Canadian Justice Minister Kim Campbell will meet in Ottawa with women`s organizations and victims of assault during Parliament`s January recess to gather ideas for implementing new rape trial legislation. Earlier this month, Campbell introduced in the House of Commons a measure that would protect victims of sexual assault from having their sexual histories scrutinized when they testify in court. She proposed the legislation to counteract a Canadian Supreme Court ruling in August, which said that as the law stands now past sexual conduct of an alleged rape victim is admissible. ”This evidence of prior sexual conduct is rarely relevant,” says Campbell. Her proposal, she says, ”will reassure women that they can bring forward these complaints without themselves becoming the object of the trial process.” It is expected to become law early next year.
