Sussex-based charity RISE, which supports people affected by domestic abuse and violence, launched a campaign back in May to protect the safety and dignity of domestic abuse survivors by proposing a change to legislation which would give them anonymity in the press when their cases go to court.

The charity found that the recent lockdown tripled calls to their helpline but said that survivors affected by domestic abuse are less likely to report their cases if they are going to be named in the press as they are afraid of being identified by their friends and people they know.

In their press release on the campaign, Jo Gough, CEO at RISE, said:

“Survivors who leave their perpetrators are at the highest risk of violence within the first year of leaving, which often coincides with their case going to Magistrates court.

“These women have already been through great trauma being harmed in their own homes by those closest to them as well as the ordeal of court, so they should not be put through the further distress of being named in the media. It removes a survivor’s right to privacy and can put them and their family at further risk of harassment, abuse and potentially serious harm.

“We want to change the law to protect the privacy and safety of survivors and their families.”
 

Support the campaign

Anyone wishing to support the RISE campaign to change legislation can sign the petition via the following link:

https://www.riseuk.org.uk/press-petition