Croydon Town Hall - Katherine Street - 17th March 2000
Report Back Facilitated by
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Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre RASASC's first conference, Lifting the Lid on Sexual Violence took place at Croydon Town Hall on March 17 2000. Chaired by RASASC's Manager Karen Jewitt, the conference was voted a success by nearly 100 delegates from various agencies around the country.
THE WORK OF RASASC
RASASC’S main service is currently the helpline, which is open for around 5 hours a day on weekdays and from 2. 30-5pm at weekends. Each shift is staffed by a paid worker and, ideally, 1 or 2 volunteers. There is currently a high demand for face counselling and RASASC hopes to be able to offer this in the future. There is also a demand for escorts to hospital, police or court. RASASC receives around 500 calls a month, and about 35 of these will be from new callers. They are from women from a variety of backgrounds and ages, and may come from all over the country. There are some calls from men and these will last for up to an hour and then the callers may be referred on. RASASC also receives calls from partners, friends or relatives wanting advice on how they cam help the woman or girl who has been abused. There are also calls from agencies such as GPs, counsellors and the police. The calls are often shocking. There are calls from women who say that prostitution is preferable to the way they're treated at home. There are calls from survivors of ritual and satanic abuse, survivors of paedophile rings, and from woman and girls who have been assaulted by parents, step-parents, other relatives, priests, teachers, friends and so on. The effects on these women can be devastating. They may self-harm, mutilating their breasts or genitalia, they may wash in or drink bleach in an attempt to get clean, they may suffer drug or alcohol abuse, eating disorders, flashbacks - an endless list of ongoing problems. For these women, the helpline service is a lifeline. Back to the list of the report's contents
PARTNER RAPE/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Women suffering beatings, emotional and/or physical abuse and threats to themselves and their children at the hands of their partners tend to resist as little as possible. If they are forced to have sex against their will, or if they are coerced into doing so when not in a position to give consent (when asleep or unconscious, or under influence of alcohol or drugs, for example) it is rape. It is often reported that a partner will demand sex after a beating, to 'prove that she forgives him. '
A 1990 study on sexual assault carried out by Diana Russell in San Francisco, surveyed a randomly selected sample of 930 women. It showed that 10-14% of women had experienced rape in marriage. When researchers looked at the prevalence of different types of rape, they found that around 25% of all rapes are carried out by a partner, although this may be an underestimate.
Around 565 women are sexually assaulted every day in this country. Around 43% of these assaults are carried out by a current or former partner. Few women report to the police, and of those cases that are reported, only 6% will result in a conviction. Of all women who experience physical abuse 30-50% will be raped at least once. Rape within marriage was not acknowledged in this country at all until the 1970s, and not by law until 1991, although there are still few prosecutions and convictions.
Studies on rape and sexual violence have their limitations. For example, they cannot represent women who have been raped by their husbands/partners for years and don't talk about it. Partner rape can happen in all types of relationships, but younger, upper middle class women are over represented. Studies show that African-American women have a slightly higher rate of partner rape, while younger white women are more likely to leave their partners because they often have more economic resources. 'Traditional' wives are more likely to blame themselves for the violence and believe that they cannot be raped because submission to their husbands, even if it is violent sex and against their will, is their 'wifely duty. '
Studies show that the incidence of partner rape is higher in relationships where there has been high degree of violence. This has led to arguments that rape in these cases should be seen as an extension of domestic violence. However, if rape has occurred as part of, or after a violent attack, it may be recorded by police as domestic violence and not as a separate incident. This confuses the issue with regard to understanding partner rape as a specific problem. Studies show that women may be raped up to 20 times before doing something about it and that when men rape and abuse, the violence is more likely to escalate, possibly to murder.
It is a myth that partner rape is less traumatic than other rape. The effects are many: Physical injury, gynaecological problems, post traumatic stress disorder, suicidal feelings as well as long term insomnia, eating disorders and depression. Women raped by their partners may feel more anger than other survivors, and are less likely to report. If they do report, most cases will be marked 'no further action' or will be dropped by the CPS.
