We are holding an information evening on Monday 18th February 18.30 – 20.00 at the Albany Learning Centre, 44 Ashley Street, Glasgow G3 6DS for anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer for the Rape Crisis Scotland helpline. If anyone wants to find out more about volunteering/ wants to book to come to the information evening, please send your name, contact no. and email to volunteer@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk .

Please pass this information on if you know anyone who might be interested.

Rape Crisis Scotland has just published its Annual Report for 2012.

This contains the most detailed statistical information ever published by us on the nature and extent sexual violence experienced by survivors contacting rape crisis centres in Scotland.

You can also read related articles published in the Daily Record since the New Year here and here.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to receive a hard copy of the report.

The Rape Crisis Centre in Glasgow will shortly be running a volunteer training programme: this is due to begin on Sunday 3rd February 2013, with an introductory weekend on 19th and 20th January 2013. There are a limited number of training places available and the closing date for application forms to be submitted is Friday 11th January 2013.

For this year’s training programme the centre is targeting women who can speak languages other than English, however there are also places for trainees who do not have additional languages and this should not be seen as a barrier to applying. Rape Crisis, Glasgow welcomes applications from all women and is keen to see the diversity of service users reflected in the staff and volunteers who work with the centre.

If you have any questions about the training or the application process, please contact Isabelle Kerr.

You can see more information about volunteer training here, a training timetable here and can download an application form here.

The Scottish Government today announced that it is to proceed with plans to abolish the Scots law requirement for corroboration in criminal cases despite the fact the majority of respondents to a consultation from the legal profession were against the controversial proposal.

Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes the continued commitment of the Scottish Government to remove corroboration, a barrier to some credible and viable cases getting to court.

However, the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has also announced a further consultation on "additional safeguards" which could be put in place if the requirement is removed, including proposals to increase the jury majority required to return a verdict: “Reforming Scots Criminal Law and Practice: Additional Safeguards Following the Removal of the Requirement for Corroboration“ – the closing date for responses is 15/3/13 – (see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00410935.pdf)

The new proposals have been put forward in the light of the responses to a consultation which followed a review of Scottish criminal law and practice, led by Lord Carloway.

An analysis of consultation responses was also published today, “Reforming Scots Criminal Law and practice: The Carloway Report - analysis of consultation responses” (see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00410913.pdf ) which revealed that the view expressed most widely by those opposed to the abolition of corroboration was that the requirement is a "fundamental part of Scottish criminal procedure" and that there needs to be a "far more intensive review" before any decision can be made.

Currently a jury in Scotland can convict on a majority of eight of 15 jurors, but the consultation is now seeking views on whether this should be changed to require a majority of nine or 10 of 15 jurors to return a verdict.

Ministers are also consulting on plans to provide the trial judge with a power to withdraw a case from a jury on application by the accused where the judge considers that, on the basis of the evidence led, no reasonable jury could convict.

Lord Carloway stated in his report that, in the event that it was proposed to look at jury majorities, it would also be necessary to consider whether the "third verdict" remained appropriate – and in fact a further consultation was also announced today, seeking views on whether the “not proven” verdict should also be abolished.

As part of the 2012 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women (a campaign to raise awareness about violence against women across the globe), the Dumfries & Galloway Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership and Rape Crisis Scotland are holding a special public screening of the film "Consent".

Consent features the dramatisation of the background to a rape case, and follows colleagues Becky and Steve on the works night out which led up to the case. The second part of the film is not a dramatisation, however, but a courtroom setting where the trial is conducted as though it were real.

We see at first hand the deliberations of a jury of real people, who must decide whether Steve is guilty of rape, based on what they have seen. The screening will be followed by an audience/panel discussion. The panel will include representatives from the Police Family Protection Unit, South West Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre, the Procurator Fiscal's Office and Rape Crisis Scotland.

To reserve a free place, please contact Kate Barrick on 01387 245 190 or email Kate.Barrick@dumgal.gov.uk
The screening will take place at the Robert Burns Film Theatre in Dumfries on Tuesday 4th December. Registration and tea or coffee will be available from 5.00 pm.

November is upon us again and this year, Rape Crisis, Glasgow is marking the 16 Days of Action for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Monday 26th November 2012 with their annual Reclaim the Night march and rally.

The 16 Days of Action links 25th November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and 10th December, International Human Rights Day so that we can recognise that violence against women is a violation of women’s human rights. Along with groups worldwide, the staff and management of Rape Crisis, Glasgow are committed to …

· raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels

· strengthening local work around violence against women

· establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women

· providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies

· demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women

· creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

… in our call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women – violence that includes rape, sexual assault, prostitution and pornography, trafficking, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation...

Please take some time to check out the website of the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership on http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu for more information on what’s happening internationally between 25th November and 10th December 2012.

This year the theme of the Glasgow event will be “WOMEN ARE NOT FOR SALE IN SCOTLAND”. We want to speak out in support of the importance of promoting equality in Scotland for all women, using a challenging demand approach to prostitution and highlighting potential legislation to support this.

The route for the Reclaim the Night march in Glasgow will once again start from Botanic Gardens corner of Great Western Road and Queen Margaret Drive at 6.30 pm, down Byres Road, University Avenue, Gibson Street, Eldon Street and will end with a rally in the STUC. As always, there will be hot drinks, food, speeches and music at the end of the march.

You can download a flyer for the event here. Please cascade this flyer and information down to any colleagues you think may be interested in joining us on the march.

All welcome. This is not a women only event.

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-campaigning-and-activism-issue-of-rape-crisis-news/ 2012-10-16 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-campaigning-and-activism-issue-of-rape-crisis-news/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/RCS-News_10.jpg"> <br /> <br />

The latest issue of Rape Crisis News focuses on campaigning and activism against sexual violence.

We are delighted to publish a great range of contributions, from the story of an anti-rape campaign in Canada and the End Violence Against Women Coalition's "We Are Man" viral, to Survivors UK's "Real Men Get Raped" campaign as well as the brand new "We Can Stop It" campaign, (launched last month by ACPOS in Scotland) - and many more.

You can see the new Rape Crisis News here.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) are hosting the Third International Conference on Survivors of Rape (ICSoR) on November 9th and 10th 2012 in the city of Galway in the West of Ireland.

A seminar day will also take place on Thursday the 8th November.

This year’s conference will build on the strong foundations of previous conferences, and is intended to deepen our understanding of how to meet survivor needs with a sustained and robust multiagency approach.

RCNI are keen to make this conference a platform for learning, building up of relationships and research partnerships, which contribute to our shared international evidence base in responding to sexual violence.

This conference is of relevance to medical practitioners, psychotherapists, counsellors, advocates, police, legal and judicial professionals, policy makers, academics and researchers, specialist nursing practitioners, public representatives, activists and others.

ICSoR 2012 will be held in association with UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and the Global Women's Studies Centre, NUI Galway.

You can download a leaflet here for further information.

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/email-issues/ 2012-10-05 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/email-issues/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/"> <br /> <br />

We just wanted to let people know that we have had a few problems with our email over the last few days, which have meant that we have not received some emails that have been sent to us. The problem has now been fixed, but if you were expecting to hear from us, and have not, or think there’s a chance we may not have received something you’ve sent, please do get in touch with us – either by email to info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk, or by calling 0141 331 4180.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/access-to-support-for-deaf-survivors-of-sexual-violence/ 2012-09-18 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/access-to-support-for-deaf-survivors-of-sexual-violence/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/Deaf-access.jpg"> <br /> <br />

Rape Crisis Scotland today launches its new Deaf Access Service with a multiagency event held with partners Deaf Connections in Glasgow.

From today, in addition to our 6pm-midnight helpline we will also offer a support service on Tuesdays from 1.30 to 5pm aimed at Deaf survivors, family and friends.

Support will be available via text on 07537 400702, via free Sign on Screen calls (the online BSL interpreting service) to 0141 331 2715 as well as via our existing minicom, email, telephone and fax.
You can download a leaflet about the new service here.

In July 2012, the Scottish Government issued a consultation paper ‘Reforming Scots Criminal Law & Practice: The Carloway Report’. The consultation paper seeks views on the Scottish Government’s plans to reform the law following on from Lord Carloway’s review of key aspects of Scottish criminal law and practice. The deadline for responses is the 5th October 2012. Rape Crisis Scotland has produced a Briefing Paper outlining the reasons for our support for the removal the requirement for corroboration.You can download the Briefing paper here.

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-rape-prevention-campaign-launched/ 2012-09-13 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-rape-prevention-campaign-launched/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/Cover-rugby.jpg"> <br /> <br />

A new campaign designed to highlight vital changes in sexual offences legislation was launched in Edinburgh today.

The “We can stop it” campaign is being led by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and highlights a recent shift in the law.

The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 reformed previous legislation for sexual offences, broadening the definition of rape and creating a range of new offences. The Act also defined consent in statute for the first time, and outlined a range of circumstances in which consent cannot be considered to be present, including when a victim is asleep or unconscious, or intoxicated through alcohol or other substances. Also for the first time under the new Act, is the possibility for male victims to bring charges of rape.

The new campaign aims to raise awareness of these aspects of the law, all of which are highlighted through a series of strong, thought-provoking statements and visuals from men acting as positive role models.

With the tagline “We can stop it”, the campaign invites people, and in particular young men between 18 to 27 years old, to consider their own attitudes and behaviour and the role they can play in preventing rape.

The posters and vinyls will be displayed in areas popular with young men and women, including pubs and clubs.

A thirty-second advert has also been produced for use on the specially designed website (www.wecanstopit.co.uk) and on YouTube. The second phase of the campaign will feature online advertising on a variety of sites most commonly used by the target audience.

The campaign was conceived after consultation with partner organisations, academics and focus group research with young men and women across the country. Feedback from the groups highlighted that previous campaigns on the subject were often victim-focused, or targeted men as perpetrators. “We can stop it” is designed to be a positive and proactive campaign which seeks to promote a sense of responsibility rather than attributing blame.

Assistant Chief Constable Graham Sinclair, the ACPOS lead for Public Protection, said: “Reducing incidents of rape and sexual assault is a priority for all Scottish forces and education plays a huge part in this. It is vitally important that the changes in legislation are promoted, and I am delighted that this campaign is launching today.

The tone and language of the campaign marks a significant shift in approach to raising awareness of sexual offences legislation, and I hope that it will help remind men that they are in complete control of their behaviour.”

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to express my support for the campaign.

"It is important that the public are aware of what rape is and the campaign will help in raising public awareness on this as well as dispelling any myths about rape. There is no concept of contributory negligence in the crime of rape. Rape is rape."

"There is no concept of contributory negligence in the crime of rape. Rape is rape."

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill said: "Rape is a horrific crime and this campaign, led by ACPOS, has my full backing because we need to change attitudes and educate the next generation. This campaign also sends out the message loud and clear to perpetrators that any instance of rape is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

"This Government has strengthened legislation through the Sexual Offences Act which gives our prosecutors greater tools in their armoury to prosecute the individuals responsible and bring them to justice. However, any instance of rape is one too many. Progress is being made, but it is vital we continue working to raise awareness and change attitudes, through this campaign and other means, to stop rape from happening in the first place."

