Support After Rape & Sexual Violence Leeds

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STOP THE TRAFFIC ROADSHOW – LEEDS, 14th JANUARY 2012

Human trafficking starts in communities and can be stopped by communities.

Find out what human trafficking is, how it affects your community and what you can do about it through an interactive workshop. Places are free but you must register here – act@stopthetraffik.org.

Bringing together local residents, the local authority and police amongst others. Everyone can get involved: community organisations, youth groups, faith groups, students, teachers etc. Come along, or contact act@stopthetraffik.org / 0207 921 4258 if you want to explore hosting your own roadshow.

Get together with others in your community and help us create places where it’s harder for traffickers to hide themselves and their victims ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Saturday 14th January 2012, 2-5pm, Riley Smith Hall, Leeds University, West Yorkshire LS2 9JZ.

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OBJECT TO A SEX CLUB BEING LICENSED ON MERRION STREET, LEEDS – before 13th December

The premesis which used to be Blue Coyote Lap Dance Club is going to reopen as Bare Elegance – The Locker Room.

According to a notice in its window we have till 13th December to object to its licence. It is not clear from the wording whether it has applied as a Sex Establishment or whether it thinks it can just apply as a cafe and put strippers on like it did before. Since October 2011 such premises should apply for a Sex Establishment license.

Either way send your objections to Leeds City Council Licensing Committee, Leeds City Council Civic Hall Leeds LS1 1UR.

As Leeds City Council did not adopt a Zero Tolerance of Sex Establishments Policy, we have to tell the licensing committee not just why we object to any Lap Dancing Club but why we object to one here on Merrion St. (Near the Grand Theatre, next to a bank HQ (Santander), near the Merrion Shopping Centre and on a main throughfare).

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16 DAYS OF ACTION - 25th NOVEMBER – 10th DECEMBER 2011

Download the Leeds calendar of events for 16 Days of Action here - 16 Days of Action 2011 Calendar.

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INQUIRY INTO CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION LINKED TO GANGS AND GROUPS – CALL FOR EVIDENCE

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner launched an Inquiry into child sexual exploitation linked to gangs and groups (CSEGG) on 14 October 2011 with a call for evidence targeted at professionals and adults, which is available on their website.
 
They are asking for as many professionals as possible to complete the call for evidence to ensure a robust, impactful and challenging Inquiry report. 
 
Evidence should be submitted by professionals or adults only, as a Microsoft Word or PDF document. Written evidence will be accepted as well as video, imagery and other forms of expression. All evidence is to be submitted to CSEGG.Inquiry@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk  by noon on 20th January 2012.
 
Any queries please contact Carlene Firmin, Principal Policy Advisor and Head of the Secretariat to the CSEGG Inquiry on CSEGG.Inquiry@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk
 
Further information about the Inquiry is also available on their website: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
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 STOP THE TRAFFIK COMMUNITY ROADSHOW

Saturday 14th January 2012, 2-5 pm, Riley Smith Hall, Leeds University.

Find out what human trafficking is, how it affects your community and what you can do about it through an interactive workshop. Bringing together local residents, the local authority and police amongst others. Everyone can get involved; community organisations, youth groups, faith groups, students, teachers etc. Come along, or contact us if you want to explore hosting your own roadshow.

Get together with others in your community and help create places where it’s harder for traffickers to hide themselves and their victims ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Contact us for more information and to register for the Leeds Roadshow  e: act@stopthetraffik.org t: 0207 921 4258

PLEASE DONATE

We have a supporter running on our behalf dressed as Santa in the Skipton Santa Fun Run  on 27 November – Thank you Lucy!

Lucy’s Just Giving Page is HERE.

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RECLAIM THE NIGHT LEEDS MARCH - 3 DECEMBER 2001

On Saturday 3^rd December 2011, Leeds’ women will be taking to the streets for this year’s Reclaim the Night Leeds march through Leeds city centre to assert their right to feel free from the fear of rape and male violence in any form.

