Government awareness campaign a waste of resources, says abuse survivor

June, Joyce, and Paula Kavanagh. Their  audiobook shares their insights on navigating life as survivors. File picture

A woman abused by her father over several years has criticised the approach of government to victims, saying money spent on awareness campaigns would be better spent on funding support services.

Paula Kavanagh’s father, Kevin Kavanagh, was convicted in 1990 for sexually abusing her and her two sisters, Joyce and June, for several years. The then 69-year-old dad of 10 children was sentenced to seven years in prison and served five. He died in 1996. Earlier this year, the sisters published an audiobook called The Grip of Childhood Sexual Abuse, in which they share their insights on navigating life as survivors.

Ms Kavanagh attended the launch of childhood sexual abuse support charity One in Four’s annual report earlier this week, which revealed a 17% increase in demand for its services last year. Request for its advocacy services also increased by more than 20%.

The report launch was also attended by the minister for justice, Jim O’Callaghan.

Referring to Mr O’Callaghan’s reference to the Always There campaign for victims, Ms Kavanagh said: “These words ring hollow when the very services that provide specialised treatment and support are crippled by long waiting lists. Access simply isn’t there. It’s dishonest, disingenuous — and, sadly, nothing new.” 

How much money is being spent on these awareness campaigns when that funding could be used by the very organisations, they’re urging victims to call?

“Successive governments have failed to properly fund services for victims of abuse — many of whom were failed by State institutions and the legal system in the first place. It is not good enough, and it should make us all furious.” 

Ms Kavanagh also said that support organisations have to “spend far too much time fundraising just to keep their doors open, instead of focusing on the life-changing work they do best”.