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The Forum > Article Comments > Social and legal demands of victims of abuse > Comments

Social and legal demands of victims of abuse : Comments

By Jennifer Wilson, published 2/12/2011

The case of ‘Angela’ and the Tasmanian DPP

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As someone who formerly worked in child protection (now retired), I thoroughly concur with the views expressed in this article. The needs and wishes of the abused young person must be respected in all cases.
Posted by Dickers, Tuesday, 6 December 2011 8:50:38 AM
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Dickers I concur, and as someone who admittedly doesn't follow every single legal proceedings where child abuse is concerned, I think it's really interesting, and positive, that consideration of the best interests of the girl concerned have been so pivotal.

I have to say though I feel a little uncomfortable about the leniency of the sentence, and I was surprised to read in the judge's statement that more than 50% of cases concerning sex with minors don't attract a custodial sentence. It may be the case that Terence Martin didn't know "Angela" was under 18, but I do think there are pretty compelling, socially conventional reasons why someone in his position should take it upon themselves to ask the question. Given that there is a pretty strong general understanding that the sexual exploitation of children is such a common problem, and perhaps given Martin's recent extensive sexual experience, including his history of viewing child pornography, I think it's reasonable to argue that it should have been incumbent upon him to question her age - and I think his not having done so represents criminal neglect. Giving him a custodial sentence on these grounds might have reinforced the fact that anyone considering sex with an "18 year old" has a duty to establish that for sure. Unless I'm very much mistaken this does become a stronger consideration in cases of people who have picked up "underage" girls in nightclubs for example.

In reference to the article though, yes I think it's important to recognise that we have no reason to suspect due process hasn't been followed, and that, difficult as it is, instead of making this particular set of perpetrators the scapegoats for our outrage, we should direct our efforts towards making sure this sort of thing can't happen so easily in the future.
Posted by Sam Jandwich, Tuesday, 6 December 2011 12:06:00 PM
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...When Melinda Tankard-Reist parades herself for self-interest and personal profit, as a champion for abused women and female children, credibility for herself and her cause is suspect. And likewise, this author exposes the problem of academics lining up to fight for the cause of the oppressed in society as a rewarding lifestyle.

...As a simile, culling feral pigs for profit as the motive of the hunter, becomes counter-productive towards its truthful goal of reducing the numbers of destructive wild animals, when profit margins are squeezed by the absence of pigs, due to the success of the culling operation. Manipulation in the culling process will ensure the continued supply of pigs for profit.

...The urgent need of society, is the honest and unsullied voice to speak that honesty to those with the ability to change laws surrounding the sex industry, the free-for all sex industry which is the catalyst of continued abuse of women and children and now prominently men, the major legal users of the service of prostitutes.

...Decriminalising prostitution in Australia was the end result of a concerted campaign by the industry, using the trusty argument of human rights as its vanguard. Decriminalisation certainly assisted profits for the unscrupulous industry, which is now ably assisted in traditional racketeering, by the rewarding simultaneous deregulation of the industry as a consequence of decriminalisation.
Posted by diver dan, Wednesday, 7 December 2011 8:23:33 AM
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Diver Dan,
I am not paid for articles in OLO and neither is anybody else.
Jennifer
Posted by briar rose, Wednesday, 7 December 2011 9:08:20 AM
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Ah Jen,

But a few articles on OLO, then maybe some on the leftie Herald and Age, get yourself on a few NGA boards or even make your own one up, then a cult feminist following, and one day you'll finally gain your stripes as a fully fledged feminist social commentator. You might even get a spot on QandA to plug your latest book!

See, the pay day comes further down the track. Then whenever any equal pay argument or other such rot is published by the Masters of Outrage, there you'll be, 'Leading feminst Jenifer Wilson says....' this is symptom of our misogynist society!, blaming the victim!, you name it.

Woops, sorry, I thought you were Nina.

Perhaps Diver has you mistaken.

You seem to have a career and qualifications and stuff like that. You also seem to think there are two sides to issues and that you cant just designate the woman as the victim in every single social phenomenon.

I mean, just here, you've sacrificed the chance to be outraged on behalf of the sisterhood and have a dig at 'men's attitude to women',even forgoing the chance to assign blame to all men by linking them ever so subtly from rape, to prostitution, to porn, to mens desire for beautiful women, to, well all heterosexual men.

All for the pragmatic aim of helping a rape victim. Poor form! Booo!

I'm sure what 'Angela' really needs is to be paraded around as a 'survivor!', 'Sister Survivor!' a reminder to all men that they are that close to rapists anyway because they are attracted to women. She would be happy to endure years of emotional turmoil so we can make a statement to all the men in the world! The potential rapists who made this misogynist society!

I would be appalled if someone like yourself became a Feminist Social Commentator.

Diver Dan, you've got it so wrong it isn't funny.

Cheers
Posted by Houellebecq, Wednesday, 7 December 2011 1:54:00 PM
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Thank you Houllie!

Feminist social commentator? That ship long since sailed, and besides, I'd rather have needles in my eyes.
Jennifer.
Posted by briar rose, Wednesday, 7 December 2011 5:54:53 PM
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