Chief Human Rights’ Commissioner for Northern Ireland, Alyson Kilpatrick , and Marie Brown, chief executive of Foyle Women’s Aid) were among the board members of the new Family Justice Centre
Based on a US model, the centre will provide a multiagency and multidisciplinary service to help victims and survivors.
It has been developed to reduce the stress and trauma suffered by victims by having to retell their stories.
The centre also makes it easier for victims and survivors to access services, thereby providing greater safety.
Domestic abuse incidents occur, on average, every 16 minutes in Northern Ireland while victims have to repeat their stories on average 27 times before obtaining necessary help.
The new Foyle Family Justice Centre (FFJC) was opened with an official launch at the Guildhall on Thursday.
District Judge Barney McElholm said the new centre was the culmination of years of hard work, particularly by Foyle Women’s Aid.
Judge McElholm said: “The centre will be a shining beacon in the darkness of the lives of so many silently suffering victims of domestic abuse.”
Marie Brown, chief executive of Foyle Women’s Aid, said the centre would house representatives of more than 20 agencies.
Ms Brown, who is also head of the new centre, said it would remove barriers in providing help for domestic and sexual abuse victims.
“The centre is a place where agencies come together and families come first,” she said.
Chief Human Rights’ Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick said the centre would ensure domestic and sexual abuse were dealt with as a “grave human rights’ violation”.
“This is good for victims and the authorities charged with protecting them,” Ms Kilpatrick said.
The official opening was also addressed by Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan, PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony McNally and Dr Chan Hellman from the Hope Research Centre in the US.
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