Get Involved this 16 Days of Activism - You can make a difference

Today, the 25th of November, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the first day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign which runs until 10 December (World Human Rights Day). This campaign is a call to action to get involved in the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. One in three women experience physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.

This year, the UN’s campaign focus for the 16 Days of Activism is UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls! #No Excuse.  The UN are asking people across the world to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls, and calling on governments to ensure robust and sustained investment in prevention work and support services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence.

This 16 Days, Moray Rape Crisis needs your help.

Last year, we supported over 200 people in Moray affected by sexual violence and abuse. New referrals to our service increased by nearly 50% in this time, however, and far outweigh the resources we have to be able to offer support when survivors reach out to us for this. Our waiting lists have grown, and can be up to a year.

Survivors tell us our support is a ‘lifeline’ and ‘life-changing’. But they also tell us how hard it is to have to wait months for the support they need, and how this can compound their distress.

This 16 Days, we are asking you to Get Involved and support your local rape crisis centre. Your support can make a difference. Small actions do all make a change.

You can:

• Donate or fundraise in aid of us- we are grateful for all donations, large or small, one-off or monthly, and these go directly towards helping deliver our frontline services.
• Volunteer your time as a member of our Board of Trustees.
• Get informed about trauma, gender-based violence & feminism.
• Share our campaigns and keep an eye out for our mailing list (coming soon) to find out more about what we do.
• Support Survivors Can’t Wait- a national campaign calling on the Scottish Government to extend emergency waiting list funding for rape crisis services across Scotland and commit to long term sustainable funding for these services.
• Encourage your local representative to speak up about gender-based violence and support funding local, specialist services.

Sexual violence is traumatising and life-changing. Its impacts can often be complex and, without effective support, lifelong.

Help change lives this 16 Days of Activism.

Survivors can’t wait months for support- and they shouldn’t have to.