Over 13,000 contacts were made to rape crisis helplines nationwide in 2015, a new report has shown.

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI), which represents 11 rape crisis centres around the country, has just published its Rape Crisis Statistics and Annual Report 2015.

It shows that in 2015, a total of 13,208 contacts were made to helplines nationwide, 76% of which were voice calls ranging in length from one minute to one-and-a-half hours.

The most common reason to call a helpline was to schedule an appointment (42%), to look for information (31%) and to look for counselling or support (16%).

Almost one in four contacts were made via text and just 1% were made via email.

The report also shows that rape crisis centres nationwide accompanied 180 people to a range of different services, including sexual assault treatment units (SATUs), the Gardai and court.

Most accompaniments lasted half a day, although the longest lasted eight days.

Some 88% of survivors being accompanied were female, while 19% were under the age of 18.

Meanwhile, 1,384 people attended rape crisis centres during 2015 for counselling and support. This is a decrease of 3% when compared to 2014. However the RCNI emphasised that this fall is most likely a reflection of ‘decreased resources rather than decreased demands, as waiting lists remain active for centres'.

Among survivors who attended rape crisis centres in 2015, 62% revealed that they had been subjected to sexual violence as children only, 31% had been subjected to sexual violence as adults only, while 7% were subjected to sexual violence in both childhood and adulthood.

The report also noted that most survivors who attended rape crisis centres in 2015 were subjected not only to sexual violence, but other types of violence too, including physical and psychological violence.

It also showed that the vast majority of perpetrators were male and known to the victim. Almost half of perpetrators were aged between 20 and 39.

The report pointed out that more survivors who reported their abuse to the Gardai in 2015 were satisfied with this experience, compared to 2014. Overall, 69% of those who filed a complaint with the Gardai felt that they were treated in a sensitive manner, that their complaint was taken seriously and that Gardai were attentive, sympathetic and supportive. In 2014, this figure was 63%.

"We commend the Gardaí's continued prioritisation and efforts to change culture and practice through specialist roles and infrastructure, with the establishment of new Regional Protective Services Units, which will deal with a range of sensitive crimes such as sexual violence and domestic violence crimes," commented RCNI executive director, Clíona Saidléar.

However, Ms Saidléar also highlighted the fact that the RCNI is no longer receiving funding from Tusla (the Child and Family Agency).

"Last year, a cumulative 70% cut to our funding took effect and our core funding from Tusla was completely withdrawn. Because of this, we were unable to continue to provide the support we used to to the sector in relation to policy and guidance.

"We have worked hard to prioritise and support key policy areas, but there is a gap opening up which needs to be urgently addressed. The RCNI made the decision to continue operating our globally innovative and best practice data collection system without the support of Tusla, as there is no other mechanism possible to give voice to these survivors who are otherwise silenced," Ms Saidléar explained.

This data collection system allows the RCNI to gather high-quality and reliable data on sexual violence. This data has major policy implications, particularly as in many cases, victims have not reported these crimes to any other formal authority.

"The evidence gathered from 11 rape crisis centres around Ireland in 2015 has policy implications for the whole of Government in terms of delivering the best response to victims and survivors of sexual violence," Ms Saidléar added.

For more information on the RCNI, click here

A national 24-hour helpline for victims of sexual violence is available at 1800 77 88 88 or by emailing counselling@rcc.ie