UofG publishes Scotland's first guide for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Crime
Published: 26 July 2026
A new guide that will address a gap in trauma-informed information about High Court sexual offence cases has been published by the Emma Ritch Law Clinic.
A new guide that will address a gap in trauma-informed information about High Court sexual offence cases has been published by the UofG’s Emma Ritch Law Clinic.
'A Guide for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Crime: When Your Case is Being Heard in the High Court' seeks to address the lack of accessible and trauma-informed information for victim-survivors.
It is the first resource of its kind in Scotland.
The publication sets out clear and sensitive information about each stage of the High Court criminal justice process, aiming to reduce uncertainty by explaining what someone can expect.
It was developed and published by the Emma Ritch Law Clinic, which provides free legal advice and representation to complainers in sexual crime cases and is based at the University of Glasgow’s School of Law.
A new 'Charter of Rights for Victim-Survivors', developed in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland, has been published alongside the guide.
The Charter sets out key rights and entitlements, reinforcing a survivor-centred approach to participation in the justice process.
Both publications have been developed in close partnership with people who have lived experience of the criminal justice process, as well as justice practitioners and support organisations.
Eamon Keane, Principal Solicitor at the Emma Ritch Law Clinic, said: "These Public Legal Education resources aim to act as supportive tools for individuals who are navigating what can be an overwhelming and challenging system, often without adequate support or legal guidance.
"By improving access to information and enhancing understanding of rights and processes, the project seeks to contribute to a more accessible and informed justice experience for victim-survivors. I would like to offer my thanks to COPFS, Police Scotland and the survivors who all took the time to review this resource for us. Their contributions were invaluable as was the support from Glasgow law students in putting it all together."
Rape Crisis Scotland Chief Executive Alev Taylor added: "Choosing to engage with the criminal justice process remains a difficult decision for many survivors.
"It is crucial that survivors know and understand their rights. The justice system is complex and often daunting, so specialist resources like this play an important role in ensuring that survivors know what to expect and can participate in the process feeling informed and prepared.
“We are extremely grateful to the Emma Ritch Law Clinic for their continued hard work in ensuring that the rights of survivors are understood and upheld.”
First published: 26 July 2026