Entries by comms-rcni

Breaking the Silence: Preventing Sexual Violence against Children: shared purpose, shared language 

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Preventing Sexual Violence against Children: shared purpose, shared language   On Tuesday 22 February, Rape Crisis Network Ireland launched ‘Breaking the Silence: Terminology Guidelines for Data Collection on Sexual Violence against Children’ at an online event featuring contributions from Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth Roderick O’Gorman, Biljana Brankovic, member of GREVIO, the independent expert body […]

Rape Crisis Network Ireland Welcomes Consultation on the Third National DSGBV Strategy

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RCNI welcomes today’s opening of Consultation on the Third National Strategy to Combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and its stated goal of ‘zero tolerance’ of violence against women and girls.    In particular, we strongly welcome the proposed new dedicated agency on DSGBV which will be established […]

Statement on Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022

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Rape Crisis Network Ireland strongly supports in principle the replacement of “child pornography” in the current legislation with “child sexual exploitation material” outlined in the Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022 brought by Senator Eileen Flynn last week. We would like to congratulate Senator Flynn on this very important initiative.  As it […]

Breaking the Silence: Terminology Guidelines for Data Collection on Sexual Violence against Children

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‘With an estimated 2% conviction rate* on reported Child Sexual Violence cases, making sure we can tell the child’s story, wherever they break the silence, is essential’ says Cliona Saidlear, Executive Director of RCNI, ‘All services and professionals meeting a child’s needs must be able to join up their knowledge with others’, especially when our […]

Gaps in Specialist Sexual Violence Training Must Be Addressed 

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Rape Crisis Network Ireland Responds to Higher Education Authority’s Surveys On Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education  Today’s Higher Education Authority Surveys of experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Higher Education released by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, makes for sobering reading. The students who took part in the survey described high levels of sexual violence and harassment and […]

Joining Up the Dots: RCNI welcomes Commitments Made in Dáil Debate

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Following the murder of Ashling Murphy and the Sinn Féin Motion to the Dáil on 19 January 2022, RCNI welcomes government announcements.     RCNI Executive Director Cliona Saidlear said:   ‘The transformation in the past week is that the issue of Men’s Violence Against Women has been articulated, almost unanimously, as part of a system of misogyny.’   As Sinn […]

Translating ‘Rape Crisis’ across Europe under the Istanbul Convention

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The Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, otherwise known as the Istanbul Convention, is an opportunity across Europe and our neighbours to make sure that no matter where a survivor of sexual violence is in Europe they will have support and justice available to them that is appropriate and specialized.   Istanbul Convention’s Article […]

‘An overwhelming surge in the demand for our services’

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Grace McArdle of Rape Crisis North East writes about how the Covid pandemic changed the ways in which the Centre operated for staff and survivors. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge toll on our organisation and the clients we serve. Trauma whether in the past or more recent cannot be put on hold, even […]

‘I deserve the best life possible’

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A survivor of sexual violence speaks about her experience of the support offered by Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. Kerry RSAC can be contacted at Freephone 1800 633 333 and you can find more information at the centre’s website here.  ‘I started my journey four years ago with the Kerry Rape & Sexual Abuse […]