Fiona wins Charity Champion Award

Fiona has been presented with a Charity Champion Award by Dods Parliamentary Communications in recognition of her work campaigning to promote the needs and rights of women exploited in prostitution and trafficking.

The prestigious award, which was presented at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament on 18^th May, highlights a number of campaigns that Fiona has been involved with including her work as chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade.

Fiona said: "I have always believed that MPs should be prepared to stand up for people whose voice does not get heard in our national debates.  Charities like Eaves, working with women victims of human trafficking who have been coerced into prostitution or domestic servitude by criminals, are genuinely heroic.  I am proud to have been nominated by them for this award and even more proud that colleague's in Parliament have voted for me to be Society Champion.

But this pride is desperately diminished by the sadness and anger I feel about the government decision to take away all of its funding to the project which nominated me.  I promise to work with Eaves to try to find new sources of funds to keep some of their wonderful work going.  I know the vulnerable women who depend on them will be lost without them."

Womens welfare charity Eaves, who nominated Fiona for the award commented:

"Fiona spearheaded a highly successful campaign to introduce new legislation that criminalises those who purchase sexual services from people who have been subject to force or exploitation (Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act, 2009). 

"Through this work Fiona has demonstrated her firm commitment to tackling the harms of prostitution and human trafficking in our local communities, and has also shown real insight in listening to the genuine voices of marginalised women who have been sexually exploited. 

"Fiona is a true advocate for women who are so often silenced by the stigma that they experience."

The Dods Charity Champion Awards, now in their eighth year, provide a platform for charities to highlight the work that they do whilst saying thank you to those who have supported them in the political arena. Dods Charity Champion Awards spokesman Adam Lake commented:

"The awards are a really positive event that highlight the good that can be done when charities work together with parliamentarians. The standard of nominations this year were incredibly high and we are delighted that Fiona Mactaggart has won the Society Champion Award, which is kindly being sponsored by the Elizabeth Finn Care."