A Training Seminar for Managers, HR Professionals, Equality Officers, Trade Union Representatives and others in key roles.

Date: Wednesday 25th January 2012
Venue: The Rape Crisis Centre, 70 Lower Leeson Street Dublin 2.

Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment can occur in any work place with often devastating effects for the individuals involved and for the organisation. This training seminar will prepare those with responsibility for staff to address this important and potentially damaging workplace issue.
Programme content
• Understanding what is meant by bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
• Impact and effects of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
• Legal framework, primary legislation and Codes of Practise
• Employer obligation
• Employee responsibilities
• Facilitating the initial complaint of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
• Proactive approaches
The format and style of the training will be participative comprising a number of practical presentations, discussions, and case studies/role play.

DRCC has been providing training on the awareness and prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment since 1988 to private companies, state and semi state bodies, industry and voluntary organisations.

We can also provide this training as an in-company course.

Cost: The fee for attending this seminar is €260.  There is a reduced fee of €120 for participants from voluntary organisations.

Please complete the application form and forward with fee or information as to who to invoice to: The Education and Training Department, DRCC, 70 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. For further information contact Leonie O’Dowd, or Jane Baird at 01 6614911 or email leonie@rcc.ie
Dignity at Work
Preventing and Dealing with Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment

A Training Seminar for Managers, HR Professionals, Equality Officers, Trade Union Representatives and others in key roles.
Date: Wednesday 25th January 2012
Venue: The Rape Crisis Centre, 70 Lower Leeson Street Dublin 2.
I wish to attend the Training Seminar ‘Dignity at Work: Preventing and Dealing with
Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace’ on
Wednesday 25th January 2012
Name: ——————————————————————————-
Company/organisation:———————————————————-
Address:——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Telephone:———————— Mobile:————————– email:——————————-

Position/role within company/organisation:———————————

Do you have any special requirements re facilities?

_____________________________________________________________________
I enclose Fee of €260           ˜
Reduced fee of €120 ˜ (for voluntary organisations)

Or: please send invoice to:
For further information contact Leonie O’Dowd or Jane Baird at 01 6614911 or email leonie@rcc.ie

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop Chief Executive of DRCC said: “Last year there were 1,784 calls to the National 24 hour helpline for rape and sexual abuse, during December and January. In October this year 31 people were accompanied to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in the Rotunda by DRCC trained volunteers. These figures are very worrying. We know that the levels of Domestic and Sexual Violence escalate during recession times. This is borne out by the numbers of people we are accompanying to SATU in the Rotunda.

We have devised the following information in the hope that we can reach as many people as possible this Christmas and New Year period and help to prevent this crime being committed.”

Some facts to keep in mind this Christmas and New Year Period
• The legal age of consent for having sex is 17
• Under current Irish Law a person is guilty of raping another person, if they are reckless in their decision to pursue sexual contact without that person’s consent
• If a person has sex with another person without their consent it is a crime
• A person may not give their consent freely if they are asleep, are unconscious or severely impaired due to alcohol, are mentally impaired , are under 17 or have been coerced in any other way that is deemed to be reckless
• When a person is taken advantage of in any of these circumstances whereby they have not given their consent freely, they suffer the huge trauma of the effects of being raped
Some Tips to keeping safe this Christmas
• Always look out for each other and be part of a group
• Try not to get separated from your group
• Keep your drink in your hand at all times
• Do not accept a drink from someone you have just met even if he/she is a friend of a friend
• Ask someone you know and trust, to mind your drink if you have to leave it for whatever reason
• Trust your instincts; if you feel uncomfortable in a place or with someone, leave as soon as possible
• Nominate a Designated Minder for each group of 6
• Share Taxis with friends
• Make sure your mobile is charged at all times and keep the helpline free phone number
1800 77 88 88 stored in it
• If you have to travel alone, make sure you phone ahead to where you are going and give your estimated time of arrival. Make sure your driver hears you phoning ahead
• Remember 8 out of 10 victims are raped by someone known to them

