Victorian Numbered Acts

CRIMES (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 2006 (NO 2 OF 2006) - SECT 27

Before section 32B of the Evidence Act 1958 insert —

        "32AB.     Guiding principles

It is the intention of Parliament that in interpreting and applying Divisions 3 and 3AA and this Division in any legal proceeding that relates (wholly or partly) to a charge for a sexual offence, courts are to have regard to the fact that—

        (a)     there is a high incidence of sexual violence within society; and

        (b)     sexual offences are significantly under-reported; and

        (c)     a significant number of sexual offences are committed against women, children and other vulnerable persons including persons with a cognitive impairment; and

        (d)     offenders are commonly known to their victims; and

        (e)     sexual offences often occur in circumstances where there is unlikely to be any physical signs of an offence having occurred.".