The Department of Justice has begun the second phase of its public awareness drive, unveiled on 10 September 2026, to challenge beliefs that discourage victims from seeking help and that can hinder justice.

Developed alongside organisations that support survivors, the latest phase draws on frontline expertise to highlight the realities of rape and the impact of harmful myths.

Naomi Long said: "Today, I am proud to announce the next phase of Rape Myths = Real Harm campaign.

"The first phase of this campaign showed just how important it is that we, as a society, confront the myths that surround rape and sexual violence.

"The way a person is dressed, their age or sexuality, whether they have consented to sexual activity previously, perhaps a victim doesn't report an attack straight away; these are just some of the myths this campaign is seeking to address.

"I am pleased that organisations – those working every day with victims, survivors and communities, have lent their voices to the campaign. These organisations see first-hand the real harm that rape myths cause — the shame, the self-blame, the silence.

"Their voices carry enormous weight, and I am grateful to each of them for their commitment to this campaign.

"Rape myths cause real harm. They prevent people from coming forward, they allow perpetrators to escape justice, and they undermine our entire criminal justice system.

"Together, we can shatter them."

Short videos featuring representatives from partner organisations will run on the Department's social media channels and will be amplified by the partners through their own platforms. This phase builds on the initial stage launched in March 2026, when 12 graphics debunking widely held myths about sexual offending were shared extensively on social media.

Joanne Barnes, Nexus CEO, said: "Myths about sexual violence can cause real harm to survivors - making them doubt their own experiences or feel afraid to come forward.

"At Nexus NI, we see this every day in our work supporting individuals with lived experience. This campaign is an important step in challenging those myths and helping people understand what consent really means.

"We're proud to support this second phase which seeks to ensure a better understanding of sexual offences across our society."

Karen Devlin from Women's Aid said: "Domestic abuse and sexual violence are still too often misunderstood, and this can have a profound impact on survivors.

"Survivors tell us they have stayed silent because they were unsure whether what they experienced was abuse or sexual violence, particularly when the person who harmed them was a partner or someone they knew and trusted.

"At Women's Aid, we want every survivor to know you are not to blame for what happened to you.

"Abuse and sexual violence are never the survivor's fault, whatever the circumstances or relationship. Every survivor's experience matters, and everyone deserves to be heard, believed and supported.

"This campaign is helping to challenge misconceptions, raise awareness, and create a culture where survivors feel safer to speak about their experiences, and we're pleased to play our part in sharing this message."

According to the Department, last year 4,360 sexual crimes were reported to the Police Service of Northern Ireland: 1,690 from women, 2,238 from children and 326 from men. Over the same period, 1,081 arrests were made, resulting in 297 charges — a 3% increase in arrests compared with 2024.