Ending sexual violence without fueling hate

In recent months, far-right groups and some mainstream politicians have sought to exploit the issue of sexual violence to push racist and anti-migrant agendas. This is dangerous and deeply harmful. Linking VAWG to migrant communities not only fuels hate but also silences survivors, diverts attention from the real causes of violence, and undermines decades of progress in the fight for gender equality.

The facts are clear: over 90% of rapes and sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor knows, and perpetrators come from all walks of life and all backgrounds.

Violence against women and girls is not imported – it is woven into the fabric of our own society and must be confronted accordingly.

This rhetoric also makes life much harder for women refugees and migrant women who are themselves often fleeing violence and persecution. Instead of being met with safety and support, they risk further hostility and barriers to justice. No survivor should be denied compassion or support because of their immigration status.

As the joint letter from EVAW makes clear:

“Attempts to exploit violence against women and girls to further racist agendas will not make women safer. Instead, they risk creating more harm, division and silencing of survivors.”

Survivors deserve better than myths and scapegoating. They deserve truth, compassion, and real action to end sexual violence. At SARSAS, we stand with every survivor, regardless of race, ethnicity, background, or immigration status. We will continue to challenge these harmful narratives and keep our focus on ending sexual violence in all its forms.

If we stand together, we can create a society where no survivor is silenced, no community is scapegoated, and all women and girls can live free from violence and abuse.

Read the full statement from EVAW and supporting organisations

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