Question
T6. The Prime Minister has said that it is important that rape and sexual assault victims do not feel like they are the ones being put on trial in cases, yet the mother of a rape victim who came to see me last week said that her daughter felt exactly that way when her abuser was put on trial. Does the Minister agree with the Victims’ Commissioner that juries in those cases need to be directed in the myths and misconceptions around rape?
Answer
As the Prime Minister has set out, we believe that it is important that that recognition is there. I am very sorry to hear about the experiences of the hon. Lady’s constituent, and if she would like to discuss that further with a Minister, I can certainly ensure that takes place. In recent times we have seen shameful comments that trivialise the experiences of women, and we must all be clear, right across society, that violence against women and girls is abhorrent, there can be no excuses and those who commit acts of violence and sexual violence against women should face the full force of the law.33% vibes
Verdict: RED (5/100)
The question asked whether the Minister agrees with the Victims' Commissioner that juries need directions on rape myths. The reply does not mention jury directions, rape myths, or the Commissioner's recommendation. It offers only general statements condemning violence against women, so the question was not answered and the asker would likely need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Minister agrees with the Victims' Commissioner that juries in rape and sexual assault trials need to be directed on the myths and misconceptions around rape. | Not Addressed | Generic | The question asks whether the Minister agrees with the Victims' Commissioner that juries need directions on rape myths, but no statement mentions jury directions, rape myths, or the Commissioner's recommendation. The reply offers only general condemnation of violence against women (statements 4–6), and the constituent and recognition remarks (1–3) don't engage with the item either. |