News
Outraged at the Rape Clause? Here’s what you can do
If you are as concerned as Rape Crisis Scotland is about the very real harm that the Rape Clause will do (see https://is.gd/pyamdh to find out what this really means for women and children), and want to do something about it, please consider writing to your elected representatives to ask them to do everything they can to put an end to this appalling piece of legislation.
By contacting your MP about this issue and asking her/him to represent your views, and the interests of survivors, you will be taking a valuable step towards rolling back an unworkable policy so inhumane that 78 psychologists have signed a letter stating that the #rapeclause 'will cause significant psychological harm' : https://is.gd/RtwTyZ .
New report on forensic provision for victims of sexual crime in Scotland
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland has today published its report on provision of services for forensic examinations across Scotland for victims of sexual crime.
This report says that services for rape victims across Scotland are unacceptable.
In response, the Scottish Government has announced the establishment of an implementation group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, to take forward improvements to the provision of health services for victims of rape and sexual assault.
Scottish women’s organisations make final appeal to House of Lords to scrap the 'rape clause'
Scottish Women’s Organisations are today calling on a little-known House of Lords committee to re-examine the so called ‘rape clause’ which limits tax credits and the child element of Universal Credit to two children unless a third or subsequent child was the result of rape.
In a letter to the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee of the House of Lords, national women’s organisations Engender, Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid, have challenged the basis of the legislation itself, and the manner in which it was covertly passed using a procedure that avoided parliamentary debate.
I Just Froze
Rape Crisis Scotland has launched a new campaign set to challenge and change common misconceptions that there is a right or wrong way for people to react during or after a rape.
Funded by the Scottish Government and voiced by Daniela Nardini ‘I just froze’ is centred on two creative animations. The online campaign emphasises that freezing is a common and natural response to rape, challenging prevalent beliefs that ‘fight or flight’ are the only valid responses to trauma. In doing so, ‘I just froze’ defies the idea that people are always able to fight back or report rape straight away and helps people to understand why this might be. This understanding is vital to improving public attitudes and responses to survivors of sexual violence across Scotland.
National standards for forensic examination
National standards for forensic examination
Ensuring support for victims of sexual assault.
New nationwide standards are being introduced to ensure consistent delivery of forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual violence.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland has been commissioned to produce the standards, which will ensure best practice is applied when examining victims following a rape or sexual assault – including the conditions and way examinations are handled.
RSSLatest posts
- Remembering Tansy Main
- Sex crimes in Scotland reach second-highest level in 54 years
- RCS calls for the Scottish Government and MSPs to work together to introduce key legislation for survivors of sexual crime
- Changes announced by the Sottish Government to the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform Bill
- Landmark judgment on corroboration in sexual offence cases
