The Cari Foundation, which counsels children who have suffered sexual abuse, has reported a significant increase in demand for its services.
Publishing its annual report for last year, it said there had been 1,541 telephone calls for support, a 22 per cent rise, while 123 families sought therapy appointments, a 12 per cent increase.
The group accused the Government of failing to live up to commitments to radically reform child protection laws and hold a promised referendum on Children’s Rights.
Cari claimed the promised referendum had been shelved in favour of an emergency patch-up of legislation by the Government.
“In our work with children we come across too many children who, having disclosed abuse, are returned to unsafe custody situations often because they have no voice,” a Cari spokesman said.
“Without the rights of our children being enshrined in the constitution the ‘best interests of the child’ are not being adhered to.”
Cari experts said they were increasingly concerned by the targeting of ‘Tweens’ - youngsters aged nine to 12 - through overtly sexual messages and goods.
The group said boundaries were increasingly being blurred with children potentially being targeted by adults who want to take advantage.
Cari said it has seen an increase in calls and therapeutic services relating to sexualised behaviour and warned the blame lay partly on ‘Tweens’ being used as a marketing tool.
Cari outlined a series of recommendations it wants to see this year to improve the lives of children.
It called on the Government to hold the Children’s Right’s Referendum and create an offence of child sexual abuse at the same time as consolidating all sex crime legislation.
Cari also suggested a network of specialist child trauma therapy centres to ensure even and appropriate services are available throughout the country.
At present only Cari and two Dublin based units can provide specialised therapy.
PA