Women Against Rape (WAR) is a grassroots multi-racial women’s group founded in 1976 and based at the Crossroads Women’s Centre in London.
We provide rights information, support and advocacy. We take up individual cases on the basis of collective self-help. We campaign for justice, protection and compensation for all women and girls who have suffered sexual, domestic and/or racist violence. This includes survivors of any age, race and nationality, asylum seekers, women with disabilities, trans women, sex workers.
We have won changes in the law such as making rape in marriage a crime. We have set legal precedents such as the first private prosecution for rape, after the authorities refused to bring a rapist of two sex workers to court.
We know this is a very difficult time for many people. We are responding to calls and emails, although it may take us a bit longer than usual. If you are suffering domestic violence or rape please call the police if it’s an emergency on 999.
You can call the 24-hour Domestic Violence helpline on 0808 2000 247 for help with urgent accommodation and other issues.
Latest news >>>
In the media: A woman who accused a therapist of raping her during a therapy session has been awarded more than £200,000 in damages after winning a civil case against him.
A woman who accused a therapist of raping her during a therapy session has been awarded more than £200,000 in damages after winning a civil case against him. Jess Warren, BBC News, PA Media News agency, 19 June 2024 Ella Janneh sued Michael Lousada, 57, over claims he raped and sexually assaulted her at his clinic in Belsize Park, …
In the media: WAR quoted in Express report – Police unable to keep tabs on all ‘monitored’ sex offenders due to officer shortages
Police unable to keep tabs on all ‘monitored’ sex offenders due to officer shortages Express, 15 June 2024, Jon Austen A senior coroner said there is now a “postcode lottery” of risk from more than 91,000 criminals who require regular checks. CONVICTED sex offenders released from jail are not being properly monitored because of police …
In the media: Police officers keep jobs over David Carrick investigation failure
Two Wiltshire Police officers faced a disciplinary hearing following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Rod Minchin, The Independent, June 2024 Two police officers who failed to adequately investigate an allegation of abuse by serial rapist David Carrick five years before the former constable was first arrested have been given final …
In the media: WAR quoted in Sunday Express on police officers keeping jobs after female officers accused them of sexual touching & explicit comments
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has pledged to end misogyny in the Met Police in the wake of a series of damning reports following the Wayne Couzens scandal. By JON AUSTIN Sat, Jun 8, 2024 WOMEN’S campaigners have hit out after two police officers who touched younger female colleagues during drinking sessions kept their jobs. Commissioner …
Evidence to the Home Office Consultation on Police strip search ofchildren from Women Against Rape and Women of Colour GWS
Evidence to the Home Office Consultation on Police strip search of children from Women Against Rape and Women of Colour GWS We call for an end to police strip searching of all children under the age of 18, in police custody or schools or anywhere else – it’s state child abuse. 1. Police should not …
In the media: ‘They’re taunting me’: Home Office asylum interviews are retraumatising rape survivors
“They’re taunting me”: Home Office asylum interviews are retraumatising rape survivors Lauren Crosby Medlicott, 31 May 2024 According to Emily Burnham, a casework coordinator in the asylum team at Women Against Rape, Home Office policy is meant to protect victims of rape and torture from re-traumatisation by allowing them to submit written evidence, such as …
Tell the Home Office the police must stop strip searching our children
Tell the Home Office to stop police strip searching children Stop police strip searching our children! This is State sexual abuse. 650 children strip searched by Met Police in 2 years. If this happened to you, a friend or a family member we want to hear from you. Watch our video of shocking stats from the …
UN Rapporteur submission: Evidence to Reem Alsalem on Violence Against Women
Evidence to Reem Alsalem UN Rapporteur on Violence Against Women & Girls In this paper we draw from our experiences as a grassroots organisation and from published facts and research. We focus on the following areas of interest outlined in the Rapporteur’s Call for Evidence: access to the law, and redress, legal protection that prevents perpetrators repeating …
What OFSTED needs to know about CAFCASS
Submission from Support Not Separation, Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign & Women Against Rape to OFSTED re its inspection of CAFCASS. Together we have worked for decades with mothers fighting to keep their children (Legal Action for Women was founded in 1982). In the last 10 years a growing movement of mothers, especially single mothers, struggling …
Submission to the Special Rapporteur – Custody cases, violence against women and violence against children
Issued jointly by Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign, Support Not Separation and Women Against Rape, March 2024. We are very glad that the Special Rapporteur is carrying out this consultation. We have worked for many decades with mothers fighting to keep their children (Legal Action for Women was founded in 1982). In the last 10 years a growing …