NWCI calls for strengthening of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015

Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) welcomes the publication today of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill that aims to strengthen our laws on tackling all forms of violence against women and girls, however is very concerned at the significant gaps to protect victims of sexual violence.

Jacqueline Healy, NWCI Health and Human Rights Officer said
“The Bill introduces many important and much needed reforms to protect, in particular, children, but there remain significant gaps to protect women who are victims of sexual violence. NWCI is very concerned at the absence of a definition of consent in the Bill. Such a definition exists in other jurisdictions like the UK and Canada, as it is very difficult to prove absence of consent in sexual offence cases. A statutory definition of consent would challenge the stereotypes on rape and spell out the elements necessary to constitute genuine consent to sexual engagement".

“NWCI is also very concerned at the removal of provisions contained in the Heads of the Bill, published in November 2014, to protect victims, supervise and monitor sex offenders on their release from prison. While we acknowledge, the Minister has stated that these provisions will be taken up in further legislation, NWCI believes that this should be a priority,” she continued.

Ms Healy, stated that “NWCI and its members further welcome the provision in Section 20 of the Bill to criminalise the purchase of sex. However it is disappointing that the Bill does not repeal the offence of soliciting for street prostitution. We acknowledge that Minister Fitzgerald confirmed today that she is examining the possibility of introducing proposals which would fully decriminalise persons offering sexual services, we believe this requires an immediate resolution.”

Jacqueline Healy concluded,
“NWCI reiterates its call for Ireland to urgently sign the Council of Europe Convention on Combating Violence against Women and speedily work towards its ratification. This is the only way we can be sure that our laws and policies meet international best standards in tackling all forms of violence against women and girls.”

For more information please contact, Head of Communications at NWCI, Silke Paasche, 0858589104