NINTEEN GIRLS UNDER the age of 18 gave birth to a child conceived as a result of rape in 2011.

New stats from the the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) show that 40 girls under the age of 18 had become pregnant as the result of a rape in 2011 and that:

• 19 survivors, under the age of 18, went on to give birth and raise the child
• Nine rape victims had terminations
• Seven miscarried or had stillbirths
• Five had given the child up for adoption or fostering

The data, which was collected from the 15 rape crisis centres across the country in 2011, showed that 105 children attended the centres in 2011.

In total, 2,036 females attended a rape crisis centre in 2011, of whom:

• 90 had become pregnant as a result of a rape
• 17 had terminated the pregnancy
• Two survivors had become pregnant more than once as a result of rapes

RCNI executive director Fiona Neary said that the figures provide context to the abortion debate.

“In the abortion debate there has been some talk about the case of women who have been raped and are pregnant as a result. It is important this discussion is informed by the best available facts and a compassionate understanding of the realities facing these girls and women in Ireland

These numbers represent one part of the picture as not all rape survivors seek or can access RCC support.

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