Naming sexual assault will destigmatise those seeking support, says charity leader

Using the words “sexual abuse” will help to encourage victims to come forward, says Erica Marks, CEO of the Jewish Sexual Abuse Support service (JSAS), who hopes that the charity’s rebranding will help break down the stigma surrounding sexual assault.

Previously known as Migdal Emunah, JSAS is the UK’s only charity specialising in support for Jewish male, female, and child survivors of sexual assault.

“We needed to be more specific and direct with our name,” Marks explains. “We have always avoided using the term ‘sexual abuse’, which has kept it taboo. But things become less intimidating and more manageable when you name them... It’s hard to talk about sexual abuse if you cannot name it.”

Marks adds: “We cannot bury our heads in the sand and pretend that sexual assault is not happening.”

Recognising sensitivities in certain parts of the community, Marks adds that JSAS uses their abbreviated title when interacting with the strictly Orthodox community, leaving the word “sex” out of their material. She notes that some in the community prefer terminology such as “inappropriate touch”, rather than abuse or assault.

“Our goal is to reach as many people as we can, so in these communities, we’re going by JSAS,” Marks explains. “But we’re seeing progress. Attitudes toward mental health and sexual assault are changing in the Charedi world. I need to pay tribute to the strictly Orthodox community and its leaders, who are beginning to understand and address this issue. Our colleagues in Israel are noticing this shift as well.”

Marks believes that events in Israel since October 7 have heightened awareness of sexual violence in the community. Many of the first responders to the attacks were Orthodox, and media coverage of the sexual crimes brought the issue to the forefront for many people.

“After October 7, I knew immediately what it would mean from a professional perspective,” Marks says, referring to the reports of rape and violent sexual abuse committed against Israeli men and women by Hamas terrorists. “The reports retraumatised some of our clients, many of whom were reminded of their own experiences through stories in the news.”

In recent years, the charity has seen a steady increase in people seeking support. Last year, about 60 clients accessed JSAS’s services every month and hundreds over the course of the year.

“Our priority is that victims feel believed from the start,” says Marks, explaining how JSAS supports survivors. “Many have not experienced that [feeling of being believed] before. We also provide them with a safe environment, which quite often is a new experience.”

JSAS operates out of discreet, nondescript offices in both north London and Manchester. “You can come in knowing you won’t see anyone you know,” Marks notes.

With a staff of qualified sexual assault advisors, JSAS offers counselling, therapy, and practical support in areas like health, education, employment, and housing. The charity also provides specialised guidance for those who choose to engage with the criminal justice system.

“Only nine per cent of sexual assault victims typically go to the police, but at JSAS, 20 per cent of our clients feel safe enough to consider it,” Marks says. “We never push anyone to report [to the police], but we support them fully if they choose to.”

The criminal justice system presents challenges to sexual assault survivors. “Victims face intense scrutiny in court. Our system doesn’t treat sexual assault survivors equitably,” she says. “If you witness a burglary, you’re not cross-examined like a rape victim would be.”

Long waiting times further discourage victims from pursuing justice. Marks points to the ongoing case of Wayne Davis in Manchester, who faces allegations dating back to the 1990s and 2000s, and his trial has already stretched on for four years. Davis denies all wrongdoing. “Sexual abuse trials aren’t prioritised. It’s frustrating because we saw this summer with the rioters that the courts can expedite cases when they choose to.”

Prisons would quickly fill up with sexual predators if the courts were better equipped and more victims came forward, she says. “Most of what we see is hidden. What is being reported is the tip of a much larger iceberg... and there is no current political will to address it”.

Marks notes that the majority of JSAS clients seek support for historical abuse rather than recent incidents. “Sexual assault is an ‘unspeakable, unthinkable crime’ for many,” she explains. “Victims often take time to process what’s happened to them.”

Most of JSAS’s clients experienced sexual assault as children, with 100 per cent of male clients and 70 per cent of female clients reporting childhood abuse, and the charity advocates for better education to prevent child abuse and foster healthy relationships.

“Some communities hesitate to teach children ‘sex education’, but we can approach this as ‘relationships education,’” Marks says. “It’s about ensuring children learn how to relate to each other in safe and healthy ways.” To this end, she thinks that the school topic should have a name change.

One of the most challenging issues JSAS addresses is sibling sexual assault. “For parents, it’s an incredibly traumatic experience that may involve social services or police,” Marks notes. “The trauma affects not just the victim but the entire family.”

Marks warns that unaddressed issues can perpetuate trauma across generations. “We sometimes hear people say, ‘It happened to all of us; it’s just normal.’ But this should never be normal. We need to talk about it, offer support and educate our communities.”

She hopes that then communities will get closer to a reality where silence is not an option and cycles of abuse finally end.

If you need help or advice, please contact JSAS by phone on 07519980774 or info@jsas.org.uk or complete the online form at jsas.org.uk. You can click here for the website.

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