WEBINAR 2 – 12TH NOVEMBER 2020 – INDEPENDENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR SEXUAL OFFENCE VICTIM-SURVIVORS
The recording of this fascinating session is available here.
In response to your suggestions (thank you, it helps us to keep learning), we have used live captions to the recording, but they are not perfect and particularly inaccurate in places. We don’t currently have the resources to correct all captions and so we apologise for the inaccuracies, but we are looking to find a solution in future and will take any tips you have!
During the session, a number of resources were requested or cited:
- John discussed his review of serious sexual offences in Northern Ireland
- Harriet discussed the Centre for Women’s Justice representation of the End Violence Against Women Coalition in legal action against the CPS
- More on Bonny’s experiences and subsequent activism can be found in this article she wrote for the Metro.
- This Sky News mini-documentary (16.59 mins) is also an incredibly powerful way to find out more.
- Yassin talked about Alexandra Wilson, the Black lawyer who has opened up about being mistaken for a defendant at court. Bonny helpfully shared Alexandra’s twitter account where you can find out more: https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister.
- Yassin also mentioned a report on Black people, racism and human rights by the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
- Sandy referred to a Scottish report on race equality that highlighted police institutional racism.
- Harriet highlighted the IMKAAN report, Reclaiming Voice, on minoritised women and sexual violence.
- Yassin also mentioned Saidiya Hartman as her enduring influence. Her website with her works and getting us to think beyond the given.
- Oona Brooks, shared an evaluation of Scottish advocates (similar to England and Wales ISVAs).
- Miranda Horvath shared Alice Vachss’ book about a US Prosecutors’ experiences of how CJS professionals can collaborate with rapists.
- Sandy mentioned some case law from Scotland that have pushed things forward there in terms of allowing access to legal advocacy. They are:
- Medical records: WF, Petitioner [2016] CSOH
- Digital downloads: AR v HM Advocate (2019) HCJ 81 (the judgement itself is not currently available online, but you can read some analysis in this report by Sharon Cowan)
- Sexual history: RR v HM Advocate (2020) HCA/2020/4/XM (not yet published)