Rape Crisis Centres
In Ireland:
- Athlone/Midlands Rape Crisis Centre
- Carlow & South Leinster Rape Crisis Centre
- Donegal Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre
- Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
- Galway Rape Crisis Centre
- Kerry Rape Crisis Centre
- Kilkenny Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre
- Limerick Rape Crisis Centre
- Mayo Rape Crisis Centre
- Rape Crisis North East
- Sexual Violence Centre Cork
- Sligo Rape Crisis Centre
- Tipperary Rape Crisis & Counselling Centre
- Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre
- Waterford Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre
- Wexford Rape Crisis Centre
In the UK:
- Survivors UK – Providing information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused
- Rape Crisis England and Wales – Co-ordinates the national network of Rape Crisis Centres across England and Wales
- Rape Crisis Scotland – National office for the Rape Crisis movement in Scotland
- The National Association for People Abused in Childhood – NAPAC provides support and information for people abused in childhood
- UK and Ireland Counselling Directory– Support network of UK counsellors and psychotherapists
International:
- Hot Peaches Pages – Global list of hotlines, shelters, refuges, crisis centres and women’s organisations
- Rape Crisis Network Europe – Supports members and survivors through campaigning, education and research and development work
- Austrialian Institute of Family Studies– A network of Rape Crisis Centres throughout Austrailia
Sexual Assault Treatment Units
Sexual Assault Treatment Units in Ireland:
Cork: South Infirmary / Victoria University Hospital | 021 4926297 or 021 4926100 Bleep 789 (Mon-Fri 08.30 -16.30. Out of hours or weekends contact Nursing Admin 021 4926100 ) |
Donegal: Unit 1 Letterkenny Business Park, Oldtown, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal | 087 0681964 or 074 9104436 (08.00 – 20.00 hrs 7 days a week. Out of hours contact 087 0681964) |
Dublin: Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1 | 01 8171736 (Mon-Fri 08.00 and 16.00. Out of hours contact Rotunda Hospital 018171700 and ask for SATU) |
Galway: Located in a dedicated building near Galway racecourse | 091 765751 or 087 6338118 (Mon-Fri 08.00- 16.00. Out of hours contact your local Garda station) |
Waterford: Waterford Regional Hospital | 051 842157 (Service available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Out of hours contact the nurse on call via the hospital switchboard on 051 848000) |
Mullingar: Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar | 044 9394239 or 086 0409952 (Mon-Fri 08.00- 17.30. Out of hours or weekends contact your local Garda Station or call nursing administration via hospital switchboard on 044 93 40221) |
Link to HSE page on Sexual Assault Treatment Units
Child protection
- Barnardos – Supports children whose well-being is under threat by working with them, their families and communities, and by campaigning for the rights of children
- CARI – Provides therapy and counselling services to children, families and groups who have been affected by child sexual abuse
- ISPCC Childline – Telephone, online and mobile texting service
- Children’s Rights Alliance – a coalition of over 90 NGOs working to secure the rights and needs of children in Ireland
- ECPAT UK – Every Child Protected Against Trafficking works to end child prostitution, child pornography, and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes
- Hotline.ie – Provides an anonymous facility for the public to report suspected illegal content encountered on the Internet, in a secure and confidential way
- ISPCC – Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children advocates on behalf of all children in Ireland
- Stay Safe – Personal safety skills programme for children which aims to reduce vulnerability to child abuse and bullying
- Stop It Now!– a campaign which aims to prevent child sexual abuse by raising awareness and encouraging early recognition and responses to the problem by abusers themselves and those close to them
Other sexual violence resources
- Alliance Victim Support Group – Helps to support those who, as children, were abused in State-run institutions
- Connect – The National Adult Counselling Service for any adult who has experienced, abuse, trauma or neglect in childhood
- Dignity4Patients – to defend and uphold the rights of patients who have experienced trauma, in particular sexual trauma, whilst a patient in any medical or therapeutic setting
- Justice for Magdalenes– Advocating for justice for residents of Magdalene Laundries
- MenEngage– An alliance of NGOs that seek to engage men and boys in effective ways to reduce gender inequalities and promote the health and well-being of women, men and children
- Men’s Development Network – Works with men towards achievIng beneficial change. Better lives for men. better lives for all.
