News
Statement on Emma Ritch Clinic
We’re delighted that the Emma Ritch Clinic, a new law clinic offering independent legal advice to survivors of sexual violence, will be established at the University of Glasgow.
The clinic will work in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland and other referral organisations. We will provide more information on the referral process shortly.
The Emma Ritch Clinic will be the first of its kind in the UK and will provide independent legal advice and representation by practising Scottish solicitors, without charge. The clinic could be transformative for rape complainers seeking justice in Scotland.
A statement from Scottish civil society organisations on the UK Government’s intervention on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill
This week, the UK government announced their intention to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which was recently passed overwhelmingly in the Scottish Parliament, from becoming law. We, the undersigned, wish to make clear our strong opposition to this intervention and to any suggestion that these reforms would have an adverse effect on the Equality Act or women’s rights.
Statement on waiting lists and the need for sustainable funding
Rape Crisis Scotland is calling for crucial funding for Rape Crisis Centres delivered during the Covid-19 pandemic to be extended.
10 centres across Scotland shared in £1,125,000 of funding to tackle waiting lists. This figure fell short of the £4,03,239 requested but made a significant impact on the support survivors were able to access during this period.
Waiting list funding enabled centres to boost staff numbers and tackle long waiting lists for support. If the waiting list funding is not extended, centres across Scotland have warned that a significant impact will be made to their ability to support survivors of sexual violence.
Some centres are already reporting long waiting lists, a situation which will worsen is funding is not extended.
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.
RSSLatest posts
- Our response to Lord’s Advocate’s letter
- We talk a lot about the rise of rape and sexual violence, let’s talk about how to stop it
- Statement: Supreme Court ruling on Daly v HM Advocate; Keir v HM Advocate
- An open letter: Women against the Far Right Scotland
- ‘Today has given survivors back their voice’: Campaigners celebrate removal of not proven verdict
