George Rolph (activist)

Last updated

George Rolph (born 1953) is a British activist for disability rights and for male survivors of domestic violence.

Contents

Personal life

Rolph has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of seven years of abuse by two separate women. He lives in Bromley, South London in the United Kingdom.

Domestic violence against men

Rolph's first campaign was about domestic violence against men. [1] Rolph started a website (MAN2MAN), as an online forum where men who were survivors of abuse could meet to support each other and to discuss their feelings. He set up a helpline from his own home as a support mechanism in order to counsel those who were victims. He was also vice-chairman of Men's Aid. [2] He was also National Domestic Violence Coordinator for the charity ManKind Initiative.

In October 2003, Rolph appeared on the BBC-1 talk show Kilroy , on a discussion titled Violent women which included contributions by Rolph and Sue Hoolahan of ManKind Initiative. [3] Rolph was also interviewed on BBC Radio London on 10 February 2003 in a programme called "Inside Out" about his views on domestic violence against men. [3] In November 2004 his experience as a male survivor of domestic violence was briefly discussed on the ITV talk show This Morning . [4] In 2012, Rolph appeared in an interview on the television programme Inside Out , discussing the problem of abuse against men, [5] and in July 2012 was interviewed on BBC News at One as the South East Regional Co-ordinator [6] for the group ManKind Initiative, a charity which supports men suffering from domestic abuse. [7]

Atos

Rolph's second campaign was against Atos. On 20 May 2013, Rolph went on hunger strike against Atos and the Department for Work and Pensions who had taken away his disability benefits after an assessment. [8] His hunger strike was in support of "the poor, the sick and disabled", and in protest against the UK coalition government's treatment of the disabled. [9] His benefits were restored on day 7, after intervention from his local MP. However, Rolph said he would remain on hunger strike until the government made a commitment to abolish the use of ATOS to assess disabled people, and said that the assessments were humiliating, unfair and caused distress to vulnerable people. [10] He was interviewed on BBC London News television on Wednesday 29 May 2013, nine days after he began his protest. [11]

On 12 June 2013, the 23rd day of his hunger strike, the Daily Mirror published an article about George Rolph, which was the first time the mainstream press had reported on the campaign. [12] In this interview, Rolph clarified the aims of his protest: Firstly, that people should keep their benefits while they appeal. Secondly, he wants an independent inquiry into Atos, the French company that carry out the Work Capability Assessments. On 12 June 2013, in a parliamentary debate about work capability assessment issues, Rolph's MP, Heidi Alexander, said his hunger strike was "an example of a disabled person who had no choice but to take such drastic action to bring to the Government's attention the failures of the system". [13]

Rolph ended his hunger strike on 5 July 2013, the 46th day of his protest.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atos</span> French IT corporation

Atos is a French multinational information technology (IT) service and consulting company with headquarters in Bezons, France, and offices worldwide. It specialises in hi-tech transactional services, unified communications, cloud, big data and cybersecurity services. Atos operates worldwide under the brands Atos, Atos|Syntel, Atos Consulting, Atos Healthcare, Atos Worldgrid, Groupe Bull, Canopy, Maven Wave, and Unify.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Harper</span> British politician (born 1970)

Mark James Harper is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Transport since 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond McCreesh</span> Provisional IRA volunteer (1957–1981)

Raymond McCreesh was an Irish volunteer in the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). In 1976, he and two other IRA volunteers were captured while attempting to ambush a British Army observation post. McCreesh was one of the ten Irish republicans who died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike in the Maze Prison. McCreesh was one of 22 Irish republicans who died on hunger-strike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre</span> Detention centre for foreign nationals prior to their deportation from the United Kingdom

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre is a detention centre for foreign nationals prior to their deportation from the United Kingdom, one of 10 such centres currently in the UK. It is located near Milton Ernest in Bedfordshire, England, and is operated by Serco, which describes the place as "a fully contained residential centre housing adult women and adult family groups awaiting immigration clearance." Its population is, and has been, overwhelmingly female.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a United Kingdom welfare payment for adults younger than the State Pension age who are having difficulty finding work because of their long-term medical condition or a disability. It is a basic income-replacement benefit paid in lieu of wages. It is currently being phased out and replaced with Universal Credit for claimants on low incomes, although the contribution-based element remains available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domestic violence</span> Abuse of members of the same household

Domestic violence is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. Domestic violence is often used as a synonym for intimate partner violence, which is committed by one of the people in an intimate relationship against the other person, and can take place in relationships or between former spouses or partners. In its broadest sense, domestic violence also involves violence against children, parents, or the elderly. It can assume multiple forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, financial abuse, or sexual abuse. It can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and other violent physical abuse, such as choking, beating, female genital mutilation, and acid throwing that may result in disfigurement or death, and includes the use of technology to harass, control, monitor, stalk or hack. Domestic murder includes stoning, bride burning, honor killing, and dowry death, which sometimes involves non-cohabitating family members. In 2015, the United Kingdom's Home Office widened the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.

Research published from 2000 to 2020 illustrates increased prevalence rates of sexual violence against people with intellectual disabilities, compared to the general population.:61 The World Health Organization (WHO) funded a study which concluded that 15% of the adult population worldwide in 2012 had a disability, putting them at increased risk of physical, sexual, and intimate partner violence. Of that 15%, 6.1% had intellectual disability with 5.5% experiencing sexual violence. In another 2012 report, the WHO found that worldwide, children with intellectual disabilities experienced a 4.6 times greater risk of sexual violence than those without disability.

