A spokesperson for Stígamót, a centre for survivors of sexual violence in Iceland, has called for a formal investigation into the work of the Court of Appeal (Landsréttur) on sexual-offence cases. Drífa Snædal, speaking to mbl.is, said the number of sexual-offence convictions overturned to acquittal by the appellate court justifies looking into its practices in this area.
Drífa Snædal stated that the repeated acquittals are a cause for significant concern, adding that there comes a point when ‘patience runs out.’ She said this worry is particularly acute when the courts show what she described as a lack of understanding toward victims of sexual offences. Her remarks were published by mbl.is.
The Court of Appeal, known in Icelandic as Landsréttur, is an appellate court with jurisdiction over all district court cases. It began operating in January 2018 after being established by the Courts Act of 2016. The court is composed of fifteen justices who are selected by the Qualifications Committee and nominated by the Minister of Justice for confirmation by Iceland’s president.
Sources
Links: undirskriftasöfnunar á island.is
- mbl.is (first reported) in Icelandic
