Abolish Good Character references in rape trials

Allowing Good Character references during Rape trials is re-traumatising & unnecessary. Good character tells us nothing about whether someone had consent, or had reasonable belief they had consent. Sexual assault, is when a sexual act takes place in the absence of CONSENT. Not the absence of good character.

The continuation of this evidence perpetuates the harmful & dangerous rape myth that if someone has a 'good character' this may be considered as evidence to give them a more lenient sentence. We feel this is a huge omission of the key recommendations from the Gillen Review 2019.

One of the key recommendations at point 4 within the Gillen Review, stresses the need for measures to be introduced at the outset of the trial to combat rape myths. We feel by continuing to allow such evidence, does the exact opposite.

We call for immediate action from the Assembly to ensure Victims and survivors of sexual trauma are protected during the Court process. But also to dispel harmful rape myths throughout our society that good character means someone isn't capable of abuse.- THIS IS NOT TRUE!!

We welcome any guidance & training the Judiciary is set to have, although it is not enough. We call for the immediate end of "Good Character" references during sexual assault trials- which will contribute to a shift in misconceptions & myths around sexual violence that are prevalent throughout NI.

The last thing a survivor needs to hear after sitting through the trial process, is the 'good character' of their perpetrator paraded in court. We call this process out & state it should not be considered when deciding the sentence a perpetrator should get. This undermines the conviction itself & more importantly diminishes & invalidates the survivors trauma.