Developing and sharing best practice to support victims of sexual violence with learning disabilities and/or autism

研究表明，有学习障碍的人比没有学习障碍的人遭受性虐待的风险更高，而有学习障碍的女性尤其容易受到伤害。当有学习障碍的妇女向警方报告强奸/性侵犯时，她们的报告更不可能导致定罪。对强奸定罪率的研究表明，有学习障碍/自闭症的受害者更有可能看到他们的案件“退出”刑事司法系统，而且是在更早的阶段。然而，解释为什么会发生这种情况以及如何改进这种情况的证据有限。杜伦大学已经与泰恩赛德和诺森伯兰郡的强奸危机以及诺森伯里亚警察局（Jobe & Williams et al 2020）进行了研究，发现刑事司法系统在报告强奸/性侵犯时为有学习障碍/自闭症的人创造了司法障碍。障碍包括警察不认识到学习障碍或不了解学习障碍如何影响证据，缺乏有效和包容性的沟通，以及缺乏对受害者的适当支持。显然，实践需要调整，以便为有额外需求的强奸/性侵犯受害者提供包容性支持。与首席调查员（Jobe）当地警察（达勒姆）和强奸支持服务（RSACC）合作，该项目将扩展多机构合作伙伴关系，并证明新的独立性暴力倡导者（ISVA）对达勒姆县学习障碍/其他需求的影响。将通过对警官的调查和对主要多机构利益攸关方的访谈来收集证据。该项目还将捕捉到Jobe & williams与Us Too（一群有学习障碍和/或自闭症的妇女，她们报告了强奸/性侵犯，由ARC英格兰（真正改变协会）和Open Clasp剧院公司支持）共同制作的戏剧培训包的影响。开展以剧院为基础的培训是为了培训警察和其他服务提供者如何应对自闭症或有学习障碍的妇女提出的强奸/性侵犯报告。培训将用于提高服务提供者对需求的认识和理解，以及包容性的工作做法。将举办参与性讲习班，为有学习障碍/自闭症的强奸/性侵犯受害者建立当地多机构合作伙伴关系，并提供更好的支持途径。参与性讲习班将包括警察、独立服务人员、中介机构、SARC、社会护理、保健专业人员、护理专业人员和具有基于性别的暴力和学习障碍和/或自闭症专门知识的第三部门从业人员。在项目结束时，这些活动的最佳实践将通过全国网络研讨会、项目报告和学术出版物进行分享。项目产出将通过一个专门的网页提供。项目结果将用于制定更大规模的研究计划，重点关注有学习障碍和/或自闭症和基于性别的暴力的受害者。

Research shows that people with learning disabilities are at higher risk of sexual abuse than those without, and that women with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable. When women with learning disabilities report rape/ sexual assault to the police, their reports are even less likely to result in a conviction. Studies of rape conviction rates show that victims with learning disabilities/ autism are more likely to see their cases 'drop out' of the criminal justice system, and at an earlier stage. However, there is limited evidence available explaining why this happens and how it can be improved.Research already undertaken by Durham University with Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, and Northumbria Police (Jobe & Williams et al 2020), found that the criminal justice system creates barriers to justice for people with learning disabilities/autism when reporting rape/ sexual assault. Barriers include police officers not recognising learning disabilities or understanding how learning disabilities might impact on evidence, lack of effective and inclusive communication, and a lack of appropriate support for victims. It is evident that practice needs adjustment to develop inclusive support for victims of rape/ sexual assault who have additional needs.Working in partnership with the Principal Investigator's (Jobe) local police constabulary (Durham) and rape support service (RSACC), this project will extend the multi-agency partnership and evidence the impact of new Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) for learning disabilities/ additional needs in County Durham. Evidence will be captured through surveys of police officers and interviews with key multi-agency stakeholders. The project will also capture the impact of a theatre based training package which was co-produced by Jobe & Williiams, with Us Too- a group of a women with learning disabilities and/ or autism who have reported rape/sexual assault, supported by ARC England (Association for Real Change), and Open Clasp Theatre Company. The theatre based training was developed to train police officers and other service providers in responding to reports of rape/ sexual assault from women who are autistic or have a learning disability. Training will be used to develop service provider awareness and understanding of needs, and inclusive working practices. Participatory workshops will be held to establish local multi-agency partnership working and better support pathways for victims of rape/ sexual assault with learning disabilities/ autism. Participatory workshops will include police, ISVAs, Intermediaries, SARC, social care, healthcare professionals, care professionals and third sector practitioners with expertise on gender based violence and learning disabilities and/or autism. At the conclusion of the project, best practice from these activities will be shared via a national webinar, a project report, and an academic publication. Project outputs will be available via a dedicated webpage. Project findings will be used to develop a larger scale research bid focused on victims with learning disabilities and/or autism and Gender Based Violence.