HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE MUST BE FAILED BEFORE SOMETHING CHANGES?

One of the most heartbreaking realities of our justice system is that a victim can be believed, yet the evidence may still not meet the legal threshold required for a conviction.

The law requires guilt to be proven beyond reasonable doubt. While this is essential to protect against wrongful convictions, it raises serious questions about how victims of sexual violence, grooming and historic abuse are supported in their pursuit of justice.

Sexual abuse often happens behind closed doors, without witnesses, and can go unreported for years. Physical evidence may no longer exist, making an already difficult case even harder to prove.

But the fact that abuse is difficult to prove does not mean it did not happen.

Victims should never be expected to report abuse immediately to be taken seriously. Particularly children who have been groomed by someone they trust, who may be too frightened, ashamed or traumatised to speak out.

Trauma does not work to a 24-hour deadline. Grooming does not come with a warning. And silence does not mean consent.

And this is where our justice system desperately needs to be questioned.

ALL relevant evidence should be capable of being considered by a court, whether uncovered through a police investigation or independently obtained and provided by the victim. Evidence should not be automatically disregarded simply because of who discovered it or how it came to light.

Furthermore, evidence of other concerning behaviour, even where it does not relate directly to the specific allegations being tried, should be capable of consideration where it could legitimately help establish a pattern of behaviour, grooming or abuse, subject to appropriate safeguards for a fair trial.

How can we claim to deliver justice if potentially crucial evidence is excluded without proper consideration?

Protecting the rights of the accused and supporting victims should never be treated as mutually exclusive. We can demand fair trials while also demanding better investigations, stronger victim protection and a system that truly understands trauma.

A not-guilty verdict means guilt has not been proven to the required legal standard. It does not automatically mean the victim was lying or that the abuse never happened.

We live in a society that constantly encourages women and young girls to speak up. We tell them to be brave, that their voices matter and that they will be heard.

But what happens when they finally find that courage, only to feel failed by the very system they trusted to protect them?

What message does that send to the next vulnerable child being groomed by someone they trust? Or to the countless survivors still struggling to find the strength to speak?

Justice must mean more than encouraging victims to come forward. It must mean thoroughly investigating allegations, properly considering all relevant evidence and ensuring victims are treated with dignity and compassion.

Justice should not depend on how quickly someone finds the courage to speak about the worst experience of their life. Nor should potentially crucial evidence be overlooked simply because it was uncovered by the victim rather than the police.

It is time for change. Time to question how evidence is handled, how victims are treated and whether our justice system is doing enough to protect those brave enough to speak out.

HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS MUST FIND THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP, ONLY TO FEEL THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS FAILED THEM?

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. 💔