The silent victims of domestic abuse

Two brave women speak out to reveal the shocking extent of Scotland’s hidden domestic abuse

Women who are victims of rape in relationships are more likely to stay silent about their attacks and are part of Scotland’s hidden shame of domestic abuse.

Experts say cases of women being raped by boyfriends or husbands a re c h ro n i c a l l y underreported, due to attitudes around sexual violence in relationships and fears over how women will be treated if they report their attacks.

Last year, just 1% of the 35,000 re c o rd e d domestic abuse incidents by police mentioned rape or attempted rape, with just 495 people telling officers they had been sexually attacked.

Even fewer cases are taken to court, with fewer still leading to a conviction.

Of the women supported by Rape Crisis Scotland last year, 4.5% said their attacker was a current partner, and 8% reported attacks by an ex-partner.

Despite this, Scottish Women’s Aid ( SWA) say the majority of domestic abuse survivors they support have experienced rape or sexual assault, but many of their experiences go unreported.

DrMarsha Scott, chief executive at SWA, said: “It is the darkest side of domestic abuse.

“It is unlikely rape will be the first thing women identify as abuse, and they will then feel safe enoughtosharethatinformation.”

Katie Mathieson, advocacy worker at the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre, added: “There can be a number of factors that stop women from reporting – such as housing, finance and children.

“Often if someone is reporting a partner or ex, other people in their lives have relationships with that person – their parents, siblings or children. That can make it difficult.”

It comes after a serial sex attacker was convicted last week of abusing women.

Rapist Stuart Murray was convicted of attacks against three women, one of whom was pregnant, at the High Court in Glasgow.

Two brave women have now