Rape crisis centre aims to help victims break silence

THE Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is aiming to help people break the barriers preventing them from disclosing sexual violence.

The SAVI (Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland) Report, published two years ago, highlighted concern about the low number of victims who seek help for sexual abuse. Of all the participants in SAVI's anonymous telephone survey who were abused as children, more than 41% had not told anyone about it. Of those abused in adulthood, over one-third had never told anyone.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has now organised a series of seminars on the report in association with rape crisis centres around the country.

The centre's chief executive, Rosemary Daly, said: "Our mission is to take away the barriers that leave people blaming themselves and feeling guilty about what happened to them. It is also a challenge to communities not to perpetuate the myth that rape and sexual abuse does not exist."

Seminars will start at 7.30pm and will take place in the following venues:

May 6 Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Co Louth; May 12 Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford: May 20 Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Co Kerry and June 10 Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath.