Sexual Violence in the UK draft
Introduction/ basic definition (see Sexual Violence in Finland)
Sexual violence means any sexual activity or act that happened without consent.[1] In the UK there are many offences which can be described as sexual violence, including but not limited to rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Whilst victims of sexual violence can be of any sex, in the UK the vast majority are women.[2]
Legal definition of rape/ sexual assault and its evolution over time - Original definitions and inclusion of marital rape, evolving definitions of consent etc...
Prison time/ punishment for convicted rapists
Any possible variations in law (definitions, punishment, etc) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
In the United Kingdom, rape is defined as the act of a person intentionally penetrating another person's vagina, anus or mouth with their penis without their consent.[3][4][5]
This most recent definition of rape was updated in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Corresponding legislation in Scotland is the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, and in Northern Ireland the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008
According to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, a person commits rape if the following happens:
This includes if the rape is committed in a marriage or relationship, if consent for one type of penetration is given but not another, when the perpetrator removes a condom without consent or lies about putting one on, an offence commonly known as 'stealthing'.
Statistics
Victims and perpetrators
Report and conviction rates
Reiterate women are the majority of victims with statistical evidence. Historical context? - STATS
Men are also victims, though far less common - often raped by other men. Where is this most common? The age group most affected in this demographic? - STATS
Rape culture in schools, paedophilia, children and consent
Disabled people
LGBTQ+ people (e.g. corrective rape)
People of colour, immigrants, refugees, ethnic minorities (e.g. is there and increased chance of rape among these groups in the UK?)
Gender -STATS
Within families and relationships - STATS
People in positions of authority and institutions - Police, fire service, NHS, Schools, Church, etc... (examples?)
(subheading under Perpetrators? - could be spread out in other sections potentially)
Sexual harassment
The portrayal of victims in the media/ public attitudes towards rape
Rape and sexual violence/ harassment in public institutions (Police, schools, fire departments, the army, CBI, medical institutions)
Movements and protest - Me Too, Reclaim the Night, Sarah Everard case and resulting protest, Reclaim These Streets, surveys and petitions (Everyone's Invited) - consequent counter movements such as 'Men's rights' activism, idolisation of online figures like Andrew Tate and their effect on young British men and boys
Education - schools, prisons, community outreach
Legislation - recent law concerning the children of rape victims
Support services available in the UK