Victims and Survivors

The Victims and Survivors Unit works to raise awareness of, and co-ordinate activity on, issues affecting victims and survivors of our troubled past across the devolved administration and throughout Northern Ireland in general.

Commissioner for Victims and Survivors

The Executive Office is seeking to appoint a Commissioner for Victims and Survivors who is vital in promoting the interests of victims and survivors and giving them a strong independent voice.

Visit the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors page for more information.

Our aim

To ensure that the rights and needs of victims and survivors are given a high priority.

The unit has oversight responsibility for the Commission for Victims and Survivors and the Victims and Survivors Service.

Commission for Victims and Survivors

The Commission for Victims and Survivors was established to address the needs of all victims and survivors by ensuring excellent service provision, acknowledging the legacy of the past and building for a better future. The principal aim of the Commission is to promote the interests of victims and survivors. The Commission is responsible for providing advice to Government on matters affecting victims and survivors.

The Commission is accountable to the Executive Office in terms of its procedures, activities, and financial responsibilities.

For more information please visit the Commission for Victims and Survivors website.

Victims and Survivors Service

The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) is the delivery body for the Strategy for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles/Conflict 2024/2034.The VSS was established to consolidate the provision of support and funding for victims and survivors. The aim of the VSS is to coordinate service delivery and funding to meet the needs of individual victims and survivors, ensuring that these services are provided at the appropriate standard. VSS delivers funding to individuals and organisations through two main programmes – the Individual Needs Programme (INP) and the Victims Support Programme (VSP).

The VSS is accountable to the Executive Office in terms of its procedures, activities, and financial responsibilities.

For more information please visit the Victims and Survivors Service website.

New Strategy for Victims and Survivors

The Executive Office has launched a new Strategy for Victims and Survivors.

The new strategy will ensure the right trauma informed and victim centred services are in place to empower and support victims and survivors and contribute to building a shared and peaceful future. It also sets out the specific areas relating to victims and survivors which will require particular focus during the period of the strategy.

A copy of the new Strategy can be accessed on the Strategy for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles/Conflict 2024-2034 page.