Women's Aid urges publicity of law prohibiting marital rape

The Rape Crisis Network has called for greater enforcement of the law against marital rape.

New figures from Women's Aid have shown that 511 women called its helpline to report being raped by their husbands last year.

However there have been few convictions since the law changed in 1990.

Kate Mulkerrins of the Rape Crisis Network said widespread publicity is needed about the under use of the law prohibiting marital rape.

She added that women need to know that it as much an offence to be raped by your husband or partner as it is to be raped by anyone else.