Greens pledge anonymity and legal aid for victims
The Scottish Greens will today pledge to enshrine anonymity for victims of sexual offences in law, and make legal aid available to all domestic abuse victims.
Unlike other UK nations, there is no general prohibition on identifying sexual offence complainers in Scotland. Instead there is an 'understanding' to maintain anonymity between mainstream media outlets.
Meanwhile, under the current system, victims of domestic abuse are given ‘additional measures of support’ in criminal cases, but many women and children who experience domestic abuse are not eligible for legal aid in civil cases.
Commenting, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: "The Scottish Greens believe victims of sexual violence must be given the legal right to anonymity. We don't believe the current setup, where publishers adhere to a voluntary code, is suitable for the digital age.
“Far too many women and children experiencing domestic abuse in Scotland lack access to justice because they are not eligible for Civil Legal Aid. This needs to change so that women who experience violence at home can get the legal help they need, when they need it."
“Recent improvements in the law around domestic abuse are a big step forward for Scotland, but there is still more to do to protect women who have faced harassment or abuse.”