Award of public sector contract to religious group not evidenced based decision in interests of women – WRC and others
We are astonished to hear (Report, 12 April) that the Ministry of Justice has awarded vital public funding to support victims of sex trafficking to a religious group (the Salvation Army) instead of a specialist women’s support service (Eaves, which has successfully run the Poppy Project for nine years).
We are deeply concerned that this appears to be an ideological move to award public-sector contracts to religious groups in order to bring them into the “big society”, rather than an evidenced decision based on the interests of such women. There is a wealth of evidence to show that women who have experienced violence want a specialist service that understands their needs.
We question how the government will ensure that religious organisations will not discriminate against women and make moral judgments about their situations and needs. How will the government make sure that human rights standards to which they are committed are fulfilled? For example, how will the Salvation Army respond to lesbians or women who need abortion advice?
The home secretary has made a commitment to specialist support services in her strategy on violence against women and girls. Why are trafficked women to be treated differently? All government departments must support the strategy or it risks being seriously undermined.
Professor Liz Kelly Co-chair, End Violence Against Women Coalition
Vivienne Hayes Chief executive, Women’s Resource Centre
Letter to the Guardian newspaper published on 14th April 2011
