News
New Rape Crisis National Service Standards and National Statistics on Rape Crisis Services in Scotland
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.
Stop rape!
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.
"Silence"
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.
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