slutwalk
Posts tagged "further action"

We’ve made a model letter for you to send to the individuals mentioned in the last post, if you want some guidance. We recommend adding some personal input, however, as template letters become quickly identifiable and can be dismissed.

We’ve also put the choice between ‘implement’ and ‘support’ in the first sentence. This is because, while Lynne Featherstone, Ken Clarke, Theresa May and Keir Starmer can implement the prosecution of rapists, Jo Johnson and Yvette Cooper can only support it.

Let us know if you get any responses!

Dear……..

I am writing to you to implement/support the call to prosecute rapists, not rape survivors. Rape and sexual assault are rarely taken seriously by those in authority. Survivors of rape are made to feel that they cannot report to the police for fear of being penalised themselves, or being disbelieved. [Insert personal view here – personal experiences if relevant]

There are many changes that need to be made in order to improve the rape conviction rate and change people’s attitudes to victims. You have the power to make these changes. I urge you to ensure that:

  • Accusations of rape and sexual assault are taken seriously by police and courts and victims respected
  • Victim blaming which focuses on the survivor’s clothing, profession, sexuality, race, ability, age, sexual history comes to an end

In particular, the police and Crown Prosecution Service should focus on prosecuting rapists and stop prosecuting rape victims for so-called false allegations. Sex workers who are working together in safety should also not be prosecuted – the CPS has the power to decide that such prosecutions are not in the public interest.

If officers and prosecutors are not sacked for their negligent treatment of rape and sexual assault, they are led to believe that it is acceptable behaviour. The power remains in the hands of those who do not respect the very people they are meant to be protecting.

I urge you to address this problem, as it affects everyone. To refuse to do so is to enable rape-apologism and victim-blaming and leaves violent attackers free to attack again.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely,

Text
SlutWalk London brought thousands onto the streets demanding protection for all rape survivors and prosecution for rapists. On 1 July, Slut Means Speak Up is targeting the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS) for its appalling track record on rape. Here’s the Facebook event: link FACTS: Over 90% of rapes are never reported.  Of those reported, only 6.7% end in conviction.  One in four women suffers domestic violence; at least two women a week are murdered by partners or ex-partners.  In up to 90% of attacks on mothers, children are present; in 45-70% the father is violent to the children too.  Over 30 women who reported rape have been disbelieved and imprisoned in the last 12 months.  Asylum seekers who report rape and other torture are often deported.  Sex workers who come forward risk prosecution.   We demand that the CPS: 1.    Stop prosecuting rape survivors for so-called false allegations, and prosecute rapists instead.   Compelling evidence of rape is ignored, lost or dismissed by biased and bungling police and prosecutors.  Survivors who have been prosecuted include: 1) Layla Ibrahim, a young woman attacked on the street and jailed for three years while pregnant; other rape survivors in the area have described a similar attacker. 2) Gail Sherwood, a 51-year-old mother of three jailed for two years after reporting being raped three times by an unknown stalker.  The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has refused to do anything to redress these miscarriages of justice.  But the CPS is doing a review of such prosecutions – let’s tell them what we think. 2.    Stop prosecuting sex workers working together for safety.  Drop the prosecution of Sheila Farmer. At Slutwalk, Ms Farmer described how after a vicious rape she couldn’t work alone.  The brothel-keeping law makes it illegal for women to work together.  But the CPS has discretion and must only prosecute when it is in the public interest.  Ms Farmer is seriously ill – a diabetic since childhood, she suffers from a brain tumour.  She could face a seven year prison sentence.  This has already aggravated her life-threatening condition.  Over 1000 people have emailed her MP that this prosecution is not in the public interest.  Black Women’s Rape Action Project, the English Collective of Prostitutes and Women Against Rape launched this protest at London SlutWalk as part of Slut Means Speak Up.  Let’s all turn up at the CPS on 1 July to say  we’ve had enough  … of being blamed for rape by police and courts, of being deprived of protection, of being denied resources and left vulnerable to exploitation and violence. If we don’t speak up, these injustices will continue and attackers will go free to rape again.  Please get this information to others.  Come to the protest with your banners and placards.  If you can’t come (or even if you can) write to the following policy-makers to demand change – police and prosecutors who don’t do their job should be sacked. Keir Starmer,  Director of Public Prosecutions   Privateoffice@cps.gsi.gov.uk   Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge London, SE1 9HS, Tel: 020 3357 0000   Jo Johnson, Sheila Farmer’s MP.  jo.johnson.mp@parliament.ukHouse of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA   Theresa May, Home Secretary  alexandra.shepherd@justice.gsi.gov.uk  Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk   Ken Clarke, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice secofstate@justice.gsi.gov.ukclarkek@parliament.uk   Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equality at the Home Officepublicenquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.ukfeatherstonel@parliament.uk   Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities coopery@parliament.uk mahilk@parliament.uk

