Write to the Justice Minister: Fully implement the Gillen Review reforms

Survivors of sexual violence deserve a justice system that understands trauma, challenges rape myths, and supports victims through every stage of the legal process.

In 2019, the Gillen Review made important recommendations to improve how serious sexual offence cases are handled in Northern Ireland. Some progress has been made, but key reforms are still outstanding.

Recent high-profile court reporting has shown once again how harmful rape myths can appear in sexual offence trials. Myths such as “real victims report immediately”, “unclear memories mean someone is lying”, or “survivors behave in one particular way” have no place in our justice system. These myths risk influencing how evidence is understood and can cause further harm to victims and survivors.

The Gillen Review recommended that juries should receive clear educational material and judicial direction on rape myths at the beginning of trials. Scotland has already taken steps in this direction. Northern Ireland must now act too.

WRDA is calling on the Minister of Justice, Naomi Long, to bring forward the necessary legislative changes and set out a clear timeline for implementation.

Take action

Please add your name to the letter and send it to the Minister of Justice.

By sending this letter, you will be helping to call for:

• full implementation of the Gillen Review reforms;

• education for juries on rape myths in serious sexual offence trials;

• clear judicial directions to challenge harmful misconceptions;

• a justice system that better supports victims and survivors.

Victims and survivors cannot wait. Help us urge the Minister to act now.