Calls for change
We need more research to determine the prevalence of partner rape, and to draw attention to the fact that partner rape has serious long-term physical and psychological effects, and that women may live in constant fear of another attack. We need to look at the long term effects on children who witness domestic and sexual violence. We need changes in the legal system, such as specially trained prosecutors and measures to put the emphasis on the rapist's character rather than the history and character of the survivor. But above all, we need to change masculinity, so that self-worth stops being dependant on the ease and frequency with which they have penetrative sex.
POLICE HANDLING OF RAPE/NEW RAPE CENTRES
There have been many improvements in the last 20 years, but there's still a long way to go. To get a conviction, the victim should be preferably a virgin, preferably white, respectable, middle class, not been drinking, be traumatised, have given up on life, given up her job, etc. etc. - then you might get a conviction. The police used not to want the public see what they do but are much more open now.
One women who had contacted herpes and had become pregnant after being raped, waited longer than necessary to have her abortion so that police could take DNA from the foetus. The rapist got six years.
A sexual offences consultative group is being set up in order to try to improve the service to victims of rape and sexual assault and to improve conviction rates. The police are dealing with more and more partner rapes. The term 'date rape' is misleading as is the term 'acquaintance rape' - is someone you met 5 minute ago really an acquaintance?
This summer, the Metropolitan police are launching a referral centre at King's College Hospital. The Caldecot Centre is based on a centre that already exists within Queen Mary's Hospital in Greater Manchester. The idea is that, if they don't want to go to the police, women can go to the centre (they can self-refer)' and, with their consent, they will have samples taken and if they later want to go to the police, these samples can be used.
The centre will cover the south-east, although it is hoped that this will be the first of many. It will offer:
If women do want to tell police, a trained chaperone will take a statement. There will be ongoing support from hospital crisis workers and counsellors. If, when samples are analysed, it suggests that there is a serial rapist at work, the woman will be told by their one to one counsellor. The hope is that the woman will be prepared to help with a prosecution, but if she does not wish to, there is no pressure, and police will not intervene. It is a useful way of gathering intelligence against people who are becoming serial rapists.
The aims of the Consultative Group are to improve police responses in terms of investigation, detection and victim care, and through this to influence response of other agencies.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN EL SALVADOR
El Salvador is one of the most violent countries is Latin-America. There were civil wars between 1980 and 1992, and when peace came, the effects of this began to show. The disintegration of families caused an increase in street crime, with young people joining gangs to gain a sense of identity. Violence against women also became more prevalent. Many women's organisations formed to protest against this. Many women have become brave enough to speak out against violent partners, but many are still afraid to fight for human rights.
expression is a result of unequal relationships based on the historical, social and cultural construct of male superiority. The abuse of power and imbalance towards women and girls becomes legitimised through socialisation and aggressive masculine stereotyping.
The expression of domination and power is most silent and invisible within the family. There are many cases of rape and sexual abuse against girls and boys. Also, women and girls may be forced into pregnancy, and girls and women who are pregnant may be forced into prostitution as their only means of survival.
We have started a programme setting up homes for women in these positions. There will be trained volunteers to work on legal issues, and also to advise and escort women who have suffered domestic violence. There will also be trained therapists, psychologists, lawyers and doctors in these centres to support women who have been abused. We will also offer support through self-help groups, psychodrama, psychoanalysis and role play. Support is available to boys as well as girls who have been raped or abused.
We campaign to de-mystify rape and get rid of the myths. The law recognised family violence in 1998, but there is still the myth that violence in the home is not that bad. Only when girls are raped by their fathers is the rape recognised.
The law will not support mums who try to get abortions for their daughters, so they are forced to have the children.
We are also running training campaigns for the police to help them deal more sensitively with victims of sexual violence. We are hoping for centres which will be safe places for women to go and where there are specially trained police who will be sensitive to women's needs.
Domestic violence is a universal phenomenon. Whatever your social class, and whether you're in El Salvador, England, Scotland or China, the impact is the same. We need more work with adolescents - boys and girls - because youth is where these social relationships begin. We need to have more influence on equality and respect in relationships between men and women.
HOW RAPE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
On February 18 1992, Merlyn was sexual assaulted, beaten and garrotted with a cheese wire before her attacker set the room on fire and ran off, leaving her for dead.
