RCNI Press Release 10 November 2006
RCNI launch child protection document at AGM
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) on Friday evening at their AGM in Sligo, launched, Agenda for Justice II: Delivering on the Promise of Child Protection which outlines the RCNI position on key issues and makes recommendations towards improving child protection in Ireland.
Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director stated, ‘alongside the work of the Joint Committee on Child Protection, it is vital that all of society remains engaged with furthering knowledge of child abuse. An aware society is a pre-requisite in prevention of further sexual violence against children. Wider informed debate on the recommendations and questions we raise in Agenda for Justice II, can contribute to the changes necessary, not simply at a legislative level but at all levels of our communities and society.
In the run up to the next general election we will be especially interested to see how addressing Sexual Violence is considered and committed to in the Programmes for Government put forward by our political leaders.’
Kate Mulkerrins, RCNI legal Coordinator said, ‘we saw the strength of the feelings expressed by the public over the past summer. Translating those feelings into real and meaningful change is our challenge. This document represents the RCNI’s commitment to our participation in that process.’
There are three key issues we would like to promote at this point in the debate as there has been little focus on them to date:
1. The need to require any defence of a mistaken belief in consent to be an objectively reasonable one. It is deeply unbalanced to have a set of laws which depend only on the interpretation of the defendant without being able to say that this interpretation was reasonable or not given social norms and the victim’s own thoughts, beliefs or actions.
2. The discretion of the DPP in prosecuting cases or not must be open to public scrutiny if we are to rely upon it. The RCNI are against criminalising peer sexual activity where factual, if not legal, consent is present. However, the most suitable mechanism to adjudicate on this, the DPP’s office, is currently unacceptable as it operate under a veil of secrecy. The DPP’s office should be open to independent scrutiny.
3. The lack of knowledge we have in Ireland about social attitudes and beliefs around sex, sexual health, relationships and sexual violence means we can never realistically effect prevention. The RCNI are urging the government to invest adequately in a regular social attitudes survey designed to uncover and track changes in the attitudes which facilitate and gives the green light to perpetrators while silencing and shaming victims.
The RCNI took a number of positions on other key points:
• That the age of consent should remain at 17. The recent government sexual health survey, we feel vindicates this position as it revealed the median age for first sex for young people in Ireland is 17.
• Called for a Constitutional referendum to reinstate statutory rape provisions at a younger age.
• Called for a review the Incest Act 1908.
• Called for the criminalisation of ‘passive’ forms of child sexual abuse, to more fully recognise and respond to grooming and harm which may not involve forced contact.
• That the right of the defendant to personally cross examine their alleged victim in cases of sexual violence should be abolished.
• Called for increased penalties for non-compliance with the Sex Offenders Act 2001 allowing Gardaí to effectively police same.
• That a range of special measures necessary to protect vulnerable witnesses from abuse in our courtrooms should be permitted and made available.
• Called for the standardisation of the delivery of comprehensive sex education in our schools.
• That public awareness raising campaigns to educate people about the law and to challenge misperceptions which increase the risk of sexual violence in our society should be put in place.
• Called for a Constitutional referendum to enshrine the rights of the child
• That specialist Gardaí should be appointed, trained and resourced.
• That specially trained victim liaison Gardaí be appointed in every case of sexual violence.
• That specialist prosecutors be appointed, trained and resourced.
• Called for appropriately resourced pre-release risk assessment of sex offenders to facilitate suitable post-release supervision.
• That national notification procedures should be effectively implemented.
Notes:
• The RCNI is the national forum of Rape Crisis Centres, which provides a strong voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change to end rape and all forms of sexual violence.
• Agenda for Justice II Delivering on Child Protection will be available on www.rcni.ie/public.htm
For information contact:
Cliona Saidlear 087 2196447
……………..End…………………
Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director stated, ‘alongside the work of the Joint Committee on Child Protection, it is vital that all of society remains engaged with furthering knowledge of child abuse. An aware society is a pre-requisite in prevention of further sexual violence against children. Wider informed debate on the recommendations and questions we raise in Agenda for Justice II, can contribute to the changes necessary, not simply at a legislative level but at all levels of our communities and society.
In the run up to the next general election we will be especially interested to see how addressing Sexual Violence is considered and committed to in the Programmes for Government put forward by our political leaders.’
Kate Mulkerrins, RCNI legal Coordinator said, ‘we saw the strength of the feelings expressed by the public over the past summer. Translating those feelings into real and meaningful change is our challenge. This document represents the RCNI’s commitment to our participation in that process.’
There are three key issues we would like to promote at this point in the debate as there has been little focus on them to date:
1. The need to require any defence of a mistaken belief in consent to be an objectively reasonable one. It is deeply unbalanced to have a set of laws which depend only on the interpretation of the defendant without being able to say that this interpretation was reasonable or not given social norms and the victim’s own thoughts, beliefs or actions.
2. The discretion of the DPP in prosecuting cases or not must be open to public scrutiny if we are to rely upon it. The RCNI are against criminalising peer sexual activity where factual, if not legal, consent is present. However, the most suitable mechanism to adjudicate on this, the DPP’s office, is currently unacceptable as it operate under a veil of secrecy. The DPP’s office should be open to independent scrutiny.
3. The lack of knowledge we have in Ireland about social attitudes and beliefs around sex, sexual health, relationships and sexual violence means we can never realistically effect prevention. The RCNI are urging the government to invest adequately in a regular social attitudes survey designed to uncover and track changes in the attitudes which facilitate and gives the green light to perpetrators while silencing and shaming victims.
The RCNI took a number of positions on other key points:
• That the age of consent should remain at 17. The recent government sexual health survey, we feel vindicates this position as it revealed the median age for first sex for young people in Ireland is 17.
• Called for a Constitutional referendum to reinstate statutory rape provisions at a younger age.
• Called for a review the Incest Act 1908.
• Called for the criminalisation of ‘passive’ forms of child sexual abuse, to more fully recognise and respond to grooming and harm which may not involve forced contact.
• That the right of the defendant to personally cross examine their alleged victim in cases of sexual violence should be abolished.
• Called for increased penalties for non-compliance with the Sex Offenders Act 2001 allowing Gardaí to effectively police same.
• That a range of special measures necessary to protect vulnerable witnesses from abuse in our courtrooms should be permitted and made available.
• Called for the standardisation of the delivery of comprehensive sex education in our schools.
• That public awareness raising campaigns to educate people about the law and to challenge misperceptions which increase the risk of sexual violence in our society should be put in place.
• Called for a Constitutional referendum to enshrine the rights of the child
• That specialist Gardaí should be appointed, trained and resourced.
• That specially trained victim liaison Gardaí be appointed in every case of sexual violence.
• That specialist prosecutors be appointed, trained and resourced.
• Called for appropriately resourced pre-release risk assessment of sex offenders to facilitate suitable post-release supervision.
• That national notification procedures should be effectively implemented.
Notes:
• The RCNI is the national forum of Rape Crisis Centres, which provides a strong voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change to end rape and all forms of sexual violence.
• Agenda for Justice II Delivering on Child Protection will be available on www.rcni.ie/public.htm
For information contact:
Cliona Saidlear 087 2196447
……………..End…………………
Rape Crisis Network Ireland, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway, Ireland
Registered in Dublin, Ireland Company Reg.: 363350 Charity No.: 13236
091 563676
091 563677
Registered in Dublin, Ireland Company Reg.: 363350 Charity No.: 13236
