Sugden says “Support for survivors must be a priority — in every community, for every woman.”

Claire Sugden MLA has called for a coordinated and adequately funded response to sexual violence in Northern Ireland, urging the Executive to ensure that survivors have access to the right support, regardless of where they live or whether they report to police. Marking Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the East Derry MLA said government must do more to back up the work of frontline organisations and protect women and girls.

“Every day in Northern Ireland, women are being assaulted, abused, or living with the long-term trauma of past experiences.  Some come forward. Many don’t. But every survivor deserves to be supported — with timely access to therapy, advocacy, and safe spaces to recover.”

“Charities and community groups are doing incredible work supporting victims, often on limited budgets, and they are a lifeline for so many women. But they need the right funding and long-term support from government to keep going. This can’t be left to the voluntary sector alone.”

She also highlighted the additional barriers for women and girls in rural areas like East Derry. “When support is only available in cities and towns, it means rural victims are left isolated. That’s not acceptable. We need to make sure services — and funding — reflect the needs of every community, not just those closest to Belfast.”

“We also need to educate our young people — not just about the law, but about respect, boundaries, and consent. That’s how we start to shift attitudes and prevent this from happening in the first place. Everyone has a role to play — Justice, Health, Education. Supporting victims is a shared responsibility, and we must do better.”