Council has tonight mandated the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) to support passing of the “Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offenses Bill 2017”.
The motion mandates the union to support the End Image-Based Sexual Abuse Ireland in the group’s “call for the urgent criminalisation” of image-based sexual assault by passing the bill.
The union is also now mandated to campaign for the application of the bill, and Welfare Officer Leah Keogh is mandated to “continue to provide support to all victims through the provision of relevant resources and information”.
The motion was proposed by Law Convenor Rebecca Kelly, and seconded by Keogh.
Speaking in favour of the motion on behalf of Kelly, Education Officer Megan O’Connor said that the situation was “worse than you can imagine”, and that “solidarity on the matter is needed”.
Speaking in favour of the motion, Catherine Arnold, a philosophy and sociology class representative, said that the motion “comes down to whether you believe that human beings deserve rights and to feel safe”.
A bill which would criminalise the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is to be brought before the Dáil next month, after thousands of photographs of Irish women and girls were recently uploaded to a number of online forums without consent.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Labour TD Brendan Howlin are enacting the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill, which will come before the Dáil in December.
McEntee said on Twitter last week: “I know the recent leak of tens of thousands of intimate images of Irish women has caused so much upset and anger.”
“I share that anger”, she wrote, “and I want people to know that I am determined to act and to introduce tough new laws to ensure that anyone who shares these kinds of images will face serious criminal sanctions”.
If you have been affected by, or would like to discuss issues concerning sexual assault or non-consensual behaviour, you can contact the Welfare Officer of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union by emailing [email protected]. Emergency appointments with the Student Counselling Service are also available. You can phone Niteline, the student listening service, every night of term from 9pm–2:30am on 1800 793 793, or the Samaritans at any time on 116 123. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre can be reached at 1800 778 888.
