Languages | InclusionClick here or press Escape to leave this site now
Call our helpline

News/Blog

Announcement: new partnership with JustRight Scotland

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre is delighted to announce our new partnership with JustRight Scotland, a Scottish legal provider with human rights at their core.

Going forward, we’ll be working closely with JustRight Scotland to continue to provide free legal advice, information and representation to women affected by violence or abuse.

Scotland's new Domestic Abuse Bill is published

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre welcomes the launch of Scotland’s new Domestic Abuse Bill.

At the moment, there is a significant gap between criminal justice responses to and the evidence and experience of women who are subject to domestic abuse. Without legislation that encompasses and criminalises the broad range of abusive tactics perpetrators use against victims, including psychological, emotional, financial, sexual and physical abuse, women are too often left vulnerable, unsupported by the legal framework and unable to access justice.

'I just froze'

Rape Crisis Scotland yesterday (7th March) launched a powerful and creative campaign set to challenge and change common misconceptions that there is a right or wrong way for people to react during or after a rape.

The campaign launches just ahead of the introduction of judicial directions in sexual offence cases on the issue of lack of physical resistance and delayed reporting to the police.

The new directions mean that from April under the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Bill judges in Scotland will be required to tell jurors where relevant that many people do not physically resist when subject to a violent or sexual assault, instead they might freeze. Additionally, where relevant judges will tell jurors that there can be good reason why a person may not report rape immediately.

These directions are a significant and necessary step forward in challenging and changing the myths which can prevent women from having the confidence to report rape or sexual abuse.

The Scottish Women’s Rights Centre welcomes both the new judicial directions and the creativity of Rape Crisis Scotland in campaigning for improved responses to victim-survivors of rape across Scotland.

For more information on the campaign, click here.

Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
Back to top
Loading

Helpline

08088 010 789

Our daytime helpline is currently available:

Our evening helpline, staffed by pro-bono solicitors who can provide initial advice, is currently available:

For up-to-date availability including any upcoming closures, please click here.