11 April 2013

Panel Discussion: Rape Culture and the Criminal Justice System featuring Louise Nicholas

Tuesday 16th April, 6 – 8pm
Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant, Guest Room Function Space
39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro

Wellington Rape Crisis (WRC) is hosting a discussion panel about rape culture and the effect that rape myths have on both the criminal justice system and survivors of sexual violence. This is a members event (non members can join on the door). It is an opportunity for members to engage in an open discussion about the ways in which the system can be made more compassionate and accessible to survivors and their families.

Wellington Rape Crisis Agency Manager Natalie Gousmett says “there is an extremely low conviction rate for sexual violence cases in our courts and we know this impacts on levels of reporting of sexual violence and the healing of any survivor going through the courts, I am really looking forward to exploring the reasons behind this and possible solutions in this panel discussion”.

The conviction rate for all sexual offences in 2004-2006 was 46% compared with 55% of all violent crimes and 70% for total crime (statistics supplied by Research and Evaluation Unit, Ministry of Justice).
Only 13 per cent of sexual violation cases reported to police end in a conviction.

The panel is:
• Elizabeth MacDonald, an Associate Professor at Victoria University at Victoria University of Wellington School of Law, who draws on feminist legal theory and has conducted extended research in the area of ‘real rape’ and sexual violence on trial.
• Louise Nicholas, a survivor advocate with firsthand experience dealing with the criminal justice system.
• Jan Logie, Green MP who had pioneered the “Everyone Needs the Right Help Campaign” to highlight the need for better access to specialist services for survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

Each speaker will be allotted fifteen minutes to speak, followed by an open discussion and an opportunity for members to ask questions.

For catering purposes please register your attendance here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UQDDPkCzZzL-WGz4gQul0a2UnqswI0T6LfCncaVQlAs/viewform

Find out more about WRC membership here: http://www.wellingtonrapecrisis.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21&Itemid=21

ENDS

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