Safeguarding girls and protecting women post Jimmy Saville & #metoo

[SpareRibFem]

I don't understand, there was a lot of hand wringing after the revelations about Jimmy Saville became widely accepted. #metoo there was more handwringing about the need to listen to women when they are telling you something that makes you uncomfortable.

Saville was allowed to get away with what he didn't because he created an aura of fear and people would afraid of the backlash if they spoke up. Those that did suffered.

We were promised something like that could never happen again...

And yet now despite many women and girls saying they feel afraid and uncomfortable sharing single sex spaces with someone with a penis weren't told we're bigoted and verbally abused for saying that. Our employers are contacted and told we're bigots, we're doxxed.

And organisations like girl guides are going still further in saying it must be kept a secret when girls are being forced to sleep and change with a male bodied teen with a penis (& teen levels of hormones) and I'm not even allowed to identify what sex that male bodied teen with a penis is on a public forum

Girl Guides are taking that approach despite the knowledge that abusers use secrecy and shame to their advantage.

Just like with Saville anyone who excesses concerns is shouted down and accused of being the person in the wrong by the powerful. There is a culture of fear now. Celebrity voices in particular (thinking people like Munroe Bergdorf, Stephen Fry and long list of others) are given more weight to shout down women's concerns. Male bodied people feelings are paramount despite almost all sexual abusers being male bodied (and most of the tiny tiny number of female bodied sexual abusers working with and being in thrall to a male bodied abuser)

Did we as a society learn nothing from Saville & the multitude of other abuse scandals that women and children/girls should be listened to, that celebrities voices help hide abusers, that telling girls to keep secrets from their parents about the presence of penises in their bedrooms and changing rooms and showing them they will be blamed and abused if they transgress and tell someone creates an environment where abuse can flourish.

I was thinking its more along the lines of people living comfortable lives not wanting to be reminded of abuse and poverty.

They don't want to see it, so its removed or hidden.

They certainly don't want to talk about it, as thats the thing that really offends them; these people daring to burst their bubble of nice, safety and security.

And of course if you don't see abuse and poverty and no one talks about it, there is no evidence it even exists. There isn't a problem to be dealt with.

Those in their nice bubble don't need to readjust their world view nor take any sort of action to stop it.

Its all about denial.

Its sadly not unprecedented.

It doesn't end well.

Lisa - take a look at the ROGD thread currently on the board.

Current thread with Safeguarding concerns & Girl Guiding:

OP AgnesBadenPowell comment:

"I've been a bit quiet lately. I'm under investigation, which I can't discuss in any detail, although my membership is now at risk. In the meantime, I'm still a leader and Girlguiding has not changed its stance on trans issues. The following is a bit of a stream of consciousness but I'm feeling quite troubled by it and need to let it out! I'd also be interested in what parents of rainbows think.

I took my rainbows on a sleepover this weekend. It was great! It also really bought home to me the risks posed by the trans policy. I feel quite upset and tearful about it.

We had 20 rainbows in a church hall. Three women leaders, including me, also slept in the main hall - at one end, out of the way, with our own sleeping mats and bags etc - but in the same room. The other women leaders slept in an adjoining room (more of a lobby really).

The adults used the gents toilets and the girls used the ladies and disabled facilities. Despite this some girls weren’t too bothered and just changed in the hall! One nosy rainbow followed me into the gents - luckily I was only brushing my teeth and not changing - and of course I shooed her out.

How would a set up like this (which is pretty common) work with a trans child or adult? We could look for new venues with more rooms/options but Girlguiding’s stance is that the trans child and adult should use the facilities of their chosen gender. And if parents aren’t aware of the single gender/mixed sex policy, they aren’t in a position to complain or take their children out.

