Baroness Stern’s review into how rape complaints are handled by public authorities has been published today, so I’ve had a quick flick through it and picked out some key points.
“We need to look at rape victims as people who have been harmed, whom society has a positive responsibility to help and to protect, aside from the operations of criminal law. Whether the rape is reported or not, whether the case goes forward or not, whether there is a conviction or not, victims still have a right to services that will help them to recover and rebuild their lives.”
Yes yes yes and yes.
“A good service costs money. Money is scarce and priorities are many. But a good service saves money in the longer term, by preventing many years of ill-health and instability in those who have been victims”
Yes
“Obviously, even in times of austerity, rape must be investigated and prosecuted, and victims cared for. There cannot be impunity for perpetrators of such a serious violent crime. If this is to be done with due regard for economy then we need priorities. What we have learnt from the review suggests to us that care for victims and protection of those who are vulnerable to rape should be a higher priority than it is now.”
Yes
“We are fortunate in this country that since the 1970s we have had Rape Crisis Centres which have provided support and counselling. These were originally for women only, but some now also help men. Their dedicated work over many years to raise awareness of sexual violence against women has led to many of the improvements that we have described in this report. They provide a safe place where victims can go to be supported, listened to and get counselling. Some Rape Crisis Centres run helplines. Others provide victims with information about services they might need to access, such as social housing. They also constitute a ‘voice’ in a local area, speaking up for the victims of rape, being critical when necessary and working with public authorities to ensure their approach is up to the mark.”
Yes they do, and yes we’re very fortunate to have them.
“When we come to dealing with the interaction between the victim, the criminal justice system and all the other essential agencies (such as Rape Crisis Centres) which provide help and support, a major contribution can be made by the provision of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs)”
Yes
“In dealing with rape there is a range of priorities that needs to be balanced. Support and care for victims should be a high priority. The obligations the State has to those who have suffered a violent crime, and a crime that strikes at the whole concept of human dignity and bodily integrity, are much wider than working for the conviction of a perpetrator.”
Yes
It’s disappointing to see then that not one of Stern’s 23 recommendations relates to the need for long term sustainable funding for Rape Crisis centres.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a really positive report in many respects, but bloody hell, talk about a missed opportunity!
Anyway, here’s a link to the full report:
And the Government’s Interim Response, which states:
“Getting support for victims of rape and sexual violence right is an important element of ensuring the response to rape is effective. We will consider Baroness Stern’s findings on this point carefully.”
Hmmmm.
And here’s some of today’s press coverage:
Rape report: “If the police can’t protect you…who can?”
PC: rape reporting better but myths still exist
Focus on rape conviction rates stopping women coming forward, warns Stern
Too Much To Say For Myself 
Hi Cath
I agree with you, especially the need for more funding for Rape Crisis centres (duh).
I just feel this is a bit of a nothing review, intended to get nothing done.
Yeah the govt. will ‘consider’ the recommendations…in other words, some poor junior civil servant will be instructed by their boss to write a diplomatically worded response that amounts to ‘nah, this would cost money/ take effort…get stuffed’.
Cynical, me?
I think that it’s important to focus on increasing the conviction rate. Yes aftercare for victims whether they report or not is great, but there are reasons why so few women report and why attrition is so high. Things can be done about those reasons. The quotes above seem to be saying *shrug* rape is just *SO difficult* to prosecute, and I’ve seen that attitude before.
And:
‘If this is to be done with due regard for economy then we need priorities. What we have learnt from the review suggests to us that care for victims and protection of those who are vulnerable to rape should be a higher priority than it is now.’
Just sounds like she’s saying that it would just be too expensive to improve the conviction rate.
And protection of women who are ‘vulnerable to rape’? Wtf? That is one shade away from victim-blaming…yes I’m sure women should stop going out at night, getting drunk, being young and naive or disabled or whatever the hell vulnerable is supposed to mean…but erm, how about instead of policing women’s behaviour, men stop raping?
If I was raped (touch wood…I’m fortunate enough that I haven’t been) I would want to see the attacker get what they deserved, big time. I know some survivors feel much the same way and seeing their attacker at least have to stand up in court and defend himself is necessary for them to recover. Whereas feeling the police didn’t take them seriously, or even that there is no point going to the police, is not going to help.
(I can see why some women choose not to report and would never say that they have to…if that’s their way of dealing with it…but if an individual woman *wants* to exercise her rights to have the crime against her investigated properly, but feels she *can’t* as she won’t be believed, or feels that she isn’t believed and drops the case, that’s different). But the point is, it’s no good just saying that we need to deal with the aftermath. Protecting women means actually prosecuting rapists, so that men realise there is at least some chance they will get punished, as they deserve, for raping and therefore…maybe…don’t rape. They are just getting away with it at the moment.
Whew that was an essay.
|My understanding of the law is that rape is a crime and criminal law is solely concerned with prosecuting individuals who have committed a crime. Criminal law is not about apportioning victim accountability – but I forget men who commit rape are never accountable because women are always responsible for preventing such male rapists from committing this crime in the first place.
So, let’s not prosecute individuals who are charged with murder. After all murder just happens does it not so there is nothing we as a society can do about it – apart from telling everyone to remain completely isolated and not interact with any other human being. Illogical – no because this is precisely what the Stern report is telling women – you are responsible not those men who choose to commit sexual violence against women and girls.
No one is ‘vulnerable to rape’ – just as no one is ‘vulnerable to being murdered .’ Rape is not something which ‘just happens.’ Rape is one of the central methods men as a group use to ensure male oppression and control of women continues unabated. Do not forget the laws were created and written by men for men because women did not exist as autonomous individuals but instead were the property of men.
Until such time as the laws concerning ‘consent’ are radically overhauled we will continue to hear claims ‘women bring rape upon themselves’ because men must never be held responsible for their sexual behaviour and actions. This is why we live in a rape culture and why rape is perceived to a terrible crime – but one which rarely occurs!