16 Days of Activism: Sticker Campaign
Transcript
My name is Caroline Burrell, and I’m the Manager here at Moray Rape Crisis.
We provide free information, support and advocacy to anyone age 11 and over affected by any form of sexual violence, whether recently or a long time ago. No matter when it happened, or who it was, if someone has harmed you or made you feel uncomfortable in a sexual way, we can support you.
Our service is confidential. You are always in control of what you share and when you choose to share it. If you want to, you can remain anonymous. You can access our support whether or not you have reported what happened to the police.
We know that anonymity can be difficult in Moray and we have a range of options to help protect your privacy, including telephone and online support. If you want to meet us, we can do this at a time that is discreet and safe for you.
We’re based in Elgin and can provide support to anyone living across the Moray area. If you don’t want to speak to someone local, we can help you find support outside of Moray that works for you.
At Moray Rape Crisis, we offer different services, depending on what’s best for you. Our support workers provide information, short-term individual support and longer-term support. We also offer rolling programmes of group support for adults.
We provide specialized support for young people aged between 11 and 18, and for people aged 11 and over who have a learning disability or need. We can also offer support in Polish and arrange online or phone support in Arabic and Mandarin.
If you’re worried about someone else who has experienced sexual violence, we can provide you with information on how to help and we can support you too.
We have an advocacy worker who can support you if you have reported to the police, or are thinking about reporting to the police. Advocacy workers can explain how the process works and answer any questions you might have.
If you do decide to report, they can support you throughout the criminal justice process and help your voice to be heard. Advocacy support is available to you whether or not you decide to report.
No matter what you decide to do, or how long ago it happened, we want you to know that you are not alone. We believe you and we are here to support you.
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During the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are delighted to be partnering with Batchen Street Coffee in Elgin & Coffee at the Kings in Cullen to raise awareness of sexual violence and to let the community know where people in Moray can access help and support.
This campaign is a collaboration with Rape Crisis Scotland and aims to strengthen connections between rural centres and the communities they serve. During this 16 Days we hope to reach new audiences that we are not currently reaching online, by showing our support directly in the community. This campaign also runs in parallel to our in-person library showcase of survivor artwork & writing and information about sexual violence, alongside support leaflets and information on how to access our service. More on this campaign here.
ABOUT US
Moray Rape Crisis provides free and confidential information, advocacy and support to anyone in Moray (aged 11 and over) affected by any form of sexual violence. We support survivors of sexual violence of all genders, and also the friends, family members and partners of survivors. Alongside individual support sessions, we also offer a variety of groups, in six-week blocks, throughout the year.
In addition to our support work, we have a prevention worker who delivers educational workshops in schools, provides training to educators and supports youth activism in the local area. Plus, we have a number of specialist services such as Rise Up, our young people's service, Side-by-Side, our service for people with a learning disability or need, and our First Language support, in Polish, Arabic & Mandarin. We can also arrange access to a free online BSL interpreter. For more info about these services please click on the tiles below:
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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
Every year, the UNiTE Campaign focuses on a specific theme. This year’s theme is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls” and invites everyone to play their role in ending violence against women and girls, show support and solidarity to women’s rights activists and to resist the rollback on women’s rights.
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the colour orange is used to represent a brighter future, free from violence against women and girls.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism
WHAT IS SEXUAL VIOLENCE?
Sexual violence means any form of unwanted sexual contact. You may hear different words for the varying forms of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Other forms of sexual violence include stalking, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, image based abuse and organised and ritual abuse.
The diagram here shows a number of the different forms of sexual violence.
Everyone is affected differently by sexual violence. There is no right or wrong way to feel. How you feel, and what you want to do, depend on your own experience.
The impacts of sexual abuse experienced by people are often far-reaching across all aspects of their lives, including emotional, mental and physical health, social and family relationships, and education and employment.
You can find out more about sexual violence here. Plus, Rape Crisis Scotland answers some of the FAQs about sexual violence here.
OUR CAMPAIGNS AND ACTIVISM
We believe in taking action to change attitudes and to improve services and responses for people who have experienced sexual violence. Here's how you can help end sexual violence.
You can get involved and help end sexual violence by:
- Believing someone who discloses sexual violence or abuse to you
- Supporting them to make their own choices about what they want to do
- Challenging abusive and sexist behaviour
- Donating to Moray Rape Crisis to help us provide our frontline services (here)
- Join us online and follow our campaigns to raise awareness of and prevent sexual violence.
You can check out our latest campaigns here. You can take action too by supporting and sharing our campaigns, making a donation or fundraising for us. We keep our social medias updated with all of our latest work and campaigns.
We are an intersectional feminist organisation meaning we understand how different oppressions converge and we know this impacts each survivor differently. We support people of any gender, race, sexual orientation, disability and religious and cultural background.
No matter what happened, it is not your fault
Whatever happened, no matter what you were wearing or how you were behaving, you are not to blame. If someone has harmed you, it is not your fault. The person who harmed you is responsible.
How we can help
Sexual violence causes people significant trauma and distress. If you have been affected by any form of sexual violence, no matter when it happened, you do not have to cope with this on your own.
At Moray Rape Crisis, we offer free, confidential and non-judgemental emotional support. These sessions can take place either face-to-face, online or by phone.
We support people of any gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, religious and cultural background regardless of someone’s immigration status and we are fully inclusive of trans survivors.
We listen, we believe, and we treat everyone with respect.
How to refer to us
You can contact us for support for yourself or for someone else in your family or someone you know, ask a parent, friend, agency, GP or college to refer you. Our referral form is in English, Polish & Easy Read and you can download it here in English, Polish & Easy Read.
Moray Rape Crisis is a confidential service that is independent from social services, the police, and other official agencies. We will not tell you what to do or judge your actions.
Our normal office hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- Call: 01343 550 407
- Email: contact@morayrapecrisis.scot
Other useful contacts
You can also contact the Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline, each day from 5pm to midnight, on 08088 01 03 02, or by texting 07537 410 027 or emailing support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk. More information in Polish about the Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline can be found here.
If something has happened recently, you can contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS). This is an NHS service for anyone aged 16 and over which can offer healthcare and support after an assault. If you are unsure whether you want to report to the police, the SARCS service may be able to arrange for you to have a forensic medical examination without reporting to the police. You can self-refer by phoning 0800 148 88 88 (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). You can find out more information at www.nhsinform.scot/sarcs More information in Polish can be found here.
