‘Misguided advice’ Sexual abuse service hits out at new campaign
ACAMPAIGN which aims to keep women safe at night-time has been called ‘archaic and misguided’ by a charity which supports survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support has said the night-time economy is only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to sexual assualts , while Cheltenham Guardians pointed towards the use of their successful ‘India Protocol’ in reducing harrassment.
The Guardians, which helps vulnerable people in Cheltenham town centre on Saturday nights, tweeted a link to a blog post about the Women’s Night Safety Charter, which was launched in July by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to improve women’s safety at night.
Louise Williams, service director for GRASAC, said: “It’s the same victim blaming type rhetoric again isn’t it – always protocol or advice about how women should keep themselves safe, and missing the entire point. When oh when will there be a campaign directed at predatory and violent men?
“I think the work Cheltenham Guardians do is fantastic and they have definitely prevented sexual assaults, in the night-time economy, through their India Protocol and I think if the Women’s Safety Charter operated in a similar way, OK great.
“But this is only the tip of the iceberg and only a small example of how and when sexual assaults occur. We know that you are more likely to be raped or abused by someone you know, than by someone you don’t. And we know that this is more likely to occur within a home or previously deemed ‘safe place.’
She continued: “So the Women’s Safety charter might go some way in creating a culture change around believing a woman who approaches a bouncer disclosing an assault, for example, but it is archaic and mis- guided in its attempts to stop sexual assaults from happening in the first place. It may also create further fears for women accessing the night-time economy with the age-old “stay at home/ don’t walk alone in the dark/ don’t wear revealing clothing” propaganda, which, further enables sexual assault to occur.
“Women do not exist so they can be objectified and controlled by men. Women deserve the same rights as men do not realise they have – the right to feel safe from violence, wherever we may choose to be.”
Cheltenham Guardians leader Terry Howard said the charter on its own falls short of a “total safeguarding” solution.
He said: “While I welcome its introduction in London I feel an opportunity has been missed. From the outset it is important to focus on the role that perpetrators of crimes against women play. If they did not commit crime then initiatives such as the Women’s Night Safety Charter or the India Protocol would not be needed.
“We cannot ignore the fact that predatory individuals exist and every effort and resource should be made available to tackle these individuals.
“Women should be able to feel that they can enjoy nights out without the fear of crime.
“Women should be able to feel that they can wear what they want without attracting negative attention. Women should not be objectified, harassed or worse because of their gender or what they are wearing.”
Women deserve the same rights as men do not realise they have - the right to feel safe from violence, wherever we may choose to be Louise Williams