Sexual abuse relies on stigma and fear to remain hidden, Justice Minister tells Belfast conference

Justice Minister Naomi Long pictured with Nexus NI CEO Joanne Barnes at the annual conference of charity Nexus NI, which works with survivors of abuse, and which this year had the theme ‘Unmasking sexual abuse – uncomfortable truths’.

Justice Minister Naomi Long has said that sexual abuse continues to thrive in silence, secrecy and discomfort, warning that confronting it requires sustained action from everyone across society.

The Minister was speaking in Belfast at the annual conference of Nexus NI, the leading charity supporting survivors of sexual abuse and abusive relationships in Northern Ireland.

This year’s conference, held at St Comgall’s in west Belfast, carried the theme ‘Unmasking sexual abuse – uncomfortable truths’.

Addressing delegates during Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week, Ms Long paid tribute to the charity’s work supporting victims and survivors across the region.

“Thank you to Nexus NI for the vital work they do in supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse across Northern Ireland,” she said.

“The theme of today’s conference, ‘Unmasking sexual abuse – uncomfortable truths’, speaks directly to the reality of this issue. Sexual abuse thrives in silence, secrecy and discomfort. It relies on stigma, fear and misunderstanding to remain hidden.”

Listening to survivors must be the foundation

The Justice Minister said tackling sexual abuse requires honesty and collective responsibility, even when that means challenging institutions and long-held assumptions.

“Confronting it requires sustained action from all of us — even when that means facing truths that challenge institutions, systems and long-held assumptions,” she said.

“Too often, survivors have had to fight to be heard. We must ensure that listening to survivors is not an exception, but the foundation of everything we do.”

Ms Long also stressed that addressing sexual violence must go beyond responding after harm has occurred, placing a strong emphasis on prevention and cultural change.

“Addressing sexual violence is not only about responding after harm has occurred, but about preventing it in the first place by challenging attitudes, behaviours and social norms that allow abuse to happen,” she said.

“This requires long-term cultural change. That means investing in education around consent, respect and healthy relationships and ensuring that prevention reaches people at every stage of life.”

Call for cross-party cooperation

The Minister highlighted the need for political cooperation to strengthen protections for survivors and improve accountability across systems.

“There are real opportunities — and responsibilities — for us to work together across political divides to strengthen protections, improve accountability and deliver meaningful change,” she said.

“Survivors deserve consistency, not conflict, when it comes to their safety and their rights.”

Human stories at the heart of the conference

The interactive conference brought together people with lived experience alongside professionals and policymakers, with the aim of deepening understanding and strengthening responses to sexual abuse across Northern Ireland.

The programme included lived experience stories and personal testimonies, bringing the realities of sexual abuse into the open in a deeply human way. These were complemented by expert-led workshops offering trauma-informed and survivor-centred strategies for professionals working in the field.

Joanne Barnes, CEO of Nexus NI, said the conference was about creating space for difficult but necessary conversations.

“At Nexus NI, we believe that real change begins when we confront uncomfortable truths,” she said.

“This conference is about amplifying voices that have too often been silenced and creating space for honest dialogue between those with lived experience, professionals and policymakers.

“Together, we can build a society where sexual abuse is not hidden and where support and justice are accessible to all.”

Support available

Nexus NI is the leading organisation in Northern Ireland supporting individuals impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. The charity provides support to anyone impacted by sexual abuse from age 8 and upwards. More information is available at: https://nexusni.org/get-support/

Anyone impacted by abusive relationships or domestic abuse can access support through the 24/7 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, by emailing help@dsahelpline.org, or via https://dsahelpline.org.

The helpline is also available to anyone in need of immediate support before making a referral to Nexus, or while waiting for Nexus support to begin.