Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2025

Sexual Violence is a pervasive problem that is only growing[1], yet sex workers face specific harms that are often forgotten or ignored in favour of ‘the perfect victim’. For Sexual Violence Awareness Day, Basis Yorkshire wants to highlight the unique risks faced by sex workers and calls for the full decriminalisation of sex work, which serves only to exacerbate sexual violence by stigmatising sex workers and perpetuating silence-culture.

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Day (SVAD) is a dedicated campaign that focuses on addressing sexual violence. It aims to challenge societal norms, stereotypes, and misconceptions surrounding these issues while providing a platform for survivors to share their stories and find support[2].

While male survivors of sexual violence do exist, it predominantly effects women. 1 in 4 women, compared to 1 in 18 men, have been raped or sexually assaulted in the UK and at least 1 in 12 women each year will be a victim of crimes of a sexual nature, with the exact number thought to be much higher[3].

Violence against women has now reached ‘epidemic levels’, according to Britain’s chief of police[1]. Furthermore, Galop found that 7% of trans people have experienced sexual assault[4], which is a higher figure in comparison to the general population, and suggests that trans women experience sexual abuse at a disproportionately higher rate than cis women. These figures are highly concerning.

Crucially, these statistics are highly unrepresentative of the reality; every 5 in 6 women who are raped refuse to report[3]. Even when they do, out of the 69,184 rapes recorded by the police between 2023 and 2024, charges had been brought in only 2.7% of cases[3]. Victims are repeatedly being let down by the criminal justice system which is failing to hold perpetrators to account. These statistics explain why violence against women and girls was classified as a national threat to public safety last year, with police forces ordered to prioritise their response as they do for serious organised crime[1].

In fact, there are signs this may be improving in West Yorkshire due to Operation Soteria. The operation was launched in June 2021 with the aim of increasing the number of rape and sexual assault cases reaching charge by combining practitioner knowledge with that of academic experts[5]. It has led to the development of the first National Operating Model for the investigation of sexual offences[5]. This model requires multi-agency engagement with Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs), the third sector, police and crime commissioners and the NPCC. It seeks to improve support for victims and ensure more perpetrators are bought to justice[6]. While this model is still in the early stages of implementation, its a great step to ensuring improved criminal justice support of survivors and the multi-organisation approach bodes well for future operation.

Yet, sex workers are often left behind in these initiatives and sometimes further penalised. We know that the above figures are under-representative of the true extent of the problem, but this is even more so for sex workers. Sex workers are often targeted victims of violence, including assault and rape, either by their controllers or customers, in the belief that they are unlikely to report crime or support a prosecution. In fact, the majority (74%) of women sex workers have experienced violence from those that buy sex, with more than half reporting to have been raped or sexually assaulted[7].

“A lot of sex workers see this is part and parcel of their jobs, which should definitely not be the case and are at higher risk of sexual violence.” – Basis Yorkshire’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)

However, while exceptions exist, for instance the recent conviction for a rape of a sex worker in Leeds, evidence suggests that criminal justice responses to sex work are ‘unbalanced’[7]. In some areas, women selling sex are criminalised and men committing violent acts are simply seen as an ‘occupational hazard’ of the industry by the police[7].  While the police in Leeds prioritize safeguarding of sex workers over prosecution, if sex workers are unaware of this they will not seek help from the police in fear of criminalisation or judgement. This stigmatisation and criminalisation around sex work is what increases its danger. Rape crisis[8] outline the common myth that sex workers ‘can’t be raped’. This is incredibly problematic and entirely false. Your occupation does not play a role in your ability to consent to sex. If a sex worker did not give their consent, then it is rape. These kinds of myths hold significant power in our society. It can cause victims and survivors to feel shame about what happened to them or to blame themselves. This can create barriers to accessing support. Harmful myths, such as this, can also negatively affect how society views survivors, which in turn can impact the criminal justice system, through the perpetuation of stigma amongst the police– contributing to the rate of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and Prostitute cautions given out, which can be severely detrimental to a sex worker’s life. This inevitably plays a part in the shocking conviction rates for rape, by undermining the serious nature of sexual offences[8].

“A lot of the women we work with have had bad experiences with police in the past, or been let down by statutory services, so don’t trust the authority they are expected to report to.” – Basis Yorkshire’s Sex Worker Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (SWISVA)

At Basis, we are committed to shattering these myths, and helping survivors get the support they need and deserve including through direct support and training partner agencies. We also continue to campaign for full decriminalisation, a vital tool to safeguard sex workers from sexual violence.

