Tackling taboo topic aims to #ChangeHerStory
Highland activists are taking part of 16 of campaigning to highlight gender-based violence
More than 13 organisations across Highland are jointly campaigning to raise awareness of sexual violence and how it affects people in our local communities.
The #ChangeHerStory campaign is part of the global 16 Days of activism from November 25th.
"We have been so concerned during the pandemic for people at risk of domestic abuse and violence", said Irene Johnstone from Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH).
"The home should be somewhere where we should all feel safe and a place of refuge, but sadly for many that's not the case"
"After lockdown we certainly saw an increase in referrals, we've had to adapt to new ways of working"
"There's a perception that gender-based violence simply doesn't happen here"
Sexual offences have continued to increase each year in Scotland, even as other crime rates have gone down, and an estimated 1 in 10 women in Scotland have been raped.
Yet campaigners say, sexual violence remains a taboo topic that is rarely spoken about or recognised, especially in rural communities.
Irene said; "In our part of the world, there's a perception that gender-based violence simply doesn't happen here"
"Our ambassadors at RASASH have been running a survey, where people can share their experiences anonymously"
"So far we've received over a hundred submissions in over a week, so I think this shows there's much work needed in tackling this issue and it highlights our campaign"
"We are very concerned about the pandemic's impact on the criminal justice system and there were three months where no jury trials took place which has caused a significant backlog"
"Trials, and the prospect of a trial, is a really stressful time for a survivor of sexual violence and this (pandemic) has made that even more so"
The campaign is also calling on the public to show solidarity towards survivors. People are encouraged to post on their social media using #ChangeHerStory or anonymously via the website with a message of what they would like to see change for women and girls.
Despite the pandemic, Irene adds, "With all the challenges we've faced there's been a lot of inter-organisational partnerships, and that has to be a good thing and it's really strengthened the support available"