Steps to be taken in the event of a rape or sexual assault:
• Call the National 24 hour Helpline if you need the help of a Rape Crisis Centre for a recent rape or childhood sexual abuse,
• If you are a family member or a friend and don’t know what to do when someone close to you has disclosed that they have been raped or sexually assaulted call this number and you will get the help you need
• Contact your parents or Guardian or a friend
• You may choose to report the incident to the Gardai
• Get the medical support you need

Our aim is to offer a safe and confidential space where women and men of all ages can be listened to and supported without shame or self-blame.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive DRCC said: The DRCC will always welcome the publication of reports into allegations of child sex abuse so that the victims/survivors can get justice. It is important that we as a society can learn from the terrible ignorance and atrocities of the past so that these atrocities will not be repeated in the future. However, to have this report published Christmas week is insensitive to put it at its mildest. Victims calling the National 24 hour helpline are angry and upset at the timing of this publication, as Christmas is an emotive time for them anyway.

However, we hope that the publication of Chapter 9 in full, will give those survivors of clerical sexual abuse validation, and that they know that their stories are truly believed, and that the cover up that was endemic in the Cloyne diocese has now been exposed in its entirety.

There are two very important numbers available for any person who needs support as a consequence of these revelations ; the HSE National Counselling Service Helpdesk 1 800 234 116 and the Rape Crisis Centre National 24 hour helpline 1 800 77 88 88. Anyone needing support and/or help will be given what they need by ringing either of these numbers.

The Children First Guidance Document was updated and published earlier in the year by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald. It is without doubt an excellent guide to everyone who has any contact with children so that our children can be safe. We urge that it is implemented throughout the country and that the Minister move on putting Children First on a statutory footing.

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Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop Chief Executive DRCC, said: “The conclusions of Ian Elliot in his audit of the 6 diocese is that lessons have been learned and that current practice and the handling of accusations of clerical child sex abuse is positive. However there were appropriate criticisms of how these allegations were handled in the past.

The clients availing of the services of the Dublin Rape Crisis centre whose allegations were not handled appropriately in the past may not find much comfort in these reports. We would hope that the apologies that are repeated in the reports will go some way to helping these survivors on their road to recovery.”

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Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop Chief Executive DRCC said: “Over the past number of years Ireland has demonstrated its commitment to tackling the problem of gender based violence in our society through the development of the National Strategy on the Prevention of Domestic , Sexual and Gender Based Violence by the Cosc office in the Department of Justice and Equality.

Today with the launch of Ireland’s National Action Plan for the Implementation of the United Nations Security Resolution 1325, which was adopted in 2000 and is recognition of the unique and disproportionate impact of conflict globally on women and girls, Ireland is demonstrating its commitment to tackling the problem globally as well as nationally. We welcome this initiative and very happy to see that the plan is for IMPLEMENTATION.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre continues to respond to the needs of women who have been the victims of rape and sexual abuse in their countries of origin including asylum seekers, refugees, trafficked women and migrant workers. Rape is too often used as a weapon of war in conflict torn countries in the world. The centre also continues to respond to the needs of women and girls in Ireland who have been victims of rape and sexual abuse.

This year alone the volunteers of the DRCC have accompanied 255 victims of rape and sexual violence to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit of the Rotunda Hospital up to the end of October 2011. This is a very sad reflection on Irish Society today. We must continue to work towards the elimination of this type of violence and we do so through prevention, awareness raising and education both nationally and globally.”

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The National 24 Hour Helpline for victims of Rape and Sexual Abuse has been inundated with callers to the line this past week.

The number 1 800 77 88 88 was displayed on screen after an episode of Coronation Street when there was a depiction of a very violent sex attack. The number also went up on screen during the Late Late Show on Friday night, after Ryan Tubrity interviewed three sisters who were survivors of childhood sexual abuse by their father.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive DRCC, said: “The three sisters, who were interviewed on the Late Late Show on Friday night on the foot of the publication of their book “Clic Click” are a wonderful example to the many victims of rape and childhood sexual abuse, that there is life after terrible trauma. Not only are they able to get on with their own lives with hope and humour, but they are generously sharing their experiences through their book, so that others can be helped and given hope.
There were many first time callers to the National 24 Hour Helpline on Friday night, who called the number after it went up on screen. They are beginning their journey to recovery following the wonderfual example of these three courageous and gererous sisters. The Rape Crisis Centre also acknowledges that not everyone is ready to begin their journey yet, but we would urge anyone who needs support and help and feels ready to take thatfirst step, to do so and to call 1 800 77 88 88 where there is always a trained person at the end of the line. ”

