RCNI Press Release 21 May 2007
Statutory Rape Crisis - one year on - still no referendum
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) today mark the first anniversary of the Statutory Rape Crisis to remind both politicians and the public that we still have not given young people in Ireland back the protection from sexual exploitation that they lost in May of last year. The RCNI call for all parties to commit to holding the Child Protection Referendum as a matter of priority before Christmas.
Across the country Rape Crisis Centres will be remembering this anniversary and marking the event locally. In addition the RCNI will be marking the event on O’Connell Street in Dublin in front of the GPO between 7am and 11am. Full visual symbol expected to be completed by 9:30.
Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director said, ‘it is with regret that we find ourselves facing the first anniversary of the statutory rape crisis with the damage not reversed. Children and young people in Ireland are still exposed to a weakened defence against sexual predators. We call on politicians across the board to commit to a priority timeframe for the holding of the constitutional referendum on child protection. We hope that the public, once given the opportunity by the government in a referendum, will ensure that this is the last anniversary we have to mark.’
Kate Mulkerrins, RCNI Legal Coordinator said, ‘this time last year the Supreme Court found that ‘strict liability’ in statutory rape legislation was unconstitutional. This law, which for 70 years had provided a ‘no excuses, no exceptions’ protection shielding the very young from sexual exploitation, was swept away. The resultant damage could not and was not fixed by the enactment of the emergency legislation (Sexual Offences Act 2006), as the Minister for Justice acknowledged it could not without the necessary constitutional change.
We still await the necessary constitutional referendum.
While we wait:
- we have witnessed a halving of the number of reports of such offences to the Gardai.
children and young people may now be subjected to the same type of savage adversarial cross examination as adult rape complainants. We know from the child psychology experts who reported to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection this can inflict damage which may have severe and permanent ill effects on that child.
- we need to give children back the protection they deserve. We need to rebuild the zone of strict liability cloaking our young people in protection from predatory sexual attention. We start to do that by removing a ‘mistake’ as to age as a potential defence.
Across the country Rape Crisis Centres will be remembering this anniversary and marking the event locally. In addition the RCNI will be marking the event on O’Connell Street in Dublin in front of the GPO between 7am and 11am. Full visual symbol expected to be completed by 9:30.
Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director said, ‘it is with regret that we find ourselves facing the first anniversary of the statutory rape crisis with the damage not reversed. Children and young people in Ireland are still exposed to a weakened defence against sexual predators. We call on politicians across the board to commit to a priority timeframe for the holding of the constitutional referendum on child protection. We hope that the public, once given the opportunity by the government in a referendum, will ensure that this is the last anniversary we have to mark.’
Kate Mulkerrins, RCNI Legal Coordinator said, ‘this time last year the Supreme Court found that ‘strict liability’ in statutory rape legislation was unconstitutional. This law, which for 70 years had provided a ‘no excuses, no exceptions’ protection shielding the very young from sexual exploitation, was swept away. The resultant damage could not and was not fixed by the enactment of the emergency legislation (Sexual Offences Act 2006), as the Minister for Justice acknowledged it could not without the necessary constitutional change.
We still await the necessary constitutional referendum.
While we wait:
- we have witnessed a halving of the number of reports of such offences to the Gardai.
children and young people may now be subjected to the same type of savage adversarial cross examination as adult rape complainants. We know from the child psychology experts who reported to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection this can inflict damage which may have severe and permanent ill effects on that child.
- we need to give children back the protection they deserve. We need to rebuild the zone of strict liability cloaking our young people in protection from predatory sexual attention. We start to do that by removing a ‘mistake’ as to age as a potential defence.
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.
- Hardiman J. delivered the judgment on behalf of the entire Supreme Court on 23rd may 2006.
- The Central Statistics Office figures released 25th April 2007 show a 47.4% fall in reports of ‘unlawful carnal knowledge’ compared to the previous year.
For information contact:
Cliona Saidlear 087 2196447
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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
