SNP MSP highlights need for considering intersectionality when tackling sexual crime

During an evidence-gathering session by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on Thursday 3rd March, SNP MSP Emma Roddick questioned witnesses on the disparity in sexual crime faced by disabled women compared to non-disabled women.

She later called for more specialised work to be done in supporting multiply-marginalised women who are victims of abuse.

Commenting, Roddick said:

“Statistics show that disabled women are about twice as likely to have experience of sexual assault compared to non-disabled women and that, globally, about 90% of women with learning disabilities have been subjected to sexual abuse.

“There are still massive gaps in the way our services and institutions approach the experiences of multiply-marginalised women.

“Charities that aid survivors of abuse, such as Women’s Aid and Engender, have been aware of this problem for a long time, and the focus on mainstreaming in the ongoing Scottish Government consultation on Scotland’ Public Sector Equalities Duties hints towards a welcome step.

“I hope that in my work as MSP, a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, a survivor, and a disabled woman, I can work cross-party and with the Government to change things for the better.”