On a personal note, the two other leaders in the hall are women that I don’t know very well. One of them I’ve only met once before, she’s a brownie leader who came to help so we met our ratios. My sleeping mat was right next to hers as there wasn’t much space. It was fine but I could not have done this with a self identified (ie male at birth) transwoman. I don’t know any woman who would feel safe sleeping right next to a male bodied person they had only met once before. And I should never, ever be expected to do so. For all the make up, dresses, female names, most transwomen do not have bottom surgery and retain their male genitalia. I would never be expected to share sleeping accommodation with a man I don’t know (or even ones I do - I’m not sharing a room with my male colleague on a business trip next week) so why would it be acceptable in Girlguiding, provided the male said he feels female?

It really hit home that it’s only fair and reasonable to expect people of the same sex to share spaces like this. I really don’t want to make trans people feel bad or left out - but my dignity, my girls dignity and privacy, is every bit as important as theirs."

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3314566-another-girlguiding-update

thread started yesterday:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3318615-Pedophile-Manifesto

The possible consequences of Cliff Richard's successful court case were raised previously on this thread.
(The BBC were refused appeal by the trial judge this week)

See reference to it already with regards reporting of Jess Bradley's suspension (NUS Trans officer)
thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3320513-Jess-Bradley-first-transgender-student-officer-suspended-after-flashing-photos

'Britain's first official transgender student officer suspended over claims she posted explicit photographs of a person flashing in a train carriage and public park to her online blog
Britain's first official ‘transgender students’ officer’ has been suspended over allegations that she posted explicit photographs on a blog called 'Exhibitioinizm'
Jess Bradley's images show an individual flashing while sitting in a train carriage
Her law firm sought to prevent the publication of the story on privacy grounds'

(extract)
"Ms Bradley declined to comment, but has instructed libel lawyers Carter Ruck.

The law firm sought to prevent the publication of the story on privacy grounds.

As part of its argument, it cited last week’s High Court ruling that the BBC had infringed on the privacy of Sir Cliff Richard by reporting a police raid on his home. Carter Ruck argued that, based on the judgment, a report on Ms Bradley’s suspension and the NUS investigation relating to it would be an infringement of her privacy.

Legal experts have warned that the High Court ruling on Sir Cliff could have serious implications for journalism in Britain. Gavin Millar QC, who led the BBC’s legal team, said: ‘The risk is a severe chilling effect on the freedom of the press in relation to reporting police investigations.’ (continues)
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6003331/Britains-official-transgender-student-officer-suspended.html

Jess Bradley was recently interviewed on Sky News as part of a focus on proposed changes to the GRA.
thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3311038-Sky-News-9-30am-today-re-GRA

Times article today
'MPs attack Oxfam and call for aid staff register'
(extract)
"Oxfam has been criticised by MPs for failing to disclose the extent of sexual misconduct by its staff in Haiti. They have called for a global register of aid workers to tackle “endemic” abuse.
They have called for a global register of aid workers to tackle “endemic” abuse.

The aid industry has been guilty of “complacency verging on complicity” for decades in tackling the sexual abuse of vulnerable people, according to a report by MPs published today.

The inquiry by the international development select committee was prompted by revelations in The Times this year that Oxfam staff used prostitutes in Haiti in 2010.

The report rejects claims from the former head of Oxfam that the charity was sufficiently transparent in reporting misconduct to the government.

It calls for an end to the “culture of denial” in the aid sector, for extra funding to help the reporting of abuse allegations and for the creation of an aid ombudsman to hear appeals from victims.

The report says: “A global register of aid workers would act as one barrier to sexual predators seeking to enter the profession. The sector, led by the Department for International Development (Dfid), should commit to making this a reality at the international safeguarding conference [in London] in October.” (continues)

Stephen Twigg was also interviewed about the report on R4 Today program.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/mps-attack-oxfam-and-call-for-aid-staff-register-vnp0wh0dc

Guardian, 'MPs accuse aid groups of 'abject failure' in tackling sexual abuse'
(extract)
"Stephen Twigg, the committee chairman, said the sector’s failure to deal with the issue had left victims at the mercy of those who sought to use power to abuse others.

