Love & Sex 22nd March 2023 by Stellar Magazine

70% Of People Believe Consent Remains An Issue In Ireland

Sex, maybe. Fun, hopefully. Consent, always.

We-Consent, a long-term national campaign to inform, educate, and involve all sections of Irish society about consent, has just been launched by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), the Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, and Community Foundation Ireland. It is one of the first national consent campaigns to target all demographics.

The initiative aims to start an honest and meaningful debate about sex and relationships to bring about a more thorough understanding of consent. We-Consent will collaborate widely with oraganisations nationwide to ensure a non-judgmental, inclusive debate that is grounded in the lives and experiences of actual people.

According to DRCC research, 70% of individuals believe that consent is a problem in Ireland, and one-third of people find it embarrassing to discuss sex. A misperception of consent was also shown by the study, with 1 in 5 respondents saying that occasionally people refuse sex because they need persuasion.

Moving the debate toward sexual equality, the campaign will empower both men and women and leave individuals feeling valued, respected, and welcomed. The goal of We-Consent is to generate a positive cultural transformation by encouraging everyone to engage in meaningful and interesting dialogue.

4 Examples of What is not consent:

  1. Swiping right on Tinder does not equal consent
  2. Inviting someone in for tea after a night out does not equal consent
  3.  Going on date night with bae does not equal consent
  4. Being married does not equal consent

Over the years Ireland has made great progress as a nation but now, in 2023, it’s evident we still need to educate ourselves on consent and work towards being a safer community.

The We-Consent campaign will run for the following three years, with workshops and communication efforts planned nationally. Information will be made available with the intention of fostering inclusive, forward-thinking dialogue, enlightening and involving the public.

For anyone who may be affected or needs help the DRCC’s National 24-hour Helpline is 1800 77 88 88.

Picture via Pixabay

By Zana Zee Keough. 

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