FACES Statement on Racially Motivated Sexual Violence and the Rise of Far-Right Activity

We are horrified by the recent racially aggravated rape of a Sikh woman, and we stand in solidarity with her, her family, and the wider Sikh community. This attack is not an isolated act of violence — it reflects and is fuelled by a wider climate of hate in the UK.

Racism, misogyny and violence are interconnected

Rooted in oppression, sexual violence and racism are interconnected issues. For many survivors, these harms overlap, compounding trauma and reinforcing exclusion. Racially aggravated sexual assault is not only an attack on an individual, but also a message to whole communities: that they are unsafe, unwelcome, and unprotected.

History is repeating itself

Across the UK, many minoritised communities are experiencing a resurgence of fear. For some, it recalls the racist violence of previous decades — whether on the streets, at demonstrations, or in public spaces. These are not isolated memories: Black, Asian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Roma, Traveller, migrant and refugee communities all have lived experience of this marginalisation, intimidation and attack. Today, the rise in far-right mobilisation and racist rhetoric is retraumatising communities, forcing families once again to change their daily lives out of fear.

Words have consequences

Media discourse and political rhetoric that scapegoats migrants and minority groups all play a role in creating this climate. When racism and misogyny are normalised in public debate, they embolden perpetrators and silence survivors. This is not accidental: dividing communities distracts from deeper injustices — from austerity, underfunding of our institutions and, and the neglect of services that should protect and support us all.

Our call

We call for:

• Justice and support for the survivor of this attack, delivered with cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed care.
• Responsible leadership: politicians and media must reject narratives that demonise communities and instead work to build safety and solidarity.
• Investment in safeguarding and support services, so that survivors from all communities can access protection and justice.

Our commitment

At FACES, we commit to:

• Honouring the voices of survivors from racialised communities in shaping our safeguarding work.
• Continue challenging the harmful narratives that blame victims or stereotype perpetrators.
• Work with partners to push for systemic change that addresses not only the violence itself, but also the structures that allow hate and exploitation to thrive.

We refuse to accept a society where survivors are doubly harmed — first by violence, then by racism and neglect. Safeguarding requires more than protection from individual acts; it demands dismantling the conditions that make hate, oppression, and abuse possible.

We stand with all those facing the intersecting harms of racism, misogyny, and sexual violence. 

We will not stay silent.