In the media: Response to government plan to impose rape case prosecution targets

11 August 2020

Response to Government plans to impose rape case prosecution targets Targets are meaningless. The government has to tackle institutional racism and social prejudices as well as austerity cuts. Women Against Rape, RT TV 11 August 2020

In the media: The Guardian view on falling rape prosecutions – women’s rights are regressing

31 July 2020

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jul/30/the-guardian-view-on-falling-prosecutions-womens-rights-are-regressing Editorial Progress is being rolled back around the world. Right wing governments are not the only ones to blame. Thu 30 Jul 2020 18.56 BSTLast modified on Fri 31 Jul 2020 04.37 BST We are going backwards. The number of reported rapes that result in convictions has long been alarmingly low. But the state of rape prosecutions in …

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Video: Domestic Abuse Bill in Parliament

23 July 2020

See our latest short film: STOP the Family Courts aiding and abetting domestic abuse. Made by WAR & Support Not Separation. We are lobbying for the Domestic Abuse Bill to: recognise that domestic abuse victims are mostly women; provide vital resources so women and children can escape; extend all protections and resources to immigrant women …

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In the media: DWP ignored coroner’s call to take action to save claimants from suicide

20 July 2020

DWP ignored coroner’s call to take action to save claimants from suicide By John Pring for Disability News Service Documents released this week under the Freedom of Information Act show that DWP dismissed both the coroner’s plea to take action, and the findings of an inquest jury which had concluded that a jobcentre’s failings had …

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In the media: Police and CPS scrap digital data extraction forms for rape cases

20 July 2020

Police and CPS scrap digital data extraction forms for rape cases Exclusive: case of two complainants funded by Equality and Human Rights Commission forces U-turn Alexandra Topping The Guardian Thu 16 Jul 2020   The Crown Prosecution Service and police have been forced to scrap controversial “digital strip searches” of rape complainants, following a legal …

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We are facing the ‘decriminalisation of rape’, warns victims’ commissioner

20 July 2020

We are facing the ‘decriminalisation of rape’, warns victims’ commissioner Dame Vera Baird says there has been a ‘catastrophic’ decline in rape prosecutions Haroon Siddique The Guardian Tue 14 Jul 2020 00.01 BSTLast modified on Tue 14 Jul 2020 00.09 BST  Dame Vera Baird said complainants were being denied justice. In the year ending March 2017 the CPS prosecuted …

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Domestic Abuse Bill: Briefing to House of Lords

17 July 2020

DOMESTIC ABUSE BILL BRIEFING TO HOUSE OF LORDS The Domestic Abuse Bill is due for second reading in the House of Lords followed by Committee stage, when amendments can be put. We don’t know the date for either of these yet (watch this space) but we will be sending this briefing to some members of …

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Briefing 4: Report Stage Domestic Abuse Bill

3 July 2020

Briefing 4: Report Stage Domestic Abuse Bill From Women Against Rape and Support Not Separation REPORT STAGE DOMESTIC ABUSE BILL, Monday 6 July We daily work with mothers who have suffered domestic violence and are fighting in the family court to protect their children from abusive fathers. Our experiences of sexism, racism, class and other …

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PRESS RELEASE: Re government announcement to review the family courts

25 June 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Re government announcement to review the family courts Why another review when all the facts are known? Where are the resources for mothers and children? We welcome the government’s announcement that the family courts must do more to protect victims of domestic violence, and that the presumption that a child’s contact with both …

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24 June 2020

25 June: Oppose amendment proposed by Jess Phillips MP which would include children in the definition of victims of domestic abuse.   We are inundated with cases of mothers who’ve suffered domestic violence fighting in the family court to protect their children from abusive fathers.  Based on our experience over many years, we are very concerned …

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Women’s group urges Parliament to reject ‘misogynistic’ MP’s amendments to Domestic Abuse Bill

15 June 2020

Morning Star, 9 June 2020 Lamiat Sabin A WOMEN’S rights group called on Parliament today to reject “wrecking amendments” to the Domestic Abuse Bill proposed by Tory MP Philip Davies, who they say has a “misogynistic” record. The Shipley MP has said that attempts to use a child as a “weapon” by keeping them away …

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Investigation into violent fathers using allegations of “parental alienation” in the family courts

10 June 2020

Further to the Briefing by Women Against Rape & Support Not Separation (8 June) to the Domestic Abuse Bill Committee. Legal Action for Women, which coordinates the Support Not Separation Coalition, holds regular self-help meetings with mothers fighting to protect their children. In our self-help meeting last week, six women came together to discuss how …

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Press Release: Domestic Abuse Bill must go further and ensure family courts protect victims not perpetrators

9 June 2020

The Domestic Abuse Bill is now going through Committee stage in parliament when amendments are considered.  Some of its measures are welcome, but it must go further to stop violent fathers using the family courts to continue their reign of terror against women and children and avoid prosecution.  The Bill must: End the legal presumption …

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Briefing 2 RE: Domestic Abuse Bill

8 June 2020

on behalf of Women Against Rape and the Support Not Separation Coalition Submitted to Public Bill Committee, 8 June 2020 Women Against Rape (WAR) is a multi-racial women’s organisation founded in 1976. It provides support, advocacy and information in individual cases. It campaigns for justice, protection and compensation for all women and girls, including asylum …

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Briefing 1: Domestic Abuse Bill does not go far enough:

3 June 2020

Women and children are entitled to resources and to family courts that support victims not violent men. The Domestic Abuse Bill is in Committee from Thursday 4 June, where they will discuss amendments.  We are urging MPs to give women and children more protection. The Bill must go further in three key areas: 1.     It …

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