News

Reson@te
Rape Crisis Scotland has been working with 12 artists in
Scotland to produce
Reson@te, a new exhibition featuring work which
invites viewers to consider issues like consent, self-image, loss of identity,
the everyday reality of sexual harassment, trauma, feelings of grief, and the
needs of survivors.
The
exhibition features a diverse range of work ranging from a short film, an
interactive installation, quilt, prints, painting, zines & textiles.
It will take place at the Image Collective Gallery on the 2nd
floor of Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ.
Rape Crisis Scotland: Spirit of rights set out in WF must be honoured

This morning (19th October 2018) saw the High Court of Justiciary hear a petition to the Nobile Officium against an order for the recovery of a rape complainer’s medical records.
This action, by the complainer, is an unusual one - a legal route of last resort.
Significantly, the 3 bench panel of judges found that someone has a right to appeal any decision to access their medical records.
They quashed an order from Lord Burns that ALL her medical records should be accessed by a Commissioner (a solicitor) to prepare a report for the defence.
Rape Crisis Scotland welcomes landmark judgement
First successful civil damages action for rape following a criminal trial

Rape Crisis Scotland joins the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC) and JustRight Scotland (JRS) in welcoming today’s judgement of Sheriff Weir QC in AR v Stephen Daniel Coxen.
Ms M has succeeded in establishing in civil proceedings that she was raped when she was a student at St Andrew’s University in 2013. She took this action because she felt let down by the criminal justice system – in which a jury returned a “not proven” verdict in December 2015 - and felt she had to pursue justice herself.
New figures reveal record levels of sexual crime in Scotland
New figures released today show record levels of sexual crime
Key figures:
· Reported rape increased by 22% in 2017/18 compared to the previous year
· Reported rape & attempted rapes have increased by 99% since 2010
· In at least 40% of reported sexual offences, the complainer was under 18.
New figures released today by the Scottish Government show record levels of sexual crime being reported to the police. This includes a 22% increase in the number of rapes being reported to the police.
Funding boost to improve Rape Crisis support for survivors
We were delighted to welcome
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for
Social Security and Older People, to the
Rape Crisis Scotland offices this morning.
The visit followed the First Minister's announcement earlier this week in the Programme for Government of an additional £1.5 million funding (over three years) for Rape Crisis Centres to help improve the support available to survivors of sexual violence.
Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“The Scottish
Government has taken many actions to take forward our commitment to preventing
and eradicating violence against women and girls. This includes investment in prevention work,
frontline services and improvements in the justice system, as well as the
introduction of landmark legislation on domestic abuse, abusive behaviour and sexual
harm.
[Photo: Shirley-Anne Somerville with Rape Crisis Scotland Director of Operations Sandie Barton]