Amnesty recently did a poll of students at the University of Ulster and discovered that nearly 50 of students thought that if a woman was flirting or wearing revealing clothing she was either totally or partially responsible for being raped. I was shocked by this statistic although sadly not surprised.

Students hold views which are no better or no worse than any other section of society but this blame culture allows rapists off the hook. While women should try and be as careful as possible about their safety it is not Ok to blame the victim.

These shocking attitudes need to be challenged and this needs to start in schools, where its still really common to hear girls being labelled as "sluts" or "slags". This creates a negative view of women and creates a culture where there are innocent victims and guilty victims.

Its never ok to blame the victim. At the District Policing Partnership in the Students' Union on Tuesday night we had a presentation from the PSNI Superintendent in charge of Rape Crime in Northern Ireland.

One statistic from her talk was that only 8% of rapes in UK are committed by persons unknown to the victim.

i agree it is never the victims fault
i am a school girl and every one i no agrees no one deserves 2 be violated in such away it is against their human rights i feel that the cruel people who commit such crimes should receive a prison sentance that of a murderer as it really messes up peoples lives and they will never be able to forget such a horrible ordeal

i agree with megan that rape should carry a longer sentence, unfortunately usually sexual crimes dont hold long enough sentences.

This is one view that I particularily resent. Its the reason behind the veil in muslim countries - the veil isnt to protect the womens dignity as people would have you believe, in the context of the Quran it is because if a woman is raped and she isnt dressed modestly then it is her fault, and that she is responsible for tempting the man. It angers and saddens me that so many women are forced and lets face it, how many people in free western countries choose to become muslim and wear the veil? into wearing such a symbol of degrading oppression.

I think it is appalling that Islam cant even expect men to control their sexual desires, I dont think anything justifies rape - regardless of what the women wears or doesnt wear or if she is drunk or high or anything. Rape is wrong and no circumstance can change that really.

I think this study just shows the lack of serious attention paid to the amount of rape cases in Northern Ireland and how disproportionate the response is. Many people seem to think that a womans choice of dress counters her right to safety. Its ridiculous.

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Rape is wrong. End of story.

Rape is wrong. End of story.

Quote:

Quoting: Edward anon It angers and saddens me that so many women are forced and lets face it, how many people in free western countries choose to become muslim and wear the veil? into wearing such a symbol of degrading oppression.

Its not fecking degrading its part of their religion If they choose to wear it, then fine, yes, its slightly TOO strict for my liking, but hell, its their own views.

I think raping of a man should be discussed as well, even though it does occur way less often.

But on the other hand in UK women do have decent rights and if such issues actually get to the cort, judges are way more sympathetical towards women.