Published date:
In December 2025 the Commissioner for Victims of Crime Office published research by the Centre for Children's Rights at Queen's University Belfast into the experience of child and adult Victims/Survivors of domestic abuse in the private law family courts in Northern Ireland.
For a long time, victims have told us of the issues they face in the family courts. It is our hope that this important report gives us irrefutable evidence for change. The launch of this report is an important moment – but it is only the beginning.
There is much work to be done to make sure that victims of domestic abuse are seen, valued and protected when they engage with child contact proceedings in the family court.