Our anti-racist statement of commitment
Greater Manchester Rape Crisis stands in solidarity with all women who experience racist oppression.
This statement sets out what we are committed to as an employer, a service provider and a campaigning organisation. If you would like it in another format, please call our office on 0161 273 4591 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk.
Racism is not acceptable
We are committed to identifying and challenging racism at all levels of society through an intersectional perspective, and to continually developing as an anti-racist employer, service provider and campaigning organisation.
This is a public commitment, and one we hold ourselves to.
What we are committed to
We are committed to providing support, counselling and advocacy for any woman who has experienced sexual violence. We work hard to ensure our services are accessible and responsive to women from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also encourage Black women to become involved as staff, volunteers, consultants and management committee members.
Over the years we have developed strong links within local racially minoritised groups and with organisations that provide culturally specific services, so we can reach out to Black women who have encountered racist barriers when accessing therapeutic support, criminal justice and mental health services.
We acknowledge the need to regularly monitor, evaluate and reflect on our practice, to make sure we continue to work actively to identify and challenge racism within our organisation. We will continue to work alongside others to oppose racism in local, national and global political contexts.
How racism operates
We recognise racism as operating on three levels: structurally, culturally and personally. Racism is experienced on one, two or all levels at the same time. It can be a one-off incident or sustained abuse.
Structural racism
Racist discrimination that works at an institutional level and is embedded into the fabric, practices and management of most organisations. Racist language, behaviour and policy goes unquestioned and is aggressively implemented.
Cultural racism
The values of a society that actively deny the heritage of racially minoritised communities and continually reinforce racist stereotypes. It is evidenced in the way cultural tropes are used to denigrate specific communities.
Personal racism
Racism perpetrated directly at an individual because of their race. It can involve racist language, violence, denial of promotion, and lack of appropriate support.
Racism can affect a person’s self-esteem, mental health and physical wellbeing. It can also lead to someone facing barriers to housing, health care, education and justice, and experiencing isolation and a lack of safety.
As a feminist organisation
We are committed to the empowerment of all women, and subscribe to the views expressed by Black feminists Audre Lorde and Angela Davis.
“No woman is free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
Audre Lorde, 1981
“In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.”
Angela Davis, 1981