Sandy Brindley, National Coordinator for Rape Crisis Scotland said: “Rape Crisis Scotland is very supportive of the new campaign. The law is clear - sex without consent is rape. The biggest hurdle we face is changing people's attitudes towards rape. We need to make sure the Scottish public understand what rape actually is. The 'We Can Stop It' campaign speaks directly to men and offers something very positive - that rape is preventable, and men can play a positive role in making this happen.”

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/corroboration/ 2012-09-04 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/corroboration/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/"> <br /> <br />

Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government's proposal to end the requirement for corroboration in Scotland. You can download our press statement here.

Rape Crisis Scotland, Deaf Connections and Wise Women are holding an event on 2nd October on ‘Improving access to services for deaf survivors of sexual violence’.

This event will allow attendees to:

• Learn about the work of Rape Crisis Scotland
• Learn about how Deaf women can get help
• Talk and support in a safe, women only space
• Tell us what we can do to improve our service

Where: Deaf Connections, 100 Norfolk Street, Glasgow

When: Tuesday 2nd October 2012

Time: 11am-1pm

Lunch and refreshments provided

If you wish to attend this event, you must book your place. To book your place:

Email: Sandie.barton@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

SMS: 07900 034079

Minicom: 0141 353 3091

Rape Crisis Scotland will he holding conference in Glasgow on 8th October.

The conference, entitled “Transforming a Rape Culture” will look at campaigning on sexual violence. Research reveals alarmingly high levels of woman blaming attitudes to rape. The Haven's "Wake Up To Rape" report in 2010, based on interviews wiith over 1000 people, found that more than half held victims responsible in some circumstances. Twenty eight percent of those interviewed believed that "provocative" dress meant that women were to some extent responsible.

Prevention campaigns on rape have historically been aimed at what women can do to prevent or avoid rape. Recent years have seen a welcome shift towards highlighting the need for a change in public attitudes and to focus on perpetrators and potential perpetrators. This conference will provide an opportunity to hear more about different campaigns on sexual violence, and consider further action in this area.

You can see the Conference Programme here.

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-video-information-in-british-sign-language-bsl/ 2012-07-04 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-video-information-in-british-sign-language-bsl/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/BSL.jpg"> <br /> <br />

The Rape Crisis Scotland website now includes a range of videos offering information in British Sign Language (BSL).

These were produced in collaboration with Deaf Connections, and look at Rape and Sexual Assault, Child Sexual Abuse, Drug Assisted Sexual Assault, Information for Family and Friends, Police and Legal Advice and Stalking. The site also includes links to BSL video information on Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence.

You can see the BSL videos at: http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/bsl/introduction/

The Scottish Government published new statistics on recorded crime in Scotland this week. These indicate that reported rapes rose by 19% during the year 2011-12, and collectively with attempted rapes, there was a rise of 13% in reported incidents of these crimes.

The new and wider definition of rape which is included in the new Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act (which came into force in December 2010) means that it is likely that the rise in reported rape is due at least in part to the fact that some sexual crimes which would previously have been investigated as sexual assaults now constitute rape.

It is also possible that an increase in confidence among some survivors has led to a greater willingness to report to the police. While these factors may offer some background to the new statistics, any rise in the number of rapes reported is a matter for concern: there may also, quite simply, have been a larger number of rapes. As the statistics published this week indicate, rapes are now being reported in this country at a rate of around three every day. And as we know that a huge number of survivors never report what has happened to them at all, the real extent of the prevalence of this crime figure is likely to be far greater.

Whatever the reason, it is vital that we continue to examine the underlying attitudes and other factors which contribute to these crimes, and take every opportunity to challenge these. Moreover, it is vital that the criminal justice system, in addition to offering survivors of this devastating crime a prospect of justice, continues to act as a credible deterrent to those willing to commit serious sexual offences.

The level of detail currently offered by statistics is still not sufficient to offer an insight into the extent to which the changes the Act have played a part in the rise we see today, and Rape Crisis Scotland will continue to campaign for improvements not only in survivors' experiences of accessing justice, but also in a statistical picture which will allow us to gauge the extent of those improvements accurately.

Today’s statistics also show a marginal rise in the “clear-up” rate for sexual crimes from 55% to 57%. A crime is considered to be “cleared-up” where there is a sufficiency of evidence under Scots law, to justify consideration of criminal proceedings. Rape is a serious crime that can take a great deal of courage to report, and for someone who has been through this experience to be told that their case will not be prosecuted can compound a devastating experience still further. It is currently the case in Scotland that only around 25% of cases of reported rapes are prosecuted, and it is vital that we continue to make every effort to ensure that the remaining 75% of rape complainers also have access to justice.

You can see the new statistics (Recorded Crime in Scotland 2011/12) at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/1698/downloads

There is a pdf is at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00396025.pdf

In response to calls received on the RCS Helpline, Rape Crisis Scotland has developed an information leaflet for survivors who have been attacked overseas.

The leaflet is written from 2 perspectives: that of a survivor who reported whilst still overseas but has subsequently returned to Scotland and that of a survivor who, having returned to Scotland, wishes to report an attack that happened abroad.

The leaflet will be available to survivors overseas via a link on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) homepage and will be distributed to locations in Scotland where travellers are likely to seek advice.  Survivors who were attacked overseas will be able to access initial and crisis support from the RCS Helpline regardless of whether or not they are in the country.  The RCS Helpline aims also to link survivors into support agencies and FCO teams in the country where the attack happened to ensure they have access to local knowledge and expertise e.g. on the legal system.

If you would like to receive hard copies of the new leaflet, please email us at info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

To mark National Stalking Awareness Day, which takes place today (April 18th), Rape Crisis Scotland is releasing a new version of its Stalking information in BSL for deaf people. You can see this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmE1g8gBPhI . This video joins the RCS Stalking leaflet, and its translations into French, Urdu, Punjabi, Mandarin Chinese, Slovak, Arabic and Polish on this subject.

Rape Crisis Scotland is part of the Scottish National Group on Stalking, working together with partner agencies to raise awareness and promote good practice around stalking. As part of National Stalking Awareness Day, the Scottish Government is hosting an event, launched by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to promote the issue, highlight the legislation which came into effect in December 2010 and share good practice.

There will be a co-ordinated event in Westminster, where the UK Government is currently looking to develop specific legislation for England & Wales.
For more information on stalking please see www.scotlandagainststalking.com or www.stalkinghelpline.org

Rape Crisis Scotland is looking for new volunteers to work on the National Helpline, offering initial and crisis support for anyone affected by sexual violence.

The opportunity is open to all women but we are particularly keen to hear from women from BME communities, disabled women and older women. The helpline is based in Glasgow. A comprehensive training programme will start on Saturday 21st April.

If you are interested in applying to volunteer, we are holding an information evening where you can find out more about us and what’s involved, on Monday 19th March at The Albany Learning & Conference Centre, 44 Ashley Street, Glasgow G3 6DS between 6.30 – 8pm.

For more information or to book a place at the information evening, please contact Cath Campbell on 0141 331 4188 or email Volunteer@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

This post requires a female applicant and is exempt under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. The selection process will include seeking enhanced disclosure information.

Rape Crisis Scotland has developed a new training DVD for staff or volunteers who will be involved in providing support to survivors of sexual violence.  The DVD is intended to highlight some of the key values, skills and qualities involved in providing support.  The DVD includes key tips (which can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMUr78DnO50&feature=youtu.be) and responses to 5 common scenarios.  If you are interested in accessing training using the DVD, contact your local rape crisis centre.

Archway Glasgow and Rape Crisis Scotland are holding a joint conference on 8th February 2012.

Entitled "The Way Forward: responding to the needs of rape survivors", the conference aims to reflect on rape and sexual assault service provision, to highlight successes and point the way ahead for the future. The day will provide an opportunity to facilitate a better understanding of what strategies and approaches are most effective in dealing with sexual assault in Scotland, and look at development of services.

The conference is open to all who work in or are interested in rape and sexual assault services in Scotland. You can download a conference flyer here. The conference is free, and will take place at the Radisson Hotel, 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8DL on Wednesday 8th February 2012 between 9am and 4.30pm.

A pdf of the latest issue of Rape Crisis News is now available. You can see this at :
http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/workspace/publications/RCS-News-9-191211-2.pdf

This issue brings together a range of articles which look at the Scottish criminal justice system's response to rape.

Hard copies of this issue will be available in the New Year.

"Silence" is a short documentary film narrated through personal experience of partner rape, and reveals the wider implications of rape myths. You can see the film at : www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVy18zK-ULw

Sharon, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology explains the prevalence of acquaintance rape, countering the common myth that all rapists are strangers. She also explains that only a minority of victims receive justice.

Joanne has worked directly with victims and thinks victim stereotypes are dangerous. She illustrates that false stereotypes around the way women behave in the aftermath of sexual violence can lead to survivors of acquaintance rape being routinely disbelieved and blamed for their abuse.

The mother and sister of a rape survivor talk directly about their experiences with public and police reactions, talking about the damage that rape myths can cause.

Rape Crisis Scotland has produced a calendar to raise funds for a vital service in Glasgow. The calendar features vibrant feminist graffiti art and inspiring quotes for every month of 2012.

Every calendar purchased will help to safeguard the future of the Women's Support Project, to whom all proceeds will be donated.

You can either order the calendar directly from Wordpower via this link: http://bit.ly/vEkNyu or from Rape Crisis Scotland (please email us at info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk for an order form)

Please help us safeguard this this vital project by circulating this information as widely as possible!

The Women's Support Project was established in 1983 and has provided crucial support to vulnerable women, as well as providing resources, information, training and public education on a broad range of violence against women issues. The Women's Support Project's core funding has been seriously affected by local authority budget cuts, with Glasgow City Council cutting its contribution by 100%.

To coincide with International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women, Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and Rape Crisis Scotland have launched their new National Service Standards for Rape Crisis Centres. The standards represent a collaboration between the two national umbrella organisations and are the culmination of a process of research, reflection, consultation and definition spanning five years.

The standards describe in detail what is needed in order to deliver effective specialist sexual violence services. They cover the wider aspects of managing an organisation as well the more specific detail of services to survivors of rape and sexual assault such as the need to provide confidentiality and ensure safety. Please click here for a full press statement.

Rape Crisis Scotland is also publishing for the first time statistics outlining the services provided by rape crisis centres across Scotland. These provide, for the very first time, a picture of the range services offered to survivors of sexual violence throughout the country, and a broad profile of those who are accessing these.

Ten centres participated in the project: Argyll & Bute, Dundee, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Glasgow, Edinburgh (including ELSAS their East Lothian project), Lanarkshire, Perth & Kinross, Scottish Borders and the Western Isles.

72% of callers to Rape Crisis Centre helplines are calling for the first time. The statistics shown give a summary of the support offered by these centres for the period 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011. It is clear from these figures that there is a significant demand for rape crisis services across the country.

It is important to note that the actual level of support offered by RCCs in Scotland is greater than the figures given here. These figures represent the data from the ten participants of our 13 member centres during the project.* In addition, the actual level of prevalence of sexual violence in Scotland is likely to be far greater than the figures represented here, as many survivors of sexual violence don’t feel able to tell anyone about what has happened to them.

*Statistics for the other three member centres – Aberdeen, Central Scotland and Kilmarnock may be available either from their websites or by contacting the centre directly. Please visit www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk for contact information.

Please contact Rape Crisis Scotland on 0141 331 4180 or email info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk for further information. You can also download the information on this page as an Information Paper.

Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes Lord Carloway’s recommendation that the requirement for corroboration be removed, and hopes that this will better equip our legal system to respond effectively to the reality faced by the vast majority of rape survivors. As most rape cases take place in private, with no witnesses and frequently little if any physical injury, the requirement for corroboration has presented rape complainers and prosecutors with unique difficulties in mounting effective cases.

We are, however, under no illusions that this move will constitute a solution in and of itself to the difficulties faced by rape survivors in obtaining justice. Corroboration is not a requirement in England and Wales, and the conviction rate for rape there is not significantly higher than it is in Scotland. While this development may represent a step forward for rape complainers in Scotland, we must continue to examine all possibilities in our efforts to give those who have suffered this devastating crime the justice they deserve.

While the need for corroboration has presented one barrier to many cases getting to court, public attitudes present a further obstacle to women seeking justice for rape. For as long as some jurors continue to hold attitudes that blame the behaviour, dress, demeanour or reputation of women for rape, they will continue to be denied justice.

To mark the international 16 days of action campaign to raise awareness on violence against women, West Lothian Violence against Women Strategic Group in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland are pleased to invite you to the special screening of the drama documentary “Consent” followed by a panel discussion.

The event will be taking place on the 7^th December, 6:00 – 8:30 pm, West Lothian Civic Centre Chambers. For further details please download the flyer.

If you would like to attend or for further information please contact civiccentreadminteam@westlothian.gov.uk or 01506 281 111 by the 21st November. Please register early to avoid disappointment, places are limited.

Rape Crisis Scotland has adapted an apt and popular revision of the traditional approach to rape prevention in a new poster and postcard campaign. We hope this will help to reverse the popular trend of focusing rape prevention messages on women and instead transfer these towards more appropriate recipients - potential perpetrators.

You can see the poster here, the front of the postcard here, and the reverse of the postcard here.

Hard copies of posters in A4 and A3 sizes, and of postcards will be available shortly.

Please write to info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk if you would like to receive some of these.

We also hope to have high and low resolution images available for download from this website.

Watch this space!

Scottish newspapers can be very powerful allies to campaigners against sexual violence. With audiences numbering millions daily, and an online archive available in perpetuity for later consultation, the accounts and opinions printed within their pages exert enormous influence in shaping public attitudes on every issue.

And there can be few people who need support and for the truth to be told about their experiences more than rape complainers. Myths and prejudices that blame them for what happened and advance the notion that women frequently lie about having been raped are prevalent and extremely damaging both to their recovery from rape and to their chances of obtaining justice. The Evening Times and many other titles frequently publish accounts of sexual violence, and the difficulties survivors face after rape. These can sometimes really help to raise awareness and challenge the myths and misconceptions that survivors continue to face. A recent article in the Evening Times looked at first glance to be just such a piece, with a graphic account of a young woman’s assault and subsequent barbaric treatment at the hands of the legal system laid out in shocking detail. Subsequently, however, serious doubt has been attached to the veracity of this story, and the Evening Times today offered a “clarification” for the benefit of readers.

In this clarification, the Evening Times apologies not for printing a fabricated account but for their failure to subject a woman’s “claims” of rape to “normal scrutiny or checks”. However this story came about – and its origins are very unclear – the Evening Times has perpetuated the myth that women can’t be trusted when they speak out about being raped.  And that’s the last thing anyone interested in justice for rape survivors needs.

The International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Document 9, which takes place in Glasgow between the 20th and 23rd October, will include a screening of "Silence", a short documentary film narrated through personal experience of partner rape, and revealing the wider implications of rape myths.

Sharon, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology explains the prevalence of acquaintance rape, countering the common myth that all rapists are strangers. She also explains that only a minority of victims receive justice.

Joanne has worked directly with victims and thinks victim stereotypes are dangerous. She illustrates that false stereotypes around how victims can act can lead to survivors of acquaintance rape being routinely disbelieved and blamed for their abuse.

The mother and sister of a rape survivor talk directly about their experiences with public and police reactions, talking about the damage that rape myths can cause.

"Silence" will be screened on 21st October in the Clubroom at the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow between 11am and 12 noon. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the audience, Laura Connett the filmmaker, and Sandy Brindley from Rape Crisis Scotland.

For more information about Document 9 see http://documentfilmfestival.org.

The Scottish Government has today published new statistics on recorded crime in Scotland. These indicate that reported rapes & attempted rapes rose in the year 2010-11 by 14%. It should be borne in mind however, that the period covered by the new figures includes the first four months of implementation of the new Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act which came into force in December 2010. The new and wider definition of rape which is included in the Act means that it is likely that the rise in reported rape is due at least in part to the fact that some sexual crimes which would previously known under other offence headings are now considered as rape. While this may offer something of an explanation, any rise in the number of rapes reported is a matter for concern. The level of detail currently offered by statistics is not sufficient to offer an insight into the extent to which the changes the Act have played a part in the rise we see today, and Rape Crisis Scotland will continue to campaign for improvements not only in survivors' experiences of accessing justice, but also in a statistical picture which will allow us to gauge the extent of those improvements accurately.

Today’s statistics also show a drop in the “clear-up” rate for sexual crimes to 55%. A crime is considered to be “cleared-up”  where there is a sufficiency of evidence under Scots law, to justify consideration of criminal proceedings. Rape is a serious crime that can take a great deal of courage to report, and for someone who has been through this experience to be told that their case will not be prosecuted can compound a devastating experience still further. It is currently the case in Scotland that only around 10% of cases of reported rapes are prosecuted, and it is vital that we continue to make every effort to ensure that the remaining 90% of rape complainers also have access to justice.

You can see the new statistics at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/02120241/0

Rape Crisis Scotland is putting together a new resource in the form of a small book comprising a collection of words and phrases which have been a source of comfort, reassurance and support for survivors of sexual violence. What we are looking for are examples of everyday reassurances which have been real sources of verbal comfort. These don’t have to be anything unique or special – just examples of things which you have found really helpful yourself when someone said them to you, or have said yourself to someone else, and would be willing to share with us.

Are there particular things that you feel can make a real difference?

We would love to hear of anything that you think has been meaningful and supportive for survivors.

Please send any contributions to us at: info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Thanks very much in advance for anything you might be able to send.

Rape Crisis Scotland has launched a new postcard challenging attitudes to rape.

Please contact info@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk if you would like to receive hard copies of the new postcards.

You can also download pdfs of the front of the postcard here, and of the reverse here.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has today published new figures on rape convictions in Scotland for the period 2008/9. These indicate that 7% of rapes reported to the police resulted in a conviction. While substantially higher than those previously extrapolated from other data made available by the Scottish Government, the new figures continue to show that there is no room for complacency and substantial improvements must yet take place in order to give survivors confidence that they will receive justice for this serious and damaging crime. The new figures also show that in 31% of cases indicted the accused was found or pled guilty.

While there have been some important and welcome changes over the past few years in the way rape is prosecuted in Scotland (for example with the setting up of the National Sexual Crimes Unit), it is worrying that so few cases get to court. The new figures released by the Crown Office show that over a third of rapes reported to the police never even make it as far as the Crown Office. It can take a lot of courage to report a crime like rape to the police, and it can be devastating to find out your case is not going to make it to court. There are grave concerns that this situation will worsen as a consequence of the recent Cadder judgement. Action must be taken to ensure that the prosecution rate for rape does not fall even further.

Efforts must also continue to ensure that data-gathering in this area is rigorous and robust so that clarity around improvements made and those still required can be guaranteed.

Rape Crisis Scotland continues to be contacted by women who feel very let down by the justice system, either because their case did not make it to court, or if it did, resulted in a not proven verdict. It is clear much remains to be done to ensure rape survivors have access to justice.

Following the UK Supreme court’s Cadder ruling last year, the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill asked Lord Carloway to undertake a review to consider the implications of the ruling and make recommendations.

The Cadder ruling relates to an accused’s right to legal representation during police questioning, and has had a particular impact on sexual offences.  Due to the difficulties in obtaining corroboration in sexual offences cases (because they often happen in private, with no witnesses) the police prior to Cadder were often reliant on admissions from the accused to help them build a case.  Since the Cadder decision, defence lawyers seem to be routinely advising their clients to make no comment at all during police interviews, which is causing serious difficulties and has the potential to make prosecutions in rape cases even more difficult.

As well as considering questions relating to legal representation for the accused, Lord Carloway has also been considering broader issues relating to evidence, including the requirement for corroboration and whether or not juries should be able to draw an adverse inference if the accused remains silent and refuses to answer any questions. Rape Crisis Scotland has produced a briefing paper outlining our position on these questions raised by the Carloway Review and hope this will be helpful to other agencies planning to respond to the consultation.  Click here to download the RCS briefing paper. The deadline for consultation responses is 3^rd June 2011.

Nadine Dorries, MP for mid-Bedfordshire, has raised eyebrows recently with her proposal that girls, and not boys, should receive mandatory abstinence-based sex education. The notion that girls should act as the gatekeepers for sexual interaction is as retrograde as it is absurd, and her bill has attracted derision from those working with young people, sexual and reproductive health organisations, and opposition MPs`. Chris Bryant MP described it as “the daftest piece of legislation I have ever seen brought forward”.

It is easy to see Dorries, who operates in what might charitably be called the margins of Westminster, as a caricature of an anti-choice, deeply sexist political operator. Her opposition to abortion and comprehensive sex education takes place amid a whirlwind of misrepresentations and evasions. Her demagoguery has undeniable impact, though. Despite her failure to present a shred of evidence in its support, her claim that seven year olds are being taught to put condoms on bananas was faithfully reproduced across a whole range of media outlets.

Her appearance on yesterday’s Vanessa show went beyond pseudo-science, though, in making the outrageous claim that abstinence education could reduce child sexual abuse. According to Dorries, “some of the evidence that I’ve heard is that if a stronger just say no message was given to children in school that there might be an impact on sex abuse. Because a lot of girls, when sex abuse takes place, don’t realise until later that that was a wrong thing to do.”

The idea that girls are somehow responsible for the violence and abuse perpetrated against them is not a new one. We see this attitude represented in the lawyer who described gang rape victims as ‘Lolitas’, in the Glasgow City Councillor who said a nine year old rape victim ‘wanted it to happen’, and in a recent NY Times story which detailed the makeup and clothing an eleven year old gang rape victim wore.

Blaming children, as Dorries does, by suggesting that they are colluding in their own abuse, ignores the reality that responsibility must rest solely on the shoulders of those who perpetrate sexual violence against children. These toxic attitudes pollute our criminal justice system, our political discourse, and our understanding as a society about the catastrophic harms that child abuse does to individuals, families, and communities.

Dorries, a member of the body that frames and shapes the law on sexual violence in England and Wales, must surely consider whether her ideological blinkers allow her to be an effective representative for the abused children, and adult survivors of child abuse, in mid-Bedfordshire.

Efforts to challenge attitudes that blame women for rape are always welcome. But is it the case that opportunities to do this are so scarce that we will welcome them at any price? The current “Slutwalk” craze is a case in point. This began in Canada following remarks made by a policeman who declared that “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized” and has gone viral in recent weeks, with marches to protest such attitudes taking place in many cities across the globe, accompanied by assertions that it is time to “reclaim” the term “slut”.

It’s great to see such a wave of anger and enthusiasm energizing these efforts, but is the word “slut” really something we want to “reclaim”? Indeed, was it ever something we owned in the first place? It is difficult in the current climate to suggest, without risking accusations of being a killjoy, that it might be time for a little reflection. “Slut” is part of a damaging and diverse arsenal of semantic weaponry that has been used for centuries to assault women verbally – to insult and subordinate us. It is part of the soundtrack to many assaults – and to the violent imagery which characterizes and reinforces the harmful messages of contemporary pornography. Will claiming ownership of that weaponry really allow us to defuse or disarm it?

It is understandable that some women - faced with having this kind of hate filled language thrown at them on a regular basis - would want to find some way of trying to take the power out of it.  The popularity of Slutwalk and the speed with which it has spread across the world demonstrates a real (and very welcome) desire amongst (primarily) young women and men to change attitudes towards women’s sexuality, and to rape.  It’s a great shame though, that this seems to have taken the focus of ‘it’s ok to be a slut’, reassuring women that if we were raped when dressed or behaving ‘sluttily’ it’s not our fault.  Shouldn’t we be a bit more ambitious than this?  Rather than embracing a concept which has been used to control women’s sexuality for centuries, shouldn’t we be mobilizing to reject it altogether?

Let’s keep our message simple, and say it loudly and clearly - clothing doesn’t cause rape, flirting doesn’t cause rape, drinking doesn’t cause rape.  Rapists do.

It is now clear that the SNP will be the next Scottish Government. 
Two explicit commitments in their manifesto are of particular interest to anyone concerned with addressing violence against women:  continuing funding for Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid, and legislating so that in sexual offence trials judges will direct juries not to take into account any delay in reporting a rape or any apparent lack of resistance from the victim / survivor when reaching their decision.  Two very important pledges with the potential to make a real difference.  Provision of support and access to justice following a crime as traumatic as rape need to be seen as basic human rights.  Rape Crisis Scotland looks forward to the implementation of these commitments and to working with the new Scottish Government to improve responses to sexual violence.

Strathclyde Police have announced that 2 young men have been arrested in connection with one of the recent rapes in Glasgow city centre. Many people have been shocked at the age of those accused of dragging a woman into a lane in Glasgow city centre and raping her. What it is that could lead to men as young as 14 and 16 carrying out such a horrific crime, and what can we do about it?

Police are describing the number of recent city centre sexual attacks as a ‘spate’. There is something about the brazenness and seeming randomness of the attacks that really brings home the fact that rape is a crime which could happen to anyone. Reaction to stranger rapes such as these tend to fall into two categories – advice to women about how to keep safe, and calls for safety measures such as more CCTV, increased police presence on the streets and gating of lanes. In response to one of the lane rapes, the police advised women not to ‘go off on their own’ on a night out. Fair enough, but how are you supposed to get home if you don’t happen to live with every person you ever socialize with?

Safety measures such as gating lanes after 10pm are definitely worth considering. There are practicalities which would need to be worked through – some of the lanes have pubs or clubs in them – but it is generally the quiet deserted lanes which rapists are using, so there is no reason why this can’t be implemented in a sensible way. Lots of women feel uneasy walking past the lanes in the city centre. If there is a way of improving women’s sense of safety in the city centre, while at the same time limiting the opportunities for rapists to carry out their attacks, then it seems like madness not to do this.

We need to be clear, however, that measures such as advising women not be alone in town, or gating the lanes, are not really addressing the fundamental problem. If someone is determined to rape, and they see women in pairs or a group, they’ll find someone else who is one their own. If the lanes are gated, they’ll find somewhere else. To reduce the actual incidence of rape, we need to look at what it is that creates the mindset of someone who is prepared to commit this kind of crime.  Where does a 14 year old get the idea that it might be acceptable to rape someone? We are not going to tackle this unless we are willing to look at the impact of easily accessibly violent pornography. The average age for young men to access pornography is 11 years old. It would be naïve to think that accessing images of women being raped and humiliated – and linking these images to sexual arousal – is not going to have an impact on young men’s views of women and of what ‘normal’ sexuality is. Most parents would be horrified if they were aware of the kind of images young people are accessing online. If we don’t address this issue, our fear is that we are going to see increasing numbers of young men carrying out these devastating crimes.

Tell us what you think – what steps do we need to be taking to make women feel safe in the city centre – and to make sure we actually are?

Rape Crisis Scotland is seeking to recruit volunteers to contribute to the staffing of the helpline. A full internal training programme will start on Saturday the 4^th of June 2011.

An information evening will take place on Wednesday the 4^th of May at The Albany Learning & Conference Centre, 44 Ashley Street, Glasgow G3 6DS between 6.30 – 8pm.

Please contact Paula.Dunn@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk or write to Paula at Rape Crisis Scotland, Tara House, 46 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 1HG or telephone 0141 331 4185.

This post requires a female applicant and is exempt under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. The selection process will include seeking enhanced disclosure information.

In order to represent the diversity of our services users we are particularly keen to recruit women from BME communities, Disabled women and older women.

The justice gap

Raped policeman: I never thought I would be a victim

Should the Scottish legal system be changed to ensure more rape allegations get to court?

Analysis: victims' human rights at stake

Scots rape laws face European challenge

Reasons to believe rape is becoming mainstream

What about the human rights of women to protection from rape & access to justice?

Glasgow rape unit set up after series of attacks

Shine a light on Glasgow's seedy side streets

Horrific sex attack prompts sentencing call from Tories

Justice in sex attack cases more difficult says MacAskill

Getting wise to a new breed of sexual predators

Punishing rape on a home or away principle is not the way forward

"World's largest paedophile ring" uncovered

Aitken steps down over rape remarks

Tory MSP Bill Aitken resigns over rape comments

Political Scrapbook - Bill Aitken quits over rape comments

ECPAT report - protecting children from sex offenders who travel

Dr Claire Chung has a right to be angry

Why I confronted the man who raped me

Life after rape

Additional funding for rape crisis centres (England & Wales)

Bournemouth to get rape support centre after grant

Trafford Rape Crisis to get Government funding

Victims of sexual abuse given 'voice' in Blackburn

Paedophile cult leader convicted over 'satanic' rape campaign

Tale helps play highlight horrors of sexual violence

Honour killings plans do not go far enough

Meetings will explain Sarah's Law

DR Congo Colonel jailed for mass rape

Rape in the military - a culture of sexual assault

Emmerdale's Jane Cox - Playing a rape victim is awful

Former nurse admits sex offences against 49 girls

BBC researching child on-street grooming

On International Women's Day, honoring a woman who told the world about rape in the Congo

Rape victim "inviting" so no jail

Sexual violence and the Arab uprisings

Egypt's women facing growing sexual harassment

Soldiers says military doesn't protect them from sexual assault

Sudan used sexual violence against female acivists, right group says

Scourge of "corrective" rape (video)

Italian women struggle to succeed as probe dogs Berlusconi

The war in the Congo waged on the bodies of women and girls

Gaming, rape culture & how I stopped reading Penny Arcade

New York - dramatic increase in rape cases

Military culture enables sexual assaults?

UN urges reparation fund for Congo rape victims

How attitudes to prostitution have changed

New Egypt inherits old Egypt's sexual violence

Ames woman's ordeal leads to child abuse Bill

Public perception has the greatest impact on sexual assault cases

Suit accuses American Apparel founder of sexual abuse

Life after 25 years of prostitution

Targetting the sex buyer

Rape in Turkey

The past week has seen yet another rape in Glasgow city centre, this time of a woman who was assaulted by three men, having been dragged into a back lane after a night out with friends.

The outrage and shock which followed the assault has been compounded by remarks made by Conservative MSP Bill Aitken, in the course of a conversation with the Sunday Herald. Far from expressing concern for the woman’s welfare, or that she could be seized so brazenly, Mr Aitken’s immediate focus centred on her behaviour and the suspicions he ascribed to her geographical location. He was far more inclined to wonder if she had been engaged in prostitution than to worry that she had been very seriously sexually assaulted. When challenged later about what he had said, Mr Aitken at first tried to deny his remarks, but when faced with a transcript, later felt compelled to apologize to the woman and her family.

Sadly his instinct and willingness to call into question the behaviour of a woman who was raped rather than to question what her attackers might have done is very common indeed. Such prejudices are frequently seen in the course of rape trials and are often a major factor in the decisions of the great many women who feel that they cannot report the appalling sexual assaults committed against them. When cases do get to court, the very same prejudices can seriously hamper the justice process for women.

However, where we do not expect to find these views are on the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament, and when we hear them from the mouth of the Convenor of the Committee himself, we really have to ask ourselves if that really is the best we can do for the women of Scotland?

New figures released by the Scottish Government show a significant increase in the proportion of rape cases which reach court leading to a conviction.

Out of 92 rapes prosecuted in 2009-10, there were 41 convictions. This compares with 26 convictions out of 85 rape prosecutions the previous year.

The recorded crime figures for the same year show that there were 884 rapes reported to the police. The proportion of reported rapes leading to a conviction was 4.6%[1], compared to 3% in 2008-09. The majority of reported rapes did not reach court – only approximately 10% of rapes were prosecuted. However, of the rapes prosecuted the conviction rate was 44.6%.

	2009-10	2008-09
Rapes recorded by the police	884	821
Number of rapes prosecuted	92	85
Number of convictions	41	26

Recent years have seen significant changes in the way rape is investigated and prosecuted in Scotland. This has included the establishment of a dedicated National Sexual Crimes Unit to oversee the prosecution of sexual offences in Scotland. Rape Crisis Scotland is encouraged to see a quite significant increase in the number of rapes which get to court resulting in a conviction.

It remains, however, a matter of concern that so few rapes ever reach court. Rape is a crime which can take a lot of courage to report to the police, and finding out your case is not going to court can be devastating.

It is clear that much remains to be done, not least in changing attitudes to rape to try to minimize the impact that women blaming attitudes may have on jury deliberations. We hope that these new figures are indicative that as a nation we are moving in the right direction in improving access to justice following rape.

Rape Crisis Scotland is holding a special screening of the film “Consent”, which was originally broadcast on Channel 4 in 2007.

“Consent” features the dramatization of the background to a rape case, and follows colleagues Becky and Steve on the works night out which led up to the case. The second part of the film, is not a dramatization, however, but a courtroom setting where the trial is conducted as though it were real. We see at first hand the deliberations of a jury of real people, who must decide whether Steve is guilty of rape, based on what they have seen. The screening will be followed by an audience/panel discussion. The panel will include representatives from the Crown Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. The event will take place at the cinema in the Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow on Monday 7^th March at 6pm. Attendance is free, but places must be booked in advance. Please contact julie.scobbie@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk if you would like to reserve a place.

We are delighted to report that the Scottish Government has announced its intention to continue funding for violence against women services in Scotland for the coming year.

At the Scottish Government debate on Violence against Women held on 23rd December 2010, Alex Neil the Minister for Housing and Communities, announced that three vital funds will be retained at their current level in the next financial year.

This follows an intensive period of joint campaigning by Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland.

Prior to the announcement it had been thought that many services for women and children would be cut. 40 Women’s Aid groups around the country faced an average loss of 40% of their funding. A number of rape crisis centres were facing the possibility of either closure or severe restriction of their services. These services have now been safeguarded.

