SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF RAPE

That this House notes the extreme distress and harm suffered by victims of sexual violence; further notes that the conviction rate for rape in England and Wales is the lowest in Western Europe, and that many women who are raped never see justice done; praises the excellent work being done by the Fawcett Society and Rape Crisis England and Wales and other charitable organisations in supporting victims of rape; is alarmed that the number of rape crisis centres in the UK has fallen by a third to only 45; recognises the extra funding recently announced by the Government for rape crisis centres, but notes that considerable uncertainty over longer term funding still remains; and calls on the Government to introduce three-year funding cycles for these vital centres to provide much needed stability.