Info for Sex Workers

Support After Sexual Assault

People react in different ways when they are assaulted. You can feel shock, distress, and anger, shame or feel calm and disconnected. No matter how you feel or how you react to what happened it’s important you get good information and support.

Medical Treatment and Emergency Contraception
Following an assault it is important you get medical care as quickly as possible. You can do this for free at one of the six Sexual Assault Treatment Units in Cork , Donegal , Dublin , Galway , Mullingar , Limerick and Waterford .These are FREE services and can give you treatment and emergency contraception. You do not have to report what happened to the Gardaí /Police to access this service.  However, the service can store DNA samples for up to a year if you decide later you want to report what happened to the Gardaí /Police. If you are not staying near one of these services you can go to your nearest hospital or GP.

Crisis Support
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted you can contact your local Rape Crisis Centre for information and support. Find out which one is closest to you here .

Reporting to the Gardaí
You do not have to report to the Gardaí or Police to access services or support if you are assaulted. If you do want the option of reporting the assault to the Gardaí immediately or in the future it is important to go to one of the services above before you shower and to bring the clothes you were wearing when the assault happened.

If you want to report to the Gardaí you can ask the staff in the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit to contact them. Alternatively you can contact your local Garda Station. Bring someone you feel comfortable with to support you. You can ask to speak to a female Garda.

Even if you do not go to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit or a doctor after an assault you can still report it to the Gardaí.

 

Counselling
A number of services provide free or low cost counselling for people who have experienced sexual violence recently or in the past. Please contact SWAI for more information on 085 824 9305 or at [email protected]

 

Resources

  • SATU – Sexual Assault Treatment Unit

    You can get medical care after an assault for FREE at one of the six Sexual Assault Treatment Units in Cork, Donegal , Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford. If you are in Limerick, please call 112 or 999 to access a different out-of-hours service that can help you. This service provides forensic examinations also.

    These are FREE services and can give you treatment and emergency contraception. You do not have to report what happened to the Gardaí /Police to access this service.  However, the service can store DNA samples for up to a year if you decide later you want to report what happened to the Gardaí /Police. If you are not staying near one of these services you can go to your nearest hospital or GP.