The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has launched a new stream of the ‘Always Here’ awareness campaign to inform and reassure victims and survivors of sexual violence that help is always available when they are ready to seek support.
Central to the campaign is the message that ‘You’re Not Alone’. Should a victim/survivor want to take that difficult step to seek help, whether from Cuan-funded organisations in the community and voluntary sector, state agencies or Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs), they will be listened to, taken seriously and will receive the support they need.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said,
“We know the importance of criminal justice, of strong legislation, of improving policy, and of a coordinated approach in our work to combat sexual violence.
“But a fundamental priority will always be to ensure that victims and survivors feel encouraged and empowered to speak out about their experience, and to seek support.
“Figures from the CSO Sexual Violence Study found that almost half of those – women and men – who had experienced sexual violence did not tell anyone else what had happened to them. We need to do better, we need to tell victims that they are not alone, that there are supports available, and that they will be heard. This new campaign that I am honoured to launch will go a long way in conveying this important message.”
The Always Here campaign website – alwayshere.ie – has information on national helplines for both men and women subjected to domestic and sexual violence. It has an interactive map where people can find local services in their county. It also has information on supports for people who are under 18, and for older people and those with disabilities, as well as practical information on how to make a safety plan or what to expect in a criminal trial.
This new strand of the multimedia campaign will run nationally over the coming six weeks across TV, national and local radio, digital and social media, and will be complimented by a major out-of-home campaign on billboards and digital screens throughout Ireland.
Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan, said,
“This campaign was made to help victims find the available support services. Victims and survivors are not alone. Help and support is always here for them.
“Raising awareness and informing the general public of existing services is one piece of the puzzle in efforts to prevent sexual violence. It is strongly interlinked with other preventive measures that must be taken as part of a comprehensive response.”
Alongside public awareness campaigns, another core element of Cuan’s remit is promoting research on DSGBV.
Today’s campaign launch coincides with the publication of a new literature review, Measuring the Prevalence of Adult Sexual Violence in Ireland: A Review of Irish and International Literature. This review, undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) as part of a research programme with Cuan, underscores the need for careful and standardised measurement of sexual violence prevalence in Ireland.
Dr. Elish Kelly, lead author of the report, said,
“The 2022 Sexual Violence Survey in Ireland estimated the lifetime prevalence of sexual violence to be 52 per cent among women and 28 per cent among men. Over 20 years ago, similar levels were reported in the SAVI report.
“However, comparisons of sexual violence rates over time are found to be complicated by differences in definitions and measurement approaches. It is important to consider these issues when examining sexual violence prevalence rates and when developing future surveys examining sexual, or any type of gender-based, violence.”
The current burst of Always Here will run until early November 2025 with further bursts of the campaign to run in 2026.
The new Cuan-funded ESRI literature review Measuring the Prevalence of Adult Sexual Violence in Ireland: A Review of Irish and International Literature is now available on the ESRI website and on [gov.ie/cuan]gov.ie/cuan.