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Rape and Sexual assault - legal comparsion of offences in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland Summary The diploma thesis is comparsion of sexual offences, in particular rape and sexual assault, which are closely scrutinized from a two different legal systems - czech and irish criminal law. The aim of the thesis is to analyze each offence and to find potentionally applicable de lege ferenda solutions for the czech criminal law. It shall be noted that while czech criminal law is mainly to be found in a single piece of legislation known as Code No. 40/2009, the Criminal Law Act. Irish criminal law on the other hand not only has a separate statutory legislation but also and mainly common law doctrine. The thesis is composed of eight chapters. First chapter outlines brief history and characterises sexual offence of rape in the czech criminal code. Second chapter, characterises the offence of rape from the common law doctrine and also statutory legislation in the irish legal system. Third chapter is focused on comparison of the offence of rape, and points out the main differences between czech and irish criminal law. Fourth, fifth and sixth chapter likewise does so with the offence of sexual assault. Seventh and eight chapter describes importaint proceedural institutes, which are related to sexual...

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Evidence suggests that few women disclose, seek help or report their experiences of rape or sexual assault (RSA) to police, which may leave them vulnerable to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, some women may disclose and seek help or support anonymously online. Through conducting a thematic analysis of 212 messages posted by women in an online RSA support forum, I identified two key themes relating to women’s possible motivation for using the forum: to seek validation as a victim of RSA and for others to bear witness to her story. Themes relating to the possible functions of the forum were serving as a jury, assigning blame, encouraging disclosure or help-seeking, and providing emotional support. These findings suggest that women whose experiences of RSA do not match stereotypical depictions may use online forums to anonymously seek out validation that their experiences qualify as RSA. Moreover, the findings suggest that online platforms may provide women with a safe and supportive environment in which to develop a coherent narrative of their experiences of RSA, which in turn may assist some women’s recovery from the trauma of RSA. Future research might explore if NHS online support or psychological interventions are therapeutic for this population.

Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Major Professor Not Listed / This study used a survey to gather information from 112 women on Kansas State University’s campus on the topic of sexual assault. This study attempted to fill in the gap of research concerning sexual assault, reporting, and student engagement with university prevention initiatives. The key findings of this study show that students are willing to learn about sexual assault, and that high levels of university involvement and high levels of perceived self-efficacy lead to an increase in a student’s willingness to report cases of sexual assault. Future research should explore a branding campaign for successful sexual assault prevention initiatives, while looking into the concept of self-defense as a viable addition to current campus offerings.

The traditional and universal assumption that rape and sexual assault are gendered in nature - perpetrated by men upon women in order to control, oppress, or subordinate them - has implications for victim/survivors of every other form of unwanted sexual contact and non-contact. The historical focus upon male-to-female rape has overlooked the fact that – regardless of gender – children and adults are sexually victimised by people of all ages and genders. In my thesis, I explore the experiences of a group of victim/survivors who national and international research, and anti-sexual-victimisation efforts, have essentially ignored: women who have been sexually victimised by another woman, or women. From my reading, my thesis constitutes the first documented primary research endeavour to create a methodology that combines an auto/biographical approach with an occupational science perspective. This supports my belief that I cannot divorce myself from any aspect of my research, whilst ensuring my perspective remained occupation-focused. I used a web-based survey to generate data regarding the experience and awareness of woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault amongst those members of the general public who responded. One-hundred and fifty-nine surveys were used for analysis. Twenty countries were recorded to describe the respondents’ nationalities, with the large majority from the United Kingdom (UK). Respondents who are victim/survivors of female-perpetrated rape and sexual assault totalled n=59 (37.3%). These are people who identified as a woman and were over 16 years old (the UK age of sexual consent) at the time of their victimisation. No respondents indicated they do not believe woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault is possible. Used as a sampling tool, survey respondents interested in sharing their story in more depth provided a contact email address. I interviewed 10 respondents face-to-face, in various UK locations. An eleventh respondent shared her story through correspondence with me. As intended, hearing and reading these stories enabled me to conduct a deep exploration of the respondents’ victimisations, and their subsequent experience of disclosure, reaction, and support. Four key themes emerged: Identity; Emotion; Survival; and Occupation. Specifically, the victim/survivors expressed the emotional and deleterious impacts which influenced their subjective experience of occupation. Hence, the daily activities, tasks, and things they need or want to do (occupation), that contribute to who they are, their sense of self, their relationship to others (identity), and their experience of health and wellbeing, was affected. Considered in the social and cultural context within which it occurs, my thesis contributes new and unique evidence regarding woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault; this has significance for relevant disciplines and service providers, including criminal justice, health, and sexual victimisation support services. Woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault is a complex form of sexual offending which has an equally complex impact upon victim/survivors; for my respondents, this has remained largely unaddressed and, for many, unresolved. I contend it is unacceptable to perceive rape and sexual assault as only committed by men against women; these are not solely gendered perpetrations and should not, therefore, be exclusively understood and addressed as gendered crimes.