Sexual Violence Survey Liaison Group Meeting

In-person/Videoconference

25th April 2022 3:00pm

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Minutes and update on actions

3. Main survey overview

    a. Frame
    b. Multimode approach
    c. SSEAG overview

4. Communication plan

5. Next steps

6. AOB

Minutes

Attendees:

• Keith McSweeney (Chair), Helen McGrath (Secretary), Central Statistics Office
• Elaine Mears, Rape Crisis Network Ireland
• Maeve Lewis, One in Four
• Orla O’Connor, National Women’s Council of Ireland
• Sarah O'Connor, Sexual Assault Treatment Unit
• Shirley Scott, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
• Susan Leahy, University of Limerick

1. Introduction

The Chair welcomed all participants to the meeting. Ann Ryan, Philip McCormack, Clíona Saidlear and Elaine Byrnes were noted as sending apologies. He explained the focus of this Liaison Group meeting was sharing information on the agreed plan for the main survey.

2. Minutes and update on actions

The Secretary gave an overview of the minutes from the previous meeting and gave an update on the actions from the last meeting. There were no issues raised with the minutes. These will be published online.

3. Main survey overview

Helen McGrath presented on the agreed main survey plan. The main points of the presentation included:

• The development of a person-based frame which will be used for this survey was described. This significance of this development, where a participant is identified in advance of visiting the household, was explained including the ethical benefits and opportunity for higher response rates.
• An overview of the multimode design was given. The main SVS survey will be collected by one of three modes in order to maximise response rates; online, self-completion interview or a paper-based form. The selected participant will be contacted first by letter encouraging a response online and if no interaction is made, then a field interviewer will visit the participant and encourage a response online or offer an opportunity to complete the survey themselves on the interviewer’s tablet or, finally, a paper-based form if the person cannot use the tablet but does want to engage in the survey.
• A brief overview of the third meeting with the Social Statistics Ethics Advisory Group was shared. While the formal advice from the Group was not yet received, it was likely that their overall advice would outline that the survey is ethically well placed to deliver on its objectives. Their detailed advice would be considered by CSO when received.
• Key elements of the field operation, including an outline of the team make up and training prior to the survey, were communicated.
• Expectations on response rates were discussed. International response rates to similar surveys were shared along with response rates from the most recent completed surveys in the CSO.

There followed some general discussion:

• The group acknowledged the significant work completed to date on the project.
• A query was raised on the potential for bias to be introduced in the responses by those who have experienced sexual violence only responding to the survey. It was clarified that the survey will encourage all to engage with the survey – both those with and without these types of experiences, male and female.

4. Communication plan

Helen McGrath outlined that the survey will begin mid-May with the initial post-out, with CSO field staff engaged from June onwards. Communications are an important part of any survey and there followed an open discussion around communications options:

• CSO provided an overview for the usual approach to providing validation for a household survey, i.e. material provided on the CSO website in the “Taking part in a survey”, was given.
• The experience of European countries in the Eurostat Gender-Based Violence Survey was shared (where the vast majority of NSIs engaged in no communications beyond their standard approaches for surveys).
• The practical and ethical considerations around various communications were discussed, with it very likely that CSO would, at the very least, issue a press release at survey launch highlighting that the survey will be occurring. Such a press release will act as a further validation of the survey.

There followed some general discussion:

• The group felt that this may a time when the NGO community should stay relatively silent when the survey is launched, guided by considerations around victim safety. It was commented that there would plenty of time for communications around this issue generally, and particularly at results stage, but now may be a time to adopt a more reserved approach to communications - it was noted that some respondents are likely to be in an ongoing abusive relationship, and the communications plan should reflect this. The group asked CSO to consider contacting the wider NGO community to explain the balance CSO is trying to achieve in its communications
• It was also suggested that CSO should consider a briefing with journalists on the approach that CSO is taking, but it was concluded that press queries may be better handled in response to the press release.
• The use of a common script for NGO helpline staff to use was proposed and the Office agreed to look into this as the survey offered details for all crisis centres and local and national helplines.
• The group noted that those participating in the survey may speak out this freely – it would be inappropriate to ask them not to speak about the survey. Survivors are asked detailed questions in treatment centres and in Court but the impact can affect them afterwards and support is needed after the fact. It was shared that the support centres have limited capacity to react as their waiting lists for support are long. The reality was acknowledged that once this survey beings, the discussion on it may expand to wider media platforms and that CSO will prepare for this.

5. Next steps

The next meeting will be scheduled for October/November 2022 where an update on the data collection process and the plan for 2023 will be shared.

6. AOB

There was no AOB to share.

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