Women's groups in Scotland are backing a week-long campaign challenging attitudes about rape.
Women's groups in Scotland are backing a week-long campaign challenging attitudes about rape.
Police Scotland launched the campaign to promote the message to anyone who thinks they are victim of a sex crime that earlier reporting increases the chances of offenders being traced.
Rape is preventable and men can play a positive role in making this happen - Sandie Barton
We Can Stop It is supported by Rape Crisis Scotland, domestic abuse group Assist, Scottish Women's Aid and White Ribbon Scotland, in an effort to tackle attitudes.
It will particularly target men and emphasise the positive the roll they can play.
New laws, widening the definition of rape in Scotland, came into effect in 2010. Now any sexual intercourse without consent between a man and a woman or between two men is rape.
Assistant chief constable Malcolm Graham of Police Scotland said the campaign would build on previous efforts to raise awareness of the crime and how people could act to help prevent it in future.
He said: “Changes in the law meant that the definition of rape widened – the clear message being that sex without consent is rape.
"This campaign builds on awareness-raising work previously which challenges men to think about their actions – and the consequences.”
The new law includes cases where the victim is incapable of agreeing through drink or drugs.
Sandie Barton, national coordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: "The law is clear: sex without consent is rape, and we need to make sure the Scottish public understand that.
"We Can Stop It speaks directly to men and offers a very positive message – that rape is preventable and men can play a positive role in making this happen."
Part of the new campaign includes adverts featuring a number of statements from men which support positive behaviour and knowledge that sex without consent is rape.
Also Police Scotland will make contributions on Facebook with the script editor of River City who wrote a plot about rape to help raise awareness of the issue.
One-in-six rapes takes place when the victim is asleep, say Police Scotland, and more than 90% are carried out by someone known to the victim.
Scottish Women's Aid manager Lily Greenan said: "Rape and sexual assault are among the least reported crimes in Scotland today and this campaign to raise awareness of the issue is therefore very welcome.
"We think it is particularly important that the campaign involves men challenging other men in a positive way to make sure that their partner consents to sexual activity and commend Police Scotland for taking this approach."
