This is a hot button topic in Australia at the moment but realistically is happening elsewhere too (actually, I recall a fairly recent example in the UK House of Commons).
As background, a woman was raped by a colleague in Parliament House. They had been drinking, returned to the office, security let them in, she was drunk (unconscious/semi-conscious), he raped her in the Minister’s office. She told her boss who encouraged her to report it to the police. She did but then withdrew the allegation as she feared it would affect her employment in politics. She was offered the opportunity to work elsewhere but continued working in the same suite of offices as where the rose had occurred as she feared moving would affect her career.
More background, the Attorney General has come forward to say that someone made historical allegations of rape against him. The alleged victim reported it to police but never made a sworn statement or was officially interviewed. She later withdrew the complaint and committed suicide two days later. She had a history of mental health issues.
How to deal with this?
Well, a former senior politician, Julie Bishop, has proposed that MPs be required to report such incidents, when they are told about them, to the police for investigation.
I can see why a politician may favour this - it sends a strong message of zero tolerance and essentially means they have done their bit and it is someone else’s problem to deal with. Politicians are not equipped to carry out such investigations themselves. And any action they take could open them up to an employment tribunal.
But should politicians have the right (potentially, the obligation) to report to the police? Surely that is just taking agency away from the victim yet again? Particularly if the victim believes their career will be harmed?
I’ve used political examples here but this happens in blue chip corporations and private companies too.
I’m interested to know what others think about this because I haven’t made up my mind yet.