Editorials

The Irish Times view on the CSO figures on sexual violence: the case for a policy of no tolerance

A society that tolerates endemic abuse of women and girls cannot reach its full potential - tackling it will require ongoing and determined commitment by government.

Aoife Grimes (left) and Catherine Hearn, of the NWC, help with the It Stops Now campaign mural at the National College of Art and Design - the campaign aims to combat sexual violence and harassment in third level institutes. (Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times)
Aoife Grimes (left) and Catherine Hearn, of the NWC, help with the It Stops Now campaign mural at the National College of Art and Design - the campaign aims to combat sexual violence and harassment in third level institutes. (Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times)
Sun Apr 23 2023 - 20:15

The latest findings that half of all women experience sexual violence and 20 per cent rape at some point in their lives, are shocking, but will surprise few women.

The first reliable data on the extent of sexual violence in over 20 years, published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), is long overdue and welcome. It finds that 40 per cent of adults experienced sexual violence in their lifetime and far higher rates are experienced by women (52 per cent) than men (28 per cent).

It would be unfeasible to ask the CSO to make international comparisons given likely differences in data gathering in other jurisdictions, but it would be interesting to know whether these rates are out of kilter with our EU neighbours.

What is certain is that women and girls in Irish society have long been regarded as of less worth and entitled to fewer rights than men and boys. We have travelled far from the days of the Magdalene laundries and the widespread acceptance that women and girls should be incarcerated, controlled and punished – often with violence – for their sexuality. But not far enough.

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Until very recently women’s and girls’ very bodily integrity was controlled by our Constitution. During the pandemic domestic violence against women soared. A deep misogyny, which lies at the root of widespread and gender-based sexual violence, remains. There can be few greater transgressions than sexual violence. Its impact is devastating, debilitating and likely life-long.

Tackling it will require ongoing and determined commitment by government. Its zero-tolerance strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence published last year and to run to 2026 represents a solid start. But it must involve us all in our workplaces, classrooms, social groups, sports clubs, courts and homes.

The price for our daughters, sisters, nieces, mothers, grandmothers, friends and colleagues, of failing is too high. The loss is not only to them but to wider society. A society that tolerates endemic abuse of women and girls cannot reach its full potential.