GENEVA: A United Nations watchdog said on Thursday that Britain had violated the rights of a young woman who committed suicide while being prosecuted for allegedly making a false rape accusation.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) faulted Britain for failing to protect the woman, who was 22 when she reported to police in 2012 that she had been sexually assaulted.

The woman, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, had told police she believed she had been drugged by a man, the committee said.

Following an initial investigation, police decided not to prosecute the man after determining there was “no realistic prospect of a conviction”, the committee said. The man then brought a private prosecution against the woman for allegedly making a false rape allegation.

The proceedings stripped her of her right to anonymity protection usually afforded alleged rape victims, and affected her access to support services, reducing her counselling sessions, the committee said.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2026