Legislation to tackle image-based sexual abuse must be enacted

‘Revenge porn’ is an outdated term that fails to capture severity of the offence and implies blame should be focused on the victim

Any one of us can be affected by intimate image abuse. In an era of media and consistent image sharing, each of us has a collective responsibility to respond to intimate image abuse to reduce this from happening to you or someone you know.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee recently announced that she is going to prioritise the enactment of legislation in relation to the sharing of intimate images without consent. Legislation has been developed, but due to the election and subsequent delay in government formation, and the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not yet been enacted. 

Many advocacy groups have begun to lobby the Government to prioritise this legislation, as they recognise the urgency of the issue and the number of victims that need support and protection. In July a petition to urge the Government to focus on this issue achieved 10,000 signatures.