Counselling notes legislation ‘continues violation of victims’ rights’, survivors warn

Survivors and advocates warn new legislation still deters victims from seeking counselling and falls short of international human rights standards

Hazel Behan: 'Restrictions are not a ban and still leave the door open for the defence, and for the person the victim believes harmed them, to access deeply private counselling records.' File photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Sex assault victims have hit out at the Government’s failure to fully ban the use of counselling notes in trials under new legislation, saying Ireland will still be in breach of international human rights obligations.

Lisa Murray, a survivor and a researcher at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, has appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).