Our CEO Natalie Speaks Out on the Front Page of Scotland on Sunday

Front page of the Scotland on Sunday newspaper

We are incredibly proud of our CEO, Natalie, who contributed to a powerful and deeply important front-page article in Scotland on Sunday this weekend. Written by the award-winning journalist Martyn McLaughlin, the piece sheds light on a Scottish Government pilot scheme for complainants in rape trials — and raises urgent questions about the emotional toll the process is taking on women.

The article focuses on the voices of three courageous women who were raped and abused by the same man, Aaron Swan. While the trial ended in five guilty verdicts, the experience of navigating the new pilot process left these women retraumatised and overwhelmed. Their stories are painful but necessary — a reminder that well-intended pilots must not come at the cost of compassion.

Alongside Natalie being a sister to the women in the article, given that Aaron Swan is her abusive ex-husband, her contribution to the article reflects our organisation’s ongoing commitment to supporting women and advocating for systemic change. We are grateful to Scotland on Sunday and Martyn McLaughlin for amplifying these critical voices, and for highlighting the complexities of pursuing healing and clarity after having been subjected to sexual violence and faced the trauma of a trial.

Natalie says, "I sat through my ex-husband's trial for rape and abuse of three of the most magnificent women I know. I did that because I wanted to ensure they remained fully informed of what took place in the court. In 2006, Aaron recieved a not guilty verdict after I reported him for raping me, so I knew the trauma of trying to make sense of that, and wanted to be there for each woman he had sought to destroy. After Aaron was found guilty of offences against each woman, it was a relief that the Scottish Government announced they were piloting the transcript scheme. The scheme's poor design and the lack of compassion or empathy evident in the process was both disappointing and demoralising. I hope this is a wake up call, not only for this scheme, but for other projects which seek to support and serve women who have been abused by men."

While we welcome the Scottish Government’s ambition to bring greater transparency to rape trials, it is essential that any pilot or reform is designed with empathy at its core. Those who have been raped by men — the vast majority of whom are women — deserve to be met with dignity, care, and understanding at every stage of the legal process.

This is not just about pioneering new ideas — it’s about humanity. We stand with all women who are navigating these difficult systems, and we will continue to push for a future where justice does not re-traumatise, but restores.