Event 8 March: Family Courts on Trial

Please join us on 8 March, International Women’s Day. We will taking part in the speak out called by the Global Women’s Strike to put the Family Court on Trial (details below).

We have seen a massive rise in calls for help from mothers whose children are being taken into care or even adoption, when they report rape or domestic violence. They are routinely disbelieved or blamed for causing their children “emotional harm” while the perpetrators get away with it. The drive to prioritise fathers’ ‘rights’ overrides all other considerations, with violent fathers being given contact and residence. Children and mothers are being abused and even killed as a result.

Poverty imposed by austerity cuts – 86% of which have targeted women, depriving us of escape routes – is also used to accuse mothers, especially single mothers, of ‘neglect’ and take our children.

Mothers all over the UK are fighting for our rights to care for and protect our children from this child abuse by the state. Please bring your evidence.

Women Against Rape

Facebook event here. Follow us on Twitter @WomenStrike.

 

 

Media update: Yarl’s Wood Hunger Strike: ‘They’re trying to break us down’

STOP PRESS:  Emergency Demo Solidarity with Yarl’s Wood hunger strikers 4-5pm, Wed 28 Feb, outside the Home Office, Marsham Street, SW1P 4DF. Called by Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants: co-hosted with All African Women’s Group, Black Women’s Rape Action Project, Docs Not Cops, End Deportations, Right to Remain, SOAS Detainee Support, The London Latinxs, …

Read more

Demands of Yarl’s Wood Women on Hunger Strike ‘Our rights in here are being violated every day – we’ve had enough’

Yarl’s Wood: Women on Hunger Strike “Our rights in here are being violated every day” Over 100 women in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre began a hunger strike on Wednesday 21 February.  The women from Avocet and Dove units along with a few men on the family wing are refusing food and are planning further …

Read more

Statement: Rape victims won vs Theresa May and police, Supreme Court

UPDATE: The Supreme Court upheld the women’s claim – a significant victory for all rape survivors! Today 21 February, the Supreme Court will give the verdict on a police appeal to overturn a high court decision which protects rape victims.  This shameful appeal was backed by Prime Minister Theresa May. Biased and negligent police investigations …

Read more

Event: LUSH Human Rights Summit

LUSH Human Rights Summit February 2018 Performance: We are Here – because You are There Our interactive play has been on tour to Coventry, Sheffield & the DSEI Stop to Arms Fair. Performed by asylum seekers from the All African Women’s Group, it depicts the real life injustices faced by rape survivors and others throughout …

Read more

Campaign update – survivor Alissa Moore in Parliament

Campaign update – survivor Alissa Moore in Parliament Alissa Moore, a rape survivor we are working with in our campaign for compensation got her MP Iain Stewart to raise the issues in Parliament on 23 Nov. WAR was quoted and thanked for our work. Alissa was raped from aged 7-15 by her father, yet she …

Read more

In the media: Christina McHugh, 27, raped when she was just 11, was denied compensation because of a conviction

Christina McHugh, 27, raped when she was just 11, was denied compensation because of a conviction Scottish Herald, 4 November 2017 HUNDREDS of rape victims are being denied compensation after committing ‘minor’ criminal offences, The Herald can reveal. It is estimated that at least 500 women have seen their claims rejected by the UK Government’s Criminal …

Read more

In the media: Hundreds of sex assault victims refused compensation due to criminal convictions

Hundreds of sex assault victims refused compensation due to criminal convictions Independent, 28 Oct 2017 Refusing money on basis of offence records ‘a new form of victim-blaming’, says Shadow minister Harriet Agerholm @HarrietAgerholm  The Government’s compensation body, CICA, has been routinely rejecting survivors’ claims when it emerges they have a conviction of any severity Getty Hundreds of …

Read more