learning about the culture which has allowed VAWG to continue,” said Ms McCorry.

“Giving bystander intervention techniques to be able to challenge the ideas and attitudes which keep violence against women and girls in everyday scenarios.”

The group hopes to expand the programme and teach it in more schools across the country.

Brendan McComb, principal at St Mary’s CBGS, said being the only all-boys grammar school in west Belfast “comes with a sense of responsibility and leadership”.

“It’s great to see our boys stepping up,” he said.