Over a quarter of people in Ireland have experienced sexual violence, research shows

Partners, friends, acquaintances, neighbours, and family members more commonly identified as perpetrators than strangers. File picture   

More than one in four adults experience sexual violence, with women, young adults, bisexual people, gay men, and those with a higher education suffering more sexual abuse than other cohorts. 

Just over a quarter (26%) of people in Ireland have experienced sexual violence as an adult, joint research by the ESRI and Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, found. 

Almost 40% of women (39%) reported sexual violence compared to 12% of men. 

Sexual abuse is more prevalent among younger adults, with the highest rates among those aged 25–29, with risk of sexual abuse decreasing with age. 

Bisexual people reported the highest levels of sexual violence at 55%.

More than 80% of perpetrators were male. 

Partners, friends, acquaintances, neighbours, and family members more commonly identified as perpetrators than strangers.     

Many incidents of sexual violence committed by someone other than an intimate partner occurred in homes or in social settings like pubs and clubs.         

Of those who reported sexual violence as an adult:

• 25% experienced intimate partner violence;
• 40% suffered non-intimate partner violence and;
• 35% reported experiencing both intimate partner and non-intimate partner sexual violence.   

The majority of those who disclosed sexual violence were aged between 18 and 24 when it first happened.   

Of the seven types of sexual violence examined, non-consensual touching of breasts/genitals was the most common type reported (21%), particularly among women (33%).

This was followed by attempted other sexual contact (14%) and attempted sexual intercourse (12%).   

The new research is part of the Joint Research Programme on Adult Sexual Violence in Ireland by the ESRI and Cuan. 

It will be launched by justice minister Jim O’Callaghan on Thursday.

The study draws on data from the 2022 Central Statistics Office (CSO) Sexual Violence Survey.

Elish Kelly, lead author, said that the research provides important new evidence on the factors associated with sexual violence victimisation. 

While sexual violence affects people from all backgrounds, the findings show that risks are higher among particular subgroups of the population, including women, younger adults, bisexual individuals, and gay men.

Cuan CEO Stephanie O’Keeffe, said that to prevent sexual violence and to provide and target supports to those who are victims of such violence, a better understanding of the patterns of victimisation is needed.

“Demand for services continues to rise as awareness grows and more people find the confidence to seek help. 

"This reflects the impact of awareness-raising efforts, but also reinforces the urgency of continued investment and system strengthening so that services are available for those who need them."

The study highlighted the need for data to track people over time to better understand how victimisation experiences affect them throughout life.

Rape Crisis Ireland executive director Clíona Saidléar, said sexual violence is an individual trauma and tragedy, but it is also a systemic problem.

And sexual violence is gendered, she said.

That bisexuals and the more educated suffer higher levels of sexual violence than other cohorts may point to this systemic misogyny, she said.

“One of the functions of sexual violence is to discipline, to 'keep us in our place,'" she said.

And non-conformity with the traditional patriarchy — to visibly not conform to gender stereotypes or to be a highly educated woman — can draw a particular ire from perpetrators who want to maintain control in a misogynistic, gendered world, she said.

“Sexual violence is a punishment.”