11 survivors of gender-based and sexual violence have penned an open letter to members of Dáil Éireann, highlighting the “urgent need for reforms in Ireland”. Sent on Tuesday, February 25, the document came a day before Ruth Coppinger TD moved a Private Members’ motion, calling for a 10-point plan for government action.

The letter outlines the growing epidemic of gender violence in the state, noting that in 2025 alone, there have been six femicides within eight weeks. Additionally, there were 1,600 domestic violence reports made to the Gardaí over Christmas.

It also states that marginalised groups are at an even greater risk, with 30% of disabled people, 55% of bisexual people, 40% of gay people and 75% of autistic people experiencing sexual violence in adulthood.

“The scale of the crisis demands urgent and decisive action,” the survivor’s letter to the Dáil reads.

“Countless survivors, our numbers growing each month, have sacrificed our right to privacy in the hope of a better future for the victims coming up behind us. We are not statistics – we are your constituents, your neighbours, your family and your friends. Our dignity and justice should no longer be denied by more delays, half measures, or empty promises.

“We know the cost of inaction because we have lived it. We have endured a system where survivors are retraumatised in courtrooms, where delays and dismissals are routine, and where justice feels out of reach. No survivor should ever suffer this injustice,” the letter continues.

 

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Several signees also shared their personal experiences, with Chris Rooke saying: “As both a man and a member of the LGBTQ community, the idea that I might access justice or be taken seriously felt far-fetched from the start. It took me years to understand what had happened to me, because stories of sexual violence against men are rarely heard. By the time I did, it was too late to collect evidence, and I knew the same disbelief I initially felt would likely be shared by Gardaí, healthcare providers, lawyers, judges, and juries.”

He added that when survivors don’t go to court, their stories can disappear. “This perpetuates a cycle of silence, where the cost of seeking justice includes exposing your community’s culture to scrutiny and risking prejudice, all while navigating the trauma the court process inflicts…”

Rooke said there must be “deep, systemic change” and that “it’s not enough to pass laws; meaningful reform requires sustained cultural shifts around consent, sexual violence, and respect for marginalised communities”.

He concluded: “You have been elected to lead your communities, your constituents, and your country. This includes survivors of all sexes, genders, abilities, ethnicities, and faiths. It’s time to show that leadership.”

Signee Sarah Grace drew attention to the use of survivors’ counselling records as evidence in trials, saying it “has no place in a modern court of law”.

“To argue that an accused’s constitutional right to a fair trial rests on the disclosure of such records is a violation of survivors’ many fundamental rights also protected by our Constitution – the right to privacy, to human decency and of protection by the State from an unjust attack. This practice has prevented so many from seeking out what can be life-saving therapy, or even justice itself,” she said.

“The cruel irony is that the greatest blow often comes, not at the hands of our attacker, but of a system designed to protect victims of crime. This is a major failure of our nation.”

The survivors’ letter additionally urged Dáil Éireann members to consider Coppinger’s 10-point plan carefully and “either champion it, or propose an effective alternative that will achieve real progress for Ireland”.

“We ask you to not only vote in favour of genuine reforms, but to be a voice for change within your party and beyond.”

However, when Coppinger brought her motion before the Dáil on Wednesday, February 26, there was only one person from government in attendance at a time. The TD expressed her frustration over this in a social media post, with one commenter responding: “A picture speaking a thousand words and highly reflective of how victims feel”.

 

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