Hidden crimes: efforts to reduce domestic and sexual violence in Ireland

AuthorÉimear Fisher
PositionWas appointed as the first head of Cosc, the Irish National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, in June 2007
Pages97-103
2009] Hidden Crimes 97
HIDDEN CRIMES:
EFFORTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC AND
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN IRELAND
ÉIMEAR FISHER*
Domestic and sexual violence are major issues in Ireland.
Research shows that 29% of women and 26% of men suffer
domestic abuse, when severe abuse and minor incidents are
combined. Furthermore, 15% of women and 6% of men have
experienced severely abusive behaviour from a partner. And yet
less than 25% of these people have reported these incidents to
An Garda Síochána.1 70% of the Irish public believe that
domestic abuse against women is common, but only 38% of us
would be willing to help a neighbour subjected to such abuse.2
The statistics for sexual violence are even more worrying. 42% of
women and 28% of men have experienced some form of sexual
violence in their lifetime, with only 1% of men and 7.8% of
women reporting such incidents to An Garda Síochána.3
This situation has been consistent over recent years, despite a
wide range of initiatives to prevent and respond to these crimes.
Because of the high prevalence of domestic and sexual
violence, and the low level of disclosure and reporting,
the Government established Cosc in June 2007. Cosc is the
_____________________________________________________
* Éimear Fisher was appointed as the first head of Cosc, the Irish National
Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence,
in June 2007. The office is tasked with developing the State’s
response to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
1 Watson and Parsons, Domestic Abuse of Women and Men in Ireland: Report
on the National Study of Domestic Violence (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2005),
p. 53, available at: http://www.esri.ie/pdf/BKMNEXT056_Domestic%20
Abuse.pdf.
2 Horgan, Muhlau, McCormack and Roder, Attitudes to Domestic Abuse in
Ireland (Cosc, 2008), pp. iii and iv, available at: http://www.cosc.ie/en/COSC/
Cosc_Attitudinal_Report_08.pdf/Files/Cosc_Attitudinal_Report_08.pdf.
3 McGee et al, Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland (SAVI) Report (Dublin:
The Liffey Press in association with The Dublin Rape Crisis Network, 2002),
pp. xxxiii and xxxvii, available at: http://www.drcc.ie/about/savi.pdf.

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