DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT C: CITIZENS' RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS GENDER EQUALITY Overview of the worldwide best practices for rape prevention and for assisting women victims of rape Study Abstract The study provides an overview of the worldwide best practices for rape prevention and for assisting women victims of rape. It reviews the international literature and offers selected examples of promising practices. It addresses the comprehensive range of policies in the fields of gender equality; law and justice; economy, development and social inclusion; culture, education and media; and health. It presents a wide-ranging set of examples of best practice. It concludes with a series of recommendations, based on the social scientific evidence presented in the study. PE 493.025 EN This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. AUTHORS Sylvia Walby, UNESCO Chair in Gender Research, Sociology, Lancaster University, UK Philippa Olive, Sociology, Lancaster University Jude Towers, Sociology, Lancaster University Brian Francis, Professor of Social Statistics, Lancaster University Sofia Strid, Lecturer, Gender Studies and Political Science, Örebro University, Sweden Andrea Krizsán, Centre for Policy Studies, Central European University, Budapest Emanuela Lombardo, Political Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Corinne May-Chahal, Professor of Social Work, Lancaster University Suzanne Franzway, Professor, Sociology & Gender Studies, University of South Australia David Sugarman, Professor of Law, Lancaster University Bina Agarwal, Professor, University of Delhi and University of Manchester Contact: Sylvia Walby, Department of Sociology, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YT. E-mail: [email protected] RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR Erika Schulze Policy Department C: Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs European Parliament B-1047 Bruxelles E-mail: [email protected] LINGUISTIC VERSIONS Original: EN ABOUT THE EDITOR To contact the Policy Department or to subscribe to its monthly newsletter please write to: [email protected] European Parliament, manuscript completed in October 2013. © European Union, Brussels, 2013. This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/studies DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and the publisher is given prior notice and sent a copy. 2 Overview of the worldwide best practices for rape prevention and for assisting women victims of rape _________________________________________________________________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the following people for their help and contributions: Health case studies: Rachel Belk, Research Officer, St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester. Jennifer Holly, Stella Project Mental Health Initiative Coordinator, AVA (Against Violence and Abuse), London. Jackie Patiniotis, reVision (formerly The Joint Forum), Liverpool, England. Bill Roberts, Locate Investigations Ltd. Bernie Ryan, Service Manager, St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester. Dr. Kylee Trevillion, Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Section of Women’s Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College, London. Dr Cath White, Clinical Director, St. Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester. Liz Willows, Specialist Mental Health Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, The Haven, Paddington Sexual Assault Referral Centre, London. Australia case study: Bec Neill Comprehensive rape crisis services case study: Bobbi Grange (SACT) and Michelle Barry (Southampton Rape Crisis Centre) Cyber-rape case study: Awais Rashid Mexican law case study: Deysi Cheyne, Ana de Mendoza, Ana María Moreno, Lorena Pajares, Guadalupe Portillo, Charo Rubio #talkaboutit case study: Gustav Almestad Commenting on the draft report: Liz Kelly (CWASU, London Metropolitan University) 3 Policy Department C: Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs _________________________________________________________________ CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .........................................................................12 LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................15 LIST OF BOXES .........................................................................................15 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................16 CASE STUDY EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICE .............................................19 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................22 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................26 1.1 The purpose of the study ................................................................. 26 1.2 Policy developments in the European Union and in international bodies .. 26 1.3 Methodology .................................................................................. 27 1.4 Definition of rape ........................................................................... 27 1.4.1 Limitations of the definition of rape ........................................................ 30 1.5 Causes of rape ............................................................................... 30 1.6 Links between preventing rape and assisting the victims of rape ........... 31 1.7 Introduction to an integrated approach to prevent rape and to assist victims of rape ............................................................................... 32 1.8 Evaluating practices ........................................................................ 33 1.9 Criteria of best practice ................................................................... 34 1.10 Structure of the report .................................................................... 34 2 PLANNING AND COORDINATION .......................................................35 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 35 2.2 Strategic planning .......................................................................... 35 2.2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 35 2.2.2 UN Women 16 Steps ............................................................................ 36 2.2.3 Council of Europe ................................................................................ 36 2.2.4 European Union .................................................................................. 37 2.3 National plans of action................................................................... 37 2.4 Local coordination .......................................................................... 39 2.4.1 Advantages of coordination ................................................................... 40 2.4.2 Criteria for best practice for coordination ................................................ 40 2.4.3 Victims and women’s rights at the centre of interventions ......................... 41 2.5 Conclusions ................................................................................... 42 4 Overview of the worldwide best practices for rape prevention and for assisting women victims of rape _________________________________________________________________________ 3 SPECIALISED SERVICES FOR VICTIM-SURVIVORS ............................43 3.1 Comprehensive service provision ...................................................... 43 3.2 Centres......................................................................................... 44 3.2.1 Services offered by centres and shelters ................................................. 44 3.2.2 Transformative effects of centres ........................................................... 45 3.3 Conclusions ................................................................................... 46 4 HEALTH .............................................................................................47 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................. 47 4.2 Health consequences of sexual violence and rape ................................ 47 4.3 Establishing best practice in conflict and non-conflict zones .................. 48 4.3.1 Humanitarian Emergency situations ....................................................... 49 4.3.2 Health services for victims of rape in non-disaster zones ........................... 50 4.4 Capable and care conducive environment .......................................... 51 4.4.1 Situations of humanitarian emergencies ................................................. 51 4.4.2 Services for victims of rape in non-disaster zones .................................... 52 4.4.3 Best practice standards of capable and care conducive environments .......... 54 4.5 Health and medical care .................................................................. 55 4.5.1 Situations of humanitarian emergencies ................................................. 55 4.5.2 Services for victims of rape in non-disaster zones ...................................