The Justice Minister today launched a new public communications
campaign to mark significant progress for victims of sexual
crime.
Launching the Justice is Changing' campaign, said it demonstrates a
commitment by the Department of Justice to deliver for victims
across Northern Ireland.
The campaign aims to highlight the services introduced by the
Department to support victims of sexual abuse; many of which were
developed in response to the Gillen Review, an independent review
of the handling of serious sexual offence cases within the
Northern Ireland justice system.
Ms Long said: Victims of sexual crime told the Gillen Review that
the justice process could often exacerbate their trauma;
particularly through unnecessary delays, invasions of privacy,
and a lack of timely support and information.
We have listened to these concerns and directly addressed them
through a range of new measures.
I hope this campaign raises public awareness of the services that
are now available and that it will encourage victims to come
forward and report these crimes and to remain within the justice
system until their case concludes.
The services introduced by the Department and its partners
include:
- Establishing new Remote Evidence Centres (RECs) in Belfast
and Craigavon alongside the existing NSPCC-led facility in
Derry/Londonderry that allow victims to give evidence in a safe,
specially designed environment away from the courthouse and where
there is no chance they will meet the defendant on the day of the
trial. In 2025, over 600 vulnerable witnesses gave evidence from
a REC. The conviction rate in REC cases stands consistently at
around 90%;
- The Adult Sexual Offences Legal Advisor (SOLA) scheme
provides publicly funded legal advice to adult complainants in
serious sexual offence cases, with over 2,200 people benefitting
from the scheme since its launch in 2021. The service has since
been extended to children, with more than 400 child victims
benefiting from support provided by a CSOLA since its launch in
2025;
- The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) NI Act
2022 introduced stronger anonymity protection for victims,
increased penalties for breaches of anonymity laws, and allowed
for the exclusion of the public from courtrooms during serious
sexual offence trials;
- The Rape Myths = Real Harm social media campaign has worked
to dispel misinformation about sexual crimes;
- Committal reform has removed the requirement for victims of
sexual offences to give oral evidence at two separate hearings;
reducing delay and reducing the burden on victims;
- The judge-led Under 13/16 Protocol is also reducing delay in
sexual offence cases involving young children; and,
- The Belfast Domestic Abuse Contest Court was set up to put
victims of domestic and sexual abuse first. All complainants give
evidence from the Belfast Remote Evidence Centre with specialist
prosecutors and support services. The Court starts at 11am so
people can attend to family commitments first. The conviction
rate is consistently around 90%.
The Minister continued: We have made good progress but I'm
determined to keep going and build on the measures already in
place.
"We are working towards the introduction of a Barnahus type model
to Northern Ireland; the creation of guidance for the media in
relation to the reporting of rape and other sexual crimes and the
introduction of new measures in the Victims & Witnesses Bill,
introduced to the assembly in June, that will further protect the
disclosure of complainants' personal information, including
counselling notes and medical records.
"Sexual assault is one of the most heinous and violating crimes,
and it can have a devastating and lasting impact on victims. As
Justice Minister, I will do all I can to ensure that the justice
system does not exacerbate that trauma.
The Justice is Changing' campaign will run across the
Department's social media channels. Full details of the changes
made by the Department as part of the Gillen implementation
programme can be found at: www.justice-ni.gov.uk/topics/gillen-review-report-law-and-procedures-serious-sexual-offences-ni
Notes to editors:
- The Gillen Review into the law and procedures in serious
sexual offences in Northern Ireland was published in 2019. It
made 253 recommendations, the vast majority of which are now
complete.
- The Gillen implementation programme is due to conclude in
mid-2027, but work on outstanding recommendations and to
mainstream and extend services introduced by the programme will
continue.
- Remote Evidence Centres are located in Belfast and Craigavon.
An NSPCC-led facility is also available in Derry/Londonderry.
- The Sexual Offences Legal Advisor (SOLA) scheme is available
to adult complainants in serious sexual offence cases. The Child
SOLA service covers young people aged 17 and under, as well as
their parents, guardians and carers..
