Rape has long been a subject of taboo in Ireland and a group of students at UCC have now launched a new project to open dialogue around the crime.
The campaign, launched by UCC Students Union, is called #BreakTheSilence and has seen the release of a powerful video in which male and female students address common attitudes towards rape and sexual assault.
It is hoped that the campaign will help victims to feel comfortable enough to look for support and tackle the social stigma that surrounds rape.
“In UCC, and in Ireland, rape is not spoken about enough. The ‘hush-hush’ nature of the conversation is damaging to the victims. Our campaign seeks to get rid of the shaming culture in Ireland, in which victims of rape do not feel comfortable to tell someone someone what has happened to them,” said a spokesperson for the group.
“If we make this issue more spoken about, together we can create an environment in which victims of rape can open up to a friend or family member. By not talking about rape we silently condone it. It’s up to us, all of us, to Break The Silence.”
