Episode 22 - Maeve Lewis - CEO One in Four

'Trigger Warning' if you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse please remember the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 24-Hour Helpline 1800 77 888

In this week’s podcast, we talk to Maeve Lewis, the CEO of One in Four. One in four currently provides supports to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. They have an advocacy team to support those lucky enough to make it to court and this service is free. Their help extends to families and partners, which is recognised as invaluable for recovery and leads to a higher level of support for victims. One in four also provide a two-year prevention programme for sex offenders many of whom are referred to them by the Gardai.

Maeve Lewis (Bachelor of Arts in European Studies, H. Dip. Ed, BA (Hons) in Psychology) has worked in the field of sexual violence since 1979 in a variety of roles and in 2019 she was the winner of Outstanding Contribution to Society Award by the University of Limerick 2019 Alumni Award.  Maeve is dedicated to protecting victims of sexual abuse. Her overall commitment to fight against what can only be described as unsurmountable obstacles in finding the resources to help victims receive help and embark on what is a long and painful journey to self-discovery is unquestionable. She continues to demand justice and fairness for all victims facing the justice system and challenge those agencies responsible for providing supports to do better.

We hope that this series of interviews help highlight the supports that currently exist, the struggles they face daily to deliver these services and to further emphasize the lack of country wide supports. This demonstrates both the lack of will from our government to take this crime seriously and the need for those in power to understand the impacts of this crime, not only on its victims but on society as a whole.  Hopefully we can unite and get the results we need to tackle sexual abuse and all that goes with that.

 

Take care

Joyce, June and Paula