Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) has today released data on Under 18’s and pregnancy following rape, compiled using information collected by 15 Rape Crisis Centres on the RCNI database in 2011.

Executive Director Fiona Neary stated: ‘Examination of our national data shows that in 2011 40 females who attended a rape crisis centre reported that they were subjected to rape solely in their childhood and became pregnant as a result of the rape’.

Of the 40 females who attended:

• Nineteen survivors of rape while under age 18 went on to give birth and parent their children
• Nine survivors of rape while under age 18 had their pregnancy terminated
• Seven survivors of rape while under age 18 miscarried or had stillbirths
• Five survivors of rape while under age 18 who became pregnant had their child placed for adoption or fostering.
• Data recorded on all women and girls attending rape crisis centres in 2011 shows that of the 2,036 female survivors of sexual violence who attended a Rape Crisis Centre (RCC):
• 90 girls and women became pregnant as a result of rape
• 17 survivors, pregnant as a result of rape, terminated the pregnancy.
• Two survivors became pregnant more than once as a result of rape and had different outcomes in each pregnancy.

Fiona Neary, RCNI Executive Director said, ‘in the abortion debate there has been some talk about the case of women who have been raped and are pregnant as a result. It is important this discussion is informed by the best available facts and a compassionate understanding of the realities facing these girls and women in Ireland. Ninety girls and women, who were pregnant after rape, were supported in Rape Crisis Centres (RCC) across Ireland in 2011. 40 of these reported that they were under the age of 18 at the time of the rape and pregnancy. These numbers represent one part of the picture as not all rape survivors seek or can access RCC support.

In 2011 105 children attended 15 RCCs throughout Ireland.

Notes:

• RCNI is the national representative body for the Rape Crisis Sector in Ireland
• All statistics are from the RCNI Database©
• Note that these figures relate to 2011 clients, including those reporting historic abuse, therefore we cannot assume these pregnancies happened in 2011 itself. It is in fact more likely that the rapes occurred sometime prior to 2011.
• Additional figures of the 90 girls and women who were pregnant after rape in 2011, 60 survivors went to term, of whom 12 had their child adopted or fostered. A further 11 miscarried or had stillbirths.