To ask the Minister of Justice to detail her Department's work to dispel rape myths in the justice system.

My Department is leading a cross sectoral working group to inform work to implement Sir John Gillen’s recommendation for a campaign to raise awareness on the myths surrounding serious sexual offences, including dispelling rape myths. Work to gather information to scope and inform the campaign is ongoing, with the campaign launch anticipated early next year.

In addition, my Department has provided the PSNI with part funding for the development of a campaign aimed at enhancing awareness of the law and procedures in sexual offences across marginalised communities. This campaign will also include content aimed at dispelling rape myths.

However the challenge of dispelling rape myths and encouraging healthy relationships goes much wider than my Department. The Department of Education must play a key role in delivering consistent and uniform Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in our schools. This is critical to dispelling myths surrounding serious sexual offences and to give children and young people the information and tools they need to understand healthy relationships, make informed decisions and protect themselves. More effective RSE will also contribute to reducing the risk of them becoming offenders.

I met with the former Education Minister on 11 March to discuss how he planned to take forward work to improve the provision of RSE in our schools. He gave a commitment that his Department would lead cross-sectoral work to look at improving the provision of RSE, including a review of the Minimum Content Order.

I am pleased to note that a group has now been established to take this work forward and my Department has arranged a number of workshops to enable officials from the Department of Education to listen to the views of stakeholders. I hope to discuss progress with the new Minister for Education in due course.