Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse, Fiona Ryan, has launched a new awareness initiative to reach Northern Ireland victims and survivors of non-recent/historical institutional childhood abuse.
The initiative aims to raise awareness among victims and survivors about their rights and entitlements to support, services and financial redress compensation if they suffered or witnessed any form of abuse as a child under 18 years in an institution in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995.
The awareness initiative comes at a time when the Redress Scheme, which was set up to provide financial compensation for victims and survivors, enters its final weeks and will close to all applications, without exception, on 2 April 2025.
Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse, Fiona Ryan, said:
“I am conscious that there may be Northern Ireland victims and survivors of non-recent/historical institutional child abuse who may not be aware of available support, including dedicated services provided by the Victims and Survivors Service, or how to apply for financial redress compensation through the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board. I am mindful that victims and survivors who have left Northern Ireland may be at particular risk of not being aware of their entitlements.
My hope is that through our awareness raising initiative, my Office can reach victims and survivors who are unaware or unsure of their entitlements and provide them with the information they need to make informed choices about accessing support, services or financial redress compensation.”
If you suffered abuse as a child under 18 years while resident in an institution in Northern Ireland (for example a children’s home, borstal or training school) between 1922 and 1995 inclusive and/or were sent to Australia under the Child Migrant Programme, then you may be eligible to apply for support services and/or compensation.
You can talk to the Office of the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse in complete confidence on 028 9054 4985 (+44 28 9054 4985 if dialling internationally) or by email info@cosica-ni.org.