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Angela McCarthy, Head of Clinical Services, DRCC said: “Getting the Leaving Cert Results is one of those very important rites of passage for young men and women in Ireland today. Like all rites of passage it is a transitional time and as such young people still need support in making the life changes that leaving school and the Leaving Cert results, bring. The DRCC has devised a list of common sense tips that have been created in consultation with young men and women to help them when they are dealing with the consequences that this particular transition time brings.

It has become a tradition for some young people to go away together to celebrate their Leaving Cert results. This may be the first time that the Class of 2011 will be away for an extended period without the support and supervision of an adult. While this can be very freeing it can also be scary. These tips may seem simple but they are extremely useful and from feedback we have received, they have helped a lot of young people to stay safe and as a result have a memorable and great time together without the adults.”

There are two parts to the Staying Safe Tips; Section 1 is for prevention and Section 2 is what to do in the event of a rape or a sexual assault happening.

Staying Safe Section 1

PREVENTION

• Look out for each other
• Do not get separated from your group
• Keep your drink in your hand at all times
• Do not accept a drink from someone you have just met
• Ask a friend to mind your drink if you have to leave
• Stay in popular places and do not go to remote places
• Nominate a Designated Minder for each group of 6 (in the same way as Designated Drivers are used)
• Share Taxies and lifts
• If you have to travel alone make sure you have phoned ahead to where you are going and give your estimated the time of arrival
• Make sure your mobile is charged at all times

Be aware having sexual intercourse with a person without their consent constitutes rape

Staying Safe Section 2

Steps to take if a bad incident occurs

• Key this number into your mobile phone 1 800 77 88 88 *
• Have your mobile phone charged at all times
• If you wish to report the crime, report it to the Gardai
• Seek medical help
• If you are abroad get in touch with your travel agent
• Have the number of the Irish Embassy or Consulate keyed into your phone

*Contact the National 24 Hour Helpline for rape and sexual abuse 1 800 77 88 88 where you will get support and guidance for Victims, Family and Friends

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52.35% of  DRCC’s clients sought counselling for childhood sexual abuse in 2010, an increase of 4.62% compared to 2009 and a 30% increase compared to 2003

Today, Eibhlin Byrne, Chairperson of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, introduced its Annual Report and Annual Statistics 2010 and said:

“This report serves as a stark reminder to all, of the prevalence of physical and sexual violence in our society.  Of those new therapeutic clients represented in this report (where the reporting status was known) only 30.34% were reported to Gardai and only 6.17% were tried.  For each person having the courage to seek support and a start towards recovery there are very many more suffering in that most awful of isolations. The statistics presented by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre are the tip of a very deep iceberg and it is incumbent on all who read this report to make a genuine commitment to creating a culture where such violations are not tolerated.  Last week An Taoiseach began a debate about what it is to be a 21st century Republic.  If we truly wish to respect the courage of those attending the DRCC and value the work done there, if we have heard the pain of 9,000+ counselling calls, then we clearly need to articulate our rejection of sexual violence.  Above all we need to lift the veil of indifference from a society inured to the suffering of so many of its citizens.”

