JL v Italy: The ECtHR is finally recognising victim blaming in cases of sexual violence

By Sophie Girardini

Source: pch.vector on Freepick

This year the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) finally addressed victim-blaming and secondary victimisation of survivors of sexual violence by national courts throughout their criminal proceedings. In February the Court addressed the secondary victimisation in a sexual abuse case regarding a minor in NÇ v Turkey, and in March the secondary victimisation of a ‘not especially vulnerable woman’ in JL v Italy. This is a huge step. Condemning national courts for upholding presumptions and stereotypes of female sexuality and holding them accountable for their wrongdoings has been long overdue. But did the Court really go far enough in expanding its recognition? More...

^{Photo credits: Anthony Tran - Unsplash}

Adriana van Dooijeweert

President, Netherlands Institute for Human Rights

Introduction

Just like everywhere in the world, also in the Netherlands violence against women is a widespread and serious problem. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (the Dutch national human rights institution) has had this issue on the agenda since its establishment. It has, for example, encouraged the Netherlands to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and discussed with Dutch government officials and professionals, on various occasions, the human rights aspects of violence against women.

More...