A new official report, ‘Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Experiences and attitudes of adults in Northern Ireland in 2024’, has been released by The Executive Office today, presenting key statistics on people's personal experiences of gender-based violence, the location of that violence, and how safe people feel in various settings.

The report, which details findings from the 2024 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, establishes a clear gender disparity in both the experience of violence and perceptions of personal safety across the region.

Key Findings from the Report

The data confirms that psychological violence is the most prevalent form of gender-based abuse experienced by adults in Northern Ireland.

• 15% of all respondents reported experiencing psychological violence within the last five years.

• Significantly more female respondents than male respondents reported experiencing both psychological and sexual violence. The location of these experiences varied, with psychological violence frequently occurring in domestic, public, and work environments:

• Nearly half (49%) of respondents who had experienced psychological violence reported that it happened at home.

• 33% reported experiencing it in a public outdoor space.

• 32% reported the experience occurred at work.

Safety Perceptions and Access to Support

While most respondents expressed high levels of safety in some areas, the perception of safety differed starkly depending on gender and location:

• Almost all respondents (99%) reported feeling safe at home, and 85% reported feeling safe online.

• However, a substantial gender gap exists regarding safety after dark: Significantly more male respondents (68%) felt safe after dark in a park or open space compared with female respondents (27%).

• Overall, significantly more male than female respondents reported feeling always safe both during the day and after dark.

The report also highlighted concerns about accessing help: Significantly more female than male respondents felt it would be quite or very difficult to access help and support (36% of females compared to 28% of males).