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 2010 Statistics:

• 11,618 calls were handled by the DRCC’s National 24-hour Helpline in 2010.
• 9,141 were genuine*counselling calls (*when hoax, hang-up, silent and obscene calls are excluded.)
• 83% of callers were female and 17% of callers were male. (This compared to 18% male callers in 2009 and 14% in 2008)
• 3,382 calls were from first time callers. The impact of the Murphy report published in November 2009 was evident in the increase in first time callers to the Helpline in the first quarter of 2010.  979 first-time calls were received compared to 857 first-time calls in the same quarter of 2009, showing an increase of 14%.The first-time calls for the first quarter of 2010 amounted to 29% of all first-time calls to the Helpline in 2010.
• While the total number of first time calls in 2009 was higher due to the publication of the Ryan and Murphy reports, (N=4,188) the number of first time calls in 2010 (3,382) remained elevated compared to first time calls in 2008 (N=2,959) showing an increase in 2010 of 14.29% in comparison with 2008.
• 3,239 repeat calls were received.
• 41.91% of calls related to adult rape, an increase of 8.58% compared to 2009 statistics, when 38.33% of calls related to adult rape.
• 50.39% of calls related to adult sexual violence, including rape (41.91%), sexual assault ( 6.15%), sexual harassment (1.09%) and drug related rape (1.24%), an overall increase of 3.39% compared to 2009 statistics where 47% of calls related to adult sexual violence.
• 49.61% of calls related to childhood sexual abuse, including ritual abuse and suspected abuse, compared to 53% in 2009 and 45% in 2008.
• The ratio of calls relating to CSA and adult sexual violence was almost 50:50 in 2010, compared to 53:47 in 09 and 45:55 in 2008.
• 294 victims of rape and sexual assault were accompanied by DRCC’s trained volunteers at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital, an increase of 2.79 % on 2009 figures (N=286) and of 3.52% compared to 2008 figures (N=284).
• There was a significant increase in the number of non-Irish nationals accessing the helpline in 2010. While the majority (93.64%) of callers  were of Irish nationality, 6.36% of calls were from non-Irish nationals, compared to just under 1% in 2009, from the E.U. ( 2.01%) U.K. (1.83%) Africa (1.34%), US and Canada (0.47), Asia (0.47%), Latin America ( 0.15%) , Russia (0.06%), and Australia (0.03%).

Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, CEO of DRCC said “There has been an increase of 4.63% in clients seeking therapy for childhood sexual abuse in 2010. This reflects the impact of the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports in 2009.  Since 2003 the number of clients seeking therapy for child sexual abuse has increased by 30%. While these statistics are shocking, it is a testament to the excellent work of the centre that so many victims and survivors are confident of availing of the services; from support, to counselling, to court and sexual assault treatment unit accompaniment, to legal advice and information.
While 52.35% of the clients are victims of childhood sexual abuse, the other 47.65% are victims of recent and past rape and adult sexual violence. This tells a very disturbing story about our present Irish society. Many of the rapes and sexual assaults perpetrated on both men and women, are accompanied by additional types of violence including physical violence, intimidation and psychological abuse.

The DRCC needs the continued commitment and support of Government to ensure that it is able to deliver its much needed services. The professional and caring services are delivered by 9 full time and 25 part time staff and a cohort of 70 trained volunteers. The centre operates the National 24 hour helpline (1800 77 88 88) and is open 6 days a week. This is a service that is without doubt value for money but it will not be able to continue to deliver at the current rate of demand unless the government grant is realistically stabilised and certainly not cut as it has been over the past 3 years.”

