Ms Noeline Blackwell:

Under-reporting of rape is Europe-wide. It is everywhere we look. It is one of those areas where people do not report. This happens for some of the reasons I mentioned before: it is disruptive, and it may involve someone whom the victim knows well. The victims are not ready to say it because the trauma of the rape often takes time to come through. There is much discussion in the media at the moment on this. Our telephone lines are going crazy with people who are, sometimes for the first time, saying that they were victims of rape. It is something that is hard to do. We could not agree more with Deputy Durkan on the need for education, better awareness, and recognition that no persons are responsible for a crime that is committed against them. We certainly agree with Deputy Durkan on the need for decent school programmes.

To be clear, in the case of all people who come to our centre, it is entirely their decision as to what they do next. Actually, more people who have come in to us over the years saying they are pregnant as a result of rape have gone on to parent rather than take terminations. It is the woman's decision in all cases. She is the main agent.

We could not agree more with Deputy Durkan about cross-examination in court cases. This can be re-traumatising. We are hoping the victims' rights directive will help. I will put in a plug at this point: the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 has not been commenced in respect of some really important criminal evidence provisions that would give better protection to vulnerable witnesses. We will mention them here as well.