the we believe you campaign

[spence82]

Hi all

I was just wondering about the we believe you campaign. I know this a very sensitve subject so I assure I'm not asking to offend or start an argument.

I take it the campaign is there to support victims and offer assurances with a crime that is very hard to convict on.

My question is does the campaign automatically imply the guilt of the rapist even though our justice system is innocent until proven guilty? Or is there more to it than that?

Like I said I'm not looking to cause offence just wishing to be educated. Sincere apologies of anyone is offended by the question.

MEOD - When your clients tell you about bad things that have happened to them, are you the sort of lawyer, that always believes them ? Are you always batting for the 'good guys' ?

Fuckoff - Of course it would be fair

Innocent until proven guilty is a legal concept that means that the Crown has to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt (usually to a jury) before consequences can be meted out.

Very specific. Nothing to do with the thoughts you and I or anyone else have.

MEOD I recall you saying that you weren't a criminal solicitor - maybe you're a family solicitor of any other contentious area - if so - the question is still valid.

Buffy - I can comprehend relating to others - what I can't do is make myself necessarily believe them - but as long as they don't mind me being insincere - I suppose it doesn't matter.

....oh poor you, that crap - I think I could get the hang of it after a few goes.

Cadno, I don't know your daughter

Should I believe her if she came to me distressed and said she had been raped ?

Why would you need to be insincere to a victim of crime?

Or is it just victims of rape?

Do women generally exhibit distress without good reason, in your experience, cadno?

"....oh poor you, that crap - I think I could get the hang of it after a few goes."

Was that at me? Because - I would not respond that way to a man or woman who told me they were a victim of rape, FFS. Rape being a considerably more serious crime and a much larger violation than having your wallet stolen.

The fact that you are being flippant about this cadno is quite creepy.

As Buffy says I doubt any woman will be confiding in you anytime soon thank fuck.

oh poor me. Night night

Wow, cadno. Just wow.

Why do I never see cadno posting on threads that aren't about rape?

Anyway, we believe you is about te first response to someone saying they have been raped not being "yeah but what did you do/say/not do/not say/wear/go/what did you do that means I can dismiss/minimise/deny/blame you". Because right now that is the first response most rape victims experience

Cadno, what's your interest in rape ?

I think on the whole people do believe people who report rape. Of all the rape cases that go to court, 58pc end with a conviction. That means that in 58pc of cases that a jury gets to hear, at least 10 out of 12 people believed the complainant, and even in cases where there was no conviction it's likely that some of the jury believed her/him anyway. Not that I'm saying that We Believe You is unnecessary - obviously there are massive issues with underreporting to police, and with police not pursuing 'difficult' investigations - but the situation isn't as bleak as it might appear.

It's important to realise that We Believe You also supports victims of rape and sexual abuse who do not feel able to come forward and report the crimes against them. Many, many women do not report the crimes- in fact about 9 out 10 of cases according to the BCS- because they either feel they will not believed, or because the criminal justice process is just too harsh towards them.

Recent scandals in police forces, including 'no-criming' rape reports, or cases simply not getting to court for various reasons, do bear this out. The WBY campaign was born from a thread where a huge number of MNers posted about being raped, and never reporting it.

It is purely a support campaign for women who have been raped, that simply says "We Believe You", and tries to dispell the numerous rape myths prevalent in society - it strongly opposes victim-blaming, and simply says 'this wasn't your fault - you didn't bring this on yourself'.