Women’s Policy Group NI Urges Stronger Gender Focus and Clearer Commitments in Draft Victims and Witnesses of Crime Strategy
25 July 2025 — The Women’s Policy Group Northern Ireland (WPG NI) has issued a comprehensive response to the Department of Justice’s Draft Victims and Witnesses of Crime Strategy 2025–2030, calling for a more robust, gender-informed, and actionable approach to supporting victims and witnesses of crime.
The WPG, a coalition of feminist policy experts and practitioners, welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Strategy but expressed serious concerns about its lack of clarity, structure, and gender analysis. The group highlighted that while the Strategy’s vision and mission are broadly appropriate, the absence of concrete policy commitments, timelines, and funding allocations undermines its potential impact.
Key concerns raised by the WPG include:
Lack of Gender Analysis: The Strategy fails to adequately address the disproportionate impact of crimes such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking on women and girls.
Structural Ambiguity: The document’s complex framework—comprising five pillars, four principles, three themes, and fourteen objectives—lacks coherence and practical linkage.
Insufficient Detail on Trauma-Informed Practice: The Strategy references trauma-informed approaches but does not define the model or outline implementation plans.
Neglect of Minority Experiences: The WPG calls for greater attention to the needs of racialised communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled people, and those facing socio-economic deprivation.
The WPG’s response draws on extensive primary research, including the 2023 “After Violence” report, which found that only 27% of women disclosed violence to police and just 9% believed courts take violence against women and girls seriously.
The group also emphasized the need for the Department of Justice to work collaboratively with other government strategies and to lead on improving communication, transparency, and survivor support across the justice system.
The WPG’s full response includes detailed recommendations and references to best practices from international frameworks such as the EU Gender Equality Strategy and the UNODC Doha Declaration.
ENDS
Contact:
Elaine Crory – Women’s Sector Lobbyist
📧 elaine.crory@wrda.net
Meghan Hoyt – Policy Assistant
📧 meghan.hoyt@wrda.net