Sexual Misconduct
DCU believes that its entire staff, students, visitors, contractors, sub-contractors, and others associated with the University have the right to enjoy their work and/or study in a safe environment, free from sexual misconduct and to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity at all times. Sexual misconduct is a serious and unacceptable experience for any person, of any age, gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, or religious community.
DCU takes the issue of respect, of all forms, very seriously and believes that each student should enjoy a student experience free from abuse or harassment of any type. We are here to help and support you and to ensure that you receive the support and treatment you may need following sexual harassment, rape, or sexual assault.
The DCU Sexual Misconduct at Work and Study policy sets out the University’s commitment to the promotion of a culture that rejects any form of sexual misconduct. The policy explains what is meant by sexual misconduct and provides an understanding of what types of behaviour constitute sexual misconduct.
Sexual Misconduct Policy Toolkit to assist students, staff, and third parties in dealing with a disclosure, a report, or seeking support.
All members of the University community should be aware that all forms of sexual misconduct are unacceptable and that everyone has a duty to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to actively support a university culture of respect and dignity. Dealing with issues relating to sexual misconduct can be stressful and distressing for all parties concerned. Therefore having a policy is important in the prevention and response to sexual violence and harassment. The purpose of the DCU Sexual Misconduct at Work and Study Policy is as follows;
- ensure that all members of the University community understand that all forms of sexual misconduct are unacceptable, that such behaviour will not be tolerated, and that disciplinary action may be taken;
- ensure that all members of the University community are aware of behaviour that may constitute sexual misconduct and their responsibilities for avoiding and/or preventing such behaviour;
- prevent acts of sexual misconduct;
- have adequate and accessible mechanisms in place for handling sexual misconduct effectively;
DCU believes that a safe, respectful, supportive, and positive community is among a University’s greatest strengths and has the potential to enhance the living, learning, and working experience for all members of the University community. Our University has both a legal and moral obligation to recognise that sexual misconduct is a serious issue. If unaddressed, the consequences can be damaging for both individuals and the institution. DCU has a zero-tolerance stance on sexual misconduct.
Sexual misconduct is a broad term encompassing any behaviour of a sexual nature that is committed without consent or could involve force, intimidation, coercion, or manipulation. Any difficulty in defining what constitutes sexual misconduct should not deter members of the University community from reporting behaviour that is unwelcome.
To ensure the University can prevent and respond to incidents, it is important to have transparent procedures and to have adequate and accessible mechanisms to handle sexual misconduct effectively.
DCU Sexual Misconduct Advisers
To chat with someone in confidence about your experience, contact a Sexual Misconduct Adviser. They will be able to advise you on options available for reporting an incident or offering initial support. DCU has many supports available and can refer you to the correct support needed. We want to ensure you have a positive student experience and talking to someone can be the first step to dealing with a situation.
To contact an Adviser, email Student Report and you will referred to a support meeting or contact an Adviser directly. The list of staff can be found in the accordion section below.
SPEAK OUT
The Speak Out tool enables you, as a member of our University community to anonymously disclose incidents of unacceptable behaviour such as bullying, harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct in a way that is safe and secure. As Speak Out is completely anonymous, the University will have no way to identify or make contact with any individual who chooses to submit a report.
To anonymously report an incident please access the Speak Out Tool. (Note: If you would like to preview the questions involved in reporting an incident anonymously you can click through the questions in the tool, but please do not click submit unless you wish to go ahead and report an incident).
SUPPORT
Rape, sexual harassment or sexual assault can have a negative impact on physical and psychological wellbeing. In the long term it can have a knock-on effect on academic studies and some students may withdraw from student life. Talking to a student support professional can help a student deal with the emotional impact so that they can continue to engage in university life and have a positive student experience. We have dedicated advocates in DCU who have received training in supporting students who have experienced sexual misconduct and they will provide you with support for as long as you need this. You will be treated with complete confidentiality. The following people can be contacted, and will know how to help you:
DCU Student Support Services
DCU Sexual Misconduct Advisers
External Out-of-Hours Support
- The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre have a 24/7 line that you can call for support and advice on rape and sexual assault. Tel: 1800 77 8888
- The Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) provides physical and psychological support if you have, or think you have been raped. In the case of rape, it is crucial that you get immediate care from a medical team, who will provide care and treatment to you in a professional and non-judgmental manner. You can contact a member of staff 24/7.
- My Options is a service provided by the HSE which provides information and support on all of your options following an unplanned pregnancy.
ILLEGAL CONTENT
Hotline.ie is the Irish national reporting centre where members of the public can securely, anonymously, and confidentially report concerns in respect to illegal content online. Additionally, the Department of Justice passed a new law tackling online image-based abuse.
Coco’s Law (Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, 2021) creates two new offences which criminalise the non-consensual distribution of intimate images:
- The first offence deals with the distribution or publication of intimate images without consent and with intent to cause harm.
- The second offence deals with the taking, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent even if there is no specific intent to cause harm.
