Overwhelming Majority For Landmark Law To Tackle Violence Against Women

 Aberdeenshire, Featured  No Responses »
Mar 022017
 

A landmark law to tackle violence against women passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons on Friday with an overwhelming majority of 138 in favour to just 1 against. With thanks to Banff & Buchan SNP.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP with campaigners and MPs after the vote.

Local MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford’s Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill 2017, requires the UK government to ratify the Istanbul Convention – a far-reaching new law that puts legal obligations on the state to prevent violence against women, protect
women and prosecute the perpetrators.

The Convention encompasses many forms of sexual violence and domestic abuse including stalking, harassment, sexual assault and rape, physical and psychological abuse by a partner, forced marriage, forced abortion or sterilisation and female genital mutilation.

The UK signed the treaty in 2012 but has yet to ratify it to make it part of UK law.

The SNP MP for Banff & Buchan, who is the party’s Westminster spokesperson for Social Justice, secured cross-party support for her Bill, which has been championed by women’s equality organisations including IC Change, Women’s Aid, Scottish Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland, White Ribbon, End Violence Against Women, Scottish Women’s convention, NUS, Girlguiding, and the Fawcett Society.

The Bill also received strong support from the actor and UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson, who this week wrote to all MPs urging them to vote for the Bill.

Commenting after the Bill passed its Third Reading, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“I am delighted that this landmark legislation to combat gender-based violence has received such overwhelming cross-party support and now looks set to become UK law.

“This is a huge and historic step forward in efforts to tackle violence against women and has the potential to transform the lives of thousands of women right across the country.

“Women’s equality organisations and activists have been campaigning for the UK government to ratify the Istanbul Convention for many years now – so today’s vote is a cause for celebration and a testament to their sustained efforts.

“The Istanbul Convention is the most comprehensive and far-reaching framework that exists to tackle violence against women in its many forms and manifestations, and critically, it provides the legal apparatus to hold governments accountable for their progress. This is a powerful vehicle for improving policy, practices and services on an ongoing basis.

“Sexual violence and domestic abuse are neither natural nor inevitable. We can prevent it, we can challenge it and we can hold perpetrators to account. We need to do all these things if we are to end this systematic abuse of women’s basic human rights, and ratifying the Istanbul Convention is a big step in the right direction.

“We have travelled some distance in this struggle but we still have such long way still to go and we need to recognise that Ratification of the Istanbul Convention is a milestone on the journey to equality and justice for women, not an end point.”

Further reading:

 Emma Watson backs SNP MP’s bid to combat domestic abuse.
 Theresa May urges MPs to back Whiteford bill and stamp out violence against women.

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Aberdeenshire Pupils Secure Vital Funds For Local Charity

 Aberdeenshire, News  No Responses »
Nov 282013
 
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A group of pupils from Ellon Academy deliver a cheque for £3000 to RAS

Rape and Abuse Support (RAS) would like to congratulate pupils at Ellon Academy and Kemnay Academy who have successfully secured funding of £4,330 for the local charity.

RAS provides support and advocacy to female survivors of sexual violence, whether recent or historical, as well as challenging public attitudes towards rape through outreach work and they were delighted to be chosen by pupils taking part in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative at Ellon Academy and Kemnay Academy.

As part of the initiative, both groups visited the charity’s base in Aberdeen to find out about the organisation and presented their findings to a panel, fielding tough questions about their research.

The group at Ellon Academy dazzled the judges with their in depth knowledge of the issues tackled by the charity, securing the top prize of £3,000 – sponsored by the Wood Group and the Toscan Castle Foundation.

The panel at Kemnay Academy were so impressed with the calibre of the presentation delivered by the group representing RAS that Aramark Workplace Solutions offered to match funds raised by them during a no uniform day, raising £1,330.

Chair of RAS, Kathryn Russell said:

“I would like to congratulate the pupils at Ellon and KemnayAcademy on securing this funding. We are delighted to accept the donations secured by both groups.

“Donations like these are vital for charities like ours, as it allows us to put the money towards initiatives which we know will enhance the service we already provide. We are currently developing our volunteer base in Aberdeenshire and we are hoping to open a drop-in for survivors next year and unrestricted funding like this helps support such initiatives.”

Alayne Jones, Centre Co-ordinator at RAS attended both events to listen to the groups presentations. She said:

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with the young people and I was thrilled to see how interested they were in the work we do.

“I would like to thank them for all their hard work on behalf of RAS and I hope that they will continue to raise awareness of the work we do.”

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Christmas Shoppers Donate Almost £200 to Rape Crisis Charity

 Aberdeen City, Information  No Responses »
Nov 252013
 

With thanks to Aberdeen Women’s Alliance.

AWA Stall in Union Square3

Members of AWA at their stall in Union Square. L-R Sandra Macdonald, Dianne Drysdale, Norma Grant and Deidre Mitchell.

On Saturday, Aberdeen Women’s Alliance (AWA) marked the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by collecting donations for local charity, Rape and Abuse Support (RAS) in Union Square.

International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day is marked annually by AWA to raise awareness of the forms of violence that women locally and around the world are subject to.

By highlighting this particular day, AWA aim to draw attention to the scale and true nature of violence against women, most of which is hidden from public view.

Chair of AWA, Sandra Macdonald said:

“Recent figures from Police Scotland show that offences of domestic violence in Aberdeen have increased by 36 per cent and there has been a rise in reported sexual assaults. It is, therefore, vital that we all continue to raise awareness of violence against women and we were delighted that so many people took time out from their Christmas shopping to speak to us about these issues.

“Through the generous donations we received, we raised £189.90 which will support the excellent work that RAS do to inform the public of the nature and extent of sexual violence as well as broadening understanding of how appropriate responses can be developed to prevent it.”

RAS provides support and advocacy to female survivors of sexual violence, whether recent or historical, as well as challenging public attitudes towards rape through outreach work.

International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day

 Aberdeen City, Information  No Responses »
Nov 212013
 

AWA_Stall_2012Aberdeen Women’s Alliance marks International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day

On Saturday 23rd November from 12pm, Aberdeen Women’s Alliance (AWA) will be marking the United Nation’s International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day by collecting donations for local charity, Rape and Abuse Support (RAS) at the top of the East Mall in Union Square.

International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day is marked annually by AWA to raise awareness that women locally and around the world are subject to a number of forms of violence.

By highlighting this particular day, AWA hope to draw attention to the scale and true nature of violence against women, most of which is hidden from public view.

Chair of AWA, Sandra Macdonald says:

“Recent figures from Police Scotland show that offences of domestic violence in Aberdeen have increased by 36 per cent and that there has been a rise in reported sexual assaults. It is vital that we all continue to raise awareness of violence against women.

“We are delighted to support RAS again this year. The funds we raise will go towards helping the excellent work RAS do to educate the public and professional bodies about the nature and extent of sexual violence as well as broadening understanding of how appropriate responses can be developed to prevent it.”

RAS provides support and advocacy to female survivors of sexual violence, whether recent or historical, as well as challenging public attitudes towards rape through outreach work.

AWA look forward to meeting and speaking with individuals on the day. If anyone has any questions or would like further information about the work being carried out by RAS, please email BoD@rasane.org.uk.