Papers & Publications
Research Reports
2009
Different systems, similar outcomes? Tracking attrition in reported rape cases in eleven European countriesDifferent systems, similar outcomes? Tracking attrition in reported rape cases in eleven European countries found that the majority of women reporting rape across Europe do not see justice done, and rising attrition rates make this more likely in 2009. This is the outcome of the continued influence of stereotypes of rape, rape victims and rapists at all stages of the legal process, and a failure to modernise investigation and prosecution practices. During April and May 2009 CWASU along with our European partners on the project held briefing meetings across Europe for key stakeholders and policy shapers, the summary reports for each meeting are available below, the full report will be published at the end of June.
Austria_English(3).pdf (download acrobat reader)
Austria_German_final(1).pdf (download acrobat reader)
European(2).pdf (download acrobat reader)
Germany_English(1).pdf (download acrobat reader)
Germany_German(1).pdf (download acrobat reader)
Different systems, similar outcomes? Summary
Summary reports
Hungary(1).pdf (download acrobat reader)
Ireland.pdf (download acrobat reader)
portugal.pdf (download acrobat reader)
Scotland.pdf (download acrobat reader)
Sweden.pdf (download acrobat reader)
Different systems, similar outcomes? Summary
England_and_Wales.pdf (download acrobat reader)
Different systems, similar outcomes? Tracking attrition in reported rape cases in 11 European countries
Attrition, the process by which rape cases fall out of the justice system before reaching trial, has been highlighted as a critical issue in several English-speaking countries with common-law systems, and there is emerging research in some European countries. In virtually all countries where major studies have been published, the number of reported rape offences have increased over the last two decades, yet the number of prosecutions has failed to increase proportionately, resulting in a falling conviction rate.
This study, uniquely, sets out to research attrition both in the European context, which has not been widely addressed, and across countries with varying judicial systems and cultures.
In this, the first in-depth trans-European attrition study, original primary data have been collected in Austria, Belgium, England & Wales, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, Scotland and Sweden.
Full Report available from CWASU on request.