She says that nothing can prepare you for how you'll feel and the way others will treat you. Those dealing with women who have been raped should be fully trained, they should know what they are doing and they should be able to provide hard information as well as gentle guidance and support. Merlyn feels very angry at a society that could ignore her - she had staggered from the house, naked and bleeding. People at the bus stop didn't even call an ambulance, later saying they 'thought she was a mad woman'.
Once in hospital, she was asked if she would prefer a male or female forensic examiner. Being at that stage just glad to be alive, she said she didn't mind. In future, however, she would not be so relaxed about it. The male examiner was incompetent, and insensitive and Merlyn screamed out in pain when he grabbed her almost severed hand.
Judicial System
Merlyn's attacker was brought to trial 11 months later. She says she remains incensed every time she reads a newspaper report of a rape trial showing that things have changed very little since her own experience 8 years ago. She points out some of the injustices, such as the fact that a woman who has been raped is just a witness at the trial, therefore she is not allowed to talk to, or sometimes even to meet, the prosecuting barrister. The defendant however, is provided with a choice of barristers, free of charge, and has access to all statements and other documents. He may consult with his barrister at length in order to prepare a case, and he will be advised what to say and how to say it. She was allowed to give evidence behind screen, but her attacker could see her on a TV monitor, so if he had been acquitted, he would have known exactly what she looked like.
Another common occurrence is that it will be suggested that the charge be downgraded in order to make it more likely to secure a conviction. Merlyn was asked to consider a downgrade from attempted murder to GBH, which may have been more likely to get a guilty plea. Because of the need to get a conviction, she says, it was tempting, but unacceptable.
Her attacker had killed before. He had been sexually assaulted in prison, and ripped his assailant's throat out with a pair of scissors. He was sentenced to four years for manslaughter. This is clearly no deterrent.
Merlyn's life will never be the same again. She received a record compensation award, but out of that has had to pay for counselling and extensive plastic surgery. She can no longer live alone or travel alone. She always carries a rape alarm and always drives or takes a taxi. ‘The attacker made me a victim on that day, but since then I've been a survivor'. She feels positive and lucky to be alive.
The conference broke for lunch at 1pm, and at 2pm, gathered to watch a moving portrayal of young people dealing with sexual abuse, performed by pupils from Woodcote High School.
Poet Andrea Cork read three perceptive and moving poems: 'Peep behind the curtain', a child's view of domestic violence, 'She', about women who self-harm and 'The Courage ', a tribute to survivors of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Galop
Established in 1982,Galop has recently acquired charity status, and lobbies for changes and improvements in legislation and key practices involving gay, lesbian and bisexual people. We also operate a helpline for people who have been affected by homophobic violence, harassment and verbal abuse. We focus particularly on the needs of young gays, bisexuals and lesbians in schools where much of this abuse takes place. We have also recently set up a Black Services Development Project. Looking particularly at the needs of black gay, lesbian or bisexual people.
Hate crimes arise from prejudice and ignorance and are one of the most underreported crimes. Survivors of hate crimes often fear they will not be believed or listened to. Along with black and ethnic minority groups, lesbian, gay and bisexual communities have historically had a bad relationship with the police, therefore victims of hate crimes targeting these groups are often reluctant to go to the police.
All victims are affected by these crimes, but where hate crime is involved, there is the additional distress of knowing that the crime is not at random, it is personal, the victim being targeted because they are part of a particular group.
It is only in the last decade that we have seen research on homophobic violence. A recent study showed that 57% of the respondents had experienced harassment, (20% violent) in the previous year. Over 60% of gay, lesbian and bisexual people experience homophobic abuse at some point. Studies such as 'Breaking the Chain', 'Queerbashing' and 'Lesbians' Experience of Violence and Harassment' indicate that gay, lesbian and bisexual people believe that police would not deal with the situation appropriately or would not take any action over a crime that has been reported.
It would seem that much of the harassment is directed at young people. The 1996 'Queerbashing' study carried out by Stonewall found that 48% of the young people who responded had experienced some homophobic violence, abuse or harassment. A Galop survey in 1998 showed that 2/3 of the respondents had experienced verbal abuse, nearly 1/2 had experienced physical abuse and 1/3 had experienced other forms of harassment.