The announcement came as very welcome news to Lily Greenan, Manager of Scottish Women’s Aid. She said:

“We have worked closely with Rape Crisis Scotland and with local Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis groups around Scotland over the last few months gathering support for the continuation of this funding from the Scottish Government. Today we are all extremely grateful to the MSPs, local politicians and members of the public who have played their part in making this happen.

“Christmas is the time of year when our services are needed most of all – during the festive season there is a dramatic increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents – so it really could not have come at a better time.”

Sandy Brindley, National Coordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland, welcomed the announcement.

“Sexual violence can have a devastating impact and it is crucial that survivors throughout Scotland have access to specialised services. If Scottish Government funding had been lost, rape survivors across Scotland would have found it much more difficult to access support. We believe the provision of support following sexual violence should be a basic right, and we welcome the support for this across the Parliament.”

Although this announcement means that violence against women services will be guaranteed for the year 2011-2012, the future beyond this period continues to be very uncertain, and Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland are anxious to secure a long term funding strategy to ensure the sustainability of vital support services and will continue to work towards this. Lily Greenan said:

“We still have a long way to go to ensure that women and children who experience violence are able to access support wherever and whenever they need it. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and COSLA over the next few months to find ways to secure the future of these vital services.”

We are very grateful indeed to every MSP who signed the pledge to Save Our Services – you can see a list of these here, and if you share our concern and commitment to their long-term provision, please do get in touch with your local MSP and let them know. You can also see the full press statement issued by Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland here.

<br /><br /> http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-initiative-aimed-to-improve-women-s-safety/ 2011-02-11 http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/new-initiative-aimed-to-improve-women-s-safety/ <img src="http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/image/1/454/180/images/"> <br /> <br />

Glasgow Taxis recently launched a new initiative offering to provide a safe, secure and prioritised service to women. The development, which was run initially over the Christmas period, has now been extended indefinitely. The “Female First” service is intended to stop women having to wander about in search of a taxi after a night out or at other times.

All drivers are guaranteed to have undergone Full Enhanced Disclosure Scotland checks and all calls are recorded both digitally and on paper. Payment of the account is monthly, meaning that no cash is required to book one, and the facility means that women can use the account to stop any Glasgow Taxi (with a small flag on top) on the street.

Anyone wishing to register someone for a “Female First” account should contact 0141 554 2222 and quote “Female First”.

Cadder ruling "affects 60 serious cases" says Crown Office

Sex offender naming scheme to be launched

Future rapist ad sparks controversy and death threats

Anti-rape commercial leads to death threats

Watford Rape Crisis receives £1000 donation

Jackson Katz on educating boys & men about violence against women - Ben Roethlisberger and a "teachable moment"

Prominent Irishmen seek to change prostitution laws

Women’s groups struggle amid funding cuts

Sleepwalker is cleared of raping teenage girl

Women’s services to benefit from funding

Restorative justice – why I confronted the man who raped me

Taking a bystander approach to gender-based violence

Crime down but sex offences up

Transcription of the Violence Against Women debate in Scottish Parliament 23/12/10

Over 1000 sex crime charges dropped in the North & North-East since 2005

Police step up campaign in the Borders - “Drinking is not a crime – rape is

Lanarkshire rape crisis gets cash boost

Lancashire police sex crimes shock

Organised child abuse “growing” problem in Wales

Sexual grooming of children needs government plan

Children as young as 10 groomed for sex by gangs

“Not Ever” cited as one of the successes of 2010 at Stop Street Harassment

Campaign to focus on rape awareness

Call for tracking of all sex offenders

Funding fears threaten future of male abuse service

Why women who report rape fall foul of a harsh criminal justice system

Should violence against women in the UK be seen as a hate crime?

Police campaign to keep the Christmas peace for women

New sex offence laws now in force

Radical changes made to sex offenders Act

Abuse victim wins 6 figure payout from victim

Poster campaign clear on sexual abuse and rape

Players’ Ball – hip hop & sexual abuse

Rape Crisis London

Derby rape gang “targeted children”

Paedophile ring “abused 30 girls” (video)

Tayside police launch abuse handling investigation

New £75,000 rape victim unit opens

Rape victims urge others to report rape and take control

Poster crusade urges sex abuse victims: Don’t suffer in silence

Rape support group set up

Real men don’t buy girls

The real harms of prostitution

A woman. A prostitute. A slave.

Angelina Jolie’s controversial film divides Bosnian rape victims

Rape victim charged with sex crimes

Rape charge dismissed over quirk in Idaho code

Israel: Crisis centre reports 13% rise in complaints

Redefining masculinity is the key to stopping rape

Child sex abuse campaign launched by Council of Europe

Council of Europe campaigns on child sexual abuse (includes video)

A profile of pedophilia

Texas inmate is part of a growing child porn trend that ruins lives
Coming Out As A Male Survivor of Rape, Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse (video)

Catholic church directive won’t make reporting child abuse mandatory

Boston campaign against sexual harassment paying off

Vatican preparing new guidelines to deal with sexual abuse

Japanese police get lessons in responding to sexual assault

UN chief calls for extra steps to be taken to fight sexual violence

Sexual violence in prison (US) – disgraceful delays

US University implements sexual misconduct policy

Costs of sexual violence in Minnesota

Stopping the hurt at home

Cleric admits telling Gardai of abuse “wasn’t on agenda”
WikiLeaks cables: Vatican refused to engage with child sex abuse inquiry

Australian website for ‘flashers’ defended by founder

South African advert threatens men with prison rape if they drink and drive

Sexual harassment cases in Israel’s Civil Service rose 40% in 2010

Victim tells harrowing story of the boyfriend who called his car the “Rape Rover”

Rape flourishes in the rubble of Haitian earthquake

Rape in war – an overview in the Economist

Zimbabwe – rape: realities & persepectives

Advice on matters sexual is something many of us are in need of or asked for at some point in our lives. Whether we are looking for reassurance or practical information, there is no doubt that scrutiny or discussion of our most private moments is one of the most difficult and complex subjects of all, and something that requires acute sensitivity in handling. With the best will in the world, opinions voiced will always be subjective, and responses to requests for guidance need careful consideration before they are given.

This is significant enough when it’s a one-to one exchange, but when the forum is that of an advice column in a newspaper or other periodical, the impact of the words of wisdom offered can be multiplied many times over, with everyone who gives even a cursory glance to the matter under discussion & proposed solutions taking something from what is said (and often adding their tuppenceworth in the comments section below).

Operating as the oracle in this context, columnists offering advice on sex and related matters have a serious responsibility on their hands, with consequences potentially far more widespread and profound than those attendant on advice given by football pundits or the Watchdog team. The experts here are responding not only to an individual, but to a personal situation that resonates far beyond the circumstances of the correspondent looking for help.

Whatever is suggested as a solution emanates not simply from a knowledge of fact but from the set of assumptions or worldview that informs it. In taking on board the advice that is offered, readers are often also consumers of the perspective from which it is coming, and need to be aware of that.

Why does this matter? It matters greatly, because the impact of advice disseminated among an extensive readership is not only personal, it is cultural too.

It matters greatly when the views expressed feed into a narrative that prioritises male sexual satisfaction over any consideration for the needs, feelings, health, interests or concerns of women. When this is the perspective from which advice on sex or relationships is coming, it offers not only misguided advice to an individual, but a view of sexual experience that is damaging to women in general, and acts as a corrosive to the sexual autonomy they have struggled towards for hundreds of years – and have still not fully achieved.

Pamela Stephenson’s offering in the Guardian, responding to a reader whose boyfriend can climax only when she is asleep (and is otherwise cold in a sexual context) is a case in point. Although the woman is the one who has written in, her partner’s are the only needs that are considered in the response. “Perhaps he requires his partner to be more passive, for some reason.” Pamela muses, before going on to suggest that her correspondent “First reassure him with something positive you enjoy about his love-making style, then ask him: ‘How might I help you climax?’ “.

There is at no point any acknowledgement or consideration given to the view that his behaviour is problematic for the woman beyond its interruption to her sleep, when in fact it raises many disturbing questions around (among others) the issue of consent.

Advice columnists have a valuable role to play in helping people to navigate the complexities of sexual interaction, and in offering reassurance and clarity around these issues. Part of the skill involved in doing this successfully means being able to deal objectively with a wide range of perspectives and experiences and to offer the prospect of one or more resolutions to the issue at hand. Inevitably, some questions relate to scenarios bordering on or characterized by abuse or exploitation. When this is the case, a clear-sighted and direct opinion from the agony aunt can offer a much needed lifeline. And when the question deals with an issue which confronts young women in intimate relationships on an increasingly regular basis (but might not be the sort of thing they feel comfortable raising even with close friends) the importance of an independent view in helping to reassert women’s autonomy in sexual relationships can be a vital antidote to the pressures of a sexualized culture.

In response to a woman who is uncomfortable because her partner has been pressuring her to agree to them filming themselves having sex, Rowan Pelling leaves no room for doubt:

“It is clear you simply don't share your boyfriend's erotic fantasy about making a sex film, which is understandable and reasonable. Many people feel uncomfortable having their photo taken or being watched while they undress, let alone exposing their most intimate anatomy to the camera lens.

Your boyfriend's comment that you should 'loosen up' appears to be a mutt-headed attempt to persuade you that the great majority of women harbour panting ambitions to be amateur porn stars. But most of us are quite happy to keep our sexual expertise a secret between ourselves, our lover and the bedroom ceiling.

I don't necessarily place all the blame squarely on your man - men's magazines have been propagating this kind of nonsense for years; but it's a great mistake to think of Jordan's or Pamela Anderson's behaviour as normal. It goes without saying that the making of any erotic film should be an entirely consensual activity and it sounds as if you're being emotionally blackmailed.”

Occasionally, in responding to a query, columnists find themselves dealing very directly with the consequences of abuse. In reply to a woman who asks “How can I stop self-harming?” Joan Burnie’s first step is to reject immediately the correspondent’s declaration that she was at fault for being raped at 13 (the woman says the self-harming is to “remind me of how bad I was”) before moving on to point her in the direction of rape crisis for support, and closing with reassurances that her fears that her child will be removed from her on account of her self-harming are unfounded. The message communicated to survivors of sexual violence in this crisp and unequivocal response can counter with one stroke of the pen years worth of doubt, anxiety and self-accusation.

In identifying the true sources of the problems brought to them in these instances, Rowan Pelling and Joan Burnie demonstrate the valuable role the advice columnist can play in challenging a culture which so often removes autonomy from women in the sexual sphere, and creates a climate in which self-questioning or internalized self-blame in the context of abuse or exploitation is common.

The factors that contribute to this culture are diverse and often invisible. But questions like these – and the answers we give to them can play a crucial role in challenging or supporting it. If we encourage those in crisis through the sexual pressures or demands imposed by others to question or change their own behaviour in order to achieve the peace and resolution they seek, we are once more placing the responsibility right back onto the shoulders of women instead of looking at the real sources of the problem.

It is worth remembering that this is something which obstructs women’s chances of obtaining justice in rape trials every day.

The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a campaign to challenge a culture of victim blaming. http://www.stopblame.org/en/

The Stop Blame campaign aims to dispel the myth that victims of rape or assault are in any way responsible for the heinous crimes that they suffer. Victims of rape or sexual assault may be reluctant to report the crime for fear of being judged as responsible for what has happened to them. The campaign aims to put an end to this attitude by showing victims, perpetrators and the public that the blame lays solely with the assailant and not with the victim.

