Amnesty calls for more support for rape survivors as Government reveals 50% rise in rapes

Amnesty International has responded to Government figures showing a  50% rise in reported rapes over the last six years, pointing out that Northern Ireland has the worst support services for the victims of sexual violence in the UK.

Patricia Campbell of Amnesty International in Northern Ireland stated:

'The rise of 50% of reported rapes In Northern Ireland is shocking enough, but it is therefore all the more shocking that we still have no dedicated support services for rape survivors.'

'The situation here contrasts most strongly with that in Scotland which has recently seen an increase in the provision of services for rape survivors. The reason is simple. The Scottish Government is developing a strategic approach to addressing violence against women and has allocated ring-fenced funding for services.'

"Amnesty is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to provide proper services for women who have experienced rape or sexual violence. "

A report published in November 2007 by the End Violence Against Women coalition, of which Amnesty International is a member, revealed that there are no funded specialised support services for rape victims anywhere in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is the part of the UK where women have no access to Specialist Domestic Violence Courts and that there is almost a total absence of programmes which seek to address the behaviour of men who are violent to women in the region.
In addition, Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK where there are no support services for women seeking to escape prostitution, trafficking and sexual exploitation.