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[Dis]Abling discourses

- Camilleri, Margaret, Taylor, Caroline

  • Authors: Camilleri, Margaret , Taylor, Caroline
  • Date: 2006
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: Paper presented at the SAANZ Conference 2006: Connections and Disconnections, Hamilton, New Zealand : 22nd November, 2006
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Women who have a cognitive impairment (CI) (including mental illness, dementia, intellectual disability and acquired brain injury) are particularly vulnerable to sexual assault, yet very few assaults are reported to police. Once reported very few cases find their way through the justice system. The discourse of stereotyping and its impact on access to justice for victim/survivors is central to this research project which examines the uptake and exit stages of reports of sexual assault by persons with a cognitive impairment to police in Victoria, Australia. Data collection involves focus group interviews, analysis of police records of reports of sexual assault by persons with a cognitive impairment across a finite period of time (2002-2004) and one in-depth case study of a victim of rape with a cognitive impairment who successfully accessed the legal system to a completed trial. This paper discusses the results of preliminary analysis of data collected from focus group discussions held across Victoria including rural, regional and metropolitan locations with police, sexual assault counsellors and advocates for sexual assault victims with a CI. Data have been analysed using a modified Grounded Theory framework and ‘interpretative repertoire’ analysis. These methods of analysis have been used to identify commonly held perceptions of sexual assault victims who have cognitive impairments. Early findings indicate that police and advocates alike, draw on commonly held stereotypes about victims with cognitive impairments. These include whether their word can be believed and assumptions that ‘they cannot stand up to the rigors of the justice system’. Potentially these views have a significant effect on the depth and quality of service the victims receive from their advocate as well as the continued pathway of the report through the justice system.
  • Description: E1
  • Description: 2003001907

Working with survivors of sexual assault : Attitudes and beliefs of rural health workers

- Radcliffe, Margaret, Green, Rosemary, McLaren, Suzanne

  • Authors: Radcliffe, Margaret , Green, Rosemary , McLaren, Suzanne
  • Date: 2004
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Women Against Violence Vol. 15, no. (2004), p. 22-29
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The central purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and beliefs about sexual assault of health and welfare professionals in a rural area. These front line staff are often the professionals to whom a woman discloses her story, yet many generalist health and welfare workers feel ill equipped to deal with such disclosures. This study sought to understand the frameworks and beliefs held by generalist health and welfare workers about sexual assault. The findings of this study indicate that attitudes and beliefs of many participants included theoretical frameworks that ignore the role of power and gender, and are based on myths and assumptions about the behaviour and/or psychology of victim/survivors and perpetrators. Such beliefs have an impact on outcomes for survivors, and the quality of service offered to them, and indicates a need for comprehensive further training for health and welfare workers about sexual assault. Participants also lacked confidence in their ability to work effectively with survivors, although they clearly understood the long-term effects of experiencing sexual assault.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003000956

Victims’ Participatory Rights

- Camilleri, Marg, Harkness, Alistair

  • Authors: Camilleri, Marg , Harkness, Alistair
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Book chapter
  • Relation: Australian Courts : controversies, challenges and change Chapter 12 p. 269-296
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Victims of crime are key to holding perpetrators to account. Despite being instigators of reports, victim/survivors of sexual assault have long felt alienated from the court process and criminal justice system more broadly. This chapter draws on contemporary literature to consider the contested terrain of “participatory rights” for victim/survivors. Highlighted are a range of reforms implemented since 1994 which elevate the voices and acknowledge the experiences of victim/survivors. Despite the reforms, victim/survivors continue to feel alienated and, in particular, the voices of victim/survivors with cognitive impairment and complex communication needs are sometimes ignored at the point of first report. Considered here are the barriers to effective reform implementation and proposed reforms for continuous advocacy and legal representation. This chapter supports calls for legal representation to continue through to the conclusion of trial proceedings.
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