Wales’ Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant said: “Victims of rape or sexual assault are in no way responsible for what happens to them. Apparent justification such as ‘she was too drunk’ or ‘she was asking for it’ just doesn’t wash. This attitude can be extremely damaging for the victims and we must put an end to it now. There is absolutely no excuse for committing rape or sexual assault and the blame should never be placed on the victim.”

Paula Hardy, Chief Executive of Welsh Women’s Aid, said: “Welsh Women’s Aid and the violence against women sector in Wales have been working closely with the Assembly Government in the development of the campaign. We welcome its launch, which proactively challenges the myths around victim blame, and we hope this will lead to greater justice and support for survivors of rape and sexual assault."

The Welsh Assembly Government campaign was launched on Friday 17 December with a series of radio adverts, outdoor posters and online advertising. The campaign is supported by the stopblame.org website which aims to challenge the blame culture and also features information and advice for victims.

After several years in preparation, the most radical overhaul ever of the law on sexual offences in Scotland has now taken place. On 1^st December 2010, the new Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act came into force, bringing with it a number of significant changes to the law on sexual offences in Scotland.

The definition of rape is now wider than was previously the case, reflecting a recognition within the law that men as well as women can be victims of rape. Consent is now defined in statute in Scotland for the very first time. Hopefully this will overcome problems caused by the subjective interpretations to which its previous location in common law inevitably left it open. Under the new law, consent is defined as “free agreement” and this is supported by a non-exhaustive list of circumstances which, if proved, will indicate that consent was not present. People with a limited or no capacity to consent (for example the very young, or those with a mental disorder) are also better protected within the terms of the new Act.

The new law legislates on a number of related offences. These include sexual coercion (forcing others to take part in sexual activities without their consent), voyeurism, sexual exposure, and sending indecent images by email or text. This Act also extends its jurisdiction beyond the UK in cases where offences against children are committed abroad. These can now be prosecuted In Scotland irrespective of where the offence was committed, or of laws which pertain in that country.

Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act and the commitment it demonstrates to improving the prospects of those who have been victims of sexual violence in obtaining justice. It is important that the spirit of the Act is implemented with a rigour that matches this commitment, and that other measures which can support and facilitate these changes, such as effecting changes in public attitudes, will also remain very much in focus.

You can download an Outline Guide to the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 here.

Recent weeks have seen public figures such as the Justice Secretary and the Solicitor General describing the often quoted 3% conviction rate for rape as misleading and untrue. An alternative and significantly higher figure of 33% is quoted instead. Who is right?

The 3% conviction rate measures the proportion of rapes reported to the police which lead to a conviction. The figure is derived from the Scottish Government’s two statistical bulletins – Recorded Crime in Scotland and Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts. The 3% conviction rate is calculated by taking the number of reported rapes (for 2008-2009), which was 821, and the number of convictions – 25 – and working out the percentage between these figures – 3%. Most reported rapes don’t lead to a prosecution – from the Scottish Government’s own figures only 10.1% lead to a prosecution. This means that the vast majority of rapes reported to the police in Scotland do not reach court.

It is important, however, to give two health warnings on these figures: firstly, the figures in the two statistical bulletins from which the 3% conviction rate is derived measure slightly different things: the police statistics in the Recorded Crime bulletin measure by offence whereas the court statistics in the Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts bulletin measure by offender. In some circumstances one offender will be responsible for more than one offence, so in this sense the two sets of figures are not directly comparable. Secondly, court statistics are recorded by main offence, so in cases where rape is not the main offence, i.e. where the main offence is murder, a conviction will not be included in the overall number of rape convictions. Although the latter scenario does not cover many rape related offences in Scotland (we do not have significant numbers of joint murder & rape cases each year in Scotland) it is clear that these do represent genuine caveats to the reliability of the 3% figure. However, there is no other source of data available which tells us how many rapes reported to the police lead to a conviction.

The Scottish Government and the Crown Office, when challenging the 3% conviction rate, assert that 33% of rapes indicted to court lead to a conviction. It is crucial to note here that they are not comparing like with like, in that they are taking as their starting point cases indicted to court, not cases reported to the police. That is not to say it is not a valid figure, but it is talking about something completely different. It is important to bear in mind here that only around 10% of cases reported to the police ever reach court – what the 33% conviction rate figure is referring to is what happens to small proportion of cases which reach court, not what happens to all reported rapes.

Why does this matter? The rape crisis movement has at times been criticized for highlighting the very low level of rapes reported to the police which lead to a conviction. Concern has been expressed that focusing on this conviction rate will deter rape survivors from coming forward and reporting their experience. It is important to acknowledge the significant progress that has been made by the Crown Office in how rape is prosecuted, including the introduction of the National Sex Crimes Unit and specialist teams within the fiscal service across the country. It is to be hoped that these positive changes will lead to an increase in our conviction rate, or at the very least an improvement in survivors’ experience of the justice system.

Rape Crisis Scotland believes however that to focus only on what happens to cases which are indicted for court misses entirely the experiences of the vast majority of survivors reporting rape in our country. Is it really of no consequence that around 90% of those reporting rape will never see their case reach court? Is this not a matter of concern which we must focus our attention on? Or do we really think its ok to just write off the vast majority of reported rapes as unprosecutable? Does this not signal something wrong with our justice system if this is the case?

A final question: how can it be after decades of concern about legal responses to rape that we can’t even reliably give the most basic data of how many complaints of rape lead to a conviction?

Hundreds Reclaim the Night in Glasgow

My daughter has seen her rapist several times – he just grins at her

One in three South African men admits to rape, survey finds

Concerns over cuts to women’s welfare aid

Crisis centre for rape victims opens in the Scottish Borders

Borders rape crisis centre officially opens

Scottish Women’s Aid campaign to save domestic abuse services

Suffolk Rape Crisis to open 29^th November

Rape Crisis Centre for Eastenders to open

East London Rape Crisis Centre opens

Sex attacker’s £1000 win for rights breach

Dark, sinister side of this city

Woman jailed for falsely retracting rape claim is freed

Rape awareness survey: how far is too far?

Spend now, save later: the case for gender budget analysis in violence against women spending

Scottish Women’s Aid ‘crowd’ to caution MSPs against false economy

Shock as law chief reveals plans to step down

Notre Dame’s punt in the probe of Lizzy Seeberg’s sad death

Murdered Mexican women commemorated by artists

Ireland: Rape & child sex abuse are “endemic”

Irish centre finds rape & child abuse undeniably linked

American judge advocates “corrective rape” for lesbians

Get used to being raped – or get out

Out from the shadows – men in film about sexual abuse

Nicaragua – put an end to rape, sexual abuse of girls

Nicaragua’s hidden scandal

Wales: call for action against workers in abuse case

Report reveals “intolerable” mistakes in paedophile case

Sunderland: city’s sex crime shock

Six life sentences after catalogue of vile abuse (*Warning: report contains graphic description of abuse)

Vetting and barring the enemy within

Sexual offences reform flawed

Rape probe hysterics an assault on justice

Galway: 60% of Rape Crisis Centre clients abused under age of 17

Canada: civil suits could bring justice for rape victims
U.S. Senate hearing focuses on mishandling of sex crimes nationally, in Cleveland

Guardian: The rise of rape talk

Abusing the word “rape”

Rape on campus: a real issue

No apology from David Haye after “gang rape” comment

US Olympic Committee to take steps to protect against sexual abuse

“In love” with an 8-year-old?

Zimbabwe: Sexual abuse – a silent threat to MDGs

Netherlands: over 100 cases of sexual abuse in children’s homes

Belgian Catholics remain anguished by abuse

On 24th November we took the Save Our Services campaign one step further when we joined forces with Scottish Women’s Aid, Zero Tolerance & White Ribbon Scotland for a day to lobby MSPs at the Scottish Parliament. MSPs moving through the Members’ Lobby on their way to or from the debating chamber were greeted by a visually arresting timeline behind our large stall  - a very eye-catching reminder of the huge advances we’ve made in Scotland over the last four decades in fighting violence against women and supporting those who have suffered its consequences. And very many of them responded by coming over for a few words and signing our pledge to preserve dedicated funding for VAW services. We were delighted to receive the support of the First Minister, who you can see here signing the pledge.

This poster, produced by Perth & Kinross Violence Against Women Partnership, provides contact information for local and national support services and is intended to raise awareness & understanding. Its very clear message reinforces the fact that perpetrators, and not those who suffer at their hands, are to blame.

Printed copies of the posters are available are available from pkdaf@btconnect.com . Could you please indicate when getting in touch how many of each you require.

This joint initiative led by Tayside Police, Western Division, in partnership with Women’s Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre, P&K and Perth & Kinross Community Safety Partnership was launched on the 25th November at Barrack Street Police Station. Local and national press and television were in attendance and we are hoping that there will be good coverage and promotion of the campaign.

The campaign aims to promote the clear message across Perth & Kinross that sex without consent is rape, no matter what the circumstances.

The postcards will be distributed across Perth & Kinross by police officers, and are available for all organisations to use and distribute. Please contact pkdaf@btconnect.com if you would like to receive these.

Botanic Gardens, Glasgow. 6.30pm - Thursday 25th November 2010

For the 4th year in a row Glasgow Rape Crisis invite you to join them to Reclaim The Night to mark the beginning of 16 Days of Action to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

Come along and join the march to Stop Male Violence Against Women. All welcome.

The march will assemble at Botanic Gardens, at the junction of Great Western Road 6.30pm. The march will then make its way through the West End with a rally at S.T.U.C, Woodlands Road, Glasgow.

For more information contact the Rape Crisis email info@rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk. Details can also be found on:
www.rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk
www.rapecrisisscotland.co.uk
www.16days.org

“We were disgusted to hear this morning that you are selling "The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure: a Child-lover’s Code of Conduct" and that you have refused to remove it from your store. As a rape crisis organisation we are contacted daily by survivors to whom child sexual abuse has done untold damage, often under the guise of "love" or some other pretence or delusion that it is some kind of legitimate sexual leaning. Child sexual abuse is no such thing - it is a serious criminal act which ruins lives. And make no mistake about it - child abuse is what this title incites and encourages, and until you remove it from your catalogue, we will no longer be using you as a supplier, and will urge others to do the same.”

This is just the latest in a long line of products stocked by Amazon which promote rape and sexual assault. Previous complaints have resulted in the removal of such items, although it seems that every item must be protested individually as Amazon refuse to take a stand themselves or acknowledge any sense of responsibility in the marketing of these materials. In peddling this criminal trash for profit, Amazon are aiding and abetting those who abuse and exploit women and children the world over. In their willingness to defend the titles like "The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure", they are a contributing to sexual abuse, and it’s time they got a grip and acknowledged that.

We feel convinced their sale of this title must be in breach of the law – what do you think?

If you want to send your own views to Amazon, you can do so at http://amzn.to/bmyt54 or call 0800 496 1081 to make a complaint.

Rape Crisis Scotland

Our Annual Report for 2010 is now available.

The Scottish Women’s Budget Group has produced a concise analysis of the case for gender budget analysis in violence against women spending with ‘Spend Now, Save Later’.  The paper was commissioned by Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland and we hope it will inform the debate about how financial decisions should be made and highlight in particular the reasons why frontline services such as rape crisis and women’s aid need continued funding, and the costs of not funding these vital services.

