Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has criticised a consent awareness video produced by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), calling it “inappropriate and demeaning to grandparents.” The video has since been removed from social media following engagement between the DRCC and the minister’s officials.
The clip shows two grandparents eagerly hugging a young boy. When they move towards their granddaughter, she appears unhappy about the embrace. It carries the message “not everyone wants a hug. Even from the people who love them.” The video drew criticism at home and received coverage in international media.
Minister says the video undermined its own aim
O’Callaghan, whose department funds the campaign, said the video “does not represent the views of the Government.” He said it had been removed after his officials engaged with the DRCC.
He acknowledged that it is vital people understand consent in sexual relationships. However, he said the video “did not advance that aim and in many ways was counterproductive.”
DRCC describes the videos as part of a long-term campaign
The video formed part of the “We-Consent” campaign, which the DRCC leads. In a statement to an Irish national broadcaster, the centre said the campaign is a long-term part of its prevention work, aimed at increasing awareness and practice of consent in Ireland.
The DRCC said it had created three videos based on the idea that boundaries should be respected from an early age, and that people should respect the boundaries of others. It said it would remove the videos from its social media channels while it considered whether they were having the intended effect.
The campaign is also supported by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and by CUAN, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency. All three bodies have been approached for comment.
Senator questions use of public money on the ad
Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill said the video was a waste of resources. He said public money had been used to fund an advertisement that was, at best, ill-thought-out and, at worst, offensive and potentially damaging to older people.
Scahill said he acknowledged the important work the Rape Crisis Centre and other agencies do to support victims of rape and sexual violence, including children. He described the publicly funded video as “a million miles off the mark.”
He also asked whether people would now need to sign consent forms at arrival halls in Dublin, Shannon, Knock and Cork airports this Christmas before greeting family members.
Department says videos were not government advertising
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said “We-Consent” is a programme created and developed by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. It said the programme aims to inform, educate and engage the public about all forms of consent.
The spokesperson said the social media videos were produced by the DRCC at low cost, using volunteers, and were not part of a Government advertising campaign. The department said it understood the DRCC intended to review the videos, which were being removed from its channels to allow that review to take place.
