Campaigns

Respond has always been very aware of the injustices that many people with learning disabilities face – so we thought we should use our experience and knowledge to try and change things for the better.

We know from many of the clients that we see for therapy, that people with learning disabilities sometimes have difficulty getting access to justice; perhaps they are treated badly by the police, or find it hard to get someone to take them seriously when a crime has happened to them.

We campaign along with two other learning disability charities, Voice UK and the Ann Craft Trust. We work together because we think it is more effective that way, so we can share information and knowledge.

VOICE UK are a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities who have experienced crime or abuse. We also support their families, carers and professional workers. VOICE UK campaigns to improve the rights of people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system.

The Ann Craft Trust is a UK based charity working with staff in the statutory, independent and voluntary sectors to protect people with learning disabilities who may be at risk from abuse. It also provides advice and information to parents and carers who may have concerns about someone that they are supporting.

Our joint campaigning focuses on injustices in the legal system, measures to prevent abuse and making sure that those are employed to work with people with learning disabilities are suitable to do so.

We work with other charities, and also the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service amongst others.

Policy

As part of our policy work, we respond to Government consultations, and participate in stakeholder steering groups on public policy. This ensures that our views and the needs of people with learning disabilities are heard by those who make the law.

• Cross Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse
• Review of Adult Protection Guidance
•  Implementation of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill
• Changes to Inspection for residential care homes.
•  Crown Prosecution Service Policy on Disability Hate Crime 
•  Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.
•  Witness Charter.
•  Download the Submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into the Human Rights of Adults with Learning Disabilities.
  

Media

We keep people informed of our work by publicising our campaigns in the media.  Our regular comments on events and abuse cases also highlight issues regarding abuse prevention and securing justice for vulnerable victims of crime and abuse. 

Links to our recent press releases are below.  

Healthcare Commission Report

A little card is a big hand for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses

Sentence for encouraging care home residents to fight is too short

Home Office “forgot the vulnerable”

Coalition of anti-abuse charities condemns institutional abuse that beggars belief

Foreign convictions records failure is “giant breach of trust” and “reminiscent of Soham”

Politics    

We Regularly meet with MP's to discuss our campaigns and how they can get involved.

 Respond has given written evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into the human rights of adults with learning disabilities.  We have also met with members of the Joint Committee to answer their questions.  Our evidence describes how crime and abuse violate the human rights of adults with learning disabilities and suggests recommendations the Joint Committee could make to ensure adults with learning disabilities enjoy their human rights.  Our original evidence prepared for the Joint Committee can be downloaded by clicking here and our supplemental evidence can be downloaded here.Our evidence on disability hate crime to the Joint Committee can be viewed here (our clarification of this evidence can be viewed here).   

Parliament recently debated the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill and we used this opportunity to highlight the hidden problem of the forced marriage of people with learning disabilities.  Jo Swinson MP kindly tabled an amendment to the Bill to ensure the needs of people with learning disabilities are met when courts consider forced marriage cases and you can read our briefing on this amendment here.  Our evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights also described this serious issue and suggested reforms to public policy.  Further information can be found in our main submission to the Joint Committee and in our supplemental evidence.  This is an issue on which we are continuing to campaign.

 Robin Van den Hende is the Policy and Campaigns Officer for Respond, Voice , Ann Craft Trust. You can contact him on: 020 7874 5486.