Petition Asking for Funding for 24 Hour Rape/Sexual Abuse Helpline

This was brought to my attention this morning by The F Word. There has been a petition started asking the government for funding for a 24-hour helpline for victims of rape and sexual assault - it staggers me that we don't already have one in this country when rape convictions at sitting at a ridiculous 5%.

The full text of the petition reads:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Provide the funding to set up a National 24 Hour Helpline for Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault.

Far too many people in the UK do not have access to a Rape Crisis centre or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre. The facilities that do exist for victims of rape and sexual assault are seriously stretched, as they struggle with not enough funding and not enough staff.

In those areas where victims do have access to a Rape Crisis Centre or SARC, people often have difficulty getting through on the telephone, and once through, cannot always talk for as long as is needed due to other pressures on the over-worked staff.

It is time that the funding and expertise were put in place to set up a National 24 Hour Helpline for victims of rape and sexual assault. It is very much needed, in this country where rape and sexual assault are prevalent, yet the conviction rate for these crimes is at an all time low.

The government must take this issue seriously, and setting up a national 24 hour helpline would be a vital step in helping the thousands of victims who have no access to a Rape Crisis Centre or SARC."

You can sign the petition here.

If we make it to 200 then the Prime Minister HAS to respond.

Please, please, please take a moment to do this. I know this is a statistic that I mention all the time, but it is true: the number one cause of death or serious injury for women across the world is domestic and sexual violence.

Comments

[Debs]

Thanks very much for promoting the petition! x