New national survey reveals greater recognition of sexual violence & victims in Irish society but ‘rape myths’ persisting

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre study highlights growing public awareness of sexual violence, but incidences continue to be underreported

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has today published national research shedding light on public attitudes towards and personal experiences of sexual violence in Ireland.

The survey, carried out by IPSOS B&A in February 2025 and funded via Community Foundation Ireland, reveals widespread concerns about sexual assault and violence, the high prevalence of sexual assault, and the significant challenges faced by victims in reporting incidents and seeking support. Nevertheless, there are stark contradictions and contrasts in the findings, with this public concern clashing with disturbing strains of mistrust and victim-blaming, particularly among younger men, but found across every age group. This tallies with fears cited by victims and survivors around reporting or disclosing sexual violence.

Prevalence of sexual violence in Ireland

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s research highlights the stark reality of sexual violence in Ireland: Almost three in ten adults report having been a victim of some form of sexual violence, with 5% reporting they have been raped,* Furthermore, 45% of people report knowing someone who has experienced sexual violence.

The survey also points to a gender disparity, with prevalence of sexual assault nearly twice as high amongst women compared to men. However, the public thinks additional supports need to be put in place for men with 87% agreeing that society should do more to recognise the issue of male sexual violence.

Perceptions

The survey indicates a high level of public awareness and concern, with 31% of Irish adults stating they are extremely concerned about the issue of rape or sexual violence. Furthermore, an average of 16% feel personally at risk. There is a strong gender dimension to the perception of safety with more than 8 in 10 men feeling absolutely or generally safe from sexual violence, compared with under half of women (48%).

There is a strong public perception of systemic challenges for victims of sexual violence, with 76% agreeing that sexual offence victims have a harder time than other victims during a trial.

The survey also identifies a prevailing belief among the public that disclosure for victims remains difficult, with the majority assuming that victims find the experience too traumatic or personal to share, often preferring to conceal or forget it in order to move on.

Reporting Sexual Violence

Despite a high level of public awareness, there is a small but concerning cohort who doubt claims by victims of sexual assault: 20% believe false allegations are common, 11% think that someone should not be believed unless there is a guilty verdict in court and 12% think that if someone doesn’t report an incident to the Gardaí they should not be believed.

In contrast, the survey reveals significant under-reporting of sexual violence: A staggering 71% of victims did not report the incident(s) to the Gardaí; 70% did not seek medical treatment following the experience and 59% did not seek counselling or support services.

Commenting on the results, Rachel Morrogh, CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said:

“It’s encouraging to see that the Irish public is extremely concerned about sexual violence as an issue and that they understand that it is very common. This high level of concern alongside a belief that sexual violence is increasing, is underlined by almost 1 in 2 people saying they know someone who has experienced sexual violence.

“However, it also reveals unsettling contradictions in our society on this issue. There is a marked gender gap in how safe from sexual violence people feel, with women feeling much less so than their male counterparts. In addition, small but significant cohorts believe false rape allegations are common, that rape and sexual violence is exaggerated by media, and say they would not believe a survivor unless they reported to police or had a guilty verdict in court. There are variations between genders around these views, but - very starkly - among men there is a marked difference in attitudes depending on age, with young men aged under 25 up to 7 times more likely to hold victim-blaming views than older age groups – such as 28% of 16-24 year old males believe people make a big deal about sexual violence when it’s not really, compared to 4% of men aged 55-64. This is a gap we must urgently close.

“This mistrust of survivors is borne out in the findings that people who have experienced sexual violence are not reporting to Gardai or disclosing to others because they fear not being believed and public stigma. This confirms what Dublin Rape Crisis Centres hears from survivors regularly – that they have not shared their story because they thought they would not be believed. Victim-blaming is not a harmless act. It silences survivors and deters them from seeking support, justice or healing. It is why most perpetrators face no consequence for the harm they have inflicted. These attitudes, laid bare by this research, are perpetuating a deeply harmful cycle in our society and we must break it.

