Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A charity has launched a helpline to provide support to the victims of revenge porn attacks.
The service is being run by the South West Grid for Learning charity, which aims to offer guidance and help to those who are affected by revenge porn, where explicit images or videos are shared without the subject’s consent.
Callers will be provided with information on legal remedies available, their rights and how images can be removed from websites.
Girls as young as 11 have been the victims of revenge porn, and predominantly young females are targeted, while the majority of those responsible are male.
Usually the images are shared with the victim’s friends and family or used to blackmail.
Under new laws, set out in the criminal justice bill, perpetrators could face up to two years in prison for their crimes.
Folami Prehaye, the founder of a revenge porn support website, said: “As a victim I felt isolated and felt embarrassed by what had happened to me. If there was a helpline around at the time of my crime at least I could have talked to someone in confidence about how I was feeling, and how coming forward has affected my confidence.
“I set up my website to offer support to victims who made contact with me, and to encourage other women to come forward to raise their concerns and speak up about this crime. Now this helpline will help everyone that needs support and advice.”
Equalities minister Nicky Morgan said of the new service: “I want to ensure that anyone who finds that they have had images of themselves shared without their consent has the support and advice that they need. This helpline will provide essential free legal advice on how to have pictures removed from the internet.
“Circulating intimate photos of someone without their consent is never acceptable, and we need to educate people to the dangers of sending intimate images, and to the hurt that sharing them causes.”
The helpline is available to call on 0845 6000 459 and the website can be accessed here
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments