The Glade
Sexual Assault Referral Centre is today 25 November 2013 welcoming Lady Susanna
McFarlane, the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire to join them and
partners to mark White Ribbon Day – the International Day for the Elimination
of Violence against Women.
Emma Durmaz -
SARC Manager & Forensic Nurse Examiner said "We are delighted that
Lady McFarlane will be joining us as a special guest alongside police, and
other partners to mark White Ribbon Day and to coincide with the launch day of
16 Days of Action against gender based violence.
"The day
is even more important because it is also our first anniversary and Lady
McFarlane will be tying the White Ribbon around the tree that Lord Lieutenant
Lady Darnley planted a year ago to commemorate the opening of the Centre."
Since opening
on 25 November 2012, The Glade’s two centres based in Worcestershire and
Telford have helped 239 men, women and children who have been raped or sexually
assaulted find the support they require.
The event
will also include a tour of the SARC to raise awareness of the support that is
available to men, women and children as we want to encourage more people who
have been raped or seriously sexually assaulted to come forward and seek help.
Emma
continued "The Glade is open 24/7 to support you whether the assault has
just happened or happened some time ago maybe when you were a child. Please do
not hesitate to contact us on 0808 178 2058 as we can offer immediate support
and medical attention to check your health and well-being as well as longer
term counselling and other services to help you come to terms with what has
happened to you. Please do not keep it to yourself, we have helped many people
and you are not on your own.
"Deciding
what to do next is a difficult decision for anyone but we want to help you by
explaining and supporting you through the options available.
It can take
some people a lifetime before they seek help and report a rape to the police or
other agency. Please remember, it is never too late. This is normal.
One option is
to assist the police by providing forensic evidence and information
anonymously. This means you will not be identified to the police.
Any
information you pass on helps the police to track crime patterns and build a
profile of a perpetrator that could assist other similar investigations.
However the Police cannot prosecute anyone for your assault without your
support.
If you are
unsure, we can arrange an informal chat with the police without them knowing
who you are. We will support you through this, but it is your decision.
If you do
decide to report an assault to the Police your identity will remain anonymous.
The law protects you by giving anonymity to victims of sexual assault for your
lifetime. This means that no information likely to lead to your identification
as a victim can be published or broadcast.
The
International Day for the elimination of Violence Against Women, also known as
White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for people around the world to speak out,
stand up and wear a ribbon for the women in their lives by pledging never to
commit, condone or remain silent about violence towards them.
Supt Graeme
Pallister said "If you know anyone who has been raped or sexually
assaulted, please urge them to seek help by talking to someone about what has
happened to them. There are many agencies that want to help.
"We
would ask men in the region to show their support of the women in their lives
by visiting www.stoprapenow.co.uk to check
they and their friends fully understand consent.
White Ribbon
Day is about ending violence against women, but we are here to help and support
men and children who can be raped too.
The www.stoprapenow.co.uk campaign was launched in
June 2013 by police, health, councils and support agencies across the Warwickshire
and West Mercia region.
