RCNI Press Release 24 May 2005
First National Rape Crisis Statistics 2004 launched
The first National Rape Crisis Statistics 2004, launched by An Tánaiste Mary Harney today, showed in stark figures the extent and nature of sexual violence in Ireland and the increasing demands made upon front line services. 15 Rape Crisis Centres received 45,000 calls last year.
Rape crisis centres (RCCs) saw an estimated 2,289 survivors face to face for support and on-going counselling in 2004.
Executive Director Fiona Neary stressed the importance of this new national data in informing all work on sexual violence in Ireland.
Todays statistics showed: Over fifty per cent of people coming to RCCs had suffered child sexual abuse, this figure includes rape of children under 18. 34% reported rape in adult life. 2% reported drug assisted assault and 0.4 % of cases involved ritual abuse.
Only 2.1% of the sexual violence reported by survivors occurred in an institutional setting, with 97.9% of incidents occurring within the community and family. In the case of those who were raped, pregnancy was known to occur in a small number of cases.
Male relatives were by far the most common abuser in the case of child victims (53.8%). Of that category: 34% were brothers, 31% were fathers, 18% were uncles and 11% were cousins.
For adult victims of sexual violence, friends and acquaintances were the principle perpetrators (32%). Very significantly, male partners and ex partners accounted for 22% of perpetrators. Male relatives still accounted for 11% of perpetrators for adult victims.
In the case of Refugees and asylum seekers 71.8% of perpetrators were from the security forces.
97% of perpetrators were male.
Survivors coming to RCCs reported to the gardai siochana in 20% of cases. This is a higher rate of reporting than was found in the SAVI report which found the rate of reporting for all survivors to be less than 10%. It is important to note that only 12% of women and men who experience sexual violence in Ireland contact a counselling or support agency.
89% of survivors attending RCCs were female.
The RCNI specifically drew attention to teenagers, people with disabilities and members of the Traveller Community who are experiencing sexual violence and for whom services are not adequately accessible or available.
6.8% of survivors were refugees and asylum seekers. 1% were survivors from the Traveller community. 4.4% of survivors had a disability.
RCCs also assist survivors’ supporters. In the majority of cases (28.8%) the supporters were daughters of the survivors. 17% were mothers, 14% were other relatives. 13% were male partners and ex partners.
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.
• 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.
For further information please contact Cliona Saidlear on 087 2196447
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