SHIFT Week

This year for SHIFT week we are focusing on the theme of “Protect Yourself”. Sex should be fun, respectful, consensual and SAFE for all involved. Through increasing awareness around the importance of “knowing your status” when it comes to STI's, to knowing where to turn if you experience image-based abuse online, we hope to dismantle stigma and promote sexual wellbeing among all students. This year, SHIFT week will be delivered in collaboration with HIV Ireland and the TUD Nursing service. 

 

Students in Sex Work 

At Technological University Dublin, we’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of all students. Your health and safety are our priority. 

For anyone involved in sex work, it’s essential to have the right information about sexual health and your rights. We want to ensure you have access to the resources needed to stay safe and protected.  

Remember, getting informed doesn’t mean endorsing or judging anyone’s choices. It’s about making sure everyone has access to the care and knowledge they deserve. 

Here are some resources you can check out: 

• Free STI testing locations (The GUIDE Clinic, HIV Ireland, SH:24) 
• Confidential support services (Ruhama, Sex Workers Alliance) 

Coco’s Law and You

1.What is Coco’s Law?  

• Coco’s Law (officially known as the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offence’s Act 2020) is a statute making it illegal to share or threaten to share intimate images of another person online, without their consent. 
• This sharing of images is called Image-Based Sexual Abuse.  
• Coco’s Law also protects the anonymity of survivors of Image-Based Sexual Abuse who come forward about their experiences. 

2. What is an intimate image? 

• The legal term: intimate image is a picture of someone naked, or of their genitals, buttocks or breasts.  

• An intimate image is also a picture of someone in their underwear. 

• It can be a photo they took themselves, or one that you or someone else took of them.  

• Just a reminder – it is also illegal to take an intimate image of someone without them knowing or consenting to it. 

3. But what if I don’t know the person whose image I shared? 

• It doesn’t matter. Whether someone sent an intimate image to you directly, whether it was shared in a group chat by someone you know, or whether you just found the picture on the internet, it is still an offence to share an intimate image of someone without their express consent. 
• It is never OK to share private pictures or videos of someone, no matter where you find them. If someone sends you a picture they shouldn’t, delete it.  
• And if you’re unsure whether you have someone’s consent to share – just don’t do it!  

4. What do I do if someone shares or threatens to share my images? 

• Report it to the Gardai. This can be frightening, but they are here to help. You can also contact the Sexual Violence Prevention Officer on campus for support if you need it. 
• If you find an image or video of you online that someone has shared, don’t comment on it. It may lead to harassment or to your image being shared further. Instead, report it to the website. Companies don’t want you to take legal action against them and so will help where they can.  
• If you know someone who has shared or is threatening to share an intimate image of someone else, call them out. You can also report them to Gardai.