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, a story comes along and blows away any wild ideas you might have about justice being served in rape cases or some hope that the system itself might be in possession of a wider understanding of the complex pressures faced by complainers. Last week, a woman in Powys, North Wales was jailed for eight months for perverting the course of justice following a series of events which reveal nothing more criminal than an entirely natural desperation to stop a prosecution she felt she could not pursue.

Having been pressurized to withdraw an allegation of (six incidences) of rape she had made against her husband by the man she accused and his sister, she decided she could not proceed with the case, and would not be persuaded by police and prosecutors to go on with it. Her initial attempt to stop proceedings cut no ice with police and prosecutors who insisted they would go on with the case, leaving the woman feeling the only option she had left to her was to claim the allegations had been false. The woman was then charged with perverting the course of justice and in her subsequent desperation to avoid prosecution herself admitted this retraction had been false and that the original rape allegations were true.

As a consequence, the tables were turned, and with a perverseness unique to the justice system, it was decreed that a crime had indeed been committed – and that she was its perpetrator. In place of the justice she sought and all rape survivors deserve, this woman received a jail sentence, with criticism and punishment taking the place of the support and respect she should have had.

Rape crisis centres meet and receive calls from many women who face just this difficulty – the feeling that they just cannot go on with a court case, but feeling also that the only way out of the prosecution is to say they made it up. For many women the prospect of the ordeal of the rape case – or their uncertainty about being able for what ever reason to see it through – pose a risk not worth taking – so they do not report rape at all.

And who can wonder? The trajectory of a rape trial is so often an arrow fired off with the faintest hope of really reaching its elusive target – justice for one of the most damaging crimes of all – but every chance of trailing in its wake a woman’s privacy and dignity or any hope of justice for the crime committed against her. The removal of autonomy and control is one of the defining features of rape, and what makes it so uniquely damaging. And what could reinforce that more decisively than the decision to prosecute a woman who was left with no way out?

Changing your mind is not a crime or any kind of justification for prosecution in a case like this. In rape cases in particular, which many women have described as feeling as though they have been assaulted all over again, uncertainty or the decision not to pursue the case is completely understandable. When a woman knows that the details of the most intimate parts of her life will be discussed in public, that her ‘character’, behaviour, dress, habits, relationships, sexual history and and even her medical records may be scrutinized as part of a process which may still (and in so many cases does) see her attacker walk free, the least she can expect (surely?) is the right to decide whether or not she pursues that case?

And when this prospect is reinforced with pressure from elsewhere to abandon the case, as it sometimes is, the incentive to withdraw and desperation felt at the thought of proceeding can have a far stronger pull than the hope that the case might be one of the small percentage that result in a conviction.

The case of the woman in Powys demonstrates a complete inability to comprehend the complexities needs of women facing rape trials and is itself a perversion of what constitutes justice.

Women have as much right to autonomy and respect within the justice system as they do within relationships. Unfortunately all this case has served to demonstrate is that they sometimes meet with neither.

Scottish Women’s Aid organised a lobbying event outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 28th October at 10.45am.  The aim of this event was to raise awareness of the impact the impending cuts will have on women, children and young people who experience domestic abuse and in particular the impact on Women's Aid services of losing two key funding streams - the Violence Against Women Fund and the Children's Services Fund. Women's Aid workers and supporters from all over Scotland will be coming along.  The importance and potential impact of any threat to the Rape Crisis Specific Fund was also highlighted.

The women and children represented by Women’s Aid are rarely able to speak out in public about what they need from services, so the centrepiece of the event was a group of silhouettes, reminding us that women and children need services because they are not safe at home.

This marked the start of 4 weeks of local lobbying across Scotland, with events organised by local Women's Aid groups in partnership with Scottish Women’s Aid – locations for events included Inverness, Ayrshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as the Scottish Labour Party Conference in Oban and the STUC Women's Conference in Perth.

Following a landmark decision by the UK Supreme Court, the Scottish Government introduced emergency legislation which means that police can no longer question suspects without a lawyer present. Peter Cadder, who was convicted for assault based on evidence obtained before he spoke to his lawyer, made an appeal based on European human rights laws which was upheld. The new Scottish legislation introduces a right of access to legal advice before being questioned, extends the period during which a person may be detained under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, powers to adjust legal aid eligibility rules and measures to ensure certainty and finality in concluded cases. The Supreme Court judgement does not permit closed cases to be reopened and as such will not be retrospective.

Anyone with queries or concerns about the Cadder judgement or its implications for their cases can find out more detail on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal  website at http://www.copfs.gov.uk/ or call the enquiry point number: 0844 561 3000. Anyone who may has moved or changed contact details should update the enquiry point or the PF office which dealt with the case with their new details. COPFS has details of all victims and witnesses. If the enquirer is able to supply a PF reference number, the name of an accused or even the PF office which dealt with the case, that will help to speed this process up.

Lifeline for survivors of sexual violence celebrates 3rd anniversary

Rape Crisis Scotland’s National Helpline celebrated its third anniversary on Monday 11th October 2010. Since the Rape Crisis Scotland helpline was launched on 11th October 2007 it has received a total of 7,792 calls from members of the public. The helpline, which is funded by the Scottish Government, provides initial and crisis support to anyone affected by sexual violence. Helpline workers, who comprise a mixture of paid workers and volunteers, staff the helpline which is open every night of the year between 6pm and midnight.

Described by Rape Crisis Helpline Manager Katy Mathieson as a “lifeline for people who have been through some traumatic experiences”, the helpline has taken a large numbers of calls from a diverse range of people: “We’ve taken calls from people in all sorts of situations, from young women and men, to much older people. Callers have been friends, grandparents, co-workers, and partners, though the majority are from survivors themselves. Sometimes people are calling for support around something that happened a very long time ago – or it might be something that happened just last night or last week – there is no set pattern.”

A comprehensive and intensive programme of training covering everything from legal issues to ritual abuse means that helpline workers are well prepared to support callers in the many difficulties they face. “Prospective helpline workers undertake a very rigorous training programme before they begin working on the line, and we also operate a “buddy” system so that they are well supported as they become more experienced in offering support themselves” says Katy.

Many callers are looking for emotional and practical support to deal with their experiences, while others require legal information or on the ground help locally. The helpline also has a minicom service for Deaf or hard of hearing people, and can arrange for language interpreters for callers whose first language is not English. Support materials and a video introduction to Rape Crisis Scotland and the helpline are also available on the Rape Crisis Scotland website in a range of languages.

The Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline won the BT/Telephone Helpline Association New Helpline of the Year in 2008, and comments from those who have used the service show clearly the difference it has made to their lives:

“Support was amazing”
“I can now see light at the end of the tunnel”
“I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the helpline”

The Rape Crisis Scotland helpline is open from 6pm to midnight, seven days a week on 0808 801 0302.

The row sparked last week following comments made by the Rector of a Scottish Secondary school highlights once more the need to raise awareness of the myths that lead to women being held culpable for rape – in particular, the idea that revealing dress is somehow “provocative”.

The controversy followed warnings to female pupils that by dressing in short skirts or other clothing of a skimpy nature, they would risk distracting the boys, whose rampant hormones might render them unable to concentrate. A dress code for school is one thing – integral to the regulatory framework of many schools, and applicable to every pupil, not just those who are female. However, the conflation of this idea with notions of “provocation” and “risky behaviour” is at best misguided – and at worst very damaging, in particular to women who have been sexually assaulted.

To suggest that girls and women, through the choices they exercise in the clothes they select, can influence the behaviour of the opposite gender is to assign them a degree of control which they simply do not have. Directing instructions made on this basis only to girls reinforces the myth that it is principally women who bear responsibility for sexual conduct, and for controlling the sexual impulses of men and boys. It is a fallacy and an insult to men to suggest that male sexuality is some kind of compelling animal force far more powerful than its female counterpart, and to hold this view is to absolve men, at least in part, from the responsibility for their sexual choices, leaving women no alternative other than to shoulder the blame for the rapes and sexual assaults of which they themselves are the victims.

We have to be able to make the distinction between what is appropriate dress for school or work without once more blaming women for sexual violence. The experience of rape complainers in court offers abundant evidence of the damage that these prejudicial attitudes can do.

Blaming sexual violence on “raging hormones”, “inappropriate thoughts”, or “mixed signals” and advocating caution and cover-ups on the part of women and girls as the solution removes the focus from where it really belongs – on the attitudes and behaviour of boys and the men they will become. The role of education in making positive changes in this regard is absolutely crucial. By complementing lessons on healthy relationships of the sort that currently feature in PSE classes with others that teach young men to respect women, that no one is “entitled” to sex, and that clothes are simply clothes and not some kind of coded invitation, that only yes ever means yes – but that no always means no – we can make significant and vital steps towards making this happen.

Men and boys are central to the fight against sexual violence and can be powerful communicators of the messages we need to get across in order to makes the attitudinal and culture changes necessary to eradicate it. If we are serious about ending sexual violence, we must forget about the perils of the mini-skirt, and start examining the real causes of sexual violence – and challenging the attitudes of those who commit it.

Dignity on Trial - India’s Need for Sound Standards for Conducting & Interpreting Forensic Exams of Rape Survivors

NHS paying for porn

Fury at David Haye' "Gang rape" fight jibe

Sex crimes in Scotland up despite sharp fall in recorded crime

"Not Ever" has been nominated for the Drum Scottish Advertising Awards in the Charity advert category! See item 29 at

Support for "Not Ever" at the Fringe

'Whether it hurts the woman or not, the men don't care'

The sexually abused dancing boys of Afghanistan

Sex offenders shouldn't be released unless they can demonstrate they've been rehabilitated say campaigners in Ireland

The horrific trade in British children for sex (Independent on Sunday)

We are delighted to report that Dumfries & Galloway Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership will be screening "Not Ever" in the Robert Burns Cinema in Dumfries on 17th, 18th & 23rd September and on the 2nd & 18th October.

Glasgow Rape Crisis will be starting a new Volunteer Training Programme in November.
Anyone interested in doing this should email Isabelle@rapecrisiscentre-glasgow.co.uk before the middle of October. An Information Evening will be held on 21st October.

"Making recovery a reality" is a new film from Rape Crisis Scotland which looks at the impact of sexual violence on survivors and highlights the support services offered by the Rape Crisis network in Scotland. Women who have been supported by Rape Crisis centres describe their own journeys of recovery and the part that Rape Crisis has played in making their recovery a reality. We are enormously grateful to everyone who took part in the making of the film.

Save Violence Against Women Services Campaign

The Save Violence Against Women Services Campaign is a joint campaign being run by Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid.The campaign aims to protect essential frontline services for women experiencing violence.

Background Information

Violence against women is a serious and widespread issue:

•Each year, 3 million women in Britain experience rape, domestic abuse, stalking or other violence (source: End Violence Against Women Campaign)

•There were 53,681 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland in 2008-09.In the same year, the police recorded 821 reports of rape, 142 of assault with intent to rape and 1,640 incidents of indecent assault (source: Tackling Violence Against Women: A Review of Key Evidence & National Policy, Scottish Government, 2010)

•A study by NSPCC showed that a third of teenage girls in a relationship suffer an unwanted sexual act (Barter, McCarry, Berridge and Kathy Evans, Partner exploitation and violence in teenage intimate relationships, 2009)

•It is estimated that 20% of women and 5% of men have experienced some form of child sexual abuse (World Health Organisation)

•It is estimated that violence against women costs society £40 billion each year (Hard Knock Life, New Philanthropy Capital, 2008).

