Advice and Legal Representation for Victims of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences

That the Parliament notes reports that women and girls who are victims of rape, attempted rape and other serious sexual offences often say that they find their experiences of the legal justice system retraumatising; considers that legal advice and representation must be available to such victims; recognises what it sees as the importance of the third-ever successful civil damages case for rape in Scotland; believes that all complainers in rape, attempted rape and other serious sexual offences cases should be able to access and seek justice from both criminal and civil courts; further believes that the best available support, advice and legal representation should be available to all who experience rape, attempted rape and other serious sexual offences, and calls on the Scottish Government to bring forward proposals to provide non-means-tested advice and legal representation from the initial stages of such cases.