The charity, Changing Faces, has launched its first ever hate crime campaign aimed at informing people with disfigurements about their rights if they are the victim of abuse.
In a survey of 800 people with a disfigurement they found that a third of people had said they had experienced a hate crime because of their appearance – but only 30% reported it to the police and many people didn’t even realise they could report it as a hate crime.
Changing Faces Head of Advocacy Henrietta Spalding
Henrietta stated, “Being different in a society where there is such pressure to look a certain way is tough. We want to see hate crimes that target appearance recognised and reported. No one deserves to suffer abuse because of the way they look, and it’s time to break the cycle of hate in our society.”
“We know from our research and through interviewing victims of hate crimes that there are many barriers to reporting. We want to equip people with the confidence and the methods to report abuse.”
I’M LOOKING AT YOU!
If someone has harmed or abused you either physically or verbally because you have a disfigurement or visible difference, then that may be a disability hate crime or hate incident.
What is a disfigurement?
Birthmarks, Scars, Craniofacial or congenital conditions (meaning a condition you were born with), Paralysis, Skin conditions, Hair Loss and Cancer or other diseases.
Changing Faces acknowledges that speaking up about a crime isn’t just about going to the police. It’s just as important to tell any of the people below:-
*A social worker *A Housing Association *A community organisation and *A GP, if you have been injured, or it is causing you emotional distress.
Phyllida Swift – Changing Faces Campaigns Officer
For more information about the campaign please visit their website – or please contact Phyllida Swift at phyllidas@changingfaces.org.uk
WHY REPORT?
Being targeted by a crime can be distressing, but by reporting it you can get the help and support you need and prevent it from happening again. Even if you think the incident was only minor, it is still important to report it as it helps the police understand what is happening, and can enable the authorities to respond more effectively.
The more we can talk about the issue, the better the authorities will get at dealing with it.