37% of new sexual violence referrals in Cork were students

The Sexual Violence Centre in Cork has reported a concerning rise in the number of third-level students seeking support.

The Sexual Violence Centre in Cork has reported a concerning rise in the number of third-level students seeking support at the centre last year, prompting calls by its CEO to put the issue of consent on primary and second-level education curricula.

In the organisation's 2019 annual report, CEO Mary Crilly said 37% of all new referrals to the centre last year were third-level students. T he centre provided services to 580 victims of sexual violence, of which 358 presented to the centre for the first time.