- One in Four – Support and resources for people who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence
- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) -US network of rape and incest support centres which provides a national helpline
- The Commission to Enquire into Child Abuse – Established pursuant to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000
- VAW Net– Online resource for advocates working to end domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violence in the lives of women and their children
- Victim Liaison Service – When victims of crime request, the Prison Service Victim Liaison Officer will enter into direct contact with them to inform them of any significant development in the management of the perpetrator’s sentence as well as any impending release. Such significant developments could include temporary releases, parole board hearings, prison transfers, expected release dates, etc. Please note: victims must request this service through application form available on website here.
Asylum and refugee
Ireland:
- Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration
- Irish Refugee Council – Independent NGO which works with and advocates on behalf of asylum seekers and refugees
- Immigrant Council of Ireland – Promotes the rights of migrants through information, legal advice, advocacy, lobbying, research and training
- Migrant Rights Centre Ireland – Promotes the conditions for economic and social inclusion of those migrant workers and their families who are in positions of vulnerability
International:
- Asylum Aid – Responds to asylum seekers’ immediate legal needs and addresses the underlying causes of the difficulties they encounter in the asylum process
- European Council on Refugees and Exiles– Pan-European network of 69 refugee assisting NGOs that promotes a humane and generous European asylum policy
- European Roma Rights Centre– International public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma
- International Organisation for Migration – Inter-governmental organisation which works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration
Disability
- Disability Federation of Ireland – National support organisation and advocate for voluntary disability organisations in Ireland who provide services to people with disabilities and disabling conditions
- Enable Ireland – Supports people with disabilities and their families throughout Ireland
- Frontline – A forum for people with learning difficulties and their advocates
- Irish Wheelchair Association – Committed to improving the lives of people with physical disabilities in Ireland
- National Disability Authority – The lead state agency on disability issues and universal design, providing independent expert advice to government on policy and practice
Domestic violence
- Hidden Hurt – UK abuse information support site
- Safe Ireland – National network of women’s refuges and support services for those experiencing domestic violence which links to all domestic violence services in Ireland
- Scottish Women’s Aid – Working to end domestic abuse
- Women’s Aid – Provides support and information to women and their children who are being physically, emotionally, financially and sexually abused in their own homes
- Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland – Provides a range of services to women and children who are affected by domestic violence throughout Northern Ireland
Drugs and alcohol
- Drugs.ie – An independent website with the aim of helping individuals, families and communities to prevent and/or address problems arising from drug and alcohol use.
- National Drug Advisory and Treatment Centre – Provides an integrated specialist addiction service
Education
- Association for Higher Education Access and Disability – Works to promote full access to and participation in further and higher education for students with disabilities and to enhance their employment prospects on graduation
- Aontas – National Adult Learning Association
- Citizens Information – National agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy to the public on social and civil services
Elderly
- Age Action – Promotes positive ageing and better policies and services for older people. Working with, and on behalf of, older people we aim to make Ireland the best place in the world in which to grow older
- National Centre for the Protection of Older People – The Centre focuses on a programme of research examining elder abuse in Ireland which will result in original research outputs and contribute to the development of policy and practice in relation to elder abuse.
- The Irish Association of Older People – Works to improve the lives of older people
Employment and trade unions
- Citizens Information – National agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy to the public on social and civil services
- Employment Appeals Tribunal – Adjudicating disputes on employment rights
- Irish Congress of Trade Unions – Represents and campaigns for working people
- Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed – Works at local and national level on issues affecting unemployed people
- Workplace Relations – Works to achieve a national culture of employment rights compliance
Housing
- Citizens Information – National agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy to the public on social and civil services
- Focus Ireland – support and services to the homeless
- Homeless Agency – Responsible for planning, co-ordination and administration of funding in relation to the provision of quality services to people who are homeless in the Dublin area and for the development of responses to prevent homelessness
- Simon Communities of Ireland – Delivers a wide range of essential services to people who are homeless throughout Ireland
- Society of St Vincent de Paul – Tackles poverty in all its forms through the provision of practical assistance to those in need
- Threshold – the National Housing Charity that provides free and confidential advice and tenancy protection services to people with housing problems.
Human rights - non government organisations
- Amnesty International – Exposes the truth, speaks out and creates change
- Association for Women’s Rights in Development – Committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights
- Centre for Women’s Global Leadership – Develops and facilitates women’s leadership for women’s human rights and social justice worldwide
- Equality and Human Rights Commission – Creating a fairer Britain and a society without prejudice
- Equality and Rights Alliance – Coalition of civil society groups and activists in Ireland opposed to government cutbacks in equality and rights
- Equality Rights Trust – Combats discrimination and promotes equality as a fundamental human rights and a basic principle of social justice
- European Women’s Lobby – An umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU which aims to promote women’s rights and gender equality
- International Alliance of Women – Works to achieve equality for women
- International Women’s Forum – Advance women’s leadership across careers, cultures and continents by connecting the world’s most preeminent women of significant and diverse achievement
- International Women’s Rights Action Watch – Promotes recognition of women’s human rights
- Irish Council for Civil Liberties – Ireland’s leading independent human rights watchdog
- Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence – Promotes the adoption of a coherent and coordinated response to gender-based violence
- National Women’s Council of Ireland – National representative organisation for women and women’s groups in Ireland promoting equality, human rights and empowerment for all women
- Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission – Ensuring that the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland are fully and firmly protected in law policy and practice
- Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform – Contributes to the development of European social policy
- Stop Violence Against Women – A forum for information, advocacy and change
- The Feminist Majority Foundation – Working for women’s equality
- Wave – Women Against Violence Europe – the European network of non-governmental women’s organisations working to combat violence against women and children
- Women’s Link Worldwide – Promotes gender equality through the development and strategic implementation of human rights laws worldwide
- Women’s Resource and Development Agency – Working to advance women’s equality and participation in society
Human rights - regional and international
- Council of Europe
- United Nations
- Woman Watch – UN Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE)
- UN Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
- UNESCO
- UN Refugee Agency
- UN Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence Against Women and Girls
Mental health and depression
- Aware – Helping defeat depression
- Grow – A guide to mental health
- Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health
- Irish Association of Suicidology – A forum for all individuals and voluntary groups involved in any aspect of suicidology for the exchange of knowledge gained from differing perspectives and experiences
- Mental Health Ireland – Promoting positive mental health
- National Office for Suicide Prevention – The National Office for Suicide Prevention is not a crisis support service and this website is an information and signposting resource.
- Pieta House – Provides a free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm.
- Samaritans – 24 hour confidential, non-judgemental service
- Shine – Supporting people affected by mental ill health
- SpunOut.ie – Promotes general wellbeing and healthy living in order to prevent and positively intervene in harmful behaviour where it occurs amongst young people.
- Suicide or Survive – Focussed on breaking down the stigma associated with mental health issues and ensuring that those affected have access to quality recovery services that are right for the individual.
- Teen-Line Ireland – Freephone service
- Your Mental Health – Improving awareness and understanding of mental health and well-being in Ireland
- 3Ts – Working to help prevent deaths by Suicide through research, intervention and support.
Minorities organisations
- Africa Centre – Promoting active participation in Irish society
- Akidwa – Akina Dada wa Africa – African Women’s Network
- NASC – The Irish Immigrant Support Centre
- SPIRASI – Working with asylum seekers, refugees, and other disadvantaged migrant groups with special concern for survivors of torture
Parenting
- Citizens Information – National agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy to the public on social and civil services
- One Family – supporting all members of all one parent families
- Treoir – information to parents who are not married to each other and to those involved with them
Poverty
- Comhlamh – Working for social justice, human rights and global development issues
- European Anti Poverty Network Ireland – Network of groups and individuals working against poverty
- Money Advice and Budgeting Service – The national, free, confidential and independent service for people in debt or in danger of getting into debt
Prostitution and trafficking
In Ireland:
- Ruhama – an Irish NGO which offers services and outreach to women in prostitution in Dublin
- Turn Off The Red Light – a campaign to end prostitution and sex trafficking in Ireland run by a new alliance of civil society organisations
Useful international sites:
- Anti-Slavery – Works at local, national and international level to eliminate all forms of slavery around the world
- Blue Heart Campaign – Raises awareness of the problem of trafficking and inspires those with decision-making power to effect change
- Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Promotes women’s human rights by working internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms
- ECPAT UK – Working to end child prostitution, child pornography, and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes
- International Centre for Migration Policy Development – Inter-governmental organisations which promotes innovative, comprehensive and sustainable migration policies
- Prostitution Reform – Working to end sexual slavery
- Prostitution Research and Education – Conducts research on prostitution, pornography and trafficking and offers education and consultation to researchers, survivors, the public and policy makers
- Stop the Traffik – A global movement of activists who believe people should not be bought or sold
- The Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women – A global alliance of NGOs which advocates for a human rights based approach to trafficking
Research and information about sexual violence
- Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development – Promotes a wider public understanding of the administration of criminal justice, the cause and prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders
- Central Statistics Office – Collect, compile, extract and disseminate for statistical purposes information relating to economic, social, and general activities and conditions in the state
- Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies – Trinity College Dublin: teaching, research and community/extramural activities
- European Institute of Women’s Health – Ensures women’s health issues are on the European agenda
- Human Rights Watch – Dedicated to protecting and defending human rights
- HuriSearch – Human rights search engine. Searches over 5000 human rights websites
- National Sexual Violence Resource Centre (USA) – Information and resource centre regarding all aspects of sexual violence
- Open Society Institute – Works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens
- Sexual Violence Research Initiative – Promotes research on sexual violence and generates empirical data that ensures that sexual violence is recognised as a priority public health problem
- Terre des Hommes – Digital library on child traffickingwith over 2,500 resources
- The Andrea Dworkin website – Online library resource of Andrea Dworkin’s work
- The Leadership Council for Mental Health, Justice & the Media – tackling misinformation on child sexual abuse and related issues
- The Sidran Institute – Help for Post-Traumatic Stress and Dissociation
- Toolkit To End Violence Against Women – Provides concrete guidance to communities, voluntary leaders and individuals engaged in activities to end violence against women by the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women and the Violence Against Women Office (USA)
- Trauma and Recovery – Judith Herman’s book on child abuse and other traumas, alongside online articles
- Trauma Information Pages – Provides information for clinicians and researchers in the traumatic-stress field
- Women’s News Network – Dedicated to in-depth international women’s news not found in the current public media stream
- Global Women’s Studies Programme, National University of Ireland Galway – Understanding and challenging gender inequalities and exclusions
- Youth Work Ireland – A specialised library and information centre for youth & community workers & students
Sex offenders
In Ireland:
- Men Ending Domestic Violence – A group programme to help men stop being violent/abusive towards their partners
- Move Ireland – Men Overcoming Violence
- NOTA Ireland – National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers
In the UK:
- Respect UK – UK membership association for domestic violence perpetrator programmes and associated support services
Sexual health and pregnancy
- Citizens Information – National agency responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice and advocacy to the public on social and civil services
- Irish College of General Practitioners – The professional body for GPs in Ireland
- Irish Family Planning Association – Access to information, education, and health services regarding sex, sexuality, conception, contraception, safe abortion and sexually transmitted infections
