Menu
07/10/2015
More Help Needed To Protect Children From Sexual Harm
Support group One in Four has said not nearly enough is being done to keep children safe from sexual harm.
The group made the call at the launch of its 2014 Annual report.
Executive Director Maeve Lewis said: "Ireland has a long way to go before we become a society where lives are not blighted by child sexual abuse. One in four Irish people experience sexual abuse. Most children do not tell.
"We have to rely on the testimony of adult survivors to get a true picture of child sexual abuse. But do we really encourage adults to come forward? Are their accounts taken seriously by child protection services when they report the person who abused them and is still active in the community?
"Have we a criminal justice system in place that forces sex offenders to account for their actions? The answer sadly is no."
In 2014, One in Four provided counselling to 116 survivors and to 43 families, a total of 2,643 therapy hours.
She continued: "We were very heartened when the new Child and Family Agency, Tusla, was set up in early 2014 and hoped that the response to historic allegations would improve.
"Despite policy and legislative developments, we still meet a child protection service in disarray, with inconsistent responses across the country and poor assessments of risk. We are also not always happy with the way anxious, distressed clients are treated by social workers."
(CD/JP)
The group made the call at the launch of its 2014 Annual report.
Executive Director Maeve Lewis said: "Ireland has a long way to go before we become a society where lives are not blighted by child sexual abuse. One in four Irish people experience sexual abuse. Most children do not tell.
"We have to rely on the testimony of adult survivors to get a true picture of child sexual abuse. But do we really encourage adults to come forward? Are their accounts taken seriously by child protection services when they report the person who abused them and is still active in the community?
"Have we a criminal justice system in place that forces sex offenders to account for their actions? The answer sadly is no."
In 2014, One in Four provided counselling to 116 survivors and to 43 families, a total of 2,643 therapy hours.
She continued: "We were very heartened when the new Child and Family Agency, Tusla, was set up in early 2014 and hoped that the response to historic allegations would improve.
"Despite policy and legislative developments, we still meet a child protection service in disarray, with inconsistent responses across the country and poor assessments of risk. We are also not always happy with the way anxious, distressed clients are treated by social workers."
(CD/JP)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
17 December 2013
Garda Child Abuse Images Accused Trial Delayed For Five Weeks
A delay of five weeks has been allowed for the completion of a book of evidence in the case of a Garda officer charged with possession of child abuse images. 53-year-old Joe O'Connor is accused of possession of 655 images of child abuse. The accusation dates between 30 July and 02 August 2011. O'Connor is stationed at a city-centre garda station.
Garda Child Abuse Images Accused Trial Delayed For Five Weeks
A delay of five weeks has been allowed for the completion of a book of evidence in the case of a Garda officer charged with possession of child abuse images. 53-year-old Joe O'Connor is accused of possession of 655 images of child abuse. The accusation dates between 30 July and 02 August 2011. O'Connor is stationed at a city-centre garda station.
11 November 2014
Internet Provider Agrees Garda Deal To Block Web Access
Internet provider UPC has agreed to block access to sites known to contain images of child sexual abuse, in a new partnership announced with An Garda Síochána. It is understood that the internet service, which has almost 400,000 customers, will use a continually updated list of sites produced by Garda and Interpol.
Internet Provider Agrees Garda Deal To Block Web Access
Internet provider UPC has agreed to block access to sites known to contain images of child sexual abuse, in a new partnership announced with An Garda Síochána. It is understood that the internet service, which has almost 400,000 customers, will use a continually updated list of sites produced by Garda and Interpol.
01 February 2012
Garda Report On Child Abuse Published
The Justice Minister has published the report by the Garda on how to respond to child sexual abuse cases. Justice Minister Alan Shatter published the document, which also assesses the progress made by the Government in tackling the issue, on Tuesday.
Garda Report On Child Abuse Published
The Justice Minister has published the report by the Garda on how to respond to child sexual abuse cases. Justice Minister Alan Shatter published the document, which also assesses the progress made by the Government in tackling the issue, on Tuesday.
27 September 2007
Event To Discuss Female Sex Offenders
Women convicted of sexually abusing children is the top of a major conference being held in Dublin on Thursday. The Cari organisation, which provides psychotherapy to children, families and groups affected by child sexual abuse, is holding the conference, entitled 'The Last Taboo - Women who sexually abuse against children' at the Carlton Hotel.
Event To Discuss Female Sex Offenders
Women convicted of sexually abusing children is the top of a major conference being held in Dublin on Thursday. The Cari organisation, which provides psychotherapy to children, families and groups affected by child sexual abuse, is holding the conference, entitled 'The Last Taboo - Women who sexually abuse against children' at the Carlton Hotel.
01 July 2014
Ombudsman Report Due On Roma Children Removed From Families
A report into the removal of two Roma children from their families in Dublin and Westmeath is to be published today. The report by Children's Ombudsman Emily Logan looks into the removal of a 7-year-old girl in Tallaght and a two-year-old boy in Athlone.
Ombudsman Report Due On Roma Children Removed From Families
A report into the removal of two Roma children from their families in Dublin and Westmeath is to be published today. The report by Children's Ombudsman Emily Logan looks into the removal of a 7-year-old girl in Tallaght and a two-year-old boy in Athlone.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Showers today, occasional north and west of Lough Neagh, but only a few isolated light outbreaks expected for Belfast and county Down where the best of the winter sunshine is expected. West to northwest winds brisk around the coasts. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers focused across northern areas of the Province, with most in the south staying dry, with a frost developing for many here. Northwest winds fresh around the coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
