Debate contribution: Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2024-2031
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 14 October 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Question for Urgent Oral Answer
- Heading
- Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2024-2031
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4590095
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I start by offering my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mary Ward, who recently lost her life under horrific circumstances, becoming the fourth woman to be killed here in just six weeks. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the other three woman — Montserrat Martorell, Sophie Watson and Rachel Simpson — who tragically lost their lives in recent months, as well as to all those who have lost loved ones due to the actions of another. The profound and traumatic impact of those untimely deaths on their families and friends is indescribable. We fully recognise that Northern Ireland can be a dangerous place for women, as shown by the troubling statistics on domestic and sexual abuse (DSA). That is exactly why the new domestic and sexual abuse strategy was developed: to address these deeply concerning issues. Although such instances are appalling, they are, unfortunately, not new challenges in this context. The aim of the new strategy is to ensure that domestic and sexual abuse is not tolerated in Northern Ireland and that everyone can be safe and free from fear. The clear message is that domestic and sexual abuse is everyone's business and that each and every one of us has a role to play in preventing and tackling it. There are also clear, strong interdependencies with the strategic framework on ending violence against women and girls. We must recognise that violence perpetrated against women and girls is not restricted just to situations of domestic and sexual abuse but can involve wider issues, reinforcing the need for the Executive's strategic framework on ending violence against women and girls in parallel with the domestic and sexual abuse strategy. That having been said, we are acutely aware that women and girls are disproportionately affected by domestic and sexual abuse, which is why the Department of Justice and Department of Health officials worked closely with colleagues in the Executive Office, who lead on the ending violence against women and girls strategy, to ensure that efforts are aligned. Given the urgent nature of the question, there has not been the opportunity for a discussion to take place on whether changes are required to the domestic and sexual abuse strategy. However, it is important to note the recency of its publication and to recognise that it was carefully designed alongside subject-matter experts and those with lived experience to address the needs of all victims and to hold perpetrators to account. The strategy is built around five pillars: partnership; prevention; children and young people; support and provision; and justice. Those are the areas that stakeholders considered that we need to focus our efforts on in order to lever the biggest change. A number of actions will be taken forward under those pillars over the lifetime of the strategy. The integrated performance framework will enable progress to be monitored and efforts to be refocused, if needs be. It is worth reemphasising that tackling domestic and sexual abuse is everyone's business. These issues cannot be eradicated by any single Department alone. Indeed, they require a whole-of-society approach, with collaboration across government, public services and communities.
523 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.68).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.99).
- Subject area: Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.68 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.99 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.01 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.55 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.45 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:20 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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