Rape counselling - Victims not getting help they need

THE newly appointed chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has undertaken a daunting task.

At present the centre is unable to respond to all of its calls for assistance.

Instead, it regularly closes its waiting list when it is unable to see clients within six months. This is a sad reflection not only of the level of lawlessness within our society but also of the State’s lack of commitment in protecting its citizens.

Rape is one of the most serious crimes; yet our system is professing an inability even to try to help some of those who have been raped, much less protect citizens from the crime in the first place.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has a staff of 30, and 70 volunteers, to provide support and counselling.

The centre had 11,808 calls to its helpline service in 2002, and it also provided professional counselling for 620 people. Yet this only met part of the demand.

In recent years we have been witnessing the horrors and lasting damage of hiding sexual abuse.

Culprits must not be allowed to hide their crimes by intimidating victims. Society must encourage people to prosecute attackers, if only to protect other people. To do this, victims need the full support of society now.