Roundtable: Responses to Survivors of Sexual Violence--A Discussion of Current Responses and Potential Avenues to Justice

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

This roundtable will comprise three papers on different aspects of responses to UK survivors of sexual violence. Paper one will examine how ‘real rape’ myths impact on criminal justice outcomes for female survivors of stranger rape, drawing upon English and Welsh police records to argue that stereotypes can still influence case outcomes. Paper two will then widen the scope of survivor justice by exploring the potential of victim compensation to provide an alternative source of justice in light of low conviction rates. It will use survey and interview data to argue that there are ongoing problems with the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that can serve to stigmatise and further silence rape survivors. Finally, a paper will explore the inadequacy of the words used to discuss unwanted sexual experiences, highlighting that the legal terminology surrounding rape can be problematic for survivors. It will argue that survivor justice would be better served by the adoption of a new vocabulary that reflects the continuum of sexual violence. Altogether, this roundtable will provide a critique of current responses to rape survivors and highlight the need to widen notions of survivor justice.

Sub Unit

• Area XIII: Roundtable Sessions

Individual Presentations

• The ‘Real’ Rape Stereotype in Jury Convictions for Stranger Rape - Samantha Lundrigan, Anglia Ruskin University; Mandeep K. Dhami, Middlesex University; Kelly Agudelo, N/A

• Victim Compensation as Survivor Justice: The Potential Benefits and Limitations of the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in Rape and Sexual Assault - Olivia Smith, Anglia Ruskin University

• Speaking of Justice - Colleen Moore, Anglia Ruskin University

Chair

• Anna Markovska, Anglia Ruskin University, UK