The United Nations has urged the Government to do more to meet
the needs of women who have been raped or sexually assaulted. The
Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW) has called on the Government to increase and sustain its
funding to women's organisations; assess the impact of
commissioning on women's groups; protect women-only services; and
increase services for victims of violence against women.
CEDAW's report on its July examination of the UK Government's
efforts to eliminate discrimination against women and promote
women's equality cites a number of serious government failings,
including the lack of sustainable funding for women's voluntary and
community organisations, specifically Rape Crisis centres.
International recognition of the 'crisis in Rape Crisis' has
come at a crucial time in the campaign to secure a future for
centres. An
open letter to the Prime Minister, calling on him to end the
crisis, has been published. NAVCA Chief Executive Kevin Curley is
one of the signatories.
See the Women's Resource Centre website for
more information on the
campaign.