A TEACHING union has called for more education in schools to address "issues of domestic abuse and healthy relationships".
The Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) also said additional specialist training and support for teachers is required.
The call from the union comes in the wake of the murder of Natalie McNally in her Lurgan home and as so-called influencer Andrew Tate faces charges of people trafficking and rape in Romania.
Jacquie White, general secretary of the UTU, said: "The tragic death of Natalie McNally and her unborn baby highlights the urgent need for a strategy to protect women against domestic violence, while Tate’s brand of toxic masculinity further highlights what seems like an epidemic in our society.
"The result is that violence against women is an all too prevalent occurrence as recent events in Northern Ireland have tragically shown."
Ms White said the UTU had "pro-actively been seeking to get this strategy implemented" and recently raised the issue the NI Committee/Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ biennial delegate conference.
Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion, proposed by UTU president and Ballymoney teacher Louise Creelman, for "minimum, agreed, age-appropriate teaching in schools around domestic abuse and healthy relationships".
"Every preventive measure must be taken to keep families safe," added Ms Creelman.
"Domestic violence and abuse has long been a scourge on Northern Irish society, with statistics showing that the impact of the pandemic has served only to exacerbate the issue.
"The latest statistics here show more domestic abuse crimes recorded last year than any other year since records began in 2004/05.
"While we all know the severe negative impact caused by domestic violence and abuse on the adult survivors we also have a responsibility to address this issue in terms of its effect on our children and young people, both now and into the future."
