Sex Attempted On 19% Of Students Whilst Drunk Or Incapacitated

Thursday, 27 January 2022 15:11

By Caoimhe Harney

The students said they were too drunk to stop what was happening.

19 percent of college students say there was an attempt made to have sex with them when they were too drunk or incapacitated to stop what was happening.

The survey carried out by the Higher Education Authority found almost all female respondents said the perpetrator of sexual violence against them was a man.

Two thirds said the person who carried out the act was drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Almost 11,500 students and staff at third level responded to the survey, with more than two thirds being students.

A third of female students said they were often victims of sexualised comments, compared to just nine percent of men.

Around 10 percent of men said they were subjected to sexual coercion - which includes feeling bribed to engage in sexual behaviour, while that rate was three times higher for women.

A quarter of students said they were unwelcome sexual rumours spread about them online

45 percent of student respondents said they have continued to ask someone for a date, even when the answer had been no.

CEO, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell has said that if sexual abuse is not addressed it will continue.

"When people understand the reality of consent, Universities can be a safe place for all who attend.

"I's about having a conversation, and not firing things at eachother, " she said.

"The whole area of sexual abuse is not spoken about much.

"It's about everyone being, and no obligation on anyone to do anything, " she insisted.

Noeline Blackwell spoke with Ciara on Thursday's Kildare Focus: