News
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We’re extending our Legal Helpline opening times
Starting this Monday 20th May, our Helpline hours have changed to include an additional day and adjusted opening times.
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Since we launched the Helpline four years ago, we have seen a steady demand. Last year, around 400 women received information through our helpline.
Thanks to our recent expansion, we’re excited to announce the extension of this service to offer a Monday afternoon helpline and modified opening times to cover three mornings/afternoons and one evening a week.
Introducing Hanan and Rachel – SWRC’s caseworkers
We are excited to welcome Hanan El-Atrash and Rachel Hill, the two new Caseworkers who recently joined our team!
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As Caseworkers, they support the SWRC’s solicitors in their day-to-day legal casework. Their activities are varied and extensive and include the development of legal resources and training. Although the work they undertake may often be ‘behind the scenes’, it has been vital to increase our solicitors’ capacity to offer much needed service to survivors of gender based violence.
How can we improve access to justice for victims/survivors of stalking?
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Last month, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2017-2018 released its results and it found that women aged 16-24 are the most affected by stalking and harassment (27%). It also mentioned that only 1 in 10 respondents reported these incidents to the police.
It is clear that women are disproportionately affected by stalking and harassment. And these numbers reflect only the cases where there have been reports. To get a fuller picture, we would need to consider the cases of women who have been stalked but have decided not to report to the police.
6 things you need to know about Scotland’s new Domestic Abuse law
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From today (1 April 2019), a new Domestic Abuse law has come into force in Scotland. This law is a welcome change because it recognises the multiple ways in which people are affected by domestic abuse. It also expands the definition of what domestic abuse is in criminal law in Scotland and how the police and courts investigate and prosecute this crime.
The new law should increase the opportunity to obtain protection and seek justice through the criminal justice system. Below we have summarised the main aspects of this legislation.
The SWRC’s expansion set to increase legal support for survivors of gender-based violence
We had the pleasure to receive Ash Denham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, yesterday at the offices of JustRight Scotland, the legal provider for the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (“the Centre”), and our new helpline premises.
The visit follows the recent expansion of the Centre thanks to the support of the Scottish Government through the Justice Fund and the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
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