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What is Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week and when does it happen?

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence and to provide an opportunity for any organisation or individual to engage in dialogue.

The Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week occurs on the first full week of February. For 2023 that will take place from 6th to 12th February.

Why do we need a designated week?

For countless years many organisations working in the sector of sexual abuse & violence were investing time, resources and funding into developing brilliant campaigns that – we felt – were not getting far and wide enough to reach enough of the public. The campaigns we have seen have been so powerful and informative and they needed to be elevated.

There are many voices that often go unheard or with little recognition. This week is an opportunity for anyone that wants to use their voice to join a conversation with thousands of others. Together we can amplify the voices that should be heard, we can spotlight support services and we can engage those outside of our sector, in the discussion.

A designated week where we could all join in one big conversation would help get more coverage of the subject and a greater breadth of conversation.

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The concluding recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

  1. A single set of core data relating to child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation.

  2. Child Protection Authorities for England and for Wales.

  3. A cabinet-level Minister for Children.

  4. A public awareness campaign.

  5. Prohibiting the use of pain compliance techniques.

  6. The amendment of the Children Act 1989.

  7. Registration of care staff in children’s homes.

  8. Registration of staff in care roles in young offender institutions and secure training centres.

  9. Greater use of the Disclosure and Barring Service barred list.

  10. Improvements to compliance with statutory duties to refer concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

  11. Extending the disclosure regime to those working with children overseas.

  12. Pre-screening for illegal images of children.

  13. Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse in certain circumstances.

  14. Compliance with the Victims’ Code.

  15. The removal of the three-year limitation period for personal injury claims brought by victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

  16. A national guarantee of specialist therapeutic support for child victims.

  17. A code of practice on access to records about child sexual abuse.

  18. Further changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

  19. A tiered redress scheme.

  20. Age verification in relation to online services and social media platforms.

October 2022

A report of the Inquiry Panel

Professor Alexis Jay OBE

Professor Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG OBE

Ivor Frank

Drusilla Sharpling CBE

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TRAPPED BY DELLA WRIGHT & LINDA WATSON-BROWN

'Della's story is tragic, shocking and heart-breaking, but she must be heard. Della is an inspirational and dedicated campaigner who I've been proud to support. Her book eloquently portrays her past vulnerability and her steadfast determination to help others. A must read' Sarah Champion, MP

'I'd been the unwanted child, the little girl who got in the way. I swore I'd put my abuser behind bars and I'd fight with every breath in my body against the life sentence he'd given me. This was my time.'

Della Wright is an incredible campaigner for the rights of abuse victims after suffering a lifetime of betrayal.

Left alone at home for the first time at only two years old by those tasked with her care, Della was let down first by social services. When known paedophile Terry Price entered her life when she was six, moving into her home, he would groom and sexually abuse her for the next five years. Even the sight of a little girl going to his probation meetings wasn't enough to make the authorities act.

After a lifetime of violent relationships and mental health problems, Della eventually managed to put her childhood abuser behind bars for 22 years, a decade after first going to the police. He had changed his name multiple times to evade detection for his many crimes.

As an ambassador for the Safeguarding Alliance, Della now campaigns to ensure offenders cannot slip through the net by giving themselves new identities. She has vowed to try and stop anyone experiencing the same neglect, betrayal and abuse she did.

OUT ON 29TH SEPTEMBER A MUST READ

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