Femicide rates in Northern Ireland exceed levels in other parts of the United Kingdom and many countries worldwide, UK Minister for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

Phillips spoke to MPs on Wednesday about the government's strategy to address violence against women and girls. She called the issue a national emergency and epidemic.

The minister stated that Stormont shows no lack of attention to the matter. Northern Ireland's Executive Office, led by First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, released its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in 2024.

Phillips expressed confidence in the commitment of O'Neill and Little-Pengelly to fund efforts against violence toward women and girls based on her interactions with them.

She praised Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher for his focus on targeting online sexual offending. Phillips met Boutcher early in his tenure and described him as a decent man who prioritizes key issues.

Phillips noted the presence of the manosphere, a network promoting traditional masculinity roles online, across locations. She linked it to broader attitudes contributing to abuse.

DUP MP Gavin Robinson referenced a documentary on the manosphere during the session. UUP MP Robin Swann raised the Troubles' legacy and paramilitarism's ongoing influence on women in Northern Ireland. Phillips agreed it remains a factor in abuse and violence.