The report, published on Tuesday, also criticised the UN, which it said had failed to display sustained leadership in tackling abuse, and said the historical response of the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) was disappointing.

The committee launched its inquiry into sexual exploitation and abuse after revelations that Oxfam covered up claims that its staff had used sex workers while working in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The sector has faced intense scrutiny, with further allegations of sexual misconduct emerging at .

Twigg said the aid sector was first made aware of concerns in 2002, when a report by the UN agency for refugees (UNHCR) and Save the Children documented cases of abuse. Despite this, and a series of other warnings, little action was taken. “There are so many reports that go back over this period of 16 years and the system has failed to respond anything close to adequately over the period,” the Labour MP said. “This is 16 years of failure by the entire international system of governments, the UN and the aid sector.” (continues)

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jul/31/mps-accuse-aid-groups-of-abject-failure-in-tackling-sexual-abuse

Baroness Still and Helen Evans are really worth a listen on Today at about 08.10 this morning. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bcddsg

"Where we have people in positions of power, predominiently men but not exclusively we see abuses of power and if there are not sufficient checks in place to prevent perpetrators from joining, but then also to deter people from committing these acts, and also to detect and respond to that, this is what happens."

I saw interesting comment about Corbyn generally this week. It said that he had a low threshold for criticism of how he goes about things. He believes, even when presented with evidence, that the way he does things is right. He can not adapt or adjust his position if its found to have slight flaws because he lacks the political maturity to evolve his y
I don't know how you get through if this is indeed the case but I do think its worth baring in mind and coming up with alternative strategies to get heard somehow.

I think the rigidity of thought is generally a problem of the politics of the moment. Its an arrogance of certainity and this plays out particularly badly for women as their voices find it even harder to be heard as they are not respected in the same way.

amp.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/31/fears-cash-strapped-council-may-cut-services-for-vulnerable-children?__twitter_impression=true
Fears cash-strapped council may cut services for vulnerable children
Northamptonshire county council scrambles to save £70m amid warnings even core services are at risk

It is all hiding in plain sight.
150 autistic children given puberty blockers and supposedly ROGD.
A scandal within itself, regardless of all the other stuff going on.

This will totally be yet another "but how could we have known?" scandals.

It's like watching a train wreck, it really is.

Also, I would add, that I thought the then new trend of 'tranzing children' would Peak Trans the world.

Sadly, I was wrong. Very wrong.

From current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3324391-Paedophile-expert-warns-of-transitioning-as-a-ploy

1/8/18 Scottish Sun article:
'PERV FURY Bearded Aberdeen paedophile jailed for downloading vile baby sex pics starts secret life as woman after transitioning in Scots jail:An outraged mum whose son was murdered by a paedo has demanded a legal change over Christyl Knight’s new life as a woman'
(Extracts)
"The con is desperate for a fresh start but child protection expert Claude Knights said: “Allowing these individuals to hide a secret past is a dangerous practice.”

"[Margaret-Ann Cummings, a campaigner whose son was murdered by a convicted sex-offender] added: “It’s not unusual for sex offenders to want a new identity but this is the most disturbing case I’ve heard of.

“When someone, so soon after getting out of jail, is trying to change not just their name but their sex and appearance too, it sounds like they’re trying to hide rather than reform.”

Echoing her calls, child protection expert Claude Knights said: “Anyone who’s fuelled the vile trade in indecent images of children and therefore contributed to their sexual abuse should not be allowed to change their name.”

www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/3006679/paedophile-jailed-transgender-christyl-knight-christopher-nobile/

Intresting to note that Claude Knight has commented.
She has recently retired after 15 years as head of Kidscape: www.kidscape.org.uk/news/2016/may/ceo-claude-knights-announces-her-retirement/

cf Claude Knight's comments and also her experience in Safeguarding and child protectionand knowledge with James Morton who is also quoted in the article:

"James Morton, of the Scottish Transgender Alliance, said: “Our understanding is that transitioning does not erase your past if you’re a sex offender.