While more research is emerging about violence against gay men, there is still very little research on the experiences of lesbians. What we do know is that the experience of gay men and lesbians differs in that women are more likely to be attacked in a 'domestic' space and are more likely to know their attackers, while men are more likely to be outside, and attacked by a stranger.
Because so few homophobic crimes are reported (it is estimated that only 18% are reported), resources are not committed to the issue. There is a need for funding for research, because the more knowledge we have of the problem, the better we will be able to find solutions
Hate crimes are beginning to be addressed and new initiatives are underway. A lesbian, gay and bisexual community advisory group that will work with the police convened for the first time last month. But how can we expect such measures to be effective without endorsement from institutions such as the Government, churches and schools? As well as looking to these institutions for support, we should accept that the responsibility lies with each and every one of us.
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SOLA
Sola has been in existence since 1994. It is a survivor-led organisation i. e. workers have experienced violence themselves.
When Petra herself was abused, she didn't realise at first what was happening. She was studying domestic violence at the time, and points out that all written material and all media references refer to 'he' as being the abuser. There are no points of reference for women who are being abused in lesbian relationships.
Some of the effects are similar to those arising from abuse in heterosexual relationships: guilt, self-blame, sense of isolation, loss of perspective. But if your experience is one that you can't place 'out there', the effects are compounded. If you feel that you're the only one this is happening to, you feel it must be your fault. When you do realise what's happening, where do you go from there? Your family may not know or accept that you're gay, and even if they do, gay and lesbian relationships have such a bad press, you don't want to put them in a bad light. For the same reasons, gay and lesbian communities are reluctant to accept that this kind of abuse happens.
It can be very isolating, especially if you live outside of London where gay and lesbian communities can be very small. You may not be able to go out because you fear you'll bump into your girlfriend or her friends. If you go to the police, you feel you are betraying both your girlfriend, and the gay and lesbian community. You also fear that you will not be believed. Refuges may not be helpful as they are geared more to help victims of male violence, so a lesbian may fee very isolated. There are however some refuges that will welcome lesbians.
We all tend to assume that the perpetrators of violence and sexual abuse are male; we don't expect women to do that to each other. But it is not safe to assume anything. We would advise workers in this area not to assume anything. Wait until the caller or complainant uses a pronoun before you use it. Check who you refer them to - is this a lesbian-friendly organisation? Check out the police - how will they record this? It may be recorded as homophobic violence, whereas it is domestic violence and should be recorded as such.
If a man rapes a woman, she may be able to talk about it to friends, family, and counsellors. Lesbians do not feel they can talk about their experience of domestic and sexual violence perpetrated by other women. We must be able to talk about it; we must check our own assumptions. Only then will we be able to help survivors.
Sola's long term aim is not to be needed any more. In other words, that lesbians will eventually be able to use existing agencies like any other survivor. Abuse is abuse, no matter what your gender or sexuality.
SURVIVORS
Survivors works with men and boys who have been raped or abused. Adult male rape is a taboo subject. One of the main differences in dealing with male and female rape is that, while women do not expect to be raped, many women do fear rape, whereas most men believe it can never happen to them. Men may worry about being beaten up or mugged, but never raped. Strategies are needed to deal with the problem, but there is very little research on the subject, largely because most researchers are men and male rape is a scary subject.
What we do know is that both heterosexual and gay men are raped and that gay and heterosexual men rape. USA research shows that more heterosexual men are raped.
One of the biggest problems for men who have been raped is isolation - they feel they are the only one this has happened to. In fact, 500 male rapes were reported last year, and when you consider that male rape is even more under-reported than female rape, you have some idea of how many men have been raped. The reasons for under reporting are similar to the reason why women don't report - fear they will not be believed, little chance of conviction, embarrassment; but men also feel that they should be strong and should have been able to defend themselves. The majority of men are raped by someone they know and more weapons are used in male rape.
Who rapes, and who is raped? Martin had an affair with a married woman; her husband raped him. He had two breakdowns.
