London-Jas Athwal, Member of Parliament, delivered a powerful intervention in the House of Commons, highlighting the deep and persistent crisis facing survivors of sexual violence in the United Kingdom. Citing a shocking statistic that one in four women have been sexually assaulted since the age of 16, Athwal warned that despite the scale of the issue, conviction rates remain “appallingly low,” leaving countless survivors without justice.
In his remarks, Athwal stressed that many women and girls still feel unable to report their experiences to authorities. Survivors fear that their cases will be dismissed, ignored, or mishandled — and that the court process itself will be traumatising rather than supportive. He noted that the justice system, in its current form, often feels “opaque, difficult to navigate, and not built for victims.” This, he said, leads to a system where survivors suffer twice: first from the assault, and again from the institutional barriers they face in pursuit of justice.
Athwal explained that during his recent visit to a RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences) unit, he witnessed first-hand the pressure on victim liaison officers and the urgent need for stronger resources, training, and survivor-centred services. He used this experience to underscore the importance of reforming both reporting mechanisms and courtroom procedures, ensuring that survivors are protected, heard, and supported from the first disclosure until the final verdict.
Addressing Solicitor General Ellie Reeves, Athwal asked how the government plans to tackle both the low reporting rates and the low conviction rates that continue to undermine public trust. Reeves responded by saying that reducing violence against women and girls is her “No. 1 priority” and acknowledged that too many barriers still exist within the system. While she pointed to recent improvements — such as increased rape referrals and the highest conviction volumes since 2016 — she admitted that these changes are not enough and that more must be done to ensure fairness, speed, and safety for survivors.
Athwal’s intervention adds rising pressure on the government to accelerate reforms, strengthen victim-support services, and overhaul legal processes that currently discourage survivors from seeking justice. His comments signal a growing demand within Parliament for a justice system that truly serves those who have suffered sexual violence — not one that leaves them feeling abandoned.