Imo, the best solution is to more harshly punish those who commit rape, and to start punishing deliberately hoax claims of rape. This way we can provide a deterrent effect on potential rapists, further restrict those guilty of rape from being in the wider community and improve the response of law enforcement and the courts in dealing with rape claims.

And a better right to personal defense wouldn't go too far astray. Most rapists would probably find it difficult to rape someone after receiving several bullet-related injuries.

I was thinking more along the lines of real defence not based on physical size.



However rapists need have no fears, no Australian Government is going to allow women to effectively defend themselves, so I guess that if rape is inevitable then just hope that murder is not also on the cards.

I agree. It is generally understood that women use accusations of rape to either manipulate a result or take revenge. Women are fully aware of the affect a rape accusation has on a man's life, one that acquittal does not reverse.

The problems are such, 1. lawyers conduct in Court is far from sombre and does not demonstrate the majesty of the law, 2. people tend to believe the one who looks frightened is the one who is guilty, 3. legacies of the pre-chromosome discovery days are still used in the administration of the law, 4. the Police do not conduct proper investigations or raise charges on both sides or provide warning and the Court does not pursue charges for perjury for false accusation, and 5. there is gross imbalance on evidences allowable (a woman's sexual history versus a man's prior criminal history) and as a result people believe rape trials are far from just and thereby creating the fear that offenders walk freely amoungst us, resulting in a spotlight being held over the head of any accused man.

Until men stand up to the law and prove the affect of accusation is as destructive as any other crime, the legal system will not catch women at it.

P.S. When Rudd got it, the TV campaigns ads re: domestic violence disappeared.