After a nationwide Walk Out for Women, Sinn Féin's Community Development spokesperson Conor D. McGuinness TD urged men to take a leading role in challenging misogyny, calling out abuse and helping to end violence against women and girls, citing new findings from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC).

Speaking following the action, he said the DRCC's survey should act as a wake-up call. The research found that 48% of men under 25 believe there are "a lot" of false rape allegations, while 34% believe a rape should not be believed without a guilty conviction. A further 37% believe a person who was raped while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is at least partly responsible.

Deputy McGuinness said: "The figures published by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre today are deeply disturbing and should force us to confront the attitudes that continue to surround rape and sexual violence. "Today, people across Ireland walked out of workplaces, homes, colleges and communities to say that violence against women and girls has no place in our society.

"But men have to do more than stand in solidarity. We have to be part of the solution.

"Men need to challenge misogyny when we hear it. We need to call out abusive and degrading behaviour. We need to have honest conversations about consent. And we need to make clear that responsibility for sexual violence lies with the perpetrator, never the victim.

"The fact that such deeply damaging attitudes are particularly prevalent among young men should concern all of us. It means we have a responsibility to engage with young men, challenge harmful narratives and ensure they understand what consent, respect and healthy relationships actually mean.

"That requires leadership from men, but it also requires political leadership. We need sustained investment in specialist services, proper support for survivors and a much stronger focus on prevention and education.

"The message from today's walkout cannot simply be allowed to fade away. We need to turn solidarity into action and break the cycle of violence against women and girls."