Paul brought his boyfriend back to his room in student halls. The boyfriend wanted sex, Paul didn't. When the boyfriend raped him, Paul was too afraid to scream because he did not want his college friends to know that he was gay.
The long term effects on survivors of male rape are similar to those on women - depression, low self-esteem, self-harm, flashbacks etc. Men also go into crisis over sexuality. They may start to see all gay men as the enemy, or they may start to think 'I must be gay. It's the way I look, dress etc' Some gay men may feel 'I deserve to be treated like this because I'm gay'.
We never hear about male rape; even funders freeze when the subject is mentioned. (The only support group, Survivors, is desperately underfunded. ) But it must be talked about. We need strategies for interventions in place. We need awareness through the criminal justice system, particularly in police training. Organisations that exist to support the victims of sexual violence should not assume that it is only women that suffer this crime. Male victims also need support, particularly at the reporting stage, and above all, we need to accept that this is happening and that it must be talked
Ambassador One Stop Drop In Advice Centre
The Ambassador one stop shop is a hate crimes project, the first in the country to offer a multi-agency approach. It was established in 1998 and has dealt with 1600 women since then. A woman may come if she is fleeing domestic violence, or if she just wants information; the advantage is that she can get all that information in one place - housing, welfare benefits, solicitors and so on. The project is run largely by volunteers, 99% of whom are survivors of domestic violence themselves. This means that women accessing the service can be sure of a sympathetic and empathetic response, and will be informed of the options available to them by people who understand their needs.
Many women are uncomfortable about going to court on their own, so the project is trying to develop an advocacy service which will hopefully be ready by the summer. They are also setting up support groups to provide the sort of ongoing support that women need.
Pat Arandall, a volunteer at the one-stop shop and herself a survivor of child abuse and domestic violence, read her moving poem 'Silent Scream', reducing many delegates to tears.
Malcolm Wicks
It was through his advice surgeries, shortly after being elected in1992, that Malcolm began to see for himself the effects of domestic violence on women and children. Croydon has its fair share of men who cannot or will not control their tempers, and who are sometimes the perpetrators of extreme cruelty to women and to children. The picture in Croydon is supported by the national picture:
The Government document 'Living Without Fear' is the first in the UK to address violence against women. It gives practical examples of good practice from all over the country (including contact details) as a blueprint for the future. Sets out strategic framework for preventing the problem based on preventing violence and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The aim of government is that within five years, there will be effective, multi-agency partnerships operating throughout the whole country, which will draw from the evidence given in 'Living Without Fear'.
The Government is also investing £6m for new projects to reduce domestic violence, rape and sexual assault. Also £6. 3m for victim support, to support victims through the legal process. There are proposals, which the Government is backing, for a 24hour helpline for victims of crime. The National Lottery Charities Board has granted over £14m to organisations working with women who have experienced violence.
The problem is one that has implications for all of us, particularly for boys and men, and particularly for schools. It is what we do in terms of education and preparation for life that can be crucial. The Government is developing PHSE so that these and other crucial matters can be better addressed in schools. It is also vital that the schools themselves acts as an exemplar of good practice, which has implications for many things within the school, especially bullying. It is the responsibility of schools and governing bodies to be on the lookout for this.
We also need to look at police attitudes. There has been a sea-change in police attitudes in Croydon over the last 20 years in terms of dealing with this as a crime rather than as a 'domestic tiff' which I think had been a prevalent attitude some years ago. There are implications for support services of many kinds, for example, a woman may be referred to up to 10 different organisations before getting the help she needs.
There are examples of good practice, the Ambassador One-Stop Shop, for example, and RASASC
We need to draw more men into the debate. This is not a women's issue, men are responsible and therefore it is a men's issue; although we know that some men are abused by some women, it is much more often the other way around.
As a man with a wife, son and two daughters, Malcolm Wicks feels a sense of responsibility to use his position as a member of parliament and as a government minister to gain help to lead from the front in this matter. He acknowledges and applauds the work of organisations like RASASC, and the courage of women who have experienced these crimes.
Malcolm has promised to come back to RASASC with clearer information on what the Government intends to do practically to improve the situation, with particular reference to the judicial system.
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