New rape laws in Scotland may make it harder to convict perpetrators say campaigners
Posted on November 4, 2008
Filed Under Legal Police, Rape and Sexual Assault, Scotland, Women's Group | Comments Off
Rape Crisis Scotland has raised concerns about new laws
New legislation to strengthen law on rape may make it more difficult to prove the crime has taken place, Holyrood’s justice committee was told.
Campaigners have slammed provisions in the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill for allowing the continuation of using details of a victim’s personal history in court.
Claiming this put “limitations” on prosecuting the accused, Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid have called for action to stop a complainer’s personal history from being used in trials.
Sandy Brindley, national co-ordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland said medical records are increasingly used in court by the defence counsel.
She said: “The particular area we are concerned about is sexual history and character evidence.”
http://www.stv.tv/news/New_rape_laws_may_make_it_harder_to_con_081028163500255
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Rape Crisis Scotland has launched a new campaign, entitled This is Not an Invitation to Rape Me (see http://www.thisisnotaninvitationtorapeme.co.uk and the Facebook group for the campaign at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30082237828) aimed at tackling the assumptions and judgements people make about women who are raped, by stimulating debate.
This Is Not An Invitation To Rape Me was launched in Scotland on 15th October 2008 by the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny McAskill. Outdoor advertising went up on billboards and posters across Scotland for two weeks on Monday 20 October. In addition, over 1,000 campaign packs which include postcards, posters and fact sheets are being distributed across Scotland via regional Rape Crisis centres, to roll out the campaign locally.
A website has been set up where people can post their views on the campaign on http://www.thisisnotaninvitationtorapeme.co.uk
Rape Crisis Scotland will also work with other agencies to publicise the campaign to a range of audiences at universities, workplaces, libraries etc.
To find out more or how contact Rape Crisis Scotland http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/contact_us.htm
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