Minister for Health & Children Mary Harney TD launches 2009 Sexual Assault Treatment Unit Report
Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health & Children yesterday (April 19th 2010) launched the 2009 Annual Report of the National Sexual Assault Treatment Units.Currently there are 6 Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) located around the country located at The Rotunda Hospital (Dublin), South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (Cork), Waterford Regional Hospital, Midlands Hospital (Mullingar), Galway and Letterkenny.
National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014
This strategy is a statement of Government priority actions to address domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland in the five-year period from early 2010 to the end of 2014. The Government is concerned at the consistent prevalence and the high level of non-disclosure or non-reporting of incidences of domestic, sexual and genderbased violence. The strategy sets out a plan for ‘whole-of-government’ action for a more effective system to prevent these types of violence. Six government departments, their agencies and up to 100 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are involved in work relevant to the prevention and alleviation of abuse. The strategy aims to provide a strong framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Éimear Fisher Executive Director, Cosc launched the Pregnancy and Domestic Abuse: A Routine Screening Model DVD on Monday the 24 of May 2010 at the Cork University Maternity Hospital.
Publication of An Garda Síochána’s policy on the investigation of sexual crime, crimes against children and child welfare
The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has emphasised the importance of combining professionalism with sensitivity and compassion in the investigation of sexual crimes.
In a statement to announce the publication on the Garda website (www.garda.ie) of An Garda Síochána’s policy on the investigation of sexual crime, crimes against children and child welfare, the Commissioner said:
“It is the duty of the Gardaí to investigate fully all incidents of sexual crime and child abuse reported to them. These cases require special care and attention because of the often vulnerable circumstances in which victims find themselves. The positive and compassionate attitude of members of the Garda Síochána towards victims of such crimes is vital to ensuring that any investigation is brought to a successful conclusion for the complainant. That is a key aspect of this document.
In making our policy available to members of the public, our objective is to ensure maximum confidence in our investigation methods, our skills and resources for dealing with these difficult crimes. The policy draws together all existing directives and guidance on the investigation of sexual crime and crimes against children and is also informed by a number of recent reports and studies on this area including the Ryan Commission to inquire into Child Abuse, the Murphy Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, a report on the experience of victims of rape and sexual assault recently commissioned by the Rape Crisis Network.”
He continued:
“While An Garda Síochána has significant expertise and experience in the investigation of sexual offences and crimes against children, we can only deploy those skills and resources when we are made aware of the need for them. We would urge on all individuals and organisations with responsibility for children the importance of being alert to signs of abuse. Where abuse is identified or suspected, people must report it to An Garda Síochána to enable us to take the necessary steps to protect and vindicate the rights of victims.”
1. This policy is the work of a group chaired by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations Martin Callinan which reviewed work practices and methodologies for the investigation of sexual abuse cases. The group included key individuals within the organisation including Detective Superintendent John McCann, head of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit (DVSAIU) and other experienced investigators of all ranks within An Garda Síochána.
2. The new Sexual Crime Management Unit will be headed by an experienced Detective Inspector, will be adequately resourced and will report to the Detective Superintendent in the DVSAIU within the overall National Support Services framework.
To read the full policy document please click here.
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The Sexual Violence Centre is one of the charities that Anja has chosen to donate to and the centre would like to wish Anja all the best with her journey and would like to thank her.
The walk will start in St James’ Well in Ardfield on the 27 May at noon. The first stop will be Clonakilty, West Cork, Anja will then travel to Dublin which gives her the opportunity to meet as many people as she can. From Dublin she will walk along the coast to Rosslare in Co. Wexford where she will take the boat to Roscoff in France. She will follow the French coastline down to the mouth of the Gironde just above Bordeaux where on the Point Grave she will join the Voie Littorale one of the four medieval Camino routes over Bayonne. From here her journey will come together on the Voie Francese a little before Burgos and finally then on to Santiago de Compostella.
To visit Anja’s website please click here.
Anja will be updating her travel blog regularly to follow her progress please click here.
Check back to this website as we will be keeping an update of Anja’s progress.
If you would like to donate to the centre please click link below.
In the modern European city of Dublin comes another new recruit to the sex trade. Trafficked in the back of a van, young African girl Taiwo, believes she is about to start a new life free from the oppression at home. But she soon finds that she is trapped in the dark seedy underworld of vice and drugs of a city living the Celtic Tiger. She meets small time hood Keely, who unwittingly seals both their fates when he steals her from the gangsters she was supposed to work for.
The Story
Starring Ruth Negga and Karl Shiels, the films narrative is a love story with a controversial message within an underworld thriller.
Ruth Negga plays Taiwo, a young and naïve illegal immigrant to Dublin destined for a life of enforced prostitution. Seeking freedom from oppression, she escapes her traffickers, but is ‘befriended’ by small-time crook Keely (Karl Shiels), who guides her back into the world of vice and drugs via a job in a lap dance club. A strange relationship develops of mutual dependence and mutual exploitation.
In the club, the manipulations of Tony (Martin Dunne), the proprietor, and Cherry (Nellie Conroy) his partner, coupled with the need for survival, lead her deeper into this world. In the background the minions of gang boss McManus (Niall O’Brien) look for their masters prize.
Reviews
Dublin has never looked so grim or so unwelcoming than in Ciarán O’Connor’s gritty inner city nightmare in which the naïve and innocent are exploited and corrupted by a malevolent underworld populated by gangsters, pimps and whores.
Boasting excellent performances from Sheils and Negga, Trafficked is an unflinching depiction of the well-hidden urban sub-class that now, sadly, appears to exist in almost all major cities. It is relentless and nasty, realistic and confrontational in its attitude to the 21st Century sex trade and its young, often anonymous, victims. It also hints at a much wider malaise; Keely, the petty crook, is merely the tip of an iceberg of malice. And as Taiwo drifts through the dark, brutal and unforgiving streets of an unfamiliar city, she inadvertently, but constantly, moves up to another level of manipulation, subjugation and control.
Reminiscent of both Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa and Lukas Moodysson’s Lilja 4-Ever with elements of Tony Scott’s True Romance, Trafficked is a striking, uncompromising debut by writer/director O’Connor, and bodes well for future projects. One to watch.
Event Guide
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“This unflinching, bleak drama has been achieved with a strong cast (in which Russell is outstanding), visual imagination and narrative flair on a very small budget.”
Trafficked premiers on 19th May, with a nationwide release 21st May.
It will be playing at:
Dublin
Cineworld, Parnell Street / The Screen, d’Olier Street / Dun Laoghaire Multiplex
Cork
Mahon Omniplex
Galway
Galway Omniplex
The Lord Mayor & Lady Mayoress held a concert to celebrate International Women’s Day in City Hall on March 8 2010
The concert was in aid of Cork’s Sexual Violence Centre and the Women of Concern (Haiti). The centre was delighted with the respose and thank everyone for their time and contributions.
Run, walk or crawl the Cork Women’s Mini Marathon on September 26 2010.
Please contact the centre to get free t-shirts and sponsorship cards.
Telephone:1800 496 496
Email: info@sexualviolence.ie
Look forward to hearing from you!
Cork City Marathon 2010
If you are planning to participate in this year’s Cork City Marathon, as an individual or as part of a relay team please consider supporting the Sexual Violence Centre by getting friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you. Please contact the Centre for a free t-shirt and sponsorship cards.
Call 021-4505577 or email info@sexualviolence.ie.
You can register online at Cork City Marathon.
Press Release: One in Four has called for an integrated national response to childhood sexual abuse
One in Four has called for an integrated national response to childhood sexual abuse in light of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse in a range of settings including the family, the community, and in the Catholic Church.