Higher Education Institutions jointly launch the #UnmuteConsent Campaign

Sexual violence and harassment is a problem on higher education campuses and is under-reported. All higher education institutions are currently implementing a wide range of measures within the National Consent Framework. To help drive awareness and encourage conversation on consent the Higher Education Institutions, their representative bodies IUA and THEA, the Higher Education Authority, and USI are launching the #unmuteconsent campaign. The campaign seeks to mobilise the student community to make a difference, by speaking out, by enhancing their own knowledge about consent, and ultimately, by challenging and changing behaviours.
 

The campaign was informed by findings from the Union of Students in Ireland and the Active* Consent Sexual Experiences Survey (2020). This research is alongside significant work by the HEA, Higher Education Institutions, Union of Students in Ireland and other specialist bodies to research this area further and to inform students on the subject of consent.
 

Welcoming the campaign Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD said: “Since my appointment, I have worked with student representatives, staff representatives and our higher education institutions to ensure there is a zero tolerance approach to sexual violence and harassment.

“I am pleased that our students and management are working together to create a safe environment for all and to ensure that victims of sexual violence and harassment feel safe to come forward. We have to be leaders in this field. We have to change the culture on every single campus and we will.”
 

#UnmuteConsent will roll out across all Higher Education Institute campuses and the website www.unmuteconsent.ie will highlight the support, resources and training available in each university and Institute of Technology.

As students return to campuses around Ireland consent will form part of their induction process in addition to the tools and supports this campaign seeks to highlight. By engaging with the support and training available in every institution, the campaign seeks to encourage students in: 
 

1. Speaking out/reporting unacceptable behaviour and accessing support.
2. Being active and challenging perceived norms of unacceptable behaviour
3. Talking about consent and relationships in a positive and confident way
4. Practicing consent in their relationships and interactions

Clare Austick, President of the Union of Students in Ireland, said: “It’s really positive to see a national campaign being rolled out in higher education institutions to raise awareness and build a culture of active consent among students on campuses. There have been many developments over the last few months in the areas of consent awareness and ending sexual violence and harassment on campuses, but we are still a long way away from fostering a zero-tolerance approach. The aim of this campaign is to empower students to talk about consent and contribute to the culture change we are hoping to see. I’m sure the #UnmuteConsent campaign will be a driver in helping us to do that.”
 

Mary Nestor and Debbie Molloy, Co-chairs of the GMIT Working Group for the Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence and Harassment, said: “It’s important to see ongoing conversations about consent in third level institutions through this and other initiatives.  These conversations lead to actions and changes in culture which ultimately benefit everybody.  At GMIT, we’re delighted to foster and support these conversations to ensure that our campuses are safe and all staff and students are treated with dignity and respect.”
 

Notes for editors:

Links to the supports available in each of the participating HEIs can be found on www.unmuteconsent.ie

Sexual Consent is described as the freely given verbal or non-verbal communication of a feeling of willingness to engage in sexual activity. This description entails an ongoing, mutual and preferably verbal communication, and is consistent with the definition of consent in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, as where the individual “freely and voluntarily agrees to engage in that act”.

Statistics from the Active* Consent / USI Sexual Experiences Survey (2020) on attitudes, practices, and intentions regarding sexual consent are set out below. 6,026 students completed a survey as part of the research to provide a large national sample across gender, sexual orientation, and year in college.

• 40% of students that completed the survey question have heard sexual consent issues being discussed by other students on campus
• Only 38% of students that completed the survey question think that consent should be asked before any kind of sexual behaviour, including kissing or petting
• Encouragingly 90% of students that completed the survey question would ask their partner if they are interested in engaging in sexual intercourse
• 20% of female respondents to the survey question think that asking for sexual consent is awkward compared to 34% of male respondents

This campaign is supported by: The Higher Education Authority, The Irish Universities Association, the Technological Higher Education Association and the Union of Students in Ireland.

ENDS
 

For media queries and interview opportunities contact:

Lia O’Sullivan, Head of Communications, Irish Universities Association (IUA).
085 7141414       lia.osullivan@iua.ie

Catherine Halloran, Senior Manager, Communications, Higher Education Authority

(087) 8218060  challoran@hea.ie

Martina Genockey, PR & Communications Manager, Union of Students in Ireland

086 033 3942, pr@usi.ie

Róisín O’Connell, Head of Communications, Technological Higher Education Association (THEA)

087 9193333  roisin.oconnell@thea.ie