More support must be provided for victims of sexual violence – Kingston

Labour Party Equality spokesperson, Councillor Deirdre Kingston, has called on TUSLA to provide emergency funding to help clear counselling waiting lists for victims of sexual violence.

Councillor Kingston said:

“Figures released by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre have shown that victims of sexual violence are waiting over a year to receive counselling because of such demands on the service.

“The length of time a victim must wait before they can get professional help is based on how urgent the sexual assault is seen as. The idea that victims of heinous sexual offences are classed as urgent and non-urgent is certainly not ideal and will probably be off putting for many who wish to disclose that they have been been victims of a sexual assault. To think that people also have to wait up to a year for the support they need and deserve is really unacceptable.

“TUSLA should provide funding to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and other similar organisations around the country to ensure that victims of sexual crime, whether recent or legacy, receive the services and support when they need them.

“There is such a need to understand the experience of victims of sexual grooming, violence and assault, to listen to their experiences and to put in place structures to ensure they feel understood, listened to, supported and respected by the State. It is the very least they deserve.”