Ms Saward, who was a victim of the infamous Ealing Vicarage rape in 1986, said the criminal justice system placed more emphasis on the rights of the defendants.

Using the slogan "The right to feel safe at home, safe at work and safe on the street", she said Mr Davis "would achieve nothing by winning the election".

"My message is not an attack on the Government. Nor is it an attack on the Opposition," she said. "It is not a negative message in any way, shape or form. It is a positive message that says put victims first."

Ms Saward waived her right to anonymity following her ordeal more than 20 years ago and wrote a book about what happened.

She has since campaigned for the rights of sex attack victims.

The contest in the East Yorkshire constituency was triggered when Mr Davis resigned from the House of Commons to force a debate of Government plans to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge and what he sees as other erosions of our civil liberties.

He will face 25 other candidates in the by-election on July 10.

The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats are not taking part in the contest but smaller parties and individuals will contest the poll, including conspiracy theorist David Icke, Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate Mad Cow-Girl and Miss Great Britain, Gemma Garrett.

Among the other parties which will be on the ballot paper is the Church of Militant Elvis Party and a representative of Make Politicians History.

Ms Saward added: "By-elections are about sending messages. David Davis has already sent his message by resigning his seat.

"And he will achieve nothing by winning the election. Despite all his claims, this by-election is not a national referendum."

The full list of candidates is:
Grace Christine Astley (Ind)
David Laurence Bishop (Church of the Militant Elvis Party)
Ronnie Carroll (Make Politicians History)
Mad Cow-Girl (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
David Craig (Ind)
Herbert Winford Crossman (Ind)
Tess Culnane (National Front Britain for the British)
Thomas Faithful Darwood (Ind)
David Michael Davis (The Conservative Party Candidate)
Tony Farnon (Ind)
Eamonn Fitzy Fitzpatrick (Ind)
Christopher Mark Foren (Ind)
Gemma Dawn Garrett (Miss Great Britain Party)
George Hargreaves (Christian Party)
Hamish Howitt (Freedom 4 Choice)
David Icke (no description given)
John Nicholson (Ind)
Shan Oakes (Green Party)
David Pinder (The New Party)
Joanne Robinson (English Democrats - Putting England First)
Jill Saward (Ind)
Norman Scarth (Ind)
Walter Edward Sweeney (Ind)
Christopher John Talbot (Socialist Equality Party)
John Randale Upex (Ind)
Greg Wood (Ind)