We have a society where there are spelt out consequences for every crime/offence you can think of. Some crimes/offences even have more than one consequence just for effects or better still to drive the message home. But depending on how some are committed, the laws broken are interpreted differently thus the consequence is interpreted differently. Heck, a few of us might have contested a traffic ticket or two even though we knew the very moment we got pulled over that we were wrong. We notice the officer spelt our name wrong, got the color of our car wrong (its dark green but he wrote down black), got the time and place wrong, and we choose to fight the ticket due to that fact. Yes, if you get your story perfected you would probably come out tops in traffic court.
Are you wondering what I’m up to yet? Read on… I was running around the internet while taking a break from working today and I came across some article on msnbc. It’s a story about women drugged and raped yet the jury still couldn’t convict said offender. I don’t have to define rape on here, if you need its definition consult dictionary (don’t) com. I read through the report with my mouth wide open. According to the article, if a rape victim knows her assailant, there is an 80% chance that said assailant would walk free. It was hard to comprehend the actions of the affected women afterwards and what must have been going thru their heads. What they must be feeling? I read unbelievable statements like,
“Cases where a victim knows her assailant are still extraordinarily hard to win,”
“To a juror, a rapist is a guy who jumps out of the bushes and throws a woman to the ground,”
“She has terrible injuries, and she leaps up and reports it immediately to the police. Anything that falls short of that story is questionable.”
After reading thru the whole article, I am left wondering what are laws for if they do not protect you in all scenarios. I wondered why a jury is picked not to include anyone who has ever been sexually violated or who has ever had a direct/indirect experience with such previously, just so the offender could get a fair trial. I ask, what about the VICTIM? Doesn’t he or she have the right to a fair trial as well?
I’m beginning to feel anger building up inside me. it is a lengthy article but please read the article here and give me your 2cents.
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10 comments:
I am constantly disapointed in the state of the world. The state of the law. Gosh, I want to go to a small room and curl up there forever.
i am not suprised
we live in a very injust world and this doesn't even begin to cover the worst of it
cant read the wholw article but i cant help but scream WTF??!!!!!!!!!
First of all, I have updated and second of all this is pot calling kettle black..abi how often do you update..infact you are the Engr. Yawnadua.
I am glad men are speaking out about things like this. Just last week i read another man talking about child rights and stuff. The reason why i was happy is cos, in Nigeria you find that it is mostly the women fighting for women and children rights. When talk to naija guys about rape, domestic violence, female genital mutilation etc...most of them care but..I don't see any taking the initiative to do something about it..like blogging about it.
i also heard that the uglier and frightening you look, the more time you get for rapping a female. Thats why you see the so called "college jocks" or fine fine bobo who get away with their acts because they believe the girl must have consented to the fine fine bobo.
They should understand Rape is never about SEX it is about POWER and CONTROL...
Pepper soup eh? well i only take pepper soup when i am sick...if u get suya theres a Usani Bolts Bus straight to scranton or a Phelps boat to scranton...lol
Femi B signing out
a lawyer says even though there are injuries, the opposing lawyer could argue "they both like it rough" or the argument that when a lady says no, she actually means yes.
another thing to think about - there are laws against sexual harrasment, but it is very difficult to prove sexual harassment cases, unless one party physically grabbed the other party
sexual harassment is even more mushed up. stories are bound about people who file harassment cases against coworkers because their coworkers were talking about stuff they werent ok with. i.e. A and B are flirting with each other and making provocative comments to each other. C walks in, listens in on their conversation and feels its her duty to files harassment claims against A and B. my question, Was C harassed?
it is frustrating the way we continue to treat each other badly and your post simply illustrates that unfortunate reality of existence for women.
Thanks for this post!
the law sure makes me sick
This anger you feel is the beginning of taking action. It gives you insight into what you can do to get this issue rectified.
We all can!
Some of these rapists are people the victims love and trust. Husbands, brothers, fathers, friends, uncles, aunties...
and the society we are would want you to cover this up for family honour ( I know this is another angle)
It's even so sad that in some cases they make the victim feel like she had done something to deserve it!
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