Recent high profile cases have been met with shock, anger and dismay. We are calling on the Government to review women's confidence in judicial handling of rape and particularly look at the Judicial Discipline guidance issued in July 2024.

Currently, the conviction rate for all reported rape cases is 2% (Victims' Commissioner 2022). Many women withdraw because the process is stressful and the trial is retraumatising. We believe that recent high profile cases will have produced a further serious loss of confidence in the judiciary's ability to administer justice in cases of violence against women and girls, which as well as being emotionally damaging to these victims, could deter other victims from pursuing cases.