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Original poster

The "so what can we actually do" thread...

547 replies

ImSoNotTelling · 25/05/2010 17:18

Hello

Following on from the thread about changing the law on rape to grant anonimity to the accused, a few people have started to think about what we can do to get involved, to actually try and change stuff.

So I guess this thread is for suggestions, ideas, and for people to link up to actually try to change things.

So far we have someone possibly standing for pariament!

So come on everyone.

What's the plan....

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Prolesworth · 08/06/2010 21:44

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LeninGoooaaall · 08/06/2010 21:40

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gothicmama · 08/06/2010 21:29

PROLESWORTH sorry for the delat in replying too you - yes I think that is part of it but it is also about the reality of a younger man being a 'boyfriend' spoiling a girl and then either leaving her with a group of older men or saying he is in deby she has had presents and he needs her help , she then has sex with older men to please boyfriend and can then be trafficed around the country, the girls often feel they are in control because they are doing it for teh love of the boyfriend
sorry for unterrupting your thread the above relates to comments on page 17

Ewe · 08/06/2010 20:29

I have done too much arguing with men about this over the last few days... I need a haven!

None of whom seem to be able to explain quite why the defendants deserve anonymity?!

Prolesworth · 04/06/2010 12:27

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 04/06/2010 12:25

Yes I've seen that before, it is good.

it still concentrates on the woman though, I can't remember who it was who said on another thread about rape often being in the passive voice ie "she was raped" rather than "a man raped her" and how the assailant is often painted out of the picture.

I think you need to tackle both sides hand in hand. or something

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Prolesworth · 04/06/2010 11:18

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 04/06/2010 11:15

Yes I know.

Still here if you want any help with anything re the website etc.

Going to do some gardening now though

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Prolesworth · 04/06/2010 10:49

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 04/06/2010 10:41

Hmmm maybe later then, not sure I want to start the day in a rage!

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Prolesworth · 04/06/2010 10:39

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 04/06/2010 10:33

You have to ask yourself, are they malicious, or just dim?

Did they just not care about these women, or were they too bungelly to do anything about it.

Given the treatment that sapphire officers dished out to victims of warboys, I suspect the former.

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Prolesworth · 04/06/2010 10:15

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 04/06/2010 10:11

from here

"The IPPC believes these changes have trickled down - and that the culture of officers who might come across another Robert Napper has changed too. "

Hahahahahahahafuckingha

what about reid and warboys then
are they taking the piss?

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 04/06/2010 10:08

Watching the news last night and saw the item about the rachel nickell case.

Yet another investigation where the police bungled and blundered and allowed a serial rapist (and occasional murderer) to get on with it for nearly 20 years after having it reported to them that he had confessed to a rape.

God only knows how many other women he attacked in that time. They have not said how many rapes they connected with him in the end (did they bother as they had two murders which maybe felt like enough) - and the real total is certain to be more than the ones reported to the police.

Reid warboys and this bloke - all allowed to continue to rape unhindered for years due to police failings.

It's the police that need fixing isn't it. The more I think the more I feel that that is the key. If they took it more seriously then women would feel more confident in reporting, there would be better evidence gathering and more successful prosecutions. That in turn would lead to a softening in public attitudes, as more and more convictions were reported in the papers ie women not lying.

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Original poster
ImSoNotTelling · 03/06/2010 19:53

Am impressed that Bozza is coughing up. Very good.

How does this balance with that link I saw that said that many rape crisis centres were in trouble, i wonder. Thinking about the tory policy to fund loads of new ones.

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TDiddy · 03/06/2010 17:01

yes, wanted to start a thread on that. she has been caricatured by the Daily Mail but I have a lot of admiration for the work she has done.

Prolesworth · 03/06/2010 16:57

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TDiddy · 03/06/2010 16:55

Is there anyone who has done more for equality than Harriet Harman in recent time? Perhaps a MN petition thread for her attention?

Prolesworth · 03/06/2010 16:53

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Sarah44 · 03/06/2010 16:33

Hey Prolesworth,

Boris has stumped up for 2 years funding for the WGN which takes them neatly to the end of his term as Mayor, however his VAW strategy is for 3 years.

Actually he's done more than any other part of the country to support victims and I understand that the Rape Crisis umbrella group are running the tender for the 2 additional centres.

However it's hard won and I simply dont understand why, why is this issue so hard for public bodies to get behind, so hard for the public at large to engage with positively. Why on earth wouldnt we want to support victims of rape, whether they chose to report to the police or not?

More women are raped than get diabetes, more than get strokes, yet far less funding is put behind them.

Alberti estimates that 16% of under 16 year olds have been raped or abused. It didnt even make the papers, let alone the headline it deserved.

It's a mystery to me.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 03/06/2010 13:14

Just checking in after a bit of a gap, and to say to Vesela that I have also commented on that blog post she mentioned.

Prolesworth · 03/06/2010 12:21

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Sarah44 · 03/06/2010 12:18

If you want more information outside of the conviction rate then the Cross Govt Tackling VAWG Report www.equalities.gov.uk/news/vaw_guidance.aspx and the Alberti Review (Dept of Health) will give you that.www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_113727

Alberti got no media attention when it came out (March 2010) but the stats in it are horrific and borne out within our Rape Crisis Centre and others.

Our main issue is that VAW is not mainstreamed (highlighted in these reports) so it doesnt appear in Local Govt targets, in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, the NHS Operating Framework, Sustainable Community Strategy etc etc. This makes it a marginal issue.

Our other problem currently is that we dont know if these VAW strategies, completed under Labour, will be taken forward by the coalition govt. We're having to wait.

If you would like to take positive action now, you could write to your MP and point out that the Conservative manifesto promised sustained funding for Rape Crisis Centres and additional funding for 15 new centres, can they tell you what delivery plan is and in what timescale.

LondonSun · 02/06/2010 21:30

I've also heard anecdotally that lots of people on juries are frustrated because evidence is not gathered or handled properly