Full Description
Sexual offences pose severe violations of human rights that necessitate criminal law intervention in every democratic society. Using a holistic and integrated approach, this book examines sexual offenses through criminal law and criminal procedure within different jurisdictions. Impunity or lenient punishment enjoyed by perpetrators appears as a fundamental concern and contribute to low(er) reporting rates. Attrition, from the perspective of criminal law, is not only caused by issues in criminal procedure, like a lack of victim support or insufficient evidence, but is primarily linked to the definition of sexual offences which is hugely influenced by society, culture, and political power. Stereotypes that are deeply rooted in society in the form of common myths such as: victim of sexual offences are always female(s), or sexual offences take place outside of marriage, or that the victim has an obligation to manifest a resistance, or a woman accepting a gift by a man shows she consented to sexual acts and many others that are impediment to combatting sexual violence. These myths are not just maintained by society, but they also affect the victim's decision to seek justice, as well as the judiciary's approach to victims and the police's attitudes towards victims. Using cases and legislation from Croatia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey, and comparing them to United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, this book presents peculiarities stemming from society, culture, politics, historical facts and even religion, along with solutions to the global problems of sexual offenses. This book is of interest to scholars studying criminal justice, legal studies, sociology, and cultural studies
Contents
Introduction by Rahime Erbaş
PART I: Regulating and Prosecuting Sexual Crimes: Some National Examples
Chapter One: Challenges in Regulating Sexual Offences in Turkey by Rahime Erbaş
Chapter Two: Substantive and Procedural Challenges Impeding an Effective Response to Rape: The Example of Greece by Chara Chioni-Chotouman
Chapter Three: Sexual Offences in The Republic of North Macedonia by Nikola Tupancheski, Gordana Lazhetikj, Aleksandra Gruevska Drakulevski and Aleksandra Deanoska Trendafilova
Chapter Four: A Perspective on the Evolution of the Legal Framework of Sexual Offences in Romania by Cristian Dumitru Miheș & Carmen Adriana Domocoș
Chapter Five: Grooming Re-Examined: Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse in The Republic of Croatia by Barbara Herceg Pakšić
PART II: Sexual Crimes with the Dimensions of Gender-Based Discrimination
Chapter Six: Combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Serbia: Post- The Istanbul Convention by Gordana Gasmi and Željko Nikač
Chapter Seven: Sexual Offences within Close Relationships: Victims' Vulnerability and Criminal Proceedings by Lara Ferla
Chapter Eight: Female Genital Mutilation as a Gender-Based Violence by Francesco Angelone and Angela Caruso
