State engages with survivors of violence against women 'inconsistently or not at all', report states

The report from the National Observatory on Violence Against Women, convened by the National Women’s Council, is seeking the introduction of a survivor-led Lived Experience Advisory Council. 

Survivors of violence against women have had poor engagement with successive governments, with various departments engaging with them "either inconsistently or not at all", according to a new report being launched today.

The Structures of Engagement for Survivors of Violence Against Women report is also calling for a national consultation with survivors of domestic abuse as well as organisations ahead of the development of the fourth national strategy on violence against women and girls.

The report from the National Observatory on Violence Against Women, convened by the National Women’s Council, is seeking the introduction of a survivor-led Lived Experience Advisory Council. 

The report outlines that any such council should include representation of groups, including Traveller and Roma women, migrants and members of the LGBT+ community.

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It also wants a commitment from the Government to fund the structures “in a sustainable manner", to build trust and remunerate survivors sharing their experiences "to achieve system change”.

Survivors of violence and abuse highlighted several areas of concern during focus groups while the research was being conducted.

These included poor engagement with survivors by multiple government departments and programmes, with survivors saying it was “either inconsistently or not at all”.

A lack of consistency across garda regions and public services was noted, with issues raised including there being a ‘right to information’ gap in the system, “as survivors had no single authoritative written source of information on their rights, entitlements, justice system processes, decision-making structures, and opportunities to influence change”.

Some felt that the in-camera rule can be weaponised by perpetrators of abuse in the family law courts. In camera means a hearing is in private.

'A history of silencing survivors'

eport will be formally launched this morning at the National College of Ireland, where speakers will include domestic violence survivor and founder of Survivors Informing Services and Institutions, Mary Louise Lynch, and rape survivor and founder of Beyond Surviving, Ciara Mangan.

The research conducted during the report preparation looked at international examples of best practice from countries including Australia and the UK.

Ms Lynch said: “Too often women who have experienced gender-based violence are retraumatised by courts or in the media while trying to be heard. Ireland has a history of silencing survivors by imposing harsh secrecy measures. 

"For example, the in-camera rule remains a serious deterrent to much-needed systemic transparency and accountability. This must change. 

"Survivors must be recognised, allowed to speak, and be respected as experts by experience. We must be remunerated for our time and invaluable input contributing to positive change.” 

The report is being published as a campaign seeking reform of the in camera rule is set to be formally launched next month.

It is also published as Fiosru investigates 23 cases where victims of domestic abuse believed that their cases were mishandled by gardaí.

Executive director of the NWC, Corrinne Hasson, said that violence against women is at “epidemic proportions”.