“You have to give your new name to police. Trans people usually encounter greater suspicion. I don’t think it helps people blend in.”

James Morton plays a key role in advocating trans rights in Scotland:

Article June 2018 'Schools 'forget' girls in rush to adopt pro-trans guidance campaigners claim as Christian group threatens legal action'
(Extracts)
Among the councils which have endorsed the guidance produced by LGBT Youth and the Scottish Trans Alliance, Glasgow, West Lothian, Clackmannanshire and South Lanarkshire said they were unable to publish an assessment of the likely impact on other pupils as they had not carried one out. Edinburgh City Council failed to respond. The office of the Scottish Children's Commissioner, Education Scotland and the Scottish Government have all also backed the LGBT Youth guide. (cont.)

James Morton, manager of the Scottish Trans Alliance, said EQIAs had generally not been carried out because the document distributed by councils was guidance, not an official policy.

"If it became an official policy position they should do an EQIA and I'm sure it would show that there isn't any negative impact on other pupils," he said.

He claimed critics hostile to trans people were presenting a distorted view of the guidance. "There has always been a very small number of people hostile to trans inclusion. They say they are concerned about the impact on girls but they are not just standing in the way for progress for trans people they are actively trying to roll back trans rights."

www.heraldscotland.com/news/16311379.schools-forget-girls-in-rush-to-adopt-pro-trans-guidance-campaigners-claim-as-christian-group-threatens-legal-action/

www.buzzfeed.com/amphtml/richholmes/keys-group-aaron-leafe?utm_term=.noJWGr4WG&__twitter_impression=true
Private Children’s Homes Repeatedly Failed Aaron Leafe — Until The Day He Died
“If Keys Group had cared for him appropriately, he would still be alive today.”

This is a follow up to last week's Buzzfeed's expose on children's home.

This one is equally as horrific.

THis is Keys Group, was the other one Carillion?

No Carillion were the private sector building company who went bust.
Cambian are the child care service provider you are thinking of.

Cambian that's it! Thanks Red

Jessica Eaton's comment:

'every week social workers approach me about traumatised kids after abuse and trauma suddenly identifying as trans and SW being told to just affirm it rather than working through the trauma'

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3324578-Vunerabilities-of-Looked-After-Children-Social-Work-CP-restricted-by-affirmation-requirement-Trans-Youth-in-Care-Toolkit

Current situation in Canada in a 'women-only' hostel for recovery from substance misuse issues:
OP JoanSummers wrote:
"I just listened to this and it is grim. A woman living in a shelter in Canada has been refused advice and representation by Ontario Human Rights Legal Support Centre because she 'misgendered' (what sounds to be) a male presenting 'transwoman' when making her initial enquiries to them about her own rights when that person was moved into her room by the shelter causing Kristi and other residents to feel vulnerable, scared, and traumatised.

Here is the audio:

Here is the article:
nationalpost.com/news/canada/kristi-hanna-human-rights-complaint-transgender-woman-toronto-shelter/

My take on the call is that the org isn't refusing to advise or represent Kristi because of the misgendering alone (although that is part of it) - I read their response as saying that a woman who refuses to share a room with a male bodied male presenting self identified 'transwoman' (or makes a complaint to the shelter about the situation) is potentially committing a crime because the male person has legal protection under Canada's 'gender' legislation. In this situation the Legal Support Centre cannot support the woman now because in the future the male person may decide to take legal action against that woman for discriminating against them.

Which means that in Canada women no longer have any usable rights as a group defined by sex, right?"

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a3326360-Canadian-woman-denied-legal-rights-support-because-of-misgendering-a-male-presenting-transwoman

A lesson in silence. There are reasons why certain groups are more vulnerable and are more likely to stay silent.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/silent-voices-telford-grooming-horror-13031169.amp?__twitter_impression=true
Silent voices of Telford grooming horror speak out for the first time
EXCLUSIVE: The revelation explodes the vile lies of racist groups who have tried to exploit the vulnerable young victims in a bid to stir up hatred and fear

Until now, the abuse victims had been understood to be almost entirely white girls preyed on by Asian gangs.

