In the media: Evidence of sexual history

11 December 1998

New Law Journal: why there should be a ban of the use of evidence on a women’s sexual history Parliament should stop endorsing judges’ sexism which exposes victims to questions about sex with men other than the defendant – and understand that this kind of action is, in fact, a second rape.  

Statement: Dispatches Racism – A danger to all women.

23 November 1998

BWRAP speak out against the racist BBC programme. Dispatches promoted racist stereotypes with the dangerous lie that most gang rape is committed by Black boys. This leaves Black women even more vulnerable to rape.

In the media: What black viewers think

19 November 1998

In the Guardian, an article responding to Dispatches programme. This documentary has demonised young black men – stereotyping them as sexual attackers and the effects of such racism is profound.

In the media: “they said i asked for it” special report in Bella.

29 September 1998

He’s the rapist, she’s the victim. Bella article asks the question – So how come every little detail about her lifestyle is used to make the women look like the criminal??

Statement: on Violence Against Women at the UN CSW.

5 March 1998

Lisa Longstaff from Women Against Rape urges the governments of UN to take action. Outlining and proposing a proper standard of services and resources required to support all survivors of rape and sexual violence.

Legal precedent for rape victims seeking asylum

9 December 1997

Legal precedent for rape victims seeking asylum   We were centrally involved in winning this important legal precedent for rape survivors seeking asylum in the Royal Courts of Justice, London back in 1997. Mr Justice Sullivan ruled that the previous Home Secretary had been wrong not to consider new evidence provided by a young woman …

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Statement: Legal precedent for rape victimes seeking asylum

9 December 1997

We call for an official recognition of rape victims’ suffering. Ms G fled Uganda in 1989 following multiple attacks of rape and violence she suffered from soldiers. Here is the statement issued by Black Women’s Rape Action Project which marks an important legal precedent for rape survivors seeking asylum …

The convicted rapist feels unlucky – rarely guilty.

18 November 1997

Should parliament prevent a victim’s sexual history being raised in court? An article in the Times argues the case for a change in priorities at every stage of the criminal justice process regarding the rape and sexual assault of women.

In the media: Bias in the legal process

14 November 1997

Juries are not to blame… As reported in the New Law Journal, there appears to be a bias refusal within the criminal justice system to arrest, investigate and convict men who are violent against women.

Discrimination in law faced by survivors with disabilities

15 October 1997

In the media: Claire Glasman on the multiple discriminations many rape survivors face

20 September 1997

Article in Telepathy newsletter – outlining the support provided by WAR for survivors of rape. And examples of some of the legal cases we have worked on with women…

10 September 1997

A wife has made legal history by successfully suing her husband for damages after he raped her. Husbands have been successfully criminally prosecuted for raping their wives, but lawyers believe that is the first time that a civil action for rape has been won.

In the media: “Law and order” does not always lead to justice.

1 August 1997

Policy often divert attention from the real obstacles of justice which victims face. Such policies provide a smokescreen for the sexism, racism, class and other forms of discrimination. Read the article in New Law Journal in full below.

Letter: We write to Helen Grindrod QC regarding consent in rape trials

13 June 1997

We argue against new legislation regarding concsent cases. Our letter below outlines the intolerable ordeal rape survivors now face in trying to establish in court that they did not consent to sex.

Defining consent

6 June 1997

Our opposition to the Law Commissions proposals on consent in rape law outlined in the New Law Journal, June 1997.