Rape Crisis Network Ireland has called for the reform of the Direct Provision system for refugees.
It is publishing a report today, which for the first time deals with sexual violence incidents disclosed by asylum seekers and refugees to rape crisis centres nationwide.
Among the key findings are that the State is making vulnerable people more vulnerable as a result of the Direct Provision system.
It also states that there is a lack of access to support because of cuts to rape crisis funding and changes in welfare payments.
Clíona Saidléar, Acting Director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, explained one of the main findings regarding refugees and asylum seekers who have been abused.
"There's a number of aspects of the type of abuse they are coming to us with which are very different and unique to this population," she said.
"For example, in terms of multiple abusers you can see that for the general population that are coming to rape crisis centres in Ireland, multiple abusers account for 11% of incidents.
"For this population however, about 52% of all these people coming to us have experienced abuse by multiple abusers," Ms Saidléar added.
The Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality has said he hopes to have the final report from the working group set up to examine the system of Direct Provision by Easter of next year.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the group was due to meet for the first time next week.
Mr O'Ríordáin also condemned recent protests and attacks carried out on the homes of people who are members of the Roma community in Waterford.
He said if anybody had any issues around criminality, the gardaí were there to deal with that situation.
The minister said what was happening in Waterford was a particularly cowardly act.
"It's a bit cowardly and a bit easy to pick on a vulnerable group, such as the Roma community.
"If people have evidence, or problems, or want to raise something, do it with the gardaí, don't organise what looks like effectively a lynch mob.
"Political leadership is key and I'm quite happy to do that. I know Ciara Conway has been quite vocal on it. I'm glad John Halligan has done the same.
"I hope that that will be replicated right across the political spectrum on issues like this, because it is no way to deal with it," he said.
