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Campaign on supports for victims of domestic and sexual violence
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Last updated on
'Always Here’, the awareness raising campaign on pathways to safety and supports available to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence will run over Christmas and into January. This is a time when reports of domestic abuse in particular can increase, and it encourages victims to reach out for help and to report what has happened or is happening to them.
The central message is that when someone takes that brave step to seek help - from state agencies such as An Garda Síochána and the Court Service or from any of the vital organisations in the community and voluntary sectors that work with victims - that they will be listened to, they will be taken seriously and they will be given the support they need.
New figures from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) show that there has been a 9pc increase in the number of contacts to gardai in relation to domestic violence this year. Minister McEntee noted that both domestic violence and sexual violence are crimes that had traditionally been under-reported, and that significant work is being done to increase reporting, including through awareness campaigns.
The Always Here campaign website 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 happens in a criminal trial.