Blog
On Progress And Hope
When Raith Rovers FC broke the news at 10.30pm last Monday night that they had just signed a rapist we were quite sure they hoped this fact would pass unnoticed.
Fortunately, they misjudged Raith Rovers FC fans, sponsors, staff, volunteers and the Scottish public. They underestimated the hurt and anger that they would cause, and the strong belief that people should be held accountable for their actions, and not placed in positions where they might be celebrated as heroes, role models for younger generations to look up to.
So often we speak of the challenges that survivors experience, and the attitudes that stop people from being able to get support and justice.
Raith Rovers FC’s initial response to the backlash was disgraceful. They claimed that first and foremost this was a ‘football related decision’ as though you can separate a man, his actions, and his refusal to accept any responsibility or show any remorse from his ability to kick a ball.
But despite this today is a day to speak about progress. Because although the messy events of this week have been difficult – in particular for survivors - the fury that met the management of Raith Rovers FC, and the fact that fans and the public made it an absolute no go for them to continue Goodwillie’s contract, is extraordinary. There are no doubt unanswered questions and concerns now that Raith Rovers FC have u-turned, but those who fought this and put principle before personal interest should be proud.
16 Days Of Activism And Holding On To Hope
For most of us hope is not a word that we would strongly associate with 2020 and yet never has it been so important that we look for it and where it does appear, we hold onto it tightly.
But hope alone is not enough. It must be partnered with action, accountability and underpinned by a belief that change is possible. For the women who fought before us and for all those who will follow, we have to hold firm in our belief that the injustices and inequalities that run throughout our society are not inevitable and – with hope and perseverance – will end.
International Women's Day 2020
One of the things we often hear when we say we work with Rape Crisis is that must be so hard. It must be so hard to be surrounded by all of that trauma.
In truth it can be hard. Knowing the scale of harm caused by sexual violence in Scotland and beyond can weigh heavily. Improving responses to rape and sexual assault is no small task, it means creating a society that responds to survivors with compassion, holds perpetrators to account, and it also means trying to redesign systems – including justice systems – to make them compassionate and truly just. For us it also incredibly difficult to sit with the knowledge that many people who need specialist support face an unacceptable wait to access life-saving services. We never, ever want to turn someone who needs us away.
But it’s important to say that in our work we are reminded every single day of the strength, resilience and downright determination of women and of survivors. Rape Crisis is built on the shoulders of women who stepped up for one another when nobody else wanted to listen. And listen these women did, sometimes on landline in a cupboard used as a helpline of sorts, shared amongst a community of women resolute that if a survivor needed someone to speak to then they would answer. Rape Crisis Centres were built because women worked every single hour under the sun and more to make it happen; fundraising, lobbying, and at times pleading because they knew the value of a safe space for survivors.
These days our helpline infrastructure is considerably better, but the significance of there being a number to call where survivors will be believed, listened to and supported is unaltered. Rape Crisis in Scotland is a safe space for survivors in a world that can feel hostile and uncaring. We know because so many survivors tell us: Rape Crisis saves lives.
Against all odds (and the expectations of those men who have spent a lifetime underestimating women) over time Rape Crisis became a movement, and a powerful one. We are a movement that has changed lives and laws. We have witnessed and protested extreme injustice and we have challenged power. The progress we have made in Scotland is testament to the work of women – survivors and workers together for there cannot always be a distinction – resolute that a better, safe and fair world is possible.
Across 17 local centres in Scotland women are working to support survivors of all genders, they are working in schools and universities to prevent violence and helping survivors to navigate complex institutions and systems from courtrooms to healthcare. Demand for our services is unprecedented, and funding has not kept up, but still our message to survivors would be to reach out and ask for support. We won’t always be able to give that support immediately and that is not right or fair – we are working hard to change this – but you are worthy of support. You deserve a space to process what you’ve experienced, no matter what happened or when. We believe you.
In the last year the Survivor Reference Group have met with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Lord Advocate to share their experience to drive change, members have helped to shape the Forensic Medical Services Bill and will soon give evidence to the Health and Sport Committee at the Scottish Parliament. Those survivors involved privately and those who have spoken publicly do so because they don’t want anyone to go through what they’ve been through, and also because they want those who have already to know that they are not alone. We are so grateful for the work and advocacy of the Survivor Reference Group – they are making a real difference.
So, this International Women’s Day we want to say that we are grateful to all those women working and volunteering as part of the Rape Crisis movement who do so yes, because we are angry about the injustice of sexual violence, but also because we believe that it doesn’t have to be this way. This is not inevitable.
Our vision is for a safe, equal and just Scotland; today and every day we celebrate all those who are grafting to make this a reality.
Trauma: everyone's business
As a country, Scotland is talking more and more about trauma
and that's
good news for all of us.
The ambition and commitment of the
Scottish Government to develop a trauma informed workforce makes it clear that trauma
is everyone’s business.
From hairdressers to health care professionals,
Sheriffs to shopkeepers, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, there’s
every chance that you will encounter someone who has experienced trauma. When –
not if - you do, being trauma informed means that you can make the world of
difference to that person, and together we can change Scotland for the better.
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