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Rape
What
is rape?
•
If any of the following happen to you without Your consent, it is Rape,
Sexual Intercourse, Oral Sex, Anal Sex or penetration of the vagina by
any object held or manipulated by another.
Who
can be raped and who commits rape?
• Anybody
can be raped at any time and anywhere. Women who are raped often know
the person who raped them. For example, it can be their husband, boyfriend,
partner or neighbour.
If
you are raped
•
If you are raped, you must remember at all times that you are not to blame.
The rapist is the person who commits the crime.
The
Gardai can support you in the following way
•
At any time of the day or night, trained Gardai can arrange for you to
receive immediate medical care and advice. The Gardai will also advise
you about the many different counselling and support services that are
available. If you have been raped, you should have no hesitation about
reporting it to the Gardai. Remember that the priority is to look after
YOU. Trained Gardai will be available to support and advise you at every
stage of the investigation.
Points
to remember
•
Remember if you are sexually assaulted, you are not to blame. Help and
support is available to you 24 HOURS A DAY. The Gardai and agencies like
the Rape Crisis Centre will immediately help you to get specialised medical
care.
•
Remember after an assault you may feel dirty, but to preserve evidence
you should not wash, change your clothes or even clean up until after
you have talked to the Gardai.
•
Remember every piece of information no matter how small it is that recall
about your attackere may be relevant.
•
Remember many crimes of rape are not reported, as a result most rapists
continue until caught.
Harassment / stalking
•
Harassment/ Stalking can also be a problem and recent changes in legislation
means that this menace need no longer he suffered. Any person who by any
means including the use of the telephone harasses another by persistently
following, watching, pestering, besetting or communicating commits this
offence. Keep a record of events and report the matter to the Gardai.
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