Closed. The boat sank, the sharks won.

Why is the conviction rate for rape so low?

On Saturday, the campaign group Women Against Rape (WAR) will stage The Rape of Justice - Who’s Guilty?

Women are invited to speak at the "public trial" about their experiences of sexual violence.

But the event is designed to highlight the low conviction rate for rape.

WAR has been campaigning for 30 years now and in that time big changes have been made. In 1991 rape within marriage became a crime, Consent now has a legal definition.

Yet there are only 19 Sexual Referral centres in the UK, only 5.7% of reported rapes result in a conviction. Highlighted by the lovely Witchy At the Foot of the Stairs, last November - The Map of Gaps is horrifying.  Only 32 Rape Crisis centres across the country and they’re ALL under threat? Pretty much, wherever you live, you have nowhere to go if you are raped. No-one to talk to and no-one to support you.

Soooo, nowhere to go and no-one to talk to. Just how many assaults and rapes go unreported then?  So many more than are actually reported, and of those precious few women who do go ahead and report it, a pitiful number see a conviction.

Do we not care? Is this not a Serious crime? Is this not taken seriously? Why not? It’s just wrong, so very very wrong.

Motorists drive past as woman assaulted.

As she struggled with the brutal attacker trying to rape her, the terrified victim might have hoped that help was only a few feet away.

The 20-year-old woman had been pinned to the ground on a road which, even though it was 1am, was well lit and busy.

Yet not one of the passing motorists stopped to go to her aid.

Would you have stopped? Would you have sounded the car horn? Used your mobile to call the police?  Why not?

Ingrid Salomonsen, director and chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland Women’s Aid, said: "Believe it or not, this does happen.

"Even if a woman is being raped in the street there are those who will think they don’t want to get involved.

"They might be afraid of getting hurt or even interpret what is going on as someone having a laugh – it’s all part of a denial process.

"What people don’t realise is that they can stop their car, sound the horn, flash their headlights and then call the police.

"They don’t even have to get out of their cars if they feel that would be putting themselves at risk."

Next time, and there will be a next time as it’s happening every day, make a noise, make a fuss and call the police.  

Margaret Moran MP
Member of Parliament for Luton South
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA

Dear Colleagues

LAUNCH OF ONLINE CONSULTATION – MONDAY 21ST JANUARY 2008

As you may be aware the Home Affairs Select Committee are doing an enquiry which started on the 15th January 2008 on Domestic Violence, Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence which I have been asked to lead on.

As part of this enquiry we are undertaking a parallel Online Consultation which will be launched on Monday 21st January 2008 and run until the 29th February 2008.

The consultation is anonymous and the victims, witnesses or supporters will not be asked for personal information by which they could be identified. It is vital that as many people as possible go online across the UK so that we can understand exactly how to help those who have been abused. With the help of the internet we hope to hear the stories of people from all walks of life, who have been affected by domestic violence, forced marriage or honour based violence in any shape or form.

I am writing to ask for your help in raising awareness of the Enquiry amongst people or organisations who may have an interest in these important issues.

To access information on the eConsultation, Q&A and to retrieve a downloadable poster now go to www.equalitynetworks.org.uk. Or see the information on http://forums.parliament.uk/dvec (please note this site will go live at Midday on the 21st January 2008)

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Margaret Moran MP

I came across this on a forum along with a plea to spread the word and get knowledge of this consultation out as far as possible. So, here it is. If you can help, either by spreading the word or providing much needed information, then please do.

Thank you.