The Scottish Government has provided crucial and much needed support over the past decade to help sustain and develop support services such as rape crisis centres and women’s aid groups.This support has taken the form of ring fenced funding specifically for violence against women services.This ring fenced funding has led to a significant improvement in the services for women across Scotland.The Rape Crisis Specific Fund has provided £50,000 per rape crisis centre per year to guarantee a basic level of service and has also funded the creation of 5 new rape crisis centres.The support available for children experiencing domestic abuse has been greatly improved by the Children’s Services Fund which has funded more than 100 children’s workers who have provided services to over 2500 children and young people last year.The Violence Against Women Fund has funded a range of vital support services across the country.If these funds do not continue, the impact on women and children across Scotland will be severe.

Why do we need ring fencing?

The Equality & Human Rights Commission have identified what they call a ‘postcode lottery’ of vital support services for women experiencing violence across the UK.Scotland, however, is recognised as leading the way in the provision of services, and dedicated funding is the reason this has happened:

"The best story to be told is in Scotland where provision is distributed more equally and furthermore is the only part of the UK where there has been an expansion of Rape Crisis Centres. The reason is simple; the Scottish government is developing a strategic approach to addressing violence against women and has allocated ring-fenced funding for services."

The national provision of ring fenced funding was necessary because these services were not being adequately funded at a local level.

What would be the implications of removing ring fencing?

In this economic climate, the consequences of removing ring fencing for these services are even more serious than they would be under other circumstances.There is a serious risk that if funds were allocated to local authorities but not ring fenced that the funding would be diverted elsewhere.For some rape crisis centres, where the Scottish Government funding is their main or only source of funding, this would mean the service closing.After the investment of the past few years, this would be a significantly retrograde step, with devastating implications for survivors of sexual violence.

The campaign

In order to protect essential services for women and children experiencing violence, Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid are calling on the Scottish Government to give a commitment to protect ring fenced funding for violence against women services.We will be asking all MSPs to sign a pledge committing to the continuation of this vital funding.

We believe this is the only way to adequately protect the continued existence of these services.

Here is a Press release about the campaign.

For further information, please contact:

Sandy Brindley, Rape Crisis Scotland 0141 331 4182 / 07764167501

Lily Greenan, Scottish Women’s Aid 0131 226 6606 / 07882 692235

It was with surprise and dismay that we heard that one of the first initiatives pursued by the new coalition government was to examine the possibility of granting anonymity to rape defendants. This move, which burst forth in the absence of any formal consultation, quickly demonstrated that the instinct to protect the interests of a small group of men had been granted precedence over those of one of the most vulnerable groups in our society – rape complainers.  This was perhaps not surprising (particularly given the marked gender imbalance in the new UK Government), but with a conviction rate for rape standing currently at 6% in England and Wales, and a shocking 3% in Scotland, where can there possibly be any justification for making the struggle for women who have been raped to find justice even worse?

And what kind of message does this send out? That there is more doubt surrounding the veracity of a rape accusation than for other criminal charges – or, to put it in the terms that are wearyingly familiar – that women are not to be trusted?

The decision to seek justice in court for one of the most serious and damaging crimes of all is far from automatic. Women who have been raped face a welter of obstacles and disincentives when faced with the decision about whether or not to report what has happened. With the proportion of reported rapes in Scotland that result in a conviction standing at 3% the last thing that is needed is something that will worsen this – and proposing anonymity for those accused of rape is a retrograde step which promises to do exactly that.

There have been many cases where identification and conviction of a perpetrator would not have been possible if women had not been made aware of his identity. Knowing who their attacker was and that were not alone in having suffered at his hands is sometimes the single factor that allows women to come forward and can significantly enhance their chances of receiving justice when they do. Many of the difficulties in securing convictions for rape lie in the hidden nature of the crime, the fact that it is one word against another, and that concrete evidence is often in short supply, if not entirely absent. Rapists rely on the terror, shame and trauma that so often keeps women silent, and in some cases assault one woman after another many times before there is any prospect of discovery. Where the defence of ‘consent’ is used by the man accused, as it often is, it can be difficult for prosecutors to mount an effective case against him, but where a pattern of behaviour can be established, with the experiences of several women giving the lie to the claims of a defendant, conviction is possible. The recent conviction of the taxi driver of John Worboys is a case in point – something which was only made possible when his identity became known, and several women assaulted by him were able to identify him and verify the truth with their own experiences. Worboys is thought to have attacked more than 50 women over a 13 year period.

In Scotland, although some measures (such changes to the law and the implementation of 50 recommendations made by the Crown Office to the way that rape is prosecuted in Scotland) have been put in place here in order to try and improve matters for rape complainers, many far less tangible factors persist in making the search for justice a tortuous process for many – to the extent that some women cannot bear to embark on it and rapists are not brought to account.

The culture of scepticism may have made some advances since the days of the Thames Valley police documentary in 1982, which laid bare in shocking detail the prejudices faced by women reporting rape at the time, but there is no doubt that many of the attitudes underpinning such prejudices live on. It is in many cases a woman’s words and behaviour that continue to be scrutinised rather than those of her attacker, and in the course of rape trials it sometimes seems as if any spurious irrelevance can be thrown into the effort to discredit her.

A study published in 2007 revealed that 7 out of 10 women pursuing rape complaints in Scottish courts can expect to face questioning about their sexual history and ‘character’. This can in practice mean public interrogation on matters as agonisingly private as loss of virginity and use of sex toys, all of which make a further ordeal of the justice process for women seeking justice for the ordeal of rape. Other studies into the attitudes of jurors and the wider public continue to reveal a range of prejudices which also militate against women in this context. Many of these are based in notions of what constitutes ‘appropriate’ behaviour and dress for women, and hold up a paradigm that, if women do not conform to it, they can find themselves open to criticism and suspicion. To further prejudice an already hostile scenario by casting doubt on the word of women through the granting of anonymity to those they accuse of rape simply demonstrates wilful ignorance, a complete refusal to acknowledge the difficulties faced by rape complainers and/or an absence of will to improve their prospects of receiving justice.

There is no justification for granting anonymity to those accused of rape – the impulse to do so is based on the notion that the accusation itself is enough to blight a man’s life for good, and assign to him a stigma that will stick simply by virtue of the accusation having been made, even if he does not go to trial or is found not guilty. Damaging assumptions around the notion of men being falsely accused of rape are repeated wildly and inaccurately in the press and in private conversation every day, but the reality is that this happens no more often in the context of rape than it does for any other crime.

And what about the blight already cast on the life of the survivor and her right to justice? There is a very revealing moment in the drama documentary ‘Consent’ during the (genuine, unscripted) deliberations of the jury who must assess the innocence of the man accused or raping a colleague. One juror reflects that a wrong decision would be more serious if it found against the defendant as it would destroy a young man’s future, whereas if the decision was the wrong one, and found him to be innocent, the wrong committed against the woman is already in her past, and therefore somehow less of a consideration. This line of thinking is typical of the skewed logic so often seen in discussions around rape (particularly in the media) where false equations of this kind result in a higher value being placed on the good name of an innocent man than on the right of a woman who has been raped to receive justice.

If we are serious about taking steps to redress gender inequality, we must accept that the vulnerability of women to sexual assault must, unfortunately, necessarily find its parallel in the vulnerability of men to scrutiny. Women are forced to take account of this reality every day of their lives both out in the street and inside the home, as they take myriad security steps for an extra degree of protection from the threat of sexual violence.  In a world where women face this threat every day, the concomitant for men must be that they are made to account for their motives and behaviour in this arena, even if on occasion such scrutiny finds them blameless.

The impact of the recent proposals around anonymity, although they applied to England and Wales, reverberated in Scotland too, and Kenny McAskill’s assurances that such proposals will not be pursued in Scotland, were greeted with some relief.

in a letter to SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, he wrote "I'm pleased the Scottish Government will not be following Westminster's example.

"There is no reason why those accused of rape should be singled out for anonymity — indeed, such an approach appears to suggest that rape victims are more likely to be making false allegations than other victims."

The UK Government has also stepped back from this particular brink, and abandoned the proposals to grant anonymity to those accused of rape. However, it remains clear that in so doing, they intend simply to try and achieve the same ends by other means, and to persuade instead the Press Complaints Commission to exert pressure on newspapers and other media to grant defendants the anonymity that common sense, and advocates for the already circumscribed interests of rape complainers have so far denied them.

Rape Crisis Scotland has launched Scotlands first ever TV campaign aimed at tackling women-blaming attitudes to rape. The advert was launched at a special screening at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Monday 28 June, and was broadcast for the first time that night during coverage of Brazil’s World Cup match. It will continue to be shown over the next 9 weeks on STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

The Not Ever advert addresses women-blaming attitudes towards rape such as claims that dressing provocatively, being drunk or flirting with men are contributory factors. Its hard-hitting approach is intended to make people stop in their tracks, and to shake out and challenge ingrained prejudices many Scots have towards women who have been raped.

Recent research reveals that almost one in five Scots believe a woman is partially to blame for being raped if she is wearing revealing clothing - a survey of 1,040 Scots carried out by Cello MRUK in February 2010 for the Scottish Government found that:

•23 per cent thinka woman can be at least partly responsible if she is drunk at the time of the attack

•17 per centthought that a woman bore some responsibility if she wore revealing clothing

•15 per cent say there should be some burden of responsibility for rape if the women is flirting

•8 per cent think rape can be the woman's fault if she is known to have had many sexual partners

These attitudes can make it difficult for women to speak out about being raped, because of fear of being blamed for what has happened.There are also significant concerns about the impact these attitudes might have on rape survivors’ ability to access justice, in terms of attitudes which jury members might hold.

Although many people genuinely believe they wouldn’t judge a rape victim by what they wear, how drunk they were, or if they had been flirting all night, they often actually do; particularly when sitting as a juror in court. Not Ever wants to prompt people to keep their judgments in check and to remember that there’s only one person who is responsible for rape and it’s not the victim. It doesn’t matter what you wear, how many sexual partners you’ve had, or if you’re out getting drunk with friends - no one deserves to be raped - ever.

A new campaign website has been set up to allow people to share their thoughts and seek support at www.notever.co.uk , and people can also show support for Not Ever on the campaign’s Facebook page at http://bit.ly/blMIu2 .

There is also a Not Ever Twitter stream: @Not_Ever to keep people updated with the progress of the campaign.

This is a feature completely new to the Rape Crisis Scotland website and is an area where we hope to discuss topical issues relating to sexual violence, and actively engage visitors to our website in those discussions.

You are welcome to post comments below at any time, or to suggest further comments for discussion. Please be aware that the comments are moderated and there will be a delay between the submission of your comment and its appearance on the website.

The latest annual report charts the activities of the organisation over the past year.With three new centres in the membership as well as the proposed new centre in the Scottish Borders, RCS has extended its reach. Highlights of the year include a powerful awareness-raising campaign ‘This is not an invitation to rape me’ and the passing of the Sexual Offences Scotland Act.

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