Child abuse - few prosecutions result
Just three in every 1,000 sexual offences involving children in Ireland end in prosecution.
This shocking figure was revealed at the launch of One in Four’s annual report for 2005. One in Four is a national charity, which provides support to men and women who have experienced sexual violence.
Speaking at the launch, the organisation’s director, Colm O’Gorman, said that the greatest bar to child protection and abuse prevention in this country is the low rate of reporting and prosecution.
“Even where reports are made and prosecutions result, those most impacted upon - victims and their families - are often left entirely devastated by their engagement with the very systems to which they turned to help”, Mr O’Gorman explained.
He said that in order to properly address sexual violence and child abuse, ‘we need to reform and refine both our criminal justice and child protection systems, to ensure that those affected by child abuse feel more able to report’.
The annual report revealed that almost 1,500 men and women accessed One in Four’s services in 2005. Support provided included over 3,700 one-to-one sessions, an increase of 30% on 2004’s figure. More than 2,100 hours of group therapy were also provided, a jump of 55% compared to 2004.
The report also revealed that:
-37% of those in psychotherapy reported abuse perpetrated by a family or step-family member.
-32% in psychotherapy reported clerical or institutional sexual abuse.
-55% of those accessing core services were men.
“Government and those working in the area need to work to develop broader and more considered responses to sexual violence. If we are to effectively address this issue, we must ensure that we develop approaches and services which work to meet the needs of victims of abuse, their families and communities and which recognise that perpetrator treatment is an essential child protection measure”, Mr O’Gorman said.
