A new support service for victims of survivors of institutional abuse has been "a long time coming", a victims' group has said.
Launched yesterday it will offer health and wellbeing support, welfare advice, social support and talking therapies.
It will be run by the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS), which looks after victims of the Troubles.
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First Minister Arlene Foster said the service marked "a further step in the implementation of the Hart recommendations".
In 2017, the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIA), chaired by the late Sir Anthony Hart, exposed serious sexual, physical and emotional abuse at children's homes run by religious orders, charities and the state across Northern Ireland between 1922 to 1995.
It made a series of recommendations, including compensation, a public apology and better support for victims.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "We cannot undo the wrongs of the past, but we will do what we can to address the impact of that damage."
The support service will be based in Belfast and will cover victims across the north.
Chief executive of the VSS, Margaret Bateson, said: "Over the last number of months, we have had the privilege to engage with survivors of HIA to ensure that this service has been co-designed and led by them.
"We will continue to listen, learn and adapt as these services are rolled out."
Margaret McGuckin, of Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse, said the new support service was "a long time coming".
"Too many people have passed away before they could receive any type of service or care package," she said.
"It's been a fight every step of the way - for the institutional abuse inquiry, for its recommendations to be implemented, for the legislation to pass through Westminster."
She questioned why services had been long established for victims of the Troubles, while survivors of institutional abuse had to wait.
"This is something which should have been done long ago," she said.
The first permanent historical institutional abuse commissioner, Fiona Ryan, will take up her post on December 14 after interim advocate Brendan McAllister steps down.
Meanwhile, a report into the north's mother and baby homes and Magdalene laundries has been delayed again until next year.
The report was due to be published by the end of this year. Research into the homes was considered by an inter-departmental working group in May.
The institutions named in the report have been given a right of reply, as is standard practice.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "A representations process is nearing conclusion and as a result work is underway to make changes to the report. It was anticipated throughout that changes to the report may be required following the representations process.
"Following the conclusion of the representations process, the report along with recommendations for next steps will be brought to the Northern Ireland Executive. Subject to the necessary approvals, it is intended that the report will be published in early 2021."
