Six-week campaign encouraging victims of sexual violence to speak out launched

A new six-week campaign aimed at encouraging victims of sexual violence to speak out and to highlight supports available has been launched in Ireland.

The 'Always Here' campaign is being run by Cuan, the sexual and gender based violence agency.

It was designed to remind victims that help and support are always there whenever they feel ready to avail of it.

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The website has a number of relevant charities and supports on it as well as a series of information posts about issues such as urgent care services and reporting a crime.

Always Here is a multi-media campaign that will see messages across social media, local and national TV and radio, and on billboards across the country. 

"Central to the Always Here campaign is the message that should someone want to take that difficult step to seek help, from either state agencies such as An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service, state services such as Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs), or from any of the vital organisations in the community and voluntary sector, that they will be listened to, they will be taken seriously and they will be given the support that they need," the website states.

A 2022 Sexual Violence Survey found that an estimated 54% of women and 28% of men would experience sexual violence at some point in their lives. 

Figures from the Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Study show that almost half of all victims do not tell anybody about what happened to them. 

To find out more about the campaign, visit alwayshere.ie.