Rape Crisis Centre reports increase by 31 percent in 2023

Image Credit: Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Insa Birkenhagen discusses the latest report about the increased number of callers to the Rape Crisis Centre in 2022.

On October 19th the Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) published their statistics from 2022, revealing an increase of 31% in incoming calls to their National Hotline. These numbers have been disclosed within the final report from a landmark study carried out by the Central Office of Statistics (COS) on sexual violence in Ireland. Prior to the launch of the study, Minister Roderic O’Gorman TD has commended the work of the RCC and also stated a close cooperation in the future. 

The Centre was contacted a total of 18.400 times throughout 2022, most of which were reaching out for the first time. 84% of the contacts were female, 15,7% male and 0.3% non-binary. This reveals a clear trend of gender-related assault, with further data of the CSO showing that women are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than men. The statistic also discloses sexual violence as an issue especially prominent amongst students, with the biggest cohort of the contacts being ages 18 to 23. Indeed, 62% of them have experienced assault by the hand of a stranger and often the event took place in a public space. 

The statistic also discloses sexual violence as an issue especially prominent amongst students, with the biggest cohort of the contacts being aged between 18 to 23 years old.

Before stepping down, the former chief executive of the RCC, Noeline Blackwell has commented that these figures need to be read while considering a variety of important factors, the most significant of which is how sexual assault and violence is mostly reported in arrears. This happens because of the trauma the victims’ have experienced, but also because of the resistance they perceive. The fear of not being believed or of being accused of being at fault themselves often impedes them from coming forward. With Covid-19 this threshold has increased, since reporting sexual assault potentially meant reporting a restricted contact outside of their household. Furthermore, during lockdown, victims were also not given the space to properly cope with the violence they have experienced. Whether financially, medically or otherwise, the pandemic confronted them with a number of challenges whilst also limiting the possibility of confiding in others. Consequently, many people were only able to seek help after the lockdown ended, resulting in this sharp increase of reports to the RCC. 

With Covid-19 this threshold has increased, since reporting sexual assault potentially meant reporting a restricted contact outside of their household. Furthermore, during lockdown, victims were also not given the space to properly cope with the violence they have experienced. 

But it was also events throughout 2022 that contributed to this surge of deferred reports. In January, the assault and murder of 23-year-old teacher Ashling Murphy raised awareness on violence against women nationwide. According to the chief executive of the RCC, the public investigations and discourse then impelled people all around Ireland to seek support through the National Hotline. In a similar way, a rise in reports was triggered by the public disclosures of historic abuse at Blackrock College in November 2022. On the RTÉ-radio documentary Blackrock Boys, two former pupils first came forward about the abuse. Days later four more victims held a press conference to announce a restorative justice process, encouraging a number of people to come forward. 

The threshold of communicating one’s experience with assault prevails to this day; barriers to disclosure are created by outside judgement, as well as one’s own potential shame, instilled by society. However, many of the COS’s findings suggest a growing openness towards believing the victims of sexual assault. For instance, 90% of the survey’s Participants rejected the idea of a rape victim being visibly upset. Younger respondents in particular appeared less likely to question allegations, but rather show support to the victim. This coincides with another survey that showed that only 62% of victims aged 18 to 23 disclosed their experiences. Most of them confided in a friend or a family member and only the fewest reported a recent assault to the police. Within the margin of disclosure, the RCC appears to be somewhat of a compromise to many people, when considering the increasing demand for their Helpline.

The threshold of communicating one’s experience with assault prevails to this day; barriers to disclosure are created by outside judgement, as well as one’s own potential shame, instilled by society. However, many of the COS’s findings suggest a growing openness towards believing the victims of sexual assault.

But the contacts to the Helpline were not exclusively aimed at reporting sexual assault, with many callers also experiencing a decline in their mental health. Some of them even expressed suicidal ideation, which has led to longer and more complex calls. Evidently, the Hotline not only poses an emergency service, but also a contact point for support within the continuous rising of mental health issues. This can be ascribed to the highly limited accessibility of psychological care, especially for young people and students in Ireland. The RCC itself experienced significant difficulty in recruiting sufficient therapists, resulting in an increased number of ‘care calls’ to people on their therapy waiting list. 

The contacts to the Helpline were not exclusively aimed at reporting sexual assault, with many callers also experiencing a decline in their mental health.

Despite these rather less favourable conditions, the Rape Crisis Centre appreciates the privilege to offer help and support. They hope their statistics will challenge the government to recognize the prevalence of sexual violence and the vast need of further support and measures. According to Minister Roderic O’Gorman TD a new focus has already been placed in their new Third National Strategy. To that effect, the government wants to establish a dedicated Agency and also introduce a paid leave for victims of assault.