Sexual offences pose severe violations of human rights that necessitate criminal law intervention in every democratic society. This edited collection analyzes sexual offences throughout multiple jurisdictions in terms of attrition rate.

Sexual offences pose severe violations of human rights that necessitate criminal law intervention in every democratic society. Using a holistic and integrated approach, this book examines sexual offenses through criminal law and criminal procedure within different jurisdictions. Impunity or lenient punishment enjoyed by perpetrators appears as a fundamental concern and contribute to low(er) reporting rates. Attrition, from the perspective of criminal law, is not only caused by issues in criminal procedure, like a lack of victim support or insufficient evidence, but is primarily linked to the definition of sexual offences which is hugely influenced by society, culture, and political power. Stereotypes that are deeply rooted in society in the form of common myths such as: victim of sexual offences are always female(s), or sexual offences take place outside of marriage, or that the victim has an obligation to manifest a resistance, or a woman accepting a gift by a man shows she consented to sexual acts and many others that are impediment to combatting sexual violence. These myths are not just maintained by society, but they also affect the victim’s decision to seek justice, as well as the judiciary’s approach to victims and the police’s attitudes towards victims. Using cases and legislation from Croatia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey, and comparing them to United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, this book presents peculiarities stemming from society, culture, politics, historical facts and even religion, along with solutions to the global problems of sexual offenses. This book is of interest to scholars studying criminal justice, legal studies, sociology, and cultural studies

Introduction by Rahime Erbaş

PART I: Regulating and Prosecuting Sexual Crimes: Some National Examples

Chapter One: Challenges in Regulating Sexual Offences in Turkey by Rahime Erbaş

Chapter Two: Substantive and Procedural Challenges Impeding an Effective Response to Rape: The Example of Greece by Chara Chioni-Chotouman

Chapter Three: Sexual Offences in The Republic of North Macedonia by Nikola Tupancheski, Gordana Lazhetikj, Aleksandra Gruevska Drakulevski and Aleksandra Deanoska Trendafilova

Chapter Four: A Perspective on the Evolution of the Legal Framework of Sexual Offences in Romania by Cristian Dumitru Miheș & Carmen Adriana Domocoș

Chapter Five: Grooming Re-Examined: Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse in The Republic of Croatia by Barbara Herceg Pakšić

PART II: Sexual Crimes with the Dimensions of Gender-Based Discrimination

Chapter Six: Combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Serbia: Post- The Istanbul Convention by Gordana Gasmi and Željko Nikač

Chapter Seven: Sexual Offences within Close Relationships: Victims’ Vulnerability and Criminal Proceedings by Lara Ferla

Chapter Eight: Female Genital Mutilation as a Gender-Based Violence by Francesco Angelone and Angela Caruso