To ask the Minister of Health how his Department is engaging with those with lived experience as part of delivering the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2023-2030.

The development of the new Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2024 – 2031, through the Call for Views in 2022 and the Consultation in 2023, was extensively informed by those with lived experience and the voluntary and community organisations that represent them.

My Department and the Department of Justice are aware that victims and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse are also key to the Strategy’s delivery and are committed to ensuring that their lived experience continues to inform our response. The intention is to both listen and respond, including taking further action where this is considered necessary.

In implementing the strategy, we will engage with those with lived experience, including with the networks that have been established to support work to end violence against women and girls. We will also make available an ongoing survey mechanism through which victims can anonymously provide feedback on the support and services that they have received. Finally, we propose to make best use of the feedback and monitoring mechanisms that service providers already have in place.