SELF HELP
Sometimes you may want to read what your options are yourself before you speak to a member of staff. In DCU we have a number of student policies to protect students during their studies. Below you can find the Sexual Misconduct policy and student procedures that can be read in your own time. If you want to report or seek support for an incident, contact Student Report
Sexual Misconduct Student Procedures
| Name | Role | Department |
| Caroline Bowe | Student Support Officer | Student Support & Development |
| Dr. Claire Bohan | Dean of Students | Student Support & Development |
| Colette Keogh | Senior Access Officer | Student Support & Development |
| Deirdre Moloney | Student Policy Officer | Student Support & Development |
| Maree Ralph | Student Support Officer | Student Support & Development |
| Margaret Lamont | Disability Officer | Student Support & Development |
| Semra Abdulahovic | Senior Student Support Officer | Student Support & Development |
| Siobhan Byrne | Head of Clubs and Societies | Clubs and Societies, OSL |
| Dr. Úna Redmond | Director of Office of Student Life | Office of Student Life |
| Frank Quinn | Nurse | Student Health Centre |
| Caitriona Murphy | Nurse | Student Health Centre |
| Gertrude Rufai | Mental Health Nurse | Student Health Centre |
A disclosure can happen anywhere at any time and to anyone. It is normal to feel that you do not know what to do if someone discloses an incident of sexual misconduct. If you have recently received a disclosure and want to ensure the student feels heard and is safe, the following advice will be of help to you now.
Advice for Friends/Family/Staff Dealing with a Disclosure of Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Relationships and Consent
Relationships and dating can be really exciting but it can get complicated and confusing around sex and intimacy. At times it can be unclear how the other person feels, and messages can be confusing and read wrong. When it comes to sex it is always important that you both give permission for sex or intimacy, which basically is consent. Sex without consent can mean sexual assault or rape. Below are some tips on navigating this complex area. Here is a great video that explains consent - Consent it’s as simple as Tea.
The only way to know for sure whether someone has consented to sex is if they tell you. It can be hard to let people know you’re not interested. People might look happy about doing something, but on the inside, they might not be and don’t know how to tell you they’re uncomfortable. To be absolutely clear, you should ask them. Here are some suggestions on how to ask:
- Are you happy?
- Are you comfortable?
- Is there anything you don’t want to do?
- Do you want to stop?
- Do you want to have sex?
Examples of body language that can mean someone isn’t comfortable with what’s going on include:
- Not responding to your touch
- Pushing you away
- Holding their arms tightly around their bodies
- Turning away from you or hiding their face
- Stiffening muscles
If you get a negative or non-committal answer to any of your questions, or if your partner’s body language is negative, stop what you are doing and talk to them about it.
It's okay at any stage to want to stop. You do not have to continue, even if you've consented previously in your interaction. Communicate with your partner that you'd like to stop. Equally, pay attention to your partner, too. Consent is all about an ongoing and enthusiastic 'yes'. Here are some ways you can communicate you'd like to stop:
- I'd like to stop now.
- No, I'm not comfortable with this.
- This isn't working for me.
Consent is not about the absence of 'no'. It's about the presence of an ongoing 'yes'.
Holding hands, sending flirty texts, kissing, hugging, and touching are all ways of being intimate without having sex. You might enjoy kissing, but not feel ready to have sex or you might have had sex before, but not feel like it every time you kiss, or get intimate. It’s really important to make sure both of you are comfortable with what’s happening. Everyone has the right to say no. Equally, everyone has the right to change their mind at any time, regardless of their past experiences.
Student Bystander Intervention Programme
The DCU Student Bystander Intervention Programme builds on your knowledge of consent and teaches you the skills to know when and how to intervene in a situation of sexual violence or harassment.
Delivered online through on Loop, the four workshops will teach you how to recognise unacceptable behaviour, what the barriers to intervention are how to overcome them, and how to safely and effectively intervene.
Active Consent Student Workshops
Developed by the University of Galway, the Active* Consent workshop called Sexual Violence, and Harassment: How to Support Yourself and Your Peers, builds on topics explored and runs during Orientation, to introduce a more nuanced understanding of sexual violence, harassment, and support services available to students who have had negative sexual experiences.
Through participation and engagement, participants will have gained greater awareness and understanding of:
- Consent vs. non-consent
- The definition of sexual violence and the means by which it is committed: verbal coercion, intoxication, and/or force
- The impact of factors like relationship status and gender on how we perceive conditions for sexual violence
- Legal definitions of sexual assault, rape, harassment, and consent in Irish law
- How to support our peers if they disclose a negative sexual experience to us
Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education
The Irish Government is committed to providing a safe environment for students and staff, and regards as completely unacceptable any form of sexual misconduct. The National Framework for Consent is aimed at 'Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions. DCU’s Sexual Misconduct Policy further outlines the University’s position in this regard. DCU is committed to tackling sexual assault and harassment and has developed an Action Plan to support the national framework for consent.
IT STOPS NOW
The ESHTE (Ending Sexual Harassment and Violence in Third-Level Education) project aims to prevent and combat sexual violence and harassment (SVH) and build a culture of zero tolerance in third-level education throughout Europe. The project is funded by the European Commission. The 'It Stops Now' campaign is running as an integral part of the ESHTE project.
UnMute Consent
The #unmuteconsent campaign recognises the power of the student voice to drive change.
Be the generation that stands up and speaks out. Be the ones who actually reverse the trend of sexual harassment and violence, to create a truly respectful environment for everyone — on and off our campuses.
Consent is about respect, simple as.
It’s time to take responsibility for our own roles in demanding and creating cultural change.
This campaign will mobilise students to learn more about consent, about personal responsibility, and about how they can make a difference. By engaging with the support and training available in every institution, we hope that over time students will be more comfortable in:
- Speaking out/reporting unacceptable behaviour and accessing support.
- Being active and challenging perceived norms of unacceptable behaviour.
- Talking about consent and relationships in a positive and confident way.
- Practising consent in their relationships and interactions.
