Victims do not choose to become victims. They become one. They are already dealing with trauma and fear for their own safety, so it is critical that they have equal rights in court. The current justice system in Scotland appears to protect the perpetrator more than the victim. The good news is that Scotland is now working on criminal justice reform, and the new bill has recently been published. However, having Victims Commissioners is not enough. Victims need to be defended by lawyers too. Why is it essential to provide solicitors for victims? Here some points: Numerous cases of domestic abuse and harassment are dismissed for lack of evidence. Prior to trials, however, the Crown Office never hears the victims' story, to check if there is any extra evidence or witnesses that could be added to the case. No one ever inquires about their emotional, psychological, or even financial consequences that they face (for example, some stalker victims may struggle to hold a job). Often, a clear picture of the damage is not fully portrayed in court. Therefore, a lawyer has the potential to alter the game. Someone who contacts victims following the police report and advocates on their behalf thereafter. They will collect additional information and evidence to provide to the Crown Office so that they can make a more informed judgement regarding whether or not to continue the prosecution. A lawyer will also provide victims with information about the legal process, what to expect, and their rights (such as the right to request a review) and advise them on the most effective strategy to move their case forward. Victims are required to appear in court as witnesses, but they are not required to have legal representation because they have been called to court "just to share their story." However, this is incorrect. A distinction should exist between a victim and a witness. Victims are those who have suffered as a result of abuse (of any kind), and the situation has had a greater negative impact on their lives, whereas an ordinary witness may not necessarily be emotionally invested in the story. This indicates that there is no appropriate support in place for victims. They should be treated as victims until the contrary is confirmed. Their wellbeing should be safeguarded, and an attorney could assist with that. Due to the psychological pressure survivors experience in court, they may be unable to fully articulate themselves. The experience is overwhelming. No one really prepared the victims for the experience. For the very first time, they share their story in front of the judge. Perpetrators, on the other hand, have their stories heard, they are prepared for the experience and they also have an opportunity to prepare their defence with the assistance of their attorneys. Sharing a traumatic experience is never simple, especially in a courtroom, and it can be especially intimidating for women to do so in a room full of men. A lawyer with prior knowledge of the case could also encourage the victims to tell the complete story and make the process easier for them on an emotional level. Abusers have the right to an attorney who gets paid to manipulate the truth. The abuser's attorney is permitted to victim-blame and accuse survivors of wrongdoing in order to portray them as immoral while defending their clients' innocence. Furthermore, they are permitted to discriminate (especially against women) and adopt an inappropriate attitude and line of questioning to prove their client's innocence. While, in the other hand, there is no one to advocate for the victims' right. This is especially problematic in jury trials, where charismatic attorneys may convince jurors that their clients are blameless by leading them to misinterpret the evidence. If perpetrators' solicitors are permitted to have such conduct, then the victims' legal representation must be equally robust in order to give victims' stories the appropriate weight too. This will balance the rights from each party. Additionally, for how the system stands now, victims may experience additional psychological or emotional trauma in court. A victim's attorney will advocate for victims' rights in court, to prevent further traumatization, and put an end to victim-blaming and discrimination. Many victims suffer from PTSD after experiencing court and this needs to end. Since victims are only required to appear as witnesses, they do not have the right to hear all the evidence presented in court. The crime is not "their case" but rather the case of the Crown Office. On the other hand, abusers have the right to access all court-presented evidence. Providing victims with solicitors will ensure that they have equal access to information. For the same principles, victims have not right to appeal for the judge's decision while abusers can. Having an attorney ensures that victims will have the same rights. The victims' attorney could also assist them in pursuing monetary compensation. In many cases, such as stalking, victims have an economic impact. For example, if their work performance declines and end up losing their job. Because they did not choose to be victims, victims should also be eligible for compensation. In conclusion, as highlighted above, in the courtroom the power dynamic is unbalanced -abusers have more rights than victims. Mandating solicitors for victims could be a game-changer and also play an essential role in preventing violence. Victims must have someone to argue their case and advocate for their rights. For yourself, for our daughters, mothers, sisters, nieces, grandmothers, and all other victims of abuse and stalking regardless of gender. I stand by your side. For a fairer Scotland. And I hope you will stand by our side too.

Freedom of Speech & Human Rights Petition We have the right to come together with others and peacefully express our views. Authorities must allow us to take part in marches, protests and demonstrations. Have the ability of saving our Freedom of Speech and Right to Protest.

Gabon is one of the remaining bastions of forest elephant with 85% of the forest elephant population . Poor financial compensation and grants support are a significant cause of poverty and migration in cities from rural areas. In turn this leads to native people being unable to sustain their way of life and keep their families together Villagers are abandoning theirs traditions, their cultures and their way of life. This is a huge loss for native Gabonese.

The Windrush scandal continues to cause pain and suffering to Black people across the country. As we approach the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, which should be a time of celebration, Black people are again facing a hostile government. Reports that ministers’ promises to implement key recommendations from the Independent review into the scandal look set to be ditched, will come as yet another devastating blow to the Windrush generation. As Home Secretary, you have the opportunity to show that the Government is serious about righting past wrongs by honouring the recommendations set out in the independent Williams report. To do anything less sends out the clear message that the suffering of the Windrush generation was in vain and that the hostile environment still exists.