But we have spoken to a number from both Indian and Pakistani backgrounds who were also targeted.

Some said they still cannot bring themselves to talk to police because they fear judgment and retribution.

And look at this gem

A key figure in safeguarding children in Telford attacked our investigation in the town, claiming it could stop current victims from coming forward.

Andrew Mason, who chairs the area’s Safeguarding Children Board, claimed in an email our 18 months of research had been conducted “on the back of a fag packet”.

He made his comments as he begged a journalist from news website The Huffington Post to write a positive story about how child sex abuse in the town was handled.

In an email seen by the Sunday Mirror under a Freedom of Information request, Mr Mason admits “terrible things happened in Telford” and “many mistakes were made in the past”. But in an astonishing outburst he added: “Perhaps as I write this a sexually abused young person in our community, plucking up the courage to come forward, might see what is being said, change their minds and say nothing.”

In fact, the week we exposed the scandal more than a dozen girls told police for the first time of their abuse. Our story also prompted a public inquiry.

Meanwhile Telford and Wrekin Council, led by Councillor Shaun Davies, has hired a PR expert to help revamp its image. Council officials were told the appointment of Jan Jennings would help press officers with “strategic messaging and reputational recovery.”

Image is more important than safeguarding and the press staying silent is a tool to keep a lid on reports of abuse. If no one knows about it, then the safeguarding department looks good and people don't know there is a problem or can deny there is a problem. What this muppet says, flies in the face of the pattern of #metoo behaviour where people coming forward encourages other too. Also see Jimmy Saville.

Whats this thread about again?

PR. PR is more important than human rights and human worth. Its used to justify the unjustifiable.

Call it out when you see it.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/self-harming-by-teenage-girls-doubles-in-20-years-x2vbzm87m?shareToken=aa76c3a10f27546edb439bb8a6ddcf6c
Times
"Hospitals are treating almost twice as many girls for self-harm as they did 20 years ago, prompting warnings about the pressures that social media and school work are putting on young people.

Charities called the figures heartbreaking and told The Times that more needed to be done to stop children reaching crisis point.

The number of hospital admissions for girls who self-harmed jumped from 7,327 in 1997 to 13,463 last year. The number treated for attempting an overdose rose more than tenfold from 249 in 1997 to 2,736 last year, according to NHS data that has been published by ministers. Admissions of boys for self-harm stayed broadly constant, from 2,236 in 1997 to 2,332 last year. The number attempting an overdose jumped from 152 in 1997 to 839 last year.

Despite the growing problem of self-harm, ministers have conceded that treatment for mental health issues is worse than for physical illnesses.

Jon Goldin, vice-chairman of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “I think there are a range of factors putting pressure on young children — academic pressures, exam pressures, social media . . . with fear of missing out and comparing yourself unfavourably to images you see online.”

Asked why the proportion of girls self-harming appeared to have risen sharply, he said: “If you look at social media, my hunch is that girls are probably more sensitive to some of those factors than boys.” There were also “completely unhelpful” groups online that urged teenagers to self-harm." (continues)

I'm disappointed by Jon Goldin's comment

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3327896-Self-harming-by-teenage-girls-doubles-in-20-years-The-Times

Asked why the proportion of girls self-harming appeared to have risen sharply, he said: “If you look at social media, my hunch is that girls are probably more sensitive to some of those factors than boys.”

Oh, mate...the fact that media in general, not just social media, is jammed with stuff about how "perfect" women look - and there is so little concerned with boys' appearance - might be a bit of a factor here. As opposed to our delicate, fluffy bunny sensitivities.

A great deal of discussion coming out of the The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) today:

www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2018-08-09/major-enquiry-finds-decades-of-sexual-abuse-at-ampleforth/

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3346800-Andrew-Gilligan-Sunday-Times-Challenor-Green-Party?pg=3

David Challenor and the Green Party.