Rape Crisis awareness campaign

[Posted: Wed 29/10/2008 www.irishhealth.com]

The number of rape and sexual assault victims attending the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in  Dublin's Rotunda Hospital and accompanied by staff from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) more than doubled between 2001 and 2007.

The DRCC, which today launched its second awareness-raising campaign, said the campaign was aimed at encouraging the victims of rape and sexual abuse to lift the phone and dial the national helpline number 1800 77 88 88

DRCC Chief Executive Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop said this will hopefully be their first step towards the promise that there is a new beginning at the end of the line for every person who makes that call.”

The second phase of the awareness campaign will be launched in January with three specially designed television advertisements.

The DRCC said while €2.4 million was made available in the December 2006 Budget to update its existing sexual assault units in Dublin, Letterkenny, Waterford and Cork and to open two new units, no new unit has come on stream yet.