The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, today launched the latest strand of the Always Here multimedia campaign to reassure victims and survivors of sexual violence that support is ready whenever they choose to seek it.
Central to the campaign is the mantra “You’re Not Alone,” directing survivors to alwayshere.ie. The website lists 24/7 national helplines for men and women, features an interactive county-by-county map of community and state support services—including Sexual Assault Treatment Units—and provides tailored guidance for under-18s, older adults and people with disabilities, plus advice on safety planning and what to expect in court.
Over the next six weeks, messages will run nationally on television, radio, digital and social media, alongside billboards and digital out-of-home posters. The push is designed to intersect private moments—late-night social media scrolling, bathroom visits or commutes—with discreet reminders that help is within reach.
Minister O’Callaghan emphasised the gap in disclosure: nearly half of victims in the CSO’s 2022 Sexual Violence Study never told anyone about their experience. “We need to do better,” he said. “Victims must know they will be heard, believed and supported, whether by Cuan-funded community services, State agencies or An Garda Síochána”.
The launch coincides with publication of an ESRI-authored literature review, Measuring the Prevalence of Adult Sexual Violence in Ireland, funded by Cuan. The report highlights that 52 per cent of women and 28 per cent of men in Ireland have experienced sexual violence, and underscores the importance of consistent definitions and methodologies in future prevalence surveys.
