Hi, my name is Molly Mercier Redmond and I am 17 years old. As of recent years people are really starting to notice the rape culture in Ireland. Some people including Alibhe Conneely who really was my inspiration to make this petition. Knowing other people can be brave and get support makes me want to help other people from going through a traumatic experience that effects your entire life.  I have borderline personality disorder and one of the traits I have is “risky behaviour”  so for a long time i blamed myself but now I know no matter what I’m doing or wearing or not sober I am gives no one a right to touch me without my consent. I’m calling Helen McEntee to chnage the definition of rape in this country so all rapist go to jail or end up on the registered sex offenders list. Since I was only 12 I have experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape and uncountable amount of times. In teenage discos, seshs and party’s there is a very high chance you will be groped and harassed in some sort of way. The saddest thing to me is at only 13 when I started going teenage discos (storm in Wicklow town) as girls we would be saying to each other “oh I got my arse slapped/grabbed 10 times tonight i just look really good” and to make it 10 times worse there were fully grown adults “supervising” and would just look and laugh and if it in their opinion got to sexual they would just say “hey! Break it up” same in all teenage discos iv been to.  We as a nation are considered 

“Safe and welcoming
Ireland is listed in the top 15 safest countries in the world by the Global Peace Index 2020. It is known for being a safe and friendly country that offers a warm welcome to tourists and students from around the world. You'll find this friendly culture everywhere with festivals and traditional events throughout the year, including the famous St Patrick's Day on 17 March.”

Which to be completely honest we need to be taken off. If you want to go to a festival, concert, Paddy’s day or even SCHOOL as a female or LGBTQIA+ or any minority for that matter you know your gonna get some sort of abuse or harassment. I know if I go to a concert in a short dress their will be males I will have to be polite and say “oh sorry I’m in a relationship” or somthing sling those lines out of fear. Plus in schools they have things like rape lists, rating girls, nudes being shared all the. Now that’s in my opinion extremely embarrassing as a developed country whose ranked in the top 15 safest country’s to visit or live is not ok. We don’t deserve to have that title until we earn it. 

Thank you for reading and listening I really hope you sign and share and we as a country can drown out the rape culture. WE WONT STOP UNTIL WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE!!!!!!!!

Links and stats:

https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-rcvo/recordedcrimevictims2019andsuspectedoffenders2018/

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/rape-trial-finishes-following-death-of-the-accused-1.4146888%3fmode=amp

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/ireland-has-a-rape-culture-woman-who-was-assaulted-calls-for-more-victim-protection-1.4033034%3fmode=amp

https://www.rcni.ie/rate-my-rape-list-im-angry-at-the-silence-of-the-men-of-ireland/

https://www.thejournal.ie/rape-culture/news/

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/those-who-share-intimate-images-and-videos-without-consent-may-face-seven-years-in-jail-under-new-law-39777495.html

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_offences/sharing_of_intimate_images_without_consent.html

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.thejournal.ie/images-of-irish-women-shared-without-consent-5271799-Nov2020/%3famp=1