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My name is Isabella, and I am a survivor of sexual abuse and coercive control. I’m currently awaiting the sentencing of the perpetrator following a criminal trial — a process that has already taken years from report to conviction.

I was one of the few who saw a guilty verdict. Most don’t. Sexual violence and domestic abuse cases in the UK have some of the lowest conviction rates in the criminal justice system. For every 100 rapes reported, only around 1 results in a conviction. Even fewer reach trial.

For those who do reach this point, the process is long, traumatic, and often re-traumatising. We endure endless delays. We relive our abuse in court. We do everything asked of us. And yet — at the final stage — we are not even guaranteed the right to read our own Victim Personal Statement aloud.

When I asked to read mine, I was told it was at the judge’s discretion, not mine. This happens to countless others.

🧭 What I’m Calling For:

I am asking the UK government to:

Legally guarantee that all survivors of sexual violence, domestic abuse, and coercive control have the right to read their Victim Personal Statement aloud in court.

Make this a protected right — not a privilege granted on a case-by-case basis.

Ensure victims are offered support and safety when choosing to exercise this right.

💬 Why This Matters:

For many survivors, reading a VPS aloud is the only time they’re able to speak directly about the impact of their abuse. After surviving silencing, control, violence, and doubt — this moment matters deeply.

The court has already heard the facts. The VPS is a chance to hear the human cost.

Being told “it’s up to the judge” takes away our last chance to speak. It makes survivors feel invisible in their own case — even after a guilty verdict.

I am starting this campaign because the system cannot continue to silence survivors at the moment we are meant to be heard.

Please sign and share this petition. Let’s create a justice system that treats survivors with dignity, and gives us the voice we deserve.

Thank you,

Isabella