- Positive Options – Crisis pregnancy counselling organisation
- The Sexual Health Centre – Providing information, education and support on sexual health
- The Well Woman Centre – Family planning advice and services
Sexuality
- BeLonG To – Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans young people in Ireland
- LGBT Helpline – National lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender helpline
- Marriage and Relationship Counselling Service – Providing services to those with problems in their personal relationships
- Transgender Equality Network Ireland – Representing the needs and best interests of all those with gender identity issues in Ireland
State bodies in Ireland
In Ireland:
- An Garda Siochana – Ireland’s national police service
- Cosc – the national office for the prevention of domestic, sexual and gender based violence
- Department of Education and Skills – Aims to provide high-quality education
- Department of Justice and Equality – Aims to make Ireland a safer and fairer place in which to live and work, visit and do business
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs – Statutory role is to support the Minister in the formulation and evaluation of policies for the health services
- Government of Ireland – Information on the Irish state
- Legal Aid Board – Responsible for the provision of legal aid and advice on matters of civil law to persons unable to fund such services from their own resource
- Office for Social Inclusion – Overall responsibility for developing, co-ordinating and driving Ireland’s National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007 – 2016
- Reception and Integration Agency – Responsible for co-ordinating the provision of services to asylum seekers and refugees, the implementation of integration policy, and responding to crisis situations which result in large numbers of refugees arriving in Ireland in a short period of time
- The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission – Stimulating and supporting a commitment to equality
In Northern Ireland and the UK:
- Northern Ireland Executive – Government of Northern Ireland
- Police Service of Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland police service
- UK Government – Official site of the UK government
Travel advice
Irish Department of Foreign Affairs:
- List of Irish Embassies and Consulates abroad – Details of Irish Embassies and Consulates around the world
- Travel advice – Travel advice for people overseas
Other:
- Smartraveller – The Australian Government’s travel advisory and consular assistance service
Traveller organisations
- Irish Traveller Movement – National network of organisations and individuals working within the Traveller community
- National Traveller Women’s Forum – Building the capacity of Traveller women to participate in local and national social partnerships with a view to bringing about equal outcomes
Voluntary sector
- Active Link – Online network for Irish non-profit organisations
- Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups – Works to nurture and support the development of small voluntary groups, providing an environment which stimulates this development
- The Charities Regulator – Ireland’s national statutory regulator for charitable organisations
- Citizens Information Board Resource Database for Voluntary and Community Sectors – Useful information for those working in the voluntary and community sectors
- Community Work Ireland – National network of individuals and organisations involved in community work and working for social change in Ireland
- Funding Point – Provides fundraising information and guidance to Irish voluntary and community organisations
- Free Legal Advice Centres – Promoting access to justice in Ireland through campaigning and some free, basic legal aid services
- Global Fund for Women – A grantmaking foundation supporting women’s human rights organisations around the world working to address critical issues such as gaining economic independence, increasing girls’ access to education and stopping violence against women
- Legal Aid Board – Responsible for the provision of legal aid and advice on matters of civil law to persons unable to fund such services from their own resources
- My Charity.ie – Provides services to charities and fundraisers
- Network for Good – Provides services to non-profit organisations, donors and volunteers
- The Wheel – A resource centre and forum for the community and voluntary sector
Youth focused
In Ireland:
- B4udecide – Information about relationships from the Crisis Pregnancy Agency
- BeLonG To – Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans young people in Ireland
- Childline – Phone, online and text service for young people
- Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health
- Inspire Ireland – Helps young people live happier lives
- ISPCC – The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- National Youth Council of Ireland – Representative body for national voluntary youth organisations
- Reach Out Ireland – A web-based service that inspires young people to help themselves through tough times, and find ways to improve their own mental health and well-being
- SpunOut – Irish youth health, media, info, activism website
- Teen-Line Ireland – Freephone service for suicide prevention
- Union of Students in Ireland – The sole representative body from Ireland’s third level students
- Youth Work Ireland – A co-ordinating and development agency for youth services throughout the country
Useful international sites:
- Project Respect – a support and referral service for women trafficked for sexual exploitation and women in the sex industry
- Reach Out – Support and information on young people’s mental health and well-being
- Know Your Stuff – Everything young people need to know about sexual health and relationships