Rape crisis group seeks law changes

Press, 17 June 1980, Page 4

Rape crisis group seeks law changes

PA Auckland The Rape Crisis Centre in Auckland seeks expansion Of the law defining rape, including acknowledgement of rape within marriage. The workers at the centre, Susan St Clair and Angela Boyes-Barnes have presented recommendations on the matter on behalf of the centre to the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay). They told him that under'the Crimes Act at present a wife raped by her husband had no comeback. But women raped by their husbands should have no less protection than -.any other women, they said. The definition of rape should go. beyond - .sexual intercourse , with ;.'.a woman dr girl against her consent to include penetration by foreign- objects. For such acts the penalty fpc. rape, a term of imprisonment not .. exceeding 14 years, be retained becausethe effects .on the victim , of such abuses could be as devastating as full sexual intercourse.

Other recommendations included standardisation of police proceedings to include the police notifying rape victims of the Rape Crisis Centre and the services it provided: emotional, medical, and legal aid.. The police -should be

traihed to ensure a wider understanding of the trauma rape victims suf<-'. fer, more women police ‘. surgeons should be includ- . ed, and policewomen ;' should be trained in dea|ing with rape victims. rii There should be irt* ;' creased professionalism: oh . the part of police prose* cution teams to stop iit< fringement in court < defence lawyers of a rapjß.:; victim’s rights and . nition of the trauma £■; rape victim experienced iji.’ facing a jury and the rap?- < is I and his supporters. - »t - All material identifying a. f. rape victim should be; Ch suppressed because of jufy? prejudice, fears of repris?.y al. and community attv >■ tudes> which .blamed' thgr-jl rape victim ■:. rather tha^?-. ; - the .attacker....s" ■-/. ■ fe?' Rape-charge- depositions;-\ should be; removed froip ■ the/jurisdiction' of 'of ’the., peace and../ morej; ■t h <rr Q.tTg h instruction should'be’ given to women: j - of 1 . ' what to expect ih -' ■ court. t . , ■ >■ : -fe'.-

There should also be provision of financial supf-; port for preventive education at secondary schools.' The Justice Department employed psychologists to work .with convicted rap-’ ists but not rape victims.; It was the Government’s responsibility to give’ financial support for rape’ victims .by ~ funding rapecrisis programmes. y;