Counselling and Psychotherapy Services
Client profile

• 549 clients were seen for crisis counselling and psychotherapy. Of these 12 .75 % were men and 87.25% were women.
• 79.15% of clients resided in the greater Dublin area, while 20.85% resided in 14 other counties.
• 52.35% of clients were dealing with childhood sexual abuse (CSA), an increase of 4.62% compared to 2009 figures.
• This was the highest percentage of clients attending for CSA in eight years, clearly reflecting the impact of the Murphy and Ryan reports on the counselling service in 2010. However, an analysis of our statistics shows a steady increase year on year since 2003, with an over all increase of 30% in the number of clients attending for CSA between 2003 and 2010.
• Overall, 47.75 % of clients attended for counselling in relation to adult rape ( 38.57%)
•  sexual assault (7.94%), sexual harassment (0.65%) and drug rape (0.49%).
• In 2003, the ratio of clients dealing with CSA versus adult sexual violence was 35% CSA and 65% adult sexual violence. In 2009, the ratio was 47.73% CSA versus 52.27% adult sexual violence. In 2010 it was 52.35% CSA versus 47.65% adult sexual violence. The impact of the increased disclosure of sexual abuse over this period is evident, in particular the impact of the Ryan and Murphy Reports of 2009 on the 2010 therapy figures for CSA.
• Almost one third (31.66%) of clients reported experiencing other types of violence along with adult rape or childhood abuse. Of these clients, 46.2% had been abused as children and 53.8% had experienced sexual violence as an adult.
• Physical violence, psychological abuse and intimidation accounted for 86.76% of the additional violence reported by clients who had experienced adult rape/sexual assault and 83.2% of the additional violence experienced by victims of childhood sexual abuse.
• Service delivery
• DRCC’s therapists offered 5007 sessions in Leeson Street and four Outreach services in 2010.
• 3,790 individual appointments were delivered, a take-up rate of 75.69%
• Including 391 group therapy hours, a total of 4,181 individual and group client hours were delivered in 2010.
• The DRCC has shown its commitment to outreaching to local communities, through the establishment of its outreach services in Coolock, the Dochas Women’s Prison and Tallaght.  16.8% came from the counties accessible to outreach services in Coolock and Tallaght-Meath, Wicklow and Louth, while 1.82% came from Laois, Cavan and Monaghan.
• In Coolock services were offered by four therapists over three days a week and 467 individual sessions were delivered. This represents an increase of 5.66% compared to 2009 figures ( N=442)
• In Tallaght two therapists working on Saturdays offered 238 sessions, of which 168 were fulfilled. The number of appointments delivered to clients in Tallaght and the adjoining counties has almost trebled since the service opened in 2007.
• In 2005 the DRCC started a counselling service in the Dochas Centre, a medium security prison unit located in Mountjoy. A half day counselling service is offered once a week by one of our experienced therapists. In 2010, 104 sessions were completed, an increase of 37% when compared to 2008 figures.
• A pilot project to establish a DRCC outreach for people stabilised on methadone, in partnership with Tallaght Rehabilitation Project (TRP), was opened in the summer of 2009. In 2010, 59 appointments were offered and 39 were delivered, a take-up rate of 66%.

Reporting to the Gardai

Statistics provided in this section relate to 289 clients who commenced therapy in the DRCC in 2009, where the reporting status was known. It is worth noting that reporting and convictions in this context refer to clients seen by our service in the year 2009, although the reports and convictions have occurred in previous years.

• Of the 267 cases where the reporting status was known, 81 cases were reported to the Gardai, a reporting rate of 30.34%.
• 44.06 % of total rape and sexual assault cases were reported.
• 14.52 % of the total childhood sexual abuse cases were reported
• Of the 81 cases reported to the Gardai, 5 cases (6.17%) were tried, resulting in 4 convictions or guilty pleas, and 1 acquittal.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop concluded: “The continued support of these services will demonstrate this Government’s genuine commitment to implementing its promise to deliver on the recommendations of the Ryan Report and the many other excellent recommendations from previous reports and research, whose revelations have shocked this country and its citizens to its core.”

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive of the DRCC said: “The people calling the Helplines over the past 24 hours have been distraught at the continuation of the cavalier attitude towards the lack of action taken when victims and their families reported the crime of child sex abuse, as was evidenced in the Cloyne Report. There were over 300 calls made to the Helplines that are available for victims of sex abuse and their families and close friends, from the time of the launch to 8am this morning.
The courage that is needed to report such a crime, is huge on the part of the victim and their families and they must be supported and responded to appropriately and adequately when they come forward. The new legislation that Minister Shatter is preparing to strengthen child protection is very welcome and will go a long way to ensuring that the perpetrators and those who collude in continuing to keep the crime secret, will be punished appropriately. Minister Fitzgerald will be placing the revised Children First National Guidelines on a statutory basis. This will ensure greater protection for our children. The promised referendum to include the rights of the child in the Constitution will certainly complete the actions that are so necessary to stem the repetition of child sex abuse that we have witnessed each time a new report is published.”

The HSE Helpdesk Helpline No:  1 800 742 800 (8am -12 midnight)
DRCC National 24 Hour Helpline 1 800 77 8888

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