The Government’s new Public Order Bill would allow police to put innocent people on electronic ankle tags and ban them from attending marches and demonstrations. Campaigners and people who want to attend a protest need not have ever committed any offence in order to be given a so-called “protest banning order” by the police. Under this new anti-protest law, the police will be given powers to monitor campaigners using electronic GPS tags, restrict their internet activities and prevent them from attending protests. These are some of the most disturbing and anti-democratic police powers introduced in the UK for decades. After the shocking police behaviour towards grieving women at the Clapham vigil for Sarah Everard, we fear these ankle tags could entail serious abuse. There is no place for police monitoring and oppression of people simply campaigning for change. These extreme police powers would be controversial in Russia and China – we cannot allow them in a democratic country like the UK. If thousands of us sign this petition, we can make Suella Braverman and Rishi Sunak drop these dangerous new powers.

Exeter has a proud culture of welcoming new arrivals, and we believe our diversity makes our city stronger and more vibrant. We’re calling on the U.K. Government to drop this discriminatory and inhumane policy completely, and particularly for LGBTQI+ people.

Isle of Skye does not have a lot of spaces available for old people to be cared for. At the moment Home Farm has 17 residents and if the 15 residents from Budhmor are homed there it will leave only space for 3 more residents from the whole island. The staff are being made redundant at a time when the economy on the island is at an all time low.

Chinese state-owned companies Hikvision and Dahua are used to monitor, control and oppress ethnic minorities in China. Their cameras watch over 1 million people held in concentration camps and every corner of the Xinjiang province, with high-tech features such as facial recognition, behavioural analysis and "Uyghur alerts" to flag the province's ethnic minorities to the authorities. And these surveillance companies are not only spying on ethnic minorities in China - almost all of us in the UK are being watched by Hikvision and Dahua CCTV cameras every day. Big Brother Watch's investigation has revealed that Hikvision dominates the UK's CCTV networks - over 60% of public bodies, from schools to councils, are using either Hikvision, or to a lesser degree, Dahua cameras. Their intrusive, advanced surveillance capabilities are being quietly normalised in the UK. That means not only is our privacy and security at risk in an increasingly dystopian surveillance state - but British taxpayers' money is funding companies implicated in genocide and modern slavery in China. The USA has already banned Hikvision and Dahua. With enough public pressure on the Government, the UK can and should ban Hikvision too. Tell Rishi Sunak to #BanHikvision and #BanDahua now!

Apart from the Windrush Generation of which some who now live abroad may have had there pensions affected or indeed Frozen. The Windrush Generation are also affected in other ways. For Instance. Surely It can not be right that if you can prove your right to live and work in the UK as a Windrush Survivor. And have still been subject to the unhealthy disadvantage within the Windrush Hostile Environment. There predicament are not included in the platform of the Tick Box compensation scheme application form in order to make a claim. By not including this segment of the Windrush Generation it excludes people who are prevented from making a personal claim whatsoever. If you do try to pursue a claim based on your personal experience and circumstances. The claim is very likely to be rejected. As hundreds of people including myself, have found out through personal experience. PLEASE SUPPORT THE PETITION IF YOU ARE IN SYMPATHY WITH OUR PLIGHT. We Welcome Your Support PLEASE NOTE. You DO NOT need to be a rejected Windrush Applicant to SUPPORT OUR PREDICAMENT by Signing This Petition. Thank You.

What is the Nationality and Borders Bill? On Wednesday 8th December, Government MP's including Philip Hollobone, Tom Pursglove and Peter Bone voted for the Nationality & Borders Bill. It has been described as an attack on refugee rights and criticised for breaching international law. The bill includes unlawful policy changes meaning that: - UK residents could have citizenship stripped without notification. - Asylum Seekers could be sent to offshore 'processing centres'. - People rescuing refugees could be prosecuted. - Refugees not entering the country by a 'safe and legal route' would punished and ignored. Why should we vote against it? Despite ministers claims that the Bill will help to save lives; it will do the exact opposite. The Bill fails to offer a safer route to the UK, putting refugees at further risk of exploitation by smugglers and traffickers. Why should we do more? Our government and the media give the impression that the UK are doing more than enough to help people fleeing war and persecution. But that is not the case. To put into context: - At the end of 2020 around 82.4 million people were forcibly displaced across the world. - Of these, 26.4 million were refugees. - Half of the world’s refugees are children. - 85% of refugees are being hosted in developing countries. The UK is home to approx 1% of 26.4 million refugees around the world, and significantly falls far behind our European neighbours when it comes to granting asylum (in terms of the number of asylum applications per head of population, the UK ranks 17th highest in Europe). In addition, it is our moral and legal obligation to uphold the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention - an agreement that the UK played a central role in drafting. We should be proud of our tradition of protecting refugees but given the scale of the global refugee crisis facing the world, we can and should be doing much more to help. How can I make a difference? We are calling on people of North Northamptonshire to sign this petition, and demand that our local Members of Parliament hear our voice and speak out against the Nationality and Borders Bill. North Northamptonshire is a beautifully diverse and culture rich place, and we are proud to embrace and accept refugees with open arms.

In the UK, there has always been a strong tradition of welcoming refugees. Examples from our history are many, including the Hugenots and those fleeing the Nazis. We need to continue this tradition, not let it end with this Bill. The Nationality and Borders Bill, especially Part 2 Asylum 10, needs to be amended significantly.

Like many others, we have watched in horror as the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan and thousands of ordinary people fled their homes. In 2015, we stepped up and offered safety to Syrian refugees fleeing ISIS. ECDC should do the same for Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban.