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#KeepCounsellingConfidential campaign awarded ‘Campaign of the Year’
Rights of Women is proud to announce that our joint campaign "Keep Counselling Confidential” has been awarded Campaign of the Year at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s 2025 National Campaigner Awards.
The campaign was run jointly with Rape Crisis England & Wales, End Violence Against Woman Coalition and Centre for Woman’s Justice.
This prestigious award recognises the impact and effectiveness of our work to protect the privacy of survivors of rape and sexual violence accessing counselling.
The campaign challenged the routine disclosure of therapy notes in criminal trials, an issue that has caused widespread distress and retraumatisation for survivors across England and Wales.
Following years of campaigning, the Government accepted an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill in April 2024 to raise the legal threshold for when rape survivors’ counselling notes can be requested by the police.
Estelle du Boulay, Director of Rights of Women, said:
“We are honoured to receive this award. It reflects the strength of our evidence-based, survivor-centred approach and the power of collective action. Every woman deserves justice without having her most private thoughts turned against her in court”.
Rights of Women is now working to ensure government properly implements the legal change achieved, with clear guidance for all involved in the justice system.
Rights of Women is now working to ensure government properly implements the legal change achieved, with clear guidance for all involved in the justice system.