Criminalisation makes it illegal for two or more persons to occupy the same premises for the purposes of sex work, despite the clear benefit of sharing for their safety. While National Police guidance (NPCC) guidance outlines that sex workers gathering for safety should not be criminalised[9], the ECP found that hundreds of women are arrested, charged and convicted every year under these laws[10]. These events and the legislation continue to erode the trust between sex workers and the authorities, which could further increase their isolation.

“The laws around sex work mean that sex workers have to use risky practices although thanks to the specialist police team in Leeds this is less likely to happen; however if sex workers aren’t aware or don’t trust this approach they will still feel they have no choice but to take risks that make them less safe such as working alone” – Basis Yorkshire’s SWISVA

Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness week 2025 takes place 3rd to 7th of February and highlights these injustices and calls attention to the widespread impact of sexual violence, both on individuals and the wider systems. Basis is committed to engaging in public discourse and education, which can help end stigma and create an environment where victims feel supported and empowered to share their experiences and seek help in services such as our own.

At Basis Yorkshire we provide tailored support to victims of sexual violence through our ISVA and SW (sex worker) ISVA services. An ISVA is a trained specialist who provides advice and support to anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or rape at any time in their life, irrespective of whether they have reported to the police. Our ISVA is able to offer practical and emotional support and signpost to other agencies. ISVAs are trained to respond to the needs of those with experience of sexual violence and will support them to feel empowered enough to take control. In the face of low prosecution rates, it can be difficult to feel empowered enough to report, but at Basis Yorkshire we will always be transparent and allow survivors to make an informed decision, without external pressure to report or not report.

“I would be honest about the low rate of prosecutions, but point out the work that West Yorkshire Police and the CPS are doing to improve this and give information around this.  It’s important to be transparent and not try to sway someone towards reporting/not reporting.” – Basis Yorkshire’s ISVA

“Women may not ever feel ready or empowered to report the offence, and that is ok. Providing clear information about the stages from report to court can empower survivors to make an informed decision about whether they wish to report the offence.” – Basis Yorkshire’s SWISVA

We consider it important to highlight the practical work our support workers are providing for survivors, which is vitally important alongside our campaigning drive. We are fighting to end stigma and provide on the ground tailored support.

If you are a sex worker who has experienced sexual violence, or know someone that has please contact our offices on 0113 243 0036 for support; whether you want to report a crime or not, whether you work online, as an escort or on the street, we are here to help.

How you can help:

Donate – Help us continue supporting survivors

Spread the message

Challenge stigma around you


[1]The Independent, (2024), ‘Violence against women at ‘epidemic’ levels and is a threat on par with terrorism, UK police warn’. Available: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/london-ap-violence-britain-national-police-chiefs-council-b2584458.html Last Accessed: 27/01/25

[2]Awareness Days, (2025), ‘Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2025’. Available: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/sexual-abuse-sexual-violence-awareness-week-2025/ Last Accessed: 29/01/25

[3] Rape Crisis, (no date), ‘Rape and sexual assault statistics’. Available: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/statistics-sexual-violence/ Last Accessed: 27/01/25

[4] Galop, (2020), ‘Transphobic Hate Crime Report’. Available: https://galop.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Trans-Hate-Crime-Report-2020.pdf Last Accessed: 27/01/25

[5] NPCC, (no date), ‘Operation Soteria- Transforming the Investigation of Rape’. Available: https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/violence-against-women-and-girls/operation-soteria/ Last Accessed: 29/01/25

[6]NPCC, (2024), ‘Operation Soteria is a ‘game-changer for policing’. Available: https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/operation-soteria-is-a-game-changer-for-policing Last Accessed: 29/01/205

[7]Parliament, (no date), ‘Written evidence submitted by agenda’. Available: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/64627/pdf#:~:text=Women%20in%20prostitution%20are%2018,been%20raped%20or%20sexually%20assaulted14. Last Accessed: 29/01/25

[8] Rape Crisis, (no date), ‘Myths vs Facts’. Available: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/about-sexual-violence/myths-vs-realities/ Last Accessed: 29/01/25

[9] NPCC, (2024), ‘Sex Work National Police Guidance’. Available: https://www.npcc.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/publications/publications-log/national-crime-coordination-committee/2024/npcc-sex-work-guidance-v2—february-2024.pdf Last Accessed 29/01/25

[10] English Collective of Prostitutes, (2024), ‘ Proceed with Caution’. Available: https://prostitutescollective.net/proceed-without-caution/ Last Accessed: 29/01/25

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