Disclosure, Help-seeking and Professional Responses

Project overview

Despite increased concern within policy and practice, sexual violence remains among the most common yet under-reported and poorly prosecuted crimes in the UK. While knowledge about its effects has increased, to date, little research has been done on the specific experiences of sexual violence among BME women and girls, who are among the most disadvantaged in society. This project aims to develop further understanding of the experiences of sexual violence and the contexts in which it occurs for BMW women and girls and impacts health and wellbeing. It will explore help-seeking behaviours, barriers to accessing support, and how service responses are experienced; ascertain the kinds of support required by BME women survivors of sexual violence; explore any examples of promising practice; and make recommendations for policy and practice.