I hope the victims are now aware that so many of us are standing with them and that we’re all so appalled by the sentences imposed on the rapists.
The sentences were absolutely within the sentencing guidelines but what that tells us is that they need to be reviewed.
We can’t have rapists (children or adults) being convicted with no custodial sentence. It sends a clear message that rape is on par with stealing a bar of chocolate from the shop - It’s wrong but not that big a deal. I don’t feel safe living in a society where rapists get a slap on the wrist and words of support from the judge!
I don’t blame victims for not reporting sexual crimes, it seems like the punishment is on the victims making them relive it over and over again for the court process, meaning they can’t move on with their lives for all of that time and then at the end, no justice so all of that was for nothing.
I was sexually assaulted years ago (minor compared to what these girls have been through) and I didn’t report it because I’ve seen what happens on the news and in documentaries I’ve watched.
Something needs to change because we need to have confidence in reporting these crimes. We need sexual violence to stop with the strong message that it is serious, repulsive, and not something we tolerate.