SlutWalk London brought thousands onto the streets demanding protection for all rape survivors and prosecution for rapists.

On 1 July, Slut Means Speak Up is targeting the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS) for its appalling track record on rape.

Here’s the Facebook event: link

FACTS: Over 90% of rapes are never reported.  Of those reported, only 6.7% end in conviction.  One in four women suffers domestic violence; at least two women a week are murdered by partners or ex-partners.  In up to 90% of attacks on mothers, children are present; in 45-70% the father is violent to the children too.  Over 30 women who reported rape have been disbelieved and imprisoned in the last 12 months.  Asylum seekers who report rape and other torture are often deported.  Sex workers who come forward risk prosecution.  

We demand that the CPS:

1.    Stop prosecuting rape survivors for so-called false allegations, and prosecute rapists instead.  
Compelling evidence of rape is ignored, lost or dismissed by biased and bungling police and prosecutors.  Survivors who have been prosecuted include: 1) Layla Ibrahim, a young woman attacked on the street and jailed for three years while pregnant; other rape survivors in the area have described a similar attacker. 2) Gail Sherwood, a 51-year-old mother of three jailed for two years after reporting being raped three times by an unknown stalker.  The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has refused to do anything to redress these miscarriages of justice.  But the CPS is doing a review of such prosecutions – let’s tell them what we think.

2.    Stop prosecuting sex workers working together for safety.  Drop the prosecution of Sheila Farmer.
At Slutwalk, Ms Farmer described how after a vicious rape she couldn’t work alone.  The brothel-keeping law makes it illegal for women to work together.  But the CPS has discretion and must only prosecute when it is in the public interest.  Ms Farmer is seriously ill – a diabetic since childhood, she suffers from a brain tumour.  She could face a seven year prison sentence.  This has already aggravated her life-threatening condition.  Over 1000 people have emailed her MP that this prosecution is not in the public interest. 

Black Women’s Rape Action Project, the English Collective of Prostitutes and Women Against Rape launched this protest at London SlutWalk as part of Slut Means Speak Up.  Let’s all turn up at the CPS on 1 July to say  we’ve had enough  … of being blamed for rape by police and courts, of being deprived of protection, of being denied resources and left vulnerable to exploitation and violence.

If we don’t speak up, these injustices will continue and attackers will go free to rape again.  Please get this information to others.  Come to the protest with your banners and placards.  If you can’t come (or even if you can) write to the following policy-makers to demand change – police and prosecutors who don’t do their job should be sacked.

Keir Starmer,  Director of Public Prosecutions  
[email protected]   
Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge
London, SE1 9HS, Tel: 020 3357 0000

 

Jo Johnson, Sheila Farmer’s MP. 
[email protected]
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

 

Theresa May, Home Secretary 
[email protected]  
[email protected]

 

Ken Clarke, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice [email protected]
[email protected]

 

Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equality at the Home Office
[email protected]
[email protected]

 

Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities

[email protected]

[email protected]

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