Observatory Submission to Law Reform Commission:Investigate the most appropriate specialized domestic, sexual and gender based violence court sytems
Published: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
The Law Reform Commission has begun initial preparations for a new Programme of Law Reform and in that respect has invited submissions as to areas of law that may be in need of reform. In that respect the National Observatory on Violence Against Women made a submission asking the Commission to investigate the most appropriate specialized domestic, sexual and gender based violence court systems. Ireland’s consistently low prosecution rates, low conviction rates, as well as the high attrition rates, concerning domestic, sexual and gender based crimes, exemplify why our traditional courts system is ineffective in dealing with these types of crimes. It is imperative that this is addressed; otherwise the recognition of new gender based offences, such as the commission of FGM, will undoubtedly be subjected to similar treatment, thereby guaranteeing similar poor outcomes. For more information on this area, please read the Observatory’s Paper. The Observatory was established in 2002 and is chaired by NWCI and comprises of 18 separate member organisations. Akidwa; Action Aid Ireland; Cairde; Dublin Rape Crisis Centre; Galway Rape Crisis Centre; Longford Women’s Link; Love & Care for People; Immigrant Council of Ireland; Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence; National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks; National Women’s Council of Ireland; Oxfam Ireland; Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre; Ruhama; Sexual Violence Centre Cork; Sonas Domestic Violence Charity; Women’s Aid; YWCA Ireland