Complaints about the Danish law: I was raped

In the summer of 2017 was Kirstine Holst, by his own admission raped by a man she thought was her friend. She reported the incident to the police, but the man w

Ann McDonald
Ann McDonald
14 February 2020 Friday 19:00
109 Reads
Complaints about the Danish law: I was raped

In the summer of 2017 was Kirstine Holst, by his own admission raped by a man she thought was her friend. She reported the incident to the police, but the man was acquitted in the district court.

After the conclusion of the proceedings was the Author of the evidence with the home. Here she discovered that the bag with natkjolen, as she had on the evening, never had been opened, and the clothes therefore had never been examined. The dress had several bloody spots on them.

Why complain Kirstine Holst now to The European Court of human rights over domestic law and the police handling of her case.

She hopes that the court deliver a judgment which paves the way for an amendment of the law, so the act of volunteerism rather than resistance.

I hope that the court will make it clear that it is a violation of human rights when, as a rape victim in court must prove that there was used violence, threats, or coercion, or that you were unable to make resistance, she says to Ekstra Bladet.

this was the bearing of Kirstines own case, where the bruising on his chest was proof enough that she had been subjected to deliberate violence.

Something, as the bloody nightgown might have backed up on, just as she also believes that the dna on the dress would have backed her explanation of the circumstances

- Why are my hope, also, that a judgment from the european court of human rights will help to change the way rape cases are investigated in says Kirstine Holst.

- With the legislation that we have today, it is almost impossible to convict someone of rape, especially if the victim and perpetrator know each other. It must mean something to the police, the motivation to investigate cases, when they know that they still just can hurl nine out of 10 cases in the garbage, she says.

For Kirstine Holst, there is much at stake.

- I will hopefully never have to experience something like that again. But I am fighting for my children and grandchildren never have to go through the same.

the Article continues after the image ...
According to Kirstine Holst, there is great personal cost to report a rape and go through a trial. Photo: Tim Kildeborg Jensen
a Few are convicted
According to the Center for the victims of rape each year reported to the police, around 900 rapes in Denmark. But there are many rapes that are never reported to the police. Therefore, we do not know, how many are actually being committed.

the ministry of Justice to make an annual examination, where they try to estimate the number. It shows that about 5400 women are forced or attempted forced to sex each year.

A study from the University of Southern denmark say, however, that the number is entirely up to 24,000. There are no equivalent figures for men.

a Few rape cases end with the accused being convicted.

In the summer of 2019 put Kirstine Holst each day a picture up of her bloody nightgown. Extra Magazine brought the story, where the Police also relate to Kirstines criticism. You can read the article here.

Updated: 14.02.2020 19:00