A NEW EU-WIDE survey has indicated 21% of Irish people believe having sex without consent is justified in certain situations.
The Eurobarameter poll found 11% of Irish people think being drunk or on drugs justifies sex without consent and 9% think it is okay if a person voluntarily goes home with someone or is wearing “revealing, provocative or sexy clothing”.
As part of the survey, respondents were asked: “Some people believe that having sexual intercourse without consent may be justified in certain situations. Do you think this applies to the following circumstances?”
7% of Irish people surveyed agreed sexual intercourse without consent is justified if the person is out walking alone at night.
The poll indicates 27% of EU respondents believe sex without consent is okay in certain situations.
When asked whether they agreed with the statement the women often make up or exaggerate claims of abuse or rape, 23% of Irish people agreed.
Domestic violence
18% of Irish respondents also agreed that violence against women is often provoked by the victim. This compares to a high of 57% in Latvia and a low of 6% in the Netherlands.
The research coincides with the publication of a report by Women’s Aid, which showed over 200 women have suffered violent deaths in Ireland in the last two decades. The majority of these women were killed by a man they knew.
When asked about domestic violence against women, 74% of Irish people in the Eurobarometer poll said they think it is common or very common while 53% believe this to be the case for domestic violence against men.
Irish respondents, at 88%, were fourth most likely to say domestic violence against men is unacceptable and should be punishable by law. This is well above the EU average of 80%.
12% of Irish respondents agreed that domestic violence is a private matter and should be handled within the family.
The poll also found the vast majority of Irish people think sending unwanted sexual messages, making sexual suggestive comments to a woman in the street and touching a colleague inappropriately is wrong and should be punishable by law.
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