Rape Crisis E&W comments on EHRC guidance

[IwantToRetire]

Rape Crisis England & Wales and our member centres believe that every adult and child who has experienced sexual violence or abuse deserves access to free, independent and specialist support after rape or any form of sexual abuse.

Collectively, we work towards a future in which survivors in England & Wales can access - and make informed choices about - support that meets their needs, no matter who they are, or when it happened.

Full statement https://rapecrisis.org.uk/news/rcew-comments-on-ehrc-guidance/

We also accredit our members against the Rape Crisis National Service Standards (2024), which recognise the benefits of women-led services, and ask all our members to ensure they provide women-only spaces within their centres.

Does this mean that IamSarah will finally get a women only service in Brighton?

That's a good point. I wonder if they would be brave enough to make this a stipulation of membership rather than asking member groups to take this into account.

If they did it would be a huge step forward.

Interesting that they didn't spell out what this means:

The clarity which the Supreme Court ruling and Code of Practice have now provided means that some of our Member Centres have either changed, or may now need to change, how they provide or describe their services, or who can access them.

I wonder if some members groups have been pushing back on this clarity, which makes you wonder what support services they have been providing.

Yes I think they are saying that those who refuse risk their accreditation.

I have been thinking about this, and given how much of the charity sector, including women's groups, have been captured, this statement about the value of women only services is in fact quite bold.

Haven't seen anything like that from any DV service.

I hope now the RCEW have stuck their neck out a few other women's groups will do the same.