A national, three-year consent campaign called 'We-Consent' was launched this morning, March 22nd, with the goal of driving behavioural change regarding sexual consent. The campaign is led by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) and the Community Foundation Ireland and supported by the Department of Justice.

We-Conset aims to tackle the issue of what sexual consent is and how it is given. This is necessary since there is a "huge lack of understanding" around the issue, Community Foundation Ireland chief executive Denise Charlton said.

Several workshops and communication initiatives will be held over the course of the campaign's three years. By holding open, inclusive, and progressive discussions, the national planned events will help to inform and engage the public.

 

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According to DRCC research, 70% of people believe that the Irish population has a problem with consent, indicating that many people have a misunderstanding of consent. One in every five people agreeing that sometimes people say no to sex when they want convincing.

While a third of Irish people are embarrassed to talk about sex, 84% believe that age-appropriate sex education should be taught in schools. According to the findings, more than half of the Irish population believes that consent is a societal responsibility that requires state intervention.

While there is a high value placed on empowering children when it comes to consent, the research also suggests that by shifting the conversation to sexual equality, both men and women can be empowered. It will furthermore make people feel valued, respected, and accepted in general.

Consent is key across communities says @chrisrooke - sex is practised differently in different communities, & consent must be part of all these interactions - we need to see many models of consent practice #WeConsent

— Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (@DublinRCC) March 22, 2023

DRCC chief executive Noeline Blackwell sees the campaign as a way of communicating the positive values of consent and reducing the level of sexual violence. Adding that a greater "understanding of consent will make our society more equal, happier, and healthier - as well as safer."

"Every one of us has capacity to learn more and do more when it comes to consent and this campaign will need every one of us to come on board to create a real shift in our society – not only for the next generation, but also for here and now."

"We believe this campaign will spark long overdue conversations about the kind of values we want to define us and the meaning of equality within our culture – Ireland is ready for these conversations," she said.

Consent is key across communities says @chrisrooke - sex is practised differently in different communities, & consent must be part of all these interactions - we need to see many models of consent practice #WeConsent

— Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (@DublinRCC) March 22, 2023

At today‘s launch of We-Consent, the Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, said that what we need "is a diverse range of people talking about, and encouraging people to talk about, consent" and that it was time to "talk honestly and openly about consent, sex, and relationships."

He added: "We all have a role to play in this national conversation, regardless of age, gender, sexuality or relationship status. This campaign adds to the work that Government is doing in our Zero Tolerance Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to achieve a society which does not accept these crimes or the attitudes which underpin them."