2,266 Women Recorded As Sexual Violence Victims Last Year

2,266 women throughout Ireland were recorded as victims of sexual violence  last year.

Just under half of those who reported the crimes to Gardai were under 18 at the time of the offence.

These new CSO figures detail instances of rape and sexual assault only.

Recorded Crime Victims 2018 - Main Publicationhttps://t.co/tTUGAiPfjR #CSOIreland #Ireland #Crime #RecordedCrime #CrimeStatistics #CrimeStats pic.twitter.com/6sheOWsmZB

— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) April 17, 2019

Rape Crisis Network Ireland says the new statistics show how sexual violence impacts in very gendered ways.

The group's Executive Director, Clíona Saidléar, says the figures can play a crucial role going forward:

"It impacts on how the Gardai response, and how we think about survivors."

They impact "on the response they get, whether it's from a friend, the Gardaí or the Justice system."