The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State, Alex Norris
Cc: Jake Richards,Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Sentencing, Human Rights and Technology); Alex Davies-Jones, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Victims, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and International Justice)
Dear Lord Chancellor,
I write in response to your announcement that you will deliver new specialist rape courts.
I am a survivor of rape and an advocate for other victim-survivors via Right to Equality as their official survivor ambassador. I was referred to as “Rose” in media reports about my case, because I am not allowed to use my real name. In fact, I had to fight to be able to speak out publicly under a pseudonym. My case was one of the first cases like mine to be allowed to be reported on by the media.
Whilst anonymity may be a protective measure for victims in criminal court, for victims in the family court, anonymity is imposed. We would not be able to waive our anonymity even if we chose. We are under threat of contempt of court for speaking about our court experience, even with loved ones. This is why victims in family court so often describe the experience as one of being silenced.
I was raped by my child’s father. When he applied to family court for more contact, I knew he could not be a safe parent to my son. I knew that my first responsibility was to protect him, so I disclosed the rape to a CAFCASS officer. My allegation was dismissed by them and described as “historical”. The CAFCASS officer even refused to write the word “rape” in the notes. This CAFCASS report was relied upon by the judge to dismiss my allegations. They supported my rapist’s allegations of “parental alienation”.
The recently announced changes to criminal courts are of course desperately needed. However, for victim-survivors of rape who share children with their abusers, they face the prospect of both criminal and family proceedings. The delays in Crown Court mean that most cases will be heard in the family justice system first, with potential impacts for the criminal case. It is critical that reforms are made in both jurisdictions.
I understand that the new specialist rape courts will ensure victim-survivors have special measures, such as separate waiting areas and entrances. I implore you to ensure that this is extended to all rape victims in family proceedings. In my family court case, during the original fact-finding hearing, I could see my rapist whilst giving evidence. He sniggered and laughed as I described how he had abused me and my son.
For victim-survivors of rape in family court, we face not only having to see our abuser in the waiting area, but of having to facilitate contact between them and our children for the whole of their minority. This might mean handovers, video calls and receiving letters. It means constantly being retraumatised and being at ongoing risk of post-separation abuse. It is therefore critical that all professionals in the family justice system are properly equipped to understand rape and its impacts. I am pleased that court staff in criminal courts will now get trauma-informed training. Please ensure that this is also available to family court professionals, such as CAFCASS, whose response to victims has a dramatic impact on proceedings and outcomes for children.
I also ask that you look carefully at how judges in family court respond and define rape. There is currently no definition of rape or consent in the family court, so it is left entirely to the individual judge’s subjective opinion. This is surely incompatible with the Government’s commitment to tackling rape and supporting victims.
I was “one of the lucky ones” in that I eventually received the right outcome for my child. No contact was ordered, I was allowed to change his surname and the father was stripped of parental responsibility. However, I am not naive and I know that this would never have happened had I not borrowed almost £100,000 so that I could pay for high quality legal representation. This is money that otherwise could have been put towards my child’s future. I still find it incomprehensible that I had to pay £100,000 to protect my child from my rapist.
Whilst all measures to improve the safety and access to justice for survivors are welcome, please do not forget about the victims in family court, many of whom are suffering in silence.
I would like to request a meeting with you to further explain what survivors of sexual violence go through in family court and the impact on our children. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
“Rose”
Right to Equality’s Survivor Ambassador
Posted 13th October 2026