The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has criticised Britain for failing to protect a woman who reported being sexually assaulted in 2012, when she was 22 years old.
According to the committee, the woman, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, told police that she believed a man had drugged her before sexually assaulting her.
Following an initial investigation, police decided against prosecuting the man, citing “no realistic prospect of a conviction”, the committee said. The man subsequently launched a private prosecution against the woman, accusing her of making a false rape allegation.
The committee said the legal proceedings deprived the woman of the anonymity protections generally granted to alleged rape victims and affected her access to support services. Her counselling sessions were also reduced as a result of the case.
