A Woman's Story - one year on

One year ago we launched A Woman’s Story - a 32 page report of a woman’s moving and powerful account of going through the policing and judicial system after being raped. She describes her experience of police, health, justice and other services. In particular, focusing on the institutional and individual responses from services and professionals which the author experienced as supportive and compassionate, and which aided her recovery, and those which she experienced as less supportive and at worst re-traumatising.

The author took the difficult decision to share her personal story with the public in the sincere hope that it can contribute to making a difference to the experiences of other individuals affected by sexual violence. One year on we look at the responses the A Women’s Story has received and changes to policing and the justice system in Scotland.

August – December 2016: Launching A Woman’s Story and making an impact

Soon after the publication of A Woman's Story, in August 2016, the author together with representatives of ERCC met with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Michael Matheson to provide feedback on her experience and her recommendations for change within the justice system. She also met with a representative of the local forensic medical examination services.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Justice; Sandy Brindley, National Co-ordinator Rape Crisis Scotland; Ben MacPherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith

In November 2016 we held our AGM, A Woman's Story: A Call for Change. Speaking at the event, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice thanked the author for telling her story and said that it had given him powerful insight and an opportunity to learn about the whole system through the eyes of a victim and their experience. Such as how the trial caused extreme stress and anxiety and that the author felt she was on trial as her actions were under heavy scrutiny - and how invaluable ERCC's expertise is for victims, as without it, their experience in the justice system would be much more difficult.

As well as speaking about wanting to improve the experience of women and men who have the courage to go through the legal process, the Cabinet Secretary also made the announcement of a survey to try to find out what more can be done to encourage more female doctors' participation in forensic examinations for victims of sexual offences. As part of an effort to help regain the gender balance, as victims almost always prefer to be examined by a female examiner

Speaking about this announcement Sandy Brindley, National Coordinator, Rape Crisis Scotland, said:

“Rape survivors consistently tell us how difficult they find it being examined by a male doctor in the immediate aftermath of being raped. The least we should be able to offer in these circumstances is an examination by a female doctor. We are very supportive of the new survey, and the efforts being made by the Government to improve immediate responses to rape survivors.”

January – May 2017: Learning, healing and storytelling for change

At the start of this year, in January, our Director, Caroline Burrell made a powerful speech about A Woman's Story and how survivors telling their stories can have a huge effect on healing, at the Scottish Government's Violence Against Women (VAW) and Girls Fund 'Changing Lives' conference. The conference was about celebrating the great work that VAW organisations are doing in Scotland - and below is a graphic image depiction of Caroline's speech by artist Albi Taylor.

In February, Rape Crisis Scotland launched the 'I just froze' campaign to increase awareness to the responses of rape and challenge preconceived and ill-conceived ideas of sexual crimes. At the launch, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice spoke about how A Woman’s Story was a very important narrative on reporting to the justice system, and the introduction of new legislation on jury direction. That judges in Scotland will now be able to explain to jurors why survivors react in different ways after a sexual crime; such as not always reporting immediately or always offering resistance.

In a debate this May, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, updated the Scottish Parliament on plans to transform the current health and justice response for victims of rape and sexual assault in Scotland through the newly established Taskforce for the Improvement of Services for Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault. As well as improved access forensic services for survivors in Orkney and Shetland, which was much needed and had been preventing survivors coming forward.

Within his speech he talked about his meeting with the author of A Woman’s Story and reinstated his commitment to making improvements for survivors within the health and justice system to lessen the trauma this process can extend to them.

“Last year, I had the privilege of meeting the author of “A Woman’s Story”. Members will be aware that “A Woman’s Story” is a powerful narrative of one woman’s traumatic personal journey through each step of the justice process after she had been raped. It is vital for me as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to hear at first hand how an individual can be made to feel when they come into contact with the criminal justice system. That meeting with a very brave woman and the observations that she made have stayed with me.”

July 2017: Reflecting on success and looking ahead, one year on

We warmly welcome the responses and changes set afoot by the Scottish Government. However, there is also still much to do to achieve a justice system that is victim centred. We will continue to work with the police, justice system and Scottish Government to improve access to justice for survivors. It is the author’s and our sincere hope that A Woman’s Story will be actively utilised by police, health, justice and other services to help inform policy, practice and training in relation to responding to individuals who have been affected by sexual violence.

Frances, a Support Worker, reads extracts from A Woman's Story at ERCC's AGM

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