News
Rape Crisis Scotland statement on the open letter to Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls
We, along with organisations from across Scotland’s women’s and human rights sector, have written to Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls.
Our letter is a response to the Rapporteur’s letter to the Scottish Government on Scotland’s Gender Reform Bill. We see the paths to equality and the realisation of human rights for women and trans people as being deeply interconnected and dependant on shared efforts to dismantle systems of discrimination.
The full letter is below.
Cost should not be a barrier to justice
Justice should not have a price tag.
Survivors who have had damaging experiences in court have the right to complain about how they have been treated during their case. But as Ellie Wilson’s case shows, survivors can be left with a massive bill, simply for seeking justice.
Statement on Inspection of COPFS practice in relation to sections 274 and 275 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995
This is a welcome, important and timely review. For survivors, the prospect of their sexual history or private life being brought up in court often forms part of the fear about reporting rape. When it happens, it can add significantly to the distress and violation experienced by rape complainers in court.
There are significant gaps in the available data around what is happening with this type of evidence, with the last published research based on cases from 2004-05.
Today’s review shows a significant decline in the number of applications being made which relate to a complainer’s sexual history other than with the accused, dropping from 20% in previous research to 3% today. This suggests that significant progress has been made in excluding irrelevant and prejudicial information about complainers’ sexual history from rape trials.
Statement on Glasgow Clan signing
Earlier this year, we were deeply disappointed by Raith Rovers FC's decision to David Goodwillie, who was found by a senior judge to be a rapist. Yesterday, we found ourselves again discouraged by the actions of management in Scottish sports when Glasgow Clan ice hockey club announced the signing of Lasse Uusivirta, who was arrested on allegations of a rape charge in the US in 2013 and left the country before he could be brought to trial.
Signing men who have been accused of sexual crimes sends the entirely wrong message, it says that men's athletic abilities are worth more than the lives of the women they've harmed. These decisions can be retraumatising for survivors and decision-makers must be held accountable for the harm caused by their actions.
Rape Crisis Scotland position on restorative justice in sexual offence cases
Earlier this year, it was announced that survivors of rape and domestic abuse in Scotland will be able to access restorative justice for the first time. This refers to a voluntary process of facilitated contact between survivors and their convicted perpetrators.
RSSLatest posts
- 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
- New figures show a significant rise in number of reported rapes in Scotland
- We’re intervening in a Supreme Court case
