New cross-departmental strategy aims to crack down on domestic and sexual abuse

The creation of a society with no toleration for domestic and sexual abuse is the key aim of a joint strategy issued by two Stormont departments.

The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2024-2031 was launched by Justice Minster Naomi Long at the NSPCC’s Belfast Hub on Wednesday. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt was absent due to Covid.

The report included statistics relating to domestic and sexual abuse for the 12 months to the end of March 2024.

These revealed PSNI had recorded 19,954 domestic crimes and 4,090 sexual offences in that period.

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On average, domestic abuse was reported to police every 16 minutes and sexual offences every two hours.

There were also three domestic homicides – one of the victims was a woman and two were men.

The ministers also announced a Children’s Sexual Offences Legal Advisers (SOLA) scheme, which will provide free legal advice to young people affected by sexual crime, as well as a small grant scheme to support the work provided by the community and voluntary sector.

Ms Long said domestic and sexual abuse “transcended boundaries of gender, age, sexual orientation, and ethnicity”.

“It is insidious and pervading, leaving an indelible mark,” she added.

“Its victims are those who have been directly impacted by it and those who have witnessed it, or who live in its formidable shadow.”

Speaking to The Irish News, Bronagh Muldoon, assistant director of NSPCC NI, highlighted the importance of the Pillar of Partnership.

“I think there is a challenge for society at the moment in terms of the rate of domestic and sexual abuse,” said Ms Muldoon.

“The only way we are going to address that and make sure we take strides to improve things for children and families across Northern Ireland is by working together, the statutory and the voluntary sector.

“It also requires the Executive to prioritise this area of work. It is important it is a cross cutting directorate approach, to enable us to do all that needs to be done to make sure that change is achieved.”

Rhonda Lusty, CEO of Men’s Advisory Project (MAPNI) said it was important to speak about the experiences of men who face domestic abuse.

“31% of domestic abuse crime happens to men in Northern Ireland and we speak on behalf of those families who have lost men to domestic abuse,” said Ms Lusty.

“We were very glad to see that focussed on in the strategy. We must now ask more from our Assembly.

“There is a bit of an empathy gap when we see male victims. We must now also think about how we prevent domestic and sexual violence against men and boys, men and their children.”

Ms Long’s whole speech can be read HERE.