Reclaim the Night Leeds will begin with a free drop in from 3-5pm at arts@trinity (on Boar Lane) open to all women and girls. This will cover healthy relationships and staying safe, and will be run by Women’s Health Matters, who deliver domestic violence support and educational work across Leeds.

From 5.30pm, women will gather outside Leeds Art Gallery and at 6.30pm women will begin the march around Leeds City Centre; the last stage of the march will be open to all.

Supporters are invited to meet the women marchers at the bottom end of Briggate (near Marks and Spencer’s) for approx 7pm to continue the walk around the city centre. From 7.30pm there will be a reception at arts@trinity on Boar Lane with speakers, refreshments and representation from many local groups.

Reclaim the Night also aims to highlight the low conviction rate for rape here in West Yorkshire, which recent research estimated at around 8%. According to the British Crime Survey (2001) there are an estimated 47,000 rapes nationally every year, around 40,000 attempted rapes and over 300,000 sexual assaults. Yet the UK’s conviction rate is the lowest it has ever been, one of the lowest in Europe, at only 5.3%. Reclaim the Night campaigners march to send the message that this has to change.

Kathryn Smoraczewska, a member of the Reclaim the Night planning group, said “Women confront every day the risk or reality of sexual objectification, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape. If this threat restricts our freedom, for example by making us afraid to use public highways, then we cannot claim to live in an equal society. Article Three of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights covers the right to liberty and security of person for all. Reclaim the Night is a vital medium for women to assert these rights.”

Rosie Robinson Boardman, a member of the Reclaim the Night Leeds planning group, said: “With the recent statement from a top UN official that that more than a third of all women in the world have been forced into sex, beaten or abused by a partner or family member and the recent news that UK sex offences are the only offences to have increased in the year until June 20103, added to the existing fact that only 1 in 20 reported rapes results in a conviction, we are reclaiming the streets of Leeds. We do not believe 19 out of 20 women are lying, we do not believe the system is working and we can already seethat women will be more heavily affected by the government cuts. By taking to the streets of Leeds we are making a public stand for women everywhere.”

All who support the aims of Reclaim the Night are welcome to join the march. 

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SPONSOR SARAH – RUNNING 26.2m FOR SARSVL

Friend of SARSVL Sarah Kennedy will be running the 2012 London Marathon to raise money for SARSVL. Thank you Sarah!

Please show your support by sponsoring her here.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

25th November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The White Ribbon Campaign involves men in opposing violence against women.

Visit www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk and take the pledge:

‘I pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.’

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Forced Marriage Unit: 0207 008 0151

Men’s Advice Line (male victims): 0808 801 0327

Respect Helpline (men who want to change): 0808 802 4040

West Yorkshire Police (non-emergency): 0845 606 0606

If you are in immediate danger ring: 999

The 2011 white ribbon collective art project (tree wrapping) is coordinated by the Leeds Domestic Violence Team. Contact them on: Tel: 0113 3952140 e-mail: dvteam@leeds.gov.uk on twitter @LeedsDVteam

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SARSVL’S RESPONSE TO LEEDS CITY COUNCIL’S  LICENSING OF SEX ESTABLISHMENTS POLICY CONSULTATION

“Every woman in our society feels the fear of rape – no woman is allowed to ignore it… The threat of violence is a total intrusion into women’s personal space and transforms a routine and/or potential pleasurable activity (for example, a walk or journey)…..into a potentially upsetting, disturbing and often threatening experience.” Rape Crisis (England & Wales)

Support After Rape & Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL) does not believe that Leeds City Council (LCC) licensing sex establishments is compatible with the Equality Act 2010 and Violence Against Women Strategy, which LCC states that it has taken into account in developing this policy.

Read our response in full here.

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RAPE CRISIS SCOTLAND HAS LAUNCHED A NEW POSTCARD CHALLENGING ATTITUDES TO RAPE

Click here to see the card and order your copies.

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SARSVL is a Private Limited Company, Registered in England and Wales, Registration Number 7202588 and a Charity Registered with the Charity Commission registered charity number 1139555.

SARSVL is proud to be a member of Rape Crisis (England and Wales).

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