12/03/2012

'We Believe You' Campaign Launched By Mumsnet

‘We Believe You’ campaign launched after poll reveals one in 10 have been raped.

The survey was carried out by Mumsnet, the parenting website, was completed by 1,600 women and showed that a tenth of them have been victims of raped and a thurd suffered a sexual assault.

It also showed that four in five of the victims did not report the incident to the police as a result of low conviction rates, shame and embarrassment.

Mumsnet co-founder, Justine Roberts, said society was less sympathetic to victims than it should be.

"We simply shouldn't accept that we live in a country where one in 10 women are raped and over one third sexually assaulted," she said.

"Things are made worse by the feeling among many women that they can't talk about these crimes for fear of being treated unsympathetically, denying them access to practical and emotional support when they need it most.

"The message from the men and women on Mumsnet is clear: we believe you – and we want others in society to start believing you too."

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has welcomed the campaign. Chief crown prosecutor for CPS, Alison Saunders, said: "I support the message of the We Believe You campaign, its aim to raise awareness of the extent of these crimes, and to challenge preconceptions.”

(H)


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