AQW 27189/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Justice

To ask the Minister of Justice to detail what plans she has to raise public awareness around upskirting and other forms of image-based sexual abuse.

Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 15 May 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
15 May 2025
Answer due by
2 June 2025
Answered
27 May 202512 days after tabling
Department
Department of Justice
Priority question
No

Answer

A dedicated public awareness campaign to promote the introduction of the up-skirting offence, as well as the other new intimate-image based offences of down-blousing and cyber-flashing, was carried out by the Department from November 2023 to the end of March 2024.

This formed part of the wider communication and promotional strategy which was used to deliver implementation of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, in which the three offences are contained. Promotion was extended across a range of social media platforms, as well outdoor placement advertising, to coincide with commencement of the new offences.

I continue to keep potential further public awareness raising exercises in this area under review.

Official sources