Tell NSW Police Commissioner To Stop Blaming Rape Victims
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione
According to police commissioner Andrew Scipione, young women who want to avoid getting raped should rely on their friends and their sobriety to keep them safe. Although Scipione clearly had good intentions, his comments imply that women who do get sexually assaulted should have planned ahead better. This, essentially, is a form of rape apology.
Scipione is not only implying that the victims of rape have only themselves and their alcohol intake to blame; he is also insinuating that women will be safe from rape if they stay sober, which is blatantly false.
Rape is the fault of the rapist and the rapist alone, no matter the consequence. Call on Police Commissioner Scipione to take real action against assault in New South Wales instead of relying on victim-blaming.
Your recent comment to the Sydney Morning Herald that women who don't want to get raped should plan ahead and stay sober to avoid sexual assault smacks of victim-blaming. Although your comments were clearly with the best of intentions, it is unreasonable for young women to take responsibility for the actions of their attackers.
In addition to victim-blaming, your comments also imply that women who stay sober stand no chance of sexual assault. Though date rape is a serious and common crime, it is also horribly common for women to be assaulted regardless of their alcohol intake. To discount this is a grave oversight.
In the future, I urge you to direct your resources toward real action against rapists, rather than putting the onus to prevent assault onto young women.
