An advocacy campaign is asking 300 women to document what they describe as serious failures in Ireland’s family law system. The evidence is intended for a submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, placing renewed attention on how domestic abuse, coercive control and child safety concerns are handled in family proceedings.
Campaign seeks 300 survivor accounts
The 300 Silenced Voices campaign was launched in Dublin by Right to Transparency (RTT), a group calling for greater accountability and reform in Ireland’s family courts. The initiative was announced at an event attended by about 30 survivors of intimate partner violence and abuse, as well as professionals working in law, psychology, domestic violence services, policing and victims’ rights.
RTT says it wants to identify recurring patterns rather than treat individual cases as isolated disputes. Women who believe their concerns were ignored, minimised or mishandled during family law proceedings are being invited to share their experiences through the organisation’s website.
- Right to Transparency is seeking accounts from 300 women.
- The information may inform a submission to the UN Committee Against Torture.
- The campaign is focused on domestic abuse, coercive control, child safety and court procedures.
- RTT is also calling for reform of the in-camera rule.
Why the campaign is targeting the UN committee
Lisa Ann Wilkinson, a barrister and RTT founder, said civil society organisations can provide information to the UN Committee Against Torture as part of its monitoring of states’ compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The campaign will examine whether repeated experiences reported by survivors raise wider questions about Ireland’s responsibility to protect women and children from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The organisation has stressed that the cases may differ, but argues that similarities across many accounts deserve independent scrutiny.
The initiative does not represent a finding by the UN committee or establish that any individual allegation is proven. Instead, it is intended to gather testimony for assessment within an international human rights framework.
Concerns about domestic abuse and child safety
According to RTT, survivors have raised concerns that allegations of domestic abuse or child safety risks were dismissed, inadequately recognised or given insufficient weight in family proceedings. Some mothers also reported that children’s disclosures of sexual abuse were not handled as they expected, followed in certain cases by changes to custody or contact arrangements.
Other accounts referred to children being required to maintain contact with, or transferred into the care of, a parent facing domestic violence charges. These are allegations reported by campaign participants and are not presented as findings in every case.
Survivors also described prolonged and expensive litigation, a lack of trauma-informed court practices and concerns about expert evidence. RTT says coercive control was sometimes overlooked or minimised during assessments and hearings.
Questions raised over Section 32 assessments
A significant part of the Dublin discussion focused on Section 32 reports. These assessments involve interviews with parents and children and may be prepared for use in family law proceedings.
Some survivors alleged that assessors misrepresented or distorted what they had said. Others questioned the qualifications and independence of people involved in preparing reports. Dr Ian McCabe, a clinical psychologist, said concerns had been raised about whether some individuals conducting assessments had the necessary professional experience and qualifications.
He called for an independent report centred on the child’s voice. Participants also said children had, in some cases, been unable to access mental health services because a father would not provide consent.
These concerns highlight the importance of clear standards, appropriate training and effective accountability for experts whose work can influence decisions about custody and contact.
Calls to reform Ireland’s in-camera rule
RTT has urged Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to implement recommendations from a May 2025 review concerning the in-camera rule. The rule restricts the public reporting of family law proceedings, primarily to protect the privacy and welfare of children and families.
Supporters of reform argue that confidentiality should not prevent the identification of systemic problems. At the same time, any changes would need to preserve safeguards for children and protect sensitive personal information.
The debate reflects a difficult balance in family justice: proceedings require privacy, but meaningful oversight also depends on transparency, reliable data and the ability to identify patterns across cases.
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What happens next?
Right to Transparency will collect submissions from women who believe their experiences, or concerns relating to their children’s safety, were inadequately addressed in family law proceedings. The organisation says the material will support its planned communication to the UN committee.
People considering participation should review the campaign’s own requirements and privacy information before submitting sensitive personal details. Family law cases can involve confidential information about children, health, allegations and court orders, so contributors should consider obtaining independent legal or support advice where appropriate.
The campaign’s progress may also add pressure for a response from the Department of Justice on the recommendations of the 2025 review. Any official changes would need to address transparency, child protection, expert assessments and the safeguards surrounding private hearings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 300 Silenced Voices campaign?
It is a Right to Transparency initiative seeking accounts from 300 women who believe they were failed by Ireland’s family law system.
Why is the information being collected?
RTT intends to use the accounts in a planned submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture.
What issues does the campaign cover?
The campaign refers to alleged failures involving domestic abuse, coercive control, child safety, expert assessments, trauma-informed practice and lengthy litigation.
How can someone participate?
Women who believe their concerns were inadequately addressed can contact Right to Transparency through its website, righttotransparency.com.
Why this matters for Ireland’s family justice system
The campaign has brought survivor testimony and oversight of family courts back into the national conversation. Its central question is whether repeated accounts point to structural weaknesses that require action beyond individual appeals or cases.
For families involved in proceedings, the outcome of this debate could affect how domestic abuse is assessed, how children’s views are recorded, how experts are regulated and how the public can scrutinise the justice system without compromising privacy.
The key takeaway is clear: the 300 Silenced Voices campaign is seeking evidence, not making a blanket finding about every family law case. Its planned UN submission could nevertheless become an important test of how Ireland responds to concerns about safety, transparency and accountability in family justice.