“The survey also underscores the urgent need for continued action to support survivors and challenge the societal norms that contribute to under-reporting and victim-blaming; the high prevalence of violence combined with extremely low reporting to authorities highlights systemic barriers within our support structures and justice system that must be addressed. Greater access to specialised support services, trauma-informed justice processes, and continued public awareness efforts are crucial to support victims of sexual assault and hold perpetrators to account," Rachel Morrogh continued.

Charlene Masterson, survivor of sexual violence and activist, said:

“The level of concern in society about sexual violence in the survey was surprising, but what did not surprise me was the high level of victim-blaming it reveals. This is exactly why survivors are so hesitant not only to report to the gardai, but to seek help from support organisations or to even confide in friends or family. Victims are always doubted – you regularly hear, why did she stay, or why didn’t he scream – but almost never, why did he rape her? It is beyond time people realised we are actually living in a sexual violence epidemic and unless attitudes change, it will only get worse.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added:

“Efforts to combat and end sexual violence must be rooted in and informed by research, evidence and facts. Today Community Foundation Ireland is proud to join our long-standing partner the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to add to that knowledge.

“It is a partnership which is a perfect fit for Irish philanthropy and our supporters who are committed to identifying and implementing solutions as we work towards strong communities where everyone has a sense of belonging. That inclusion and that equality must extend to everyone forced to live with the threat, abuse and danger of sexual violence.”

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain stated:

“I am troubled to see the finding that fewer than 1 in 2 women in Ireland feel safe from sexual violence. All too often women live in fear of sexual violence and pay the price for either the real or perceived threat of violence against them. This research shows that women also don’t feel safe in coming forward after an incident of sexual violence and I want to encourage anyone who is facing the trauma of sexual violence alone, to contact the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 1800 77 88 88. Safety in its truest sense means building a society where survivors are believed, supported, and empowered and where perpetrators are held accountable. We all have a role to play in making this a reality and it is a key priority for me in my role of Lord Mayor.”

The research highlights the complex reality of sexual violence in Ireland – its prevalence, the profound impact on victims, and the significant hurdles they face in seeking help and accountability.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre hopes to secure funding to publish an annual survey on public attitudes towards sexual violence in Ireland.

ENDS

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Notes to Editors

You can download a briefing note on the findings here.

You can also view a short video summarising the findings here.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is a non-governmental, voluntary organisation which has as its mission to prevent the harm and heal the trauma of sexual violence. It offers a suite of services to victims and survivors of sexual violence, and campaigns to raise awareness of sexual violence and its impact in society as well as its prevention. It also offers a wide range of training and education to professionals and volunteers. 

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre operates the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 778888 to support anyone affected by sexual violence in any part of the country. A web chat support service is available online at drcc.ie Mon-Fri, 10 am-5pm and from 00:-3:00 Tuesday and Wednesday. A Helpline Interpreting Service is available for those who do not speak English Mon-Fri, 8am-18:30, and every day 00:00-8:00- more at https://bit.ly/DRCClang

For those contacting the Helpline who are deaf or hard of hearing, we provide a text service, operating Mon-Fri from 8 am to 6:30 pm, at 086-8238443 and we also have a webchat service available Monday-Friday, 10 am to 5 pm, except holidays.

We ask that when reporting on this topic, journalists should remember that discussions on sexual violence can trigger personal trauma in those receiving the information. Where possible, please refer to the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 77 88 88 for anyone who may be affected by the report. 

The research was funded by an anonymous donor through Community Foundation Ireland.

*CSO data from 2022 finds that experience of sexual violence is far higher than reported in this survey, with 40% of the population experiencing sexual violence. Recent Garda data on reported crime recorded by the CSO indicated that in 2024 there was an increase in sexual crime being reported, and sexual violence helpline metrics indicate an upwards trajectory year on year per Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s own data.

Reasons for the different levels of self-reporting are likely due to the methodologies employed in the survey - The CSO survey focused on respondents’ experiences of a broad spectrum of sexual violence and harassment experiences, with an extensive list of what constitutes sexual violence outlined. The IPSOS survey did not include a definition of sexual assault/violence, meaning respondents may have been less likely to include experiences of harassment or assault, as they might interpret ‘violence’ as needing to involve ‘force’.