AQW 7171/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 21/02/2024
Answered On Date: 20/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether an evaluation has been carried out into their Department's work relating to victims who are not members of a particular victims group.

Answer:

Since the publication of the Hart report in 2017, the focus has been on implementing the recommendations of the HIA Inquiry to ensure that victims and survivors get access to the support, services and redress that they deserve. Throughout this work, we have been conscious that many victims and survivors are not involved with groups. While there has been no formal evaluation of the Department’s work relating to victims who are not members of a representative group, there have been concerted efforts to ensure engagement with as wide a range of victims and survivors as possible.

Officials have engaged with the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA), the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS), and community partners to use their existing channels and relationships to raise awareness of redress and support services.

In March 2023, TEO commenced a sensitive campaign to raise awareness of the advice, support services and financial compensation that is available to victims and survivors.

This campaign is aimed at those victims and survivors who we have not yet managed to reach, including those who are not members of a particular victims’ groups. The campaign has included advertisements in newspapers and on social media, the distribution of posters to relevant organisations, doctors’ surgeries, benefit offices and court services, and a leaflet drop to every household.

COSICA sought to support the TEO campaign by undertaking a separate parallel initiative to raise awareness among victims and survivors living in other jurisdictions.