The scale of child sexual abuse

Before 2002, sexual abuse figures available in Ireland were based on only the numbers seeking counselling or reporting sexual abuse to gardaí. But SAVI (Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland ) revealed the true extent of abuse

The findings of the survey on child sexual abuse are summarised in the following data in answer to questions asked of participants in the survey:

› During your childhood or adolescence, did anyone ever show you or persuade you to look at pornographic material in any way that made you feel uncomfortable? Men 6.7 per cent (representing 91,000 men, based on the 2001 census); Women: 2.7 per cent (representing 24,000 women).

› Did anyone ever make you or persuade you to take off your clothes or have you pose alone or with others in a sexually suggesting way? Men 1.0 per cent (13,300 men); Women 1.3 per cent (18,000 women).

› As a child or adolescent, did anyone expose their sexual organs to you? Men: 12.5 per cent (170,000 men); Women 20.6 per cent (280,000 women).

› During this time did anyone masturbate in front of you? Men: 6.2 per cent (84,000 men); Women: 5.3 per cent (75,000 women).

› Did anybody touch your body, including your breast or genitals in a sexual way? Men: 11.2 per cent (152,000 men); Women: 14.9 per cent (210,000 women).

› During your childhood or adolescence, did anyone try to have you arouse them, or touch their body in a sexual way? Men: 9.7 per cent (132,000 men); Women: 9.0 per cent (127,000 women).

› Did anyone rub their genitals against your body in a sexual way? Men: 6.6 per cent (90,000 men); Women 10.1 per cent (141,000 women).

› Did anyone attempt to have sexual intercourse with you? Men: 3.0 per cent (41,000 men); Women: 4.6 per cent (65,000 women).

› Did anyone succeed in having sexual intercourse with you? Men: 1.1 per cent (15,000 men); Women: 1.7 per cent (24,000 women).

› Did anyone make you have oral sex? Men: 1.1 per cent (14,000 men); Women: 0.9 per cent (13,000 women).

› Did a man make you or persuade you to have anal sex? Men: 0.9 per cent (12,000 men); Women: 0.3 per cent (42,000 women).

› Did anyone put their fingers or objects in your vagina or anus? Men: 0.6 per cent (8,000); Women: 4.4 per cent: 62,000).

SAVI was initiated by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and funded by Atlantic Philanthropies, with additional funding from the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.