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Rape: who's fault is it?


VickieB

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UK: New poll finds a third of people believe women who flirt partially responsible for being raped A new ICM opinion poll commissioned by Amnesty International indicates that a third (34%) of people in the UK believe that a woman is partially or totally responsible for being raped if she has behaved in a flirtatious manner.The poll, âââ¬ÃÅSexual Assault Researchâââ‰â¢, published today (21 November) as part of Amnesty Internationalâââ‰â¢s âââ¬ÃÅStop Violence Against Womenâââ‰â¢ campaign, shows that similar âââ¬Ãâblame cultureâââ¬Ã attitudes exist over clothing, drinking, perceived promiscuity, personal safety and whether a woman has clearly said âââ¬Ãânoâââ¬Ã to the man.For instance, more than a quarter (26%) of those asked said that they thought a women was partially or totally responsible for being raped if she was wearing sexy or revealing clothing, and more than one in five (22%) held the same view if a woman had had many sexual partners. Around one in 12 people (8%) believed that a woman was totally responsible for being raped if sheâââ‰â¢d had many sexual partners.Similarly, more than a quarter of people (30%) said that a woman was partially or totally responsible for being raped if she was drunk, and more than a third (37%) held the same view if the woman had failed to clearly say âââ¬Ãânoâââ¬Ã to the man.Changes in the law relating to consent mean that an alleged rapist must show that they had taken reasonable steps to ensure that the other person had consented to sex. In this respect the poll exposes a gap between the law and public attitudes.Amnesty International UK Kate Allen said: âââ¬ÃâThis poll shows that a disturbingly large proportion of the public blame women themselves for being raped.âââ¬ÃâIt is shocking that so many people will lay the blame for being raped at the feet of women themselves and the government must launch a new drive to counteract this sexist âââ¬ÃÅblame cultureâââ‰â¢.âââ¬ÃÂThe poll also shows that the vast majority of the British population has no idea how many women are raped every year in the UK, with 96% of those polled saying they either didnâââ‰â¢t know the true extent of r*pe or that they thought it was far lower than the true figure.Only 4% of respondents even thought the number of women raped exceeds 10,000 per year when the true figure is likely to be well in excess of 50,000:Six out of seven people either said they didnâââ‰â¢t know that only 5.6% of rapes reported to the police currently result in conviction or believed the conviction rate to be far higher. The average estimate was of a 26% conviction rate, nearly fives times higher than the actual rate. Kate Allen added:âââ¬ÃâIn addition to uncovering disturbing attitudes over women being âââ¬ÃÅto blameâââ‰â¢, this poll also reveals the scale of public ignorance of the unacceptably high numbers of women raped every year in the UK as well as the dreadfully low conviction rates.âââ¬ÃâThe government has an international duty to prevent this gross human rights violation yet itâââ‰â¢s clear that the governmentâââ‰â¢s policies on tackling r*pe are failing and failing badly.âââ¬ÃâThese findings should act as a wake-up call to the government to urgently tackle the triple problem of the high incidence of r*pe, low conviction rates and a sexist blame culture.âââ¬Ã South Essex r*pe and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) Director Sheila Coates said:âââ¬ÃâThis poll shows that people donâââ‰â¢t realise how common r*pe actually is and that thereâââ‰â¢s little understanding of how many people r*pe crisis groups actually support.âââ¬ÃâGroups like ours are picking up an ever increasing number of helpline calls and waiting lists are growing. The situation for r*pe victims and womenâââ‰â¢s specialist sexual violence services are at critical.âââ¬ÃâThose needing counselling face waiting lists of up to one year and this can only get worse as more r*pe crisis groups close or cut back services due to a lack of funding and government support. This situation has forced victims into a post code lottery when trying to find support.âââ¬ÃÂAmnesty Internationalâââ‰â¢s poll comes ahead of a new call on government later this week from a coalition of womenâââ‰â¢s organisations, Amnesty International and the TUC for an integrated government strategy to combating violence against women in all its forms in the UK, including sexual assault.So just wondering really what are everyones opinions about this?

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I disagree that women are partially responsible for being raped. Ok, someone may be attracted to a female that wears sexual or revealing clothing. Even drunk, an 'easy' target. But it's the rapists decision to r*pe. Not the victim's decision. The female has free will to wear what she pleases surely?

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yep thats right, it might seem someone is flirting because they are a polite person, or they may b wearin sexy clothin, but that doesnt mean they want sexual intercourse and should never b forrced! how can someone get the blame for a man forcing themself onto them!?!

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YEAH THAT IS A LOAD OF RUBBISH NO IS NO.ITS LIKE SAYING IF A MAN WEARS SHORTS AND A VEST HE HE ASKING 4 IT ITS A JOKE.MEN THAT r*pe WOMAN ARE SICK FULL STOP.................U SHOULD BE ABLE 2 WEAR WHAT U WANT WHERE U WANT WITHOUT DA FEAR YA GONA B RAPED 4 WHAT U R DRESSES LIKE...

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What's upsetting is that those who have been raped in the past and know who done it, sometimes don't actually speak up & prosecute because they are frightened. I say name & shame, but I understand it's not as easy as it seems.And do not assume that it is only males that r*pe females, because it is not. I've heard of males getting raped by females and males getting raped by males. Disgusting!

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What's upsetting is that those who have been raped in the past and know who done it, sometimes don't actually speak up & prosecute because they are frightened. I say name & shame, but I understand it's not as easy as it seems.
nah it aint easy . i know pepople raped by family members ongoing for years
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YEAH THATS TRUEEVEN THO IT NEVER CUM 2 THAT WE STILL REPORT IT CAUSE NEXT TIME THE OTHER GIRLS MIGHT NOT B AS LUCKY SO 2 PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING WE REPORTED IT AND THE PERSON GOT CHARGEDWID INTENT 2 r*peATTEMPTED KIDNAPP/HOLDING SOME1 AGAINST THERE WILLETC................

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YEAH THAT IS A LOAD OF RUBBISH NO IS NO.ITS LIKE SAYING IF A MAN WEARS SHORTS AND A VEST HE HE ASKING 4 IT ITS A JOKE.MEN THAT r*pe WOMAN ARE SICK FULL STOP.................U SHOULD BE ABLE 2 WEAR WHAT U WANT WHERE U WANT WITHOUT DA FEAR YA GONA B RAPED 4 WHAT U R DRESSES LIKE...
yer i agree u shouldnt worry... if ur gonna get raped for being drunk or what ur wearin its stupid n sick
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