Disability hate crime is a form of hate crime involving the use of violence against people with disabilities. This is not only violence in a physical sense, but also includes other hostile acts, such as the repeated blocking of disabled access and verbal abuse. These hate crimes are associated with prejudice against a disability, or a denial of equal rights for disabled people. It is viewed politically as an extreme form of ableism, or disablism. This phenomenon can take many forms, from verbal abuse and intimidatory behaviour to vandalism, assault, or even murder. Although data are limited studies appear to show that verbal abuse and harassment are the most common. Disability hate crimes may take the form of one-off incidents, or may represent systematic abuse which continues over periods of weeks, months, or even years. Disabled parking places, wheelchair access areas and other facilities are frequently a locus for disability hate. Instead of seeing access areas as essential for equity, they are seen instead as 'special treatment', unjustifiable by status, and so a 'reason' for acting aggressively. Denial of access thus demonstrates a prejudice against equal rights for disabled people; such actions risk actual bodily harm as well as limiting personal freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Greatrex</span> British Labour Co-op politician

Thomas James Greatrex is a British Labour Co-op politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rutherglen and Hamilton West between 2010 and 2015 and the Shadow Energy Minister from 2011 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UK Uncut</span>

UK Uncut was a network of United Kingdom-based protest groups established in October 2010 to protest against cuts to public services and tax avoidance in the UK. Various sources have described the group as left-wing in its political orientation.

Personal Independence Payment is a welfare benefit in the United Kingdom that is intended to help working age adults with the extra costs of living with a health condition or a disability. It is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland where Adult Disabled Payment (ADP) is claimed instead where it also replaces DLA in Scotland also

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welfare Reform Act 2012</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom which makes changes to the rules concerning a number of benefits offered within the British social security system. It was enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 8 March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disabled People Against Cuts</span>

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) is an organisation based in the United Kingdom for disabled people and allies to campaign against the impact of government spending cuts on the lives of disabled people. Formed on 3 October 2010 DPAC promotes full human rights and equality for all disabled people, and operates from the Social Model of Disability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters Uncut</span> A British feminist direct action group

Sisters Uncut describe themselves as a British feminist direct action group that is opposed to cuts to UK government services for domestic violence victims. It was founded in November 2014, and came to international prominence in October 2015 for a protest on the red carpet at the London premiere of the film Suffragette. The group identify as revolutionary feminists and police and prison abolitionists, and is open to women, nonbinary, agender and gender variant people. The group aims to organise non-hierarchically and uses consensus decision-making. Sisters Uncut originated in London but has regional groups throughout the UK including Manchester and Leeds.

Urban Resource Institute (URI) is a Manhattan-based nonprofit organization that offers services for survivors of domestic violence, the homeless, and adults who have been diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Serving over 1,600 individuals annually, URI currently operates six domestic violence shelters, with over 600 beds, as well as three permanent residences for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition, the organization operates programs and services to empower survivors of domestic violence and provide them with therapy and legal assistance. URI also provides support services for homeless families in 2 city-run shelters.

Criticism of the Work Capability Assessment, used by the Department for Work and Pensions in the United Kingdom, to assess and reassess claimants of Employment and Support Allowance or enhanced rate Universal Credit, has been wide-ranging, from the procedure itself, to the financial cost of using both Atos and Maximus to assess claimants. Other criticisms discuss the level of deaths, suicides and high overturn rates at tribunals that the WCA has caused.

Domestic violence and abuse in the United Kingdom are a range of abusive behaviours that occur within relationships. Domestic violence or abuse can be physical, psychological, sexual, financial or emotional. In UK laws and legislation, the term "domestic abuse" is commonly used to encompass various forms of domestic violence. Some specific forms of domestic violence and abuse are criminal offences. Victims or those at risk of domestic abuse can also be provided with remedies and protection via civil law.

People with disabilities face 1.5 times more violence than people without disabilities. The perpetrators are often people known to the person with disabilities, such as their partners, family members, friends, or acquaintances. It is estimated that 15% of the world's population lives with disability and are more likely to be poor and socially excluded. Thus violence against people with disabilities has many dimensions.

Secondary victimisation refers to further victim-blaming from criminal justice authorities following a report of an original victimisation.

Ruth Bashall was an activist for lesbian and disability rights. She co-founded Stay Safe East, an organisation that supports disabled survivors of abuse, in 2010.

References

  1. Frame, Michelle. "Violence People Like to Ignore". Bromley News Shopper.
  2. Rolph, George. "No More Violence" (PDF). Edges (33): 12.
  3. 1 2 Yarwood, David J. (February 2008). "Domestic Violence. Selected media references and sources relating to male victimisation – updated to 2007" (PDF). Dewar Research. p. 58.
  4. Yarwood, David J. (February 2008). "Domestic Violence. Selected media references and sources relating to male victimisation – updated to 2007" (PDF). Dewar Research. p. 57.
  5. "BBC London, Inside Out reports on men who are fighting for equal treatment when it comes to domestic violence". fact.on.ca.
  6. "Unrecognized Abuse". Shattered Men.
  7. "George Rolph BBC News at One". YouTube . 20 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) (from 0:20 - 2:08)
  8. Stone, Will (24 May 2013). "Hunger-Striker: Con-Dem cuts are killing me". Morning Star .
  9. "Mentally ill Downham Man on Hunger Strike after his benefits are taken away". This is Local London. 24 May 2013.
  10. George Rolph interview. "George Rolph interview". Soundcloud.
  11. "BBC London News: item on Atos and disability benefits". YouTube. 29 May 2013. (from 1:57 to 2:42)
  12. Wynne-Jones, Ros. "Vulnerable George Rolph on 23rd day of hunger strike after being ruled fit for work". Daily Mirror.
  13. "12 June 2013: Column 457". Parliament Publications. 12 June 2013.