Latest news with #DeirdreKenny
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Irish Times
View that child sex abuse is a thing of the past ‘has allowed it to persist', says charity
Child sexual abuse is not an individual or historical issue but a systemic challenge that demands collective action, a new report from the support charity One in Four highlights. A Red C poll commissioned by the organisation found that 91 per of people believe Irish society has failed to address the issue, while 94 per cent acknowledge its serious impact on wellbeing and development. The attitudinal research funded by Community Foundation Ireland is the first of its kind in relation to child sexual abuse. The report states that child sexual abuse cannot continue to be viewed as 'something confined to the past or to certain institutions'. READ MORE 'It is happening today, in homes, schools, sports clubs, peer to peer and increasingly, through online spaces,' it states. 'Our collective inability to confront this uncomfortable reality has allowed it to persist, causing immeasurable harm.' It states that the current key barriers relate to 'invisibility, collapsing boundaries and explosiveness'. Invisibility refers to how abuse often happens out of sight and is rarely talked about. Survivors feel alone, and families and communities sometimes look away rather than face the reality, the report says. In terms of collapsing boundaries, the usual protections at home, in school and online are breaking down and social media and technology are making it easier for abuse to happen anywhere. Explosiveness refers to the idea that 'this topic is so emotional and overwhelming that people often avoid it or focus on the most shocking cases, instead of working towards real solutions', it adds. [ 'Their childhood stopped the day the abuse started': Almost 2,400 allegations of abuse in religious run-schools Opens in new window ] The principal recommendation of the report is for a preventive public health framework – acting at every level across society, before harm occurs. This starts with primary prevention: providing universal education across society in understanding healthy boundaries and the root causes of child sexual abuse. Secondary prevention focuses on recognising early warning signs and stepping in quickly to support those at risk, the report states. Deirdre Kenny, One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny, chief executive of One in Four, said the organisation witnessed every day 'the resilience it takes for survivors to come forward and the pain caused by silence and denial'. Report researcher Dr Karen Hand said: 'There is no ambiguity around the evidence that child sexual violence remains a key issue for Irish society and many of today's young people are having unwanted sexual experiences in person and online. 'Global best practice highlights that a preventive public health approach can ensure that every child and young person in Ireland is safe, supported and empowered.'
The Journal
01-05-2025
- The Journal
'National conversation' needed as half of survivors of childhood sexual violence haven't told anyone
A 'NATIONAL CONVERSATION' is needed as half of survivors of childhood sexual violence haven't talked to anyone about it, new research shows. Deirdre Kenny, Chief Executive of One in Four, a charity that helps adults who've been victims of child sex abuse, says a sense of shame around the topic in Ireland has been damaging for survivors. We need to start talking about this in a healthy and responsible way. In a 2022 survey about sexual violence, 29% of people across all age groups said they'd experienced sexual violence in childhood, in person and online. The figure rises to 41% among the 18-24 year old age group. New research by One in Four looked at attitudes towards childhood sexual violence. Kenny said that, while there have been a number of high-profile inquiries and reports published in recent years, prevention hasn't been prioritised. 'We constantly look at this through a rear view mirror, we haven't really been proactive about preventing it,' she said. 'This is a very difficult subject to talk about, and we know that survivors feel very alone with that, and often families and communities are not willing to really look at the reality of the situation.' Advertisement Irish women are twice as likely to experience child sexual violence versus males. However the gap between males and females is less pronounced in the area of non-contact child sexual violence Some 36% of women experienced child sexual violence, which is broadly in line with female adult sexual violence at a rate of 39%. But 22% of men have experienced child sexual violence, almost double the level of male adult sexual violence at 12%. The majority (80%) of contact offenders remain known to the victims. An authority figure was the offender in 12% of cases reported by people over 55 years old. This decreases to 1% in younger (18-24 year old) adults. With the young adult age group, the majority of people who offend are a friend or a romantic partner, who are likely to be young people themselves. The majority (70%) of non-contact offenders (online) also remain 'known' to the victims. The majority of adults have not disclosed child sexual violence to anyone, but women are twice as likely to share than men are. This lack of disclosure is more pronounced within older age groups. 'It's difficult to talk about, and the shame associated with it … we can't really come to terms with the prevalence of the issue. And so we need a national conversation,' said Kenny. One in Four is calling for universal education on childhood sexual violence, as well as more restriction in online spaces to protect children. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
40% of Irish adults know a survivor of child sexual abuse – One in Four survey
As many as 40% of people know someone who was sexually abused as a child, according to a poll. And 70% of people surveyed said they believe parents are 'uncomfortable' discussing safety and sex with their children. The findings are contained in a new report by One in Four, a charity working with survivors of childhood abuse and perpetrators of sexual violence. One in Four is urging the Government to show leadership and set up a new 'preventative public health framework' — across health, education, justice, and technology — to tackle the crisis. The report, Irish Attitudes to Tackling Child Sexual Abuse, jointly commissioned with Community Foundation Ireland, is due to be launched today by children's minister Norma Foley. A nationally representative survey of over 1,000 people found that more than 90% of respondents believed society had failed to address child sexual abuse. In addition, researcher Karen Hand also spoke to a range of experts, including therapists, and survivors of child abuse. The survey found: 88% of respondents said a 'whole of society' approach is needed to prevent and tackle child sexual abuse; 78% said pornography encourages more violent sexual desires; 69% said parents are uncomfortable discussing safety and sexuality with children; 81% support more penalties against tech companies that allow children access pornography online; 76% said a 'national conversation' on the issue is needed; 73% back smartphone restrictions for under-16s. The survey said 39% of people know someone who experienced sexual violence in childhood and a further 17% said they 'might or might not know' someone who had. One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny said the report identifies what has been holding the country back and why Ireland has 'struggled' to protect its children. Three 'barriers' to better child protection • She said 'invisibility' is a barrier, in that the abuse happens out of sight and is rarely talked about, leaving survivors feeling alone. • A second barrier the report identified was 'collapsing boundaries', in that the usual protections at home, at school, and online were breaking down with social media and technology making it 'easier for abuse to happen anywhere'. • A third barrier is 'explosiveness', describing how the topic is 'so emotional and overwhelming' for people to face and deal with. Social psychologist and report researcher Karen Hand with One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny ahead of today's launch of 'Irish Attitudes to Tackling Child Sexual Abuse'. Picture: One In Four Ms Kenny said child sexual abuse is often 'shrouded in silence and shame'. She said: 'This silence isolates survivors, perpetuates harm within families and communities, and creates significant barriers to meaningful change. 'It is clear we cannot continue to view child sexual abuse as something confined to the past or to certain institutions. It is happening today, in homes, schools, sports clubs, peer to peer and increasingly, through online spaces. Our collective inability to confront this uncomfortable reality has allowed it to persist, causing immeasurable harm.' The report said the proposed preventative public health framework involves primary prevention and secondary prevention, including intervention when there are early warning signs, and speedy professional support for survivors.
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Over 90pc of public think Irish society has failed to address child sexual abuse
A new report from charity One in Four, which will be launched today with Children's Minister Norma Foley in attendance, has found more than 80pc of people agree sexual violence is more common than acknowledged. While nearly one in three Irish people across all ages have experienced child sexual violence, either in person or online, this figure rises to 41pc among 18- to 24-year-olds, according to data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The report found 91pc of people believe Irish society has failed to address child sexual abuse, with 94pc acknowledging the serious impact it has on well-being and development. One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny said the research identifies 'what has been holding us back and why Ireland has struggled to protect our children from sexual abuse'. She said three barriers that have influenced the problem stand out in the research, including how abuse often happens 'out of sight and is rarely talked about'. 'Survivors feel alone, and families and communities sometimes look away rather than face the reality,' she said. Almost 85pc of people said pornography distorts children and young people's healthy sexual development Ms Kenny said there has also been a 'collapsing of boundaries' as 'the usual protections at home, in school and online are breaking down' and social media and technology are making it easier for abuse to happen anywhere. The 'explosiveness' of the topic, which is 'so emotional and overwhelming that people often avoid it or focus on the most shocking cases, instead of working towards real solutions', has also impeded progress, she said. Eighty-two per cent of people polled agreed sexual violence is more common than acknowledged, with 73pc believing it can be hard to spot the signs, a Red C poll found. Almost 85pc of people said pornography distorts children and young people's healthy sexual development, with 78pc believing it encourages depersonalised and more violent sexual experiences and desires. Two in five adults know someone who experienced sexual violence as a child, a figure 'significantly higher' among women and those living in Dublin. One in Four wants the Government to introduce a preventative public health framework that would include providing education on healthy boundaries and the root causes of child sexual abuse, a focus on recognising early-warning signs, providing survivors with timely support and preventing reoffending. Report researcher Dr Karen Hand said: 'Global best practice highlights that a preventative public health approach can ensure that every child and young person in Ireland is safe, supported and empowered.'
