Anonimity For Those Accused Of Sex Offences.

[Springer80]

Im someone who endured child sex abuse. I live in the UK and over the last few years there have been pretty much constant media coverage of high profile cases. Radio DJs, TV presenters, local and national politicians and soap stars have been in the spotlight alongside the institutions they worked with such as the BBC.

As a survivor watching endless duscussions about the toll allegations take on an alledged perpertrators life is quite unsettling.

The media have focused on management structures, cultural failings, historical attitudes, the power of celebrity etc any contributing factor they can think of that allows them to skirt around the main issues of how society lets women and children down.

I find myself thinking that anonimity for the accused in these cases would help all round. Especially the still relatively voiceless victims as the media couldnt then use the cases that dont result in prosecution to inflame the false allegation hysteria that contributes to the shame and lack of reporting.

Just wondered if any one had thought about it also?

 

[open eyes]

Men can get sexually abused too- not just women & children. Anyone can be a victim.

 

[Springer80]

Well children do come in male and female. I agree that anyone can be a victim. However its also true that the majority of adult victims of sex offences are women.

The way the public narrative of sex offences is played out in the media is in terms of male vs female.

It doesnt help that judicial systems are patriarchial.

With regard to adult male victims, the fact that culturally women are defined in opposition to the traits attributed to masculinity make it harder for male victims.

There have been a large amount of cases of male children involved in organised instances of abuse in 'reform' schools etc.

I think though how culture treats gender specific cases is a thread on its own.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I think this is a very interesting thread.

I know three men who were raped as children. None of them dealt with it at all in any way. I think that many males who have been sexually abused keep the secret and do not report.

I have noticed when I was watching the news, that little boys are being victimized more and more now a days.

But I agree that more girls and women are victims.

I find it frustrating that the males underreport.

 

[Echo]

@Springer80 - I agree it has been a horrible spectacle to watch and agonising that so many people seem to have got off recently. Luckily that trend is turning a bit at the moment. Difficult to talk about openly when court cases have not quite run their course, but the current high profile one wouldn't have got to court, I understand, had it not been for naming the perpetrator (just awaiting sentencing so already found guilty) and more victims coming forward. Parts of the media are a disgrace with their witchhunting, both of accused prior to the case and, as you say, of accusers, if the defendant is found not guilty. It is sickening that the view then taken is that, if the evidence doesn't hold up in court, the accuser/s must be liars.

I would rather things stayed as they are currently in terms of anonymity for accusers/victims and not for defendants, for all the reasons usually cited (fear of reporting, brings other victims to light, etc.), but I think something should be done about the media's trashing of people. But that is a whole other controversy at the moment.

 

[madmax]

Welcome back!! spot on.

 

[Springer80]

I think the point Im making is that the credibilty of victims would not be turned into a circus if defendants were only named in the event of a conviction.

It would keep attention on the real issues. It would decrease the atmosphere of disbelief or outright bulying. It would protect those falsely accused.

I really dont see any benefit to victims in having alleged attackers emblazened all over the press.

 

[Springer80]

@Echo, other victims coming forward once they see reoprts in the press eg, Saville et al is quite a big point in opposition to what I thought.

 

[Echo]

Echo, other victims coming forward once they see reoprts in the press eg, Saville et al is quite a big point in opposition to what I thought.

I believe it is the historic reason for the way rape and abuse cases are handled. The other argument being why should rape defendants be treated any differently to murder defendants, who have no anonymity.

I don't like the backlash going on at the moment. I think some parts of the media are intensely irresponsible; they are making it even more terrifying for people to report and go to court. Maybe one of the reasons they are behaving like this is that they are in the pockets of celebrities, but they really just want to court controversy and get people clicking on their websites or buying their newspapers. They seem to have little concern about the effects of what they say on individuals who do not choose to be in the spotlight as crime victims.

Keir Starmer, head of the Crown Prosecution Service did say there were many more gang abuse cases, like Rochdale and Oxford, coming on line. Maybe that will balance things up again.