Poster campaign clear on sexual abuse and rape
A high-profile poster and postcard campaign aimed at ending violence against women has been launched in Perth.
- By Sandra Gray
- Published in the Courier : 26.11.10
- Published online : 26.11.10 @ 03.46pm
The initiative will see Tayside Police, the Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in Perth and Kinross and the Perth and Kinross Community Safety Partnership work together to highlight the issue.
The event marked the first day of the annual worldwide 16 days of action, which runs until December 10.
Divisional police commander of police, Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie said in the run up to Christmas they hoped to give a "clear, unambiguous" message that while drinking is not a crime, sexual abuse is.
He said sex without consent is rape and responsibility for rape "will always lie with the rapist and Tayside Police will robustly investigate every report of rape.
"For those who either ply an individual with alcohol for the purposes of sexually exploiting them or sexually exploit them when they are incapable of giving consent, our message is also very clear — you may very well find yourself being investigated for serious sexual crime, prosecuted, convicted, imprisoned and placed on the sex offenders register.
"While drinking is not a crime, it is not a defence either."
Over the next fortnight, police officers and staff in Perth and Kinross will be distributing postcards that depict women enjoying themselves with the direct message that "Drinking is not a crime — rape is."
Alcohol is often involved in cases of rape to incapacitate women and is one of the most commonly cited factors in attempts to explain or excuse it.
Onus of blame
Although alcohol can be consumed by anyone over the age of 18, it is felt the significance of drink in rape and sexual assault cases differs more for women than men, as it is seen as greatly increasing their vulnerability to rape and, perversely, accusations of blame for any assault. This then leads to women being urged to modify their behaviour by drinking less, or abstaining completely.
Chairman of Perth and Kinross Council's Community Safety Partnership, Councillor Willie Robertson said, "Everyone in our community is entitled to the same basic freedoms and for people over the age of 18 years, that includes the freedom to drink alcohol.
"Women should not be obliged or expected to curtail this freedom in order to prevent harassment or assault. Alcohol should not be used as an excuse for rape, perpetrators are responsible."
The campaign has been welcomed and fully supported by the local branch of the Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.
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