Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Empowered or Protected? : The ‘problem’ of complainants’ rights in Danish and Norwegian preparatory works on criminal procedure

Antonsdottir, Hildur Fjola LU (2019)
Abstract
In the mid-2000s, Danish and Norwegian criminal procedural law underwent legislative amendments to strengthen the rights of complainants in cases of sexual violence and other cases of serious violations. While in Norway complainants were afforded participatory rights and stronger legal representation in court, this was largely not the case in Denmark. The aim of this chapter is to identify how the ‘problem’ of complainants’ increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is represented in these policy processes. The findings suggest that the Norwegian policy process was characterised by the use of domestic, international, legal and extra-legal sources, while the Danish policy process was largely based on domestic legal... (More)
In the mid-2000s, Danish and Norwegian criminal procedural law underwent legislative amendments to strengthen the rights of complainants in cases of sexual violence and other cases of serious violations. While in Norway complainants were afforded participatory rights and stronger legal representation in court, this was largely not the case in Denmark. The aim of this chapter is to identify how the ‘problem’ of complainants’ increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is represented in these policy processes. The findings suggest that the Norwegian policy process was characterised by the use of domestic, international, legal and extra-legal sources, while the Danish policy process was largely based on domestic legal sources. In the Norwegian preparatory works, complainants are represented as citizens in need of empowerment through increased rights. Affording complainants increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is also construed as ensuring the rule of law. In the Danish preparatory works, by contrast, the dominant representation of the complainant is rooted in the notion of victimhood. This representation is shaped by a protection discourse whereby the complainant is protected from the possibly harmful consequences of having rights. Not affording complainants increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is further construed as preserving the rule of law. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Rape in the Nordic Countries : Continuity and Change - Continuity and Change
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85118415718
ISBN
9781138606517
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1cf3afdd-d9ae-484c-8f0e-89befb673024
alternative location
https://www.routledge.com/Rape-in-the-Nordic-Countries-Open-Access-Continuity-and-Change-1st/Bruvik-Heinskou-Skilbrei-Stefansen/p/book/9781138606517
date added to LUP
2020-01-14 15:56:54
date last changed
2022-04-18 19:54:36
@inbook{1cf3afdd-d9ae-484c-8f0e-89befb673024,
  abstract     = {{In the mid-2000s, Danish and Norwegian criminal procedural law underwent legislative amendments to strengthen the rights of complainants in cases of sexual violence and other cases of serious violations. While in Norway complainants were afforded participatory rights and stronger legal representation in court, this was largely not the case in Denmark. The aim of this chapter is to identify how the ‘problem’ of complainants’ increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is represented in these policy processes. The findings suggest that the Norwegian policy process was characterised by the use of domestic, international, legal and extra-legal sources, while the Danish policy process was largely based on domestic legal sources. In the Norwegian preparatory works, complainants are represented as citizens in need of empowerment through increased rights. Affording complainants increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is also construed as ensuring the rule of law. In the Danish preparatory works, by contrast, the dominant representation of the complainant is rooted in the notion of victimhood. This representation is shaped by a protection discourse whereby the complainant is protected from the possibly harmful consequences of having rights. Not affording complainants increased participatory rights and stronger legal representation is further construed as preserving the rule of law.}},
  author       = {{Antonsdottir, Hildur Fjola}},
  booktitle    = {{Rape in the Nordic Countries : Continuity and Change}},
  isbn         = {{9781138606517}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  title        = {{Empowered or Protected? : The ‘problem’ of complainants’ rights in Danish and Norwegian preparatory works on criminal procedure}},
  url          = {{https://www.routledge.com/Rape-in-the-Nordic-Countries-Open-Access-Continuity-and-Change-1st/Bruvik-Heinskou-Skilbrei-Stefansen/p/book/9781138606517}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}