Responding to the introduction of the Victims Law

I welcome the introduction of the Victims Law.  That children born from rape; a result of criminal conduct are now included and recognised within the criminal justice system as victims is a significant step forward.

It quickly became apparent to me while attempting to seek the prosecution of my birth father that children born from rape were unacknowledged and invisible within the justice system. I have been aware for decades that people like me, born from rape are invisible within wider society. When we are acknowledged it is often within discussions on abortion, and the language used in relation to our existence is hugely negative and stigmatising; ‘rape babies’, ‘rapist’s spawn’, ‘product of rape’. We are children and adults born from violence perpetrated against our mothers’, a horrific legacy for many of us to carry. 

To exist as a result of one of the worst things that can happen to a woman, for her to be raped and pregnant as a result of the rape, can mean we carry a burden of guilt, stigma and shame as we try to make sense of being living proof of a violent act.  For me this was further compounded by the trauma of separation from my birth mother and being placed in care for adoption.

To know the man who perpetrated a child rape was able to walk freely within his community, despite police and social workers being aware of this alleged crime caused me untold anger and concern for the safety of women and children around him. Then decades later, to be met with disregard by police and social care, despite the abundance of evidence, including DNA evidence, was incomprehensible to me. To be repeatedly told, “you are not the victim” while a child rapist remained a safeguarding risk to the public was soul destroying. 

The perpetrator was eventually convicted in 2021 and given an 11-year sentence.  This was 46 years after he committed the crime and although a victory in terms of justice, it was a process that caused further, ongoing trauma for my birth mother and myself.

As we look forward to ensuring meaningful implementation of the law, support for people born from rape must be our focus.  This will be the job of the criminal justice system, social care and support organisations.  We are now in the early stages of considering how best to understand the range of support needs that are likely to emerge, the actions that should be taken and the types of intervention that will be of help.