Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched the second phase of the Rape Myths = Real Harm campaign, which aims to challenge harmful misconceptions about rape and sexual violence.

The campaign implements a recommendation from the Gillen Report into serious sexual offences in Northern Ireland, which called on the Department of Justice and Department of Education to draw up plans for an awareness campaign on myths surrounding serious sexual offences through schools, television, radio, outdoor and internet advertising.

Long said the first phase showed the importance of confronting myths, including those about how a person is dressed, their age, sexuality, previous consent, or delay in reporting. She said such myths prevent people from coming forward, allow perpetrators to escape justice, and undermine the criminal justice system.

The second phase features videos of representatives from partner organisations, published on the Department of Justice's social media channels and shared by partners. The first phase, launched in March 2026, included 12 graphics challenging commonly held myths.

Karen Devlin from Women's Aid said survivors often stay silent because they are unsure whether they experienced abuse, particularly when the offender is a partner or someone known and trusted. She said the campaign helps challenge misconceptions and create a culture where survivors feel safer to speak out.