68 victims of sexual violence visited the sexual assault unit in Dublin during July and August of this year. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre says this number is a worrying hike in comparison to figures during the same time period last year. The organisation has today launched a campaign to encourage people to discuss the concept of sexual consent, in conjunction with the Students Union of Ireland and the White Ribbon Campaign.
Speaking at the launch at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre this morning Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, said she will seek Government approval to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention.)
Tom Meagher whose wife Jill was raped and murdered in Sydney in 2012, was also in attendance said the 'Ask Consent' campaign addresses the importance of dispelling myths and ideas about the 'grey areas' of sexual consent.
Tom who works as an ambassador for the White Ribbon Campaign said he thinks it’s important people remember that often a rapist is a person known to the victim, rather than the stereotypical idea of a man lurking in the dark at night. Speaking at the launch he said "sometimes it almost blinds people to the reality because we just think of the stranger trope. It is a bigger issue that we need to address".
USI President, Kevin Donoghue said he hopes the campaign will open up discussions surrounding sexual consent on and off campus. The USI 'Say Something' survey found 16% of respondents experienced some form of unwanted sexual experience while at their educational institution. "This is a worrying statistic, we feel there is a real need for the Ask Consent campaign" he said. "It’s important everyone is aware that consent is an absolute necessity when engaging in sexual activity. We have a disturbing relationship with sexual activity. We're not willing to talk about it at any age group and this campaign is aiming to change that" he said.
