Ched Evans verdict

[FreshwaterSelkie]

to continue the discussion as the previous thread closed.

[FreshwaterSelkie]

I thought the idea about a charity to help women raise civil suits sounded interesting and worth discussing further?

I think a lot of us are feeling very impotent and angry right now.I know I am. It just feels like a pretty bleak time to be a woman at the moment.

[Dervel]

Well the idea occurred to me, but I am a man and I think the idea has more merit if led by women, but I am happy to explore the idea with you all.

[WomanWithAltitude]

I dont know why MN had to close the last thread? He's not a rapist in the eyes of the law. However, there are many rapists in the world who are not officially rapists in the eyes of the law (either because they weren't reported, weren't prosecuted, or weren't convicted).

It's not an unusual state of affairs - in fact 96% of rapists are not rapists in the eyes of the law.

I agree that a charity to support victims.in seeking other forms of justice/closure (in the civil courts or otherwise) would be a good thing. The criminal system fails us, so women need to use all the alternatives available.

[WomanWithAltitude]

Or was the last thread just full? Regardless, it is entirely possible to comment on this factually without saying anything libellous.

[StrawberrytallCake]

I would like to do something, impotent and angry is exactly how I feel Freshwater.

What can be done?

[Lorelei76]

I'm unclear how an appeal was granted, it seems to have been based on her sexual history...which has nothing to do with anything.

Why was the other thread removed?

[FreshwaterSelkie]

It just ran out of space, womanwith. they always close at 1000 posts.

I bunged 20quid to rape crisis in honour of Ched's conquest/victim (delete as appropriate). That was the only action I could take other than just fuming with aimless impotent anger.

[11122aa]

It did just reach a thousand posts.

[Dervel]

I thought threads conclude around the 1000 post mark

[venusinscorpio]

I think it's just full. There is a glitch with the app so you can sometimes post more than 1000 and my 2 last posts have taken it to 1002.

[WeDoNotSow]

The names the poor girl is being called on titter is heartbreaking. Her only crime was to report a stolen handbag

[WeDoNotSow]

*twitter

[Lorelei76]

Also unclear how it can be okay to offer bribes for info.

I suppose we can write to the local MP. Is it worth writing to the DPP about the appeal grounds, not sure if that falls within her remit?

[Dervel]

Ok I would suggest looking at extant legal aid charities. I know there are some that exist around human rights issues. So look at some successful ones follow that model and then start to raise money.

This whole thing can be framed as a human rights issue anyway.

[WomanWithAltitude]

There are existing charities that help women, but don't provide financial support for civil cases AFAIK. Rights of Women, Women Against Rape, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Rape Crisis.

Is this a campaign/idea that existing charities might want to get involved with?

Having said that, the funding situation for these organisations is dire at the moment. They may well feel that they are better off using their limited resources to sustain existing work rather than funding court cases.

Violence against women isn't a popular or trendy thing to raise money for, I don't think they get much charitable giving compared to other charities.

[merrymouse]

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but I don't understand how the situations are similar - she met the two men before she had sex with them. She had not met Ched Evans before he broke into the hotel room. The defence seems to be that a certain kind of woman can't be raped.

[PippaFawcett]

It appears that her former partners were paid £50k each to testify in court and were spoken to by Evans' girlfriend beforehand. How is that not a bribe?

This whole thing stinks and it makes me very depressed.

[WomanWithAltitude]

I have standing orders each month to Rape Crisis, Nia (who provided me with an ISVA), and Women's Aid. I'd happily add a legal aid charity for victims of VAWG to that list.

[redandblackwhitething]

Pippa. Are you serious?

[BeyondPolkadots]

That's basically it, merry mouse

As someone put it on another thread;
Drunk and promiscuous = unrapeable

:(

[Dervel]

Whilst of course those charities mentioned do valuable work and may be able to branch out, I was thinking along the lines of amnesty, as I think they get involved in legal cases from time to time.

[Goingtobeawesome]

It was horrible reading all the comments about the girls previous relationships. She might have enjoyed certain things. Doesn't mean she wasn't raped.

[PippaFawcett]

Read this: www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/14/footballer-ched-evans-cleared-of-in-retrial

It appears the £50k was given to the witnesses.

[BeyondPolkadots]

And yes, allegedly there was a £50k reward (per person) for 'info that helps clear The Rapist Ched Evans'