Domestic violence and abuse occurs when a person tries to gain and maintain power and control over their current or former partner, or in some cases a family member, by using a pattern of intimidation, isolation, manipulation, coercion and assaults. Domestic abuse takes many forms. It can be physical, emotional, sexual, and economic, including coercive control. Abuse rarely takes one form; perpetrators of abuse use different tactics as part of a larger pattern of controlling and abusive behaviour. Importantly, physical abuse does not always have to be a factor in abusive relationships
Domestic Violence and Abuse Survey 2024
Information
- Policies
- Publications
- Call for new members. Get involved
- Downloads
- Ending Sexual Violence
- Equality Impact Assessments
- EDI Organisations
- Race and Ethnic Equality in UCD
- Data Collection
- UCD Disability Census
- Gender pay gap reporting in UCD
- End Period Poverty
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey
- International Women's Day
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- Engaging men in EDI in UCD
- HEA EDI Enhancement Fund 2025
Page updated 13 March 2024
Why are we running this survey?
UCD has committed to the enhancement of an inclusive, diverse and respectful environment through a range of actions in the EDI strategy 2021 - 2024. A key action in the strategy is to develop a Domestic Violence policy and supporting materials to support those impacted by domestic violence and abuse. Domestic violence and abuse is a highly prevalent issue in Ireland: More than 1 in 3 working people surveyed across multiple industries and at varying levels of seniority have experienced domestic abuse. The University recognises that members of its employee and student community can be affected by domestic abuse, and this will have an impact on their safety, wellbeing, and ability to work or study. An EDI workgroup has been formed to support the development of a Domestic Violence policy and supporting materials which will provide information and guidance to managers and other support roles to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse so that they can support those that disclose to them. (opens in a new window)Woman's aid were consulted in the development of this survey.
The main purpose of the survey is to invite employees and managers, including people who have been directly impacted by domestic violence/abuse, to contribute as to how best the University can support individuals that disclose. The results from this survey will aid in the creation of a Domestic Violence policy along with its accompanying materials.
The main purpose of the survey is to invite employees and managers, including people who have been directly impacted by domestic violence/abuse, to contribute as to how best the University can support individuals that disclose. The results from this survey will aid in the creation of a Domestic Violence policy along with its accompanying materials.
UCD is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all employees. We recognise that this survey about domestic violence may be distressing. Please see a range of supports below should any issues arise as you participate in this survey and please consider your digital safety – information to help you stay safe online can be found
(opens in a new window)here.
Please access the Domestic Violence and Abuse survey (opens in a new window)here .
The survey will remain open until5:00 PM on Monday, April 8th.
Please note: This survey is a means of sharing experiences and perceptions but not a route to reporting specific incidents or complaints. This should be done through your Line Manager/Head of School or Unit/HRP as appropriate
Supports
We understand that questions in this survey may be triggering and potentially cause distress. The are a range of internal and external supports available should you wish to speak in confidence about any issues that arise as you participate in the survey including:
- Line Manager
- HR Partner
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Dignity and Respect Support Service for issues of a Sexual Misconduct nature (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) as defined in the Sexual Misconduct policy.
- (opens in a new window)Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Unit
- (opens in a new window)Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline
- (opens in a new window)Other Women’s Aid support options
- (opens in a new window)Safe Ireland
- (opens in a new window)Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
- (opens in a new window)An Garda Síochána
- (opens in a new window)Men’s Development Network National Male Advice Line
- (opens in a new window)National LGBT Helpline
Domestic Violence Survey -FAQs
We assure you that this is a strictly confidential survey, and responses are anonymous. All data collected through this survey will be held securely and confidentially in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Under no circumstances will your individual responses be made available to anyone outside the EDI unit. Individual results will be aggregated anonymously, and research reported on aggregate or combined results. At no point will the information you provide be shared in a way that would allow you to be personally identified. Any published material will be anonymised.
This survey is anonymous. To ensure anonymity we do not ask you for your name or contact details in this survey. To understand your answers in more context we would be grateful if you could provide us with some personal demographic information as part of this survey. The amount of information you provide us with is entirely up to you, please only disclose information with which you are comfortable, but the more you provide, the more useful it will be for us when analysing your survey response. Where you do not wish to disclose information, please choose the ‘prefer not to say’ option.
No data will be collected in relation to affiliation and no information relating to individual responses will be shared with anyone outside the EDI unit.
Survey responses are anonymous. All data collected through this survey will be held securely and confidentially in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and the Data Protection Act 2018. Access to the data set will be confined to a small group within the EDI Unit, who will be responsible for its subsequent analysis. We will only process data in line with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and the Data Protection Act 2018. At no point will the information you provide be shared in a way that would allow you to be personally identified.
Any published material will be anonymised. Data shared will only be for groups of at least 10 respondents to further ensure anonymity. The EDI team regrets that it is not in a position to personally meet with any individuals who provide a submission or to address personal grievances. Respondents are requested not to submit any details of grievances which are the subject of legal proceedings. If you have any questions about this survey that have not been answered by this information page, please contact (opens in a new window)edi@ucd.ie
Privacy notice
- Purpose- the data collected in this survey is used to identify any inequalities that may exist in the University, and to inform institutional actions to combat inequality.
- Legal basis- We understand the collection of employee and student data to be central to the implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, deriving from section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014. Under this Act, all public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) must undertake assessment and monitoring, and have policies and plans to promote equality, prevent discrimination, and protect the human rights of staff, students and the wider public that are served by the work of HEIs. The University has a legal obligation under The Higher Education Act, 1971 to promote equality in the higher education sector.
- Article 9 of the GDPR 2018 Legal Basis- as we are processing special category data as part of this survey, we are relying on Article 9 (2)(a), explicit consent, in order to process this kind of data.
- Controller- the EDI Unit is the data controller for the data collected in this survey. You can contact the Data Protection Officer of the UCD via (opens in a new window)gdpr@ucd.ie
- Categories of personal data- gender including gender identity, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, and membership of the Traveller community.
- Confidentiality- Access to the data set will be confined to a small group within the EDI Unit, who will be responsible for its subsequent analysis. At no point will the information you provide be shared in a way that would allow you to be personally identified. Any published material will be anonymised. All data collected through this survey will be held securely and confidentially in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
The survey is voluntary and completely anonymous. There is no onus on you to participate; however, the survey represents a great opportunity to help us identify areas that we can improve in UCD and offer further supports. So if you have an opinion, use the survey as an ideal opportunity to share it.
Respondents on permanent or temporary contracts, who are commenced on payroll are invited to participate. Casual, non-contractual or hourly staff will not be included on this occasion.
This survey can take between 5-7 minutes to complete.
No. You can partially complete the survey, save it and return to it later.
If you have special accessibility requirements and require this survey in an alternative format, please contact (opens in a new window)edi@ucd.ie