The investigation concluded to report that the act of restraining our sister to a chair and gagging her was inappropriate and unacceptable. It took many months to determine that and only because BBC released the story on air. I could have told you that from looking at the picture that it was unacceptable, inappropriate and against her will. I won't thank the Permanent Secretary for reaching this conclusion because it should have been done many years ago. Like everything else that was reported by our sister it was ignored and brushed under the carpet. Misogyny, racism, sexual harassment, xenophobia are just a few to mention that DeeAnn has reported over a 10 year period. Innocent fishermen were accused of being some of the ones who carried out some of these acts when it was warranted British Sea Fishery officers. DeeAnn has been viewed as painting the Scottish Government and Marine Scotland Compliance in a bad light. I am sorry to say but they done this all to themselves. DeeAnn suffered and endured misogynistic actions by some of her male colleagues and because she spoke out senior management were not allowing those men to suffer any consequences. They pursued her and still are because they were not wanting to be found out that they were the role models of this type of behaviour that went on for many, many years within Marine Scotland Compliance.
Just recently a Hate Crime consultation was held in Inverness, Scotland. Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Justice Secretary said that misogyny could be a specific hate crime to be considered by the SNP ministers. The population in Scotland is made up of 51% women. Members of the Women's Equality Party attended the consultation and they spoke of DeeAnn's case.
DeeAnn don't have a voice and she cannot speak out in fear of more repercussions from her employer. She does not know from day to day what is going to happen to her, her job and her future. A lot of people are in this way due to other difficulties but DeeAnn's situation is due to a group of senior men who made it their ultimate goal to get rid of DeeAnn by any means necessary so that the public would never learn the extent of the truth.
I want DeeAnn to have a voice. I want DeeAnn to be able to speak out and give support to other women that have and are going through this type of situation and to men who are being bullied at their place of work. The Scottish Government have taken away her voice and silenced her. DeeAnn would be an excellent advocate to promote change and having misogyny as being a "standalone" hate crime by speaking about what happened to her. I want Nicola Sturgeon to speak with DeeAnn and hear what she has to say. I want the Scottish Government to apologise for failing her. I want DeeAnn to be a part of the change that is vital to protect women no matter what race they are, what language they speak or where they come from. I want this Christmas to be one that DeeAnn can enjoy and to be able to move on with her life.
DeeAnn has many supporters from all over the world. Please share this update and ask those to support us to get the Scottish Government to allow DeeAnn to speak. No woman or man should ever have to suffer at their place of work. My journey is a long one but I said that I would not stop until justice is done. We want our strong and beautiful sister back, not the woman that these men bullied for over 10 years and got away with their misogynist abuse. It ends here.