Rape Victims Deserve Anonymity. Not rapists.

(Image from here)

I don't know why we keep having to have this conversation. Anyone with an ounce of common sense and compassion should understand why rape victims deserve anonymity and why men charged with rape, like people charged with any other crime, do not deserve anonymity. But, it's come up. Again. This time the issue was raised by Maura McGowan, who is chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales. I would have thought that the chairman of the Bar Council might have a passing knowledge of why granting anonymity to defendants in rape cases is wrong but clearly I assumed too much.

So, this is my response. Again.

Rape victims deserve anonymity.

Rapists do not.

Giving rapists anonymity puts more women in danger of rape. 

It is that simple. 

sianushka tweeted these links earlier today: 

• Early Day Motion 105: Anonymity for Defendants in Rape Cases
• Anonymity in Rape Cases: Commons Library Standard Note
• Anonymity for Rape Defendants by Vera Baird
• Shadow of the Noose

All are worth reading. Her blog is here.