Black Women's Rape Action Project
Founded in 1991, we are one of the few Black women's organisations specialising in offering counselling, support and advice to Black women and other women of colour, immigrant and refugee women, who have suffered rape, sexual assault or other violence. In our experience, Black, immigrant and refugee women often feel unable to tell officials or others in authority the full story of the attack they have suffered, and to articulate the devastating effects this has had on their lives. Being able to speak with women of similar backgrounds who are not officials and who are familiar with their trauma, is vital. We have been pressing to get protection and resources for rape survivors, in order for them to get away and recover from rape and other violence.
We are recognised for our expertise in uncovering the particular obstacles Black, immigrant and refugee women and their children face and supporting them in their efforts to overcome the effects of rape and other violence.
We are regularly contacted by solicitors asking us to interview women and produce expert reports detailing their experiences and assessing whether their symptoms confirm that they have been victims of rape and sexual violence. Our input is often decisive and we have successfully helped many rape survivors who are asylum seekers to win the right to stay in Britain.
To make a donation, please send a cheque or postal order to BWRAP at
Crossroads Women's Centre
230a Kentish Town Rd
London NW5 2AB
Tel: 020 7482 2496
Fax:020 7209 4761
Email:
bwrap@dircon.co.uk
Women Against Rape
Grassroots multi-racial women's group founded in 1976. Offers counselling, support, legal advocacy and information to women and girls who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Supports survivors when they report to the police, seek protection from further attacks, or are preparing for court; applying for compensation; or claiming asylum from rape.
We want official condemnation of sexual violence, including racist sexual assault and the abuse of power and authority. We have opposed sexism and other discrimination by the police, Crown Prosecution Service, barristers and judges.
Demands have included: that the police record all reported rape as a crime (rather than 'no-criming' some reports), gather evidence with care and investigate thoroughly; and that the CPS prosecute rapists. We want an end to trashing of women and girls in court using their sexual history (which continues despite recent legislation), mental health and medical records. We are pressing for rape to be officially recognised as persecution and torture and therefore grounds for asylum and we insist that women claiming asylum after rape get the standard of treatment that all rape survivors are entitled to.
We have helped to establish that rape by a man the woman knows is just as criminal as rape by a stranger; in fact most victims know their attacker. Legal precedents won by our efforts include the recognition of rape in marriage as a crime 1991) after a 15-year campaign. In 1995 we helped two women to bring the first private prosecution for rape.
Crossroads Women's Centre
230a Kentish Town Rd
London NW5 2AB
Tel: 020 7482 2496
Fax: 020 7209 4761
Email: war@womenagainstrape.net
Centre opening hours:
Tuesday and
Wednesday 12-4pm,
Thursday 5-7pm
Phone: Monday to Friday 1.30pm-4pm
Donations urgently needed!