[WiLT] FW: Rape and Sexual Violence in BMER communities: request for information

[WiL Admin]

From: A.Gill at roehampton.ac.uk
Subject: Rape and Sexual Violence in BMER communities: request for
information

Dear All,

Request for information on rape and sexual violence in BMER
communities by 1st December 2008

Dr Aisha Gill (Roehampton University) would like to invite you to
submit anonymised cases studies of rape and sexual violence in the
BMER community that your organisation or you have dealt with in your
work on issues related to violence against women (VAW) as advocates
and support caseworkers.  The findings will be used to build a case
for the importance of specialist service provision for such women and
young girls for briefing paper to be published in Spring 2009. The
intended aim of this request for information of this kind is to also
influence government policy across a range of VAW areas in the BMER
sector. It is an opportunity for those of us working with violence
against women's issues to have an input into an important national
debate about the need for specialist services that is long over due.
This invitation is to also to ask you what you think are the big
questions and issues for BMER women experiencing a range of abuses in
their lives. For example I am interested in:

1. What are the particular issues facing BMER women in terms of
reporting rape and sexual violence to the criminal justice system?

2. What are some of the main concerns for BMER women in terms of the
experience of rape and sexual violence?

3. What challenges do BMER women face in relation to accessing
specialist support related to rape and sexual violence?

I would like to know where gaps in knowledge and resources are and
what evidence is missing to effectively lobby for change in this
sector. In return for your time to send me case studies I intend to
make available a policy briefing paper which can be used for lobbying
purposes for the BMER VAW sector. Please respond by no later than 1st
December 2008

Please also feel free to pass this invitation on to others you think
would be interested.

For more information about this piece of work contact me on
a.gill at roehampton.ac.uk  or call 0208 392 3893.

Your time is truly appreciated and I very much look forward to your
response. I do hope you will be able to input.

Kind Regards,

Aisha

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Aisha Gill
Senior Lecturer in Criminology
School of Social Sciences,
Roehampton University, Roehampton Lane,
London , SW15 5SL
Tel: +44 (0)208 392 3893/ 07956 116278
Email: a.gill at roehampton.ac.uk
Web page: http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/AishaGill/