Global awareness of drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) - and, specifically, organised forms (ODFSA) - has grown significantly following the high-profile conviction of Dominique Pelicot in 2024.
Earlier this year, CNN exposed a global “rape academy,” where online networks of men share advice around how to drug, assault and abuse their partners whilst asleep or unconscious. In July 2026, the National Crime Agency (NCA) announced that they had uncovered a “truly international network” of men encouraging others to drug and assault their female partners, before sharing videos and images online.
These cases demonstrate the scale and complexity of this evolving threat.
We are seeing more instances of drug-facilitated rape and sexual violence that is increasingly organised, conducted through coordinated networks of offenders, and enabled and perpetuated by digital platforms. Victims and survivors can be of any age, social background or ability and will often have no idea that anything has happened to them - though, typically, this crime is not a one-off and often occurs within long-term intimate partner relationships.
Given this context and recognising the impact that this increased awareness will have on referrals for specialist support, this webinar aims to help inform frontline practitioners providing specialist support and advice to victims and survivors who may have experienced (or be experiencing) ODFSA.
Agenda
Tuesday 17 November 2026 (10am – 12pm) – via Zoom
- Introduction (Amelia Handy, Head of Policy & Public Affairs - RCEW)
RCEW will introduce speakers and provide a brief overview of ODFSA, and how this crime type has evolved.
- Recognising ODFSA (Dr Michelle Carroll, Clinical Lead - Saint Mary’s SARC)
- Recognising the signs and symptoms of ODFSA
- Forensic/toxicology timescales & considerations
- Long-term physical & psychological impacts
- Responding to ODFSA (ISVA - Saint Mary’s SARC)
- Appropriate responses for victims & survivors
- Practical considerations
~ BREAK ~
- Survivor perspective (Zoe Watts – #End Eye Check)
- Signs and symptoms, and how these were written off
- The impact of the abuse
- #End Eye Check campaign
- What survivors need from specialist services
- Q&A
The webinar is free for Rape Crisis Centre members and staff at Saint Mary’s SARC. Please email policy@rapecrisis.org.uk for the code.
About
- Saint Mary’s SARC:
Saint Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated forensic, counselling and aftercare service to men, women and children living in the Greater Manchester area who have experienced rape or sexual assault, whether this has happened recently or in the past. As well as crisis workers and ISVA services, they have a team of highly trained doctors.
- #End Eye Check – Zoe Watts:
Following her own experiences of ODFSA, Zoe launched #EndEyeCheck, a survivor-led campaign, in early 2026 to raise awareness and to call for stronger legislation around the creation and sharing of abuse material linked to drug-facilitated sexual violence. The name of the campaign refers to a practice where perpetrators pull back the victim's eyelid while they are sedated to prove they are unconscious before committing the assault. (Instagram: zoewatts.sms_)
- Rape Crisis England & Wales
Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) is the national membership organisation for a network of 36 Rape Crisis Centres working across England and Wales. Our centres provide immediate and longer-term specialist trauma-informed services for adults and children who have experienced sexual violence and abuse (SVA) at any time in their lives. All centres are quality assured against the RCEW national service standards, to ensure the highest quality of service provision. As well as policy, media and campaigns work, RCEW also run the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.