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New guide and charter of rights for victim-survivors of sexual crime in Scotland
A new guide about sexual offence cases in the High Court will address a gap in trauma-informed information about High Court sexual offence cases.
A Guide for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Crime: When Your Case is Being Heard in the High Court has been developed and published by the Emma Ritch Law Clinic.
It is the first resource of its kind in Scotland, seeking to address the lack of accessible and trauma-informed information for victims-survivors.
The publication sets out clear and sensitive and information about each stage of the High Court criminal justice process, aiming to reduce uncertainty by explaining what someone can expect while acknowledging that the process is often distressing.
A new Charter of Rights for victim-survivors, developed in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland, has been published alongside the guide.
The Charter sets out key rights and entitlements, reinforcing a survivor-centred approach to participation in the justice process.
Both publications have been developed in close partnership with people who have lived experience of the High Court process, as well as justice practitioners and support organisations.
Rape Crisis Scotland chief executive Alev Taylor said: “Choosing to engage with the criminal justice process remains a difficult decision for many survivors.
“It is crucial that survivors know and understand their rights. The justice system is complex and often daunting, so specialist resources like this play an important role in ensuring that survivors know what to expect and can participate in the process feeling informed and prepared.
“We are extremely grateful to the Emma Ritch Law Clinic for their continued hard work in ensuring that the rights of survivors are understood and upheld.”
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