As a society, we must challenge the myths informing our attitude to sexual violence, writes Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop

Grooming children for sexual exploitation should carry a maximum prison term of 14 years, a new law proposed by a backbench TD demands.

A YOUNG woman who says she was raped at the age of 14 has spoken out against a justice system which she feels utterly let her down after her attacker walked free.

A RANGE of rape crisis groups, women’s organisations and human rights bodies have reacted with outrage at recordings of gardaí joking about raping a woman.

Sweden has led the way in tackling prostitution with the introduction of tough legislation and enforcement. Stephen Rogers travelled to the country to learn about the much vaunted ‘Swedish Model’ on dealing with human trafficking. In the first of a two-part series, he compares the Irish and Swedish approaches to what is the world’s fastest growing crime and looks at what lessons can be learned.

NEARLY 18 months after being promised €2 million to provide survivor therapy following the publication of the Ryan Report, counselling services still haven’t received a penny of the ring-fenced funding.

A CHAPTER of the Murphy Report detailing child sex abuse carried out by former priest Tony Walsh will be published next week after a High Court ruling yesterday.

Put down the cupcakes and pick up a placard.

Talbot Grove addiction treatment centre in Castleisland, Co Kerry, has appointed Dolores Tiernan as chief executive officer, effective March 18.

The CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has called for the introduction of legislation to make upskirting a criminal offence.

There are calls for new laws on data retention to be brought forward before Christmas in response to yesterday's judgement in relation to Graham Dwyer's case.

A rally to protest against victim blaming is to take place in Cork city centre on Wednesday following a recent case in the Central Criminal Court where a barrister representing a man in a rape trial said that the jury should reflect on the underwear worn by a teenage girl.

After a great deal of awareness-raising and educational work on the subject of rape culture, the report of a trial perpetuating rape myths represented two steps forwards and 1,000 steps back, says

The national rape crisis helpline had its busiest year last year with the number getting in touch reaching 12,855.

Even in a society where a man with 42 previous convictions, including one that led to a 15-year sentence for multiple rape and sexual assaults, is given a concurrent sentence for yet another rape — leading his victim to say he was given a “free rape” — there has been a profound shift in attitudes to violence against women.

Staffing levels at the country’s six Sexual Assault Treatment Units are “scandalous” according to the CEO of Dublin’s Rape Crisis Centre.

Technology has changed, particularly through the ubiquitousness of the mobile phone but the need for research has not diminished, writes Alison O’Connor