Luc Wiseman, Gilbert Rozon, Philippe Bond, André Boisclair, Jeffrey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, hockey players and how many others? I’m tired of hearing these stories of sexual abuse. As a woman, and especially as a victim of sexual assault, I no longer know what to think, what to hope for. I see the case of Simon Houle with his conditional discharge, and I wonder how “Judge” Poliquin could come to such a decision.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
Whether we are talking about women or men, the victims are often left behind, for lack of “evidence”.
I wonder how it is possible to have proof of an act that is mostly committed in private. No witness, therefore no crime? But where is the real justice?
In the case of Philippe Bond, we repeatedly hear that “everyone knew”. Everyone knew? I want to scream my rage at everyone. Victims are often fearful and traumatized. If everyone “knows” and doesn’t say anything, that’s another way to let them down. It’s another way of telling them “I’m with you, but I can’t do anything”. And as a victim, I understand all those people who know and do nothing. Because the current law requires evidence so improbable that everyone knows the game is lost in advance. Everyone, especially the abusers.
Status quo
If I were one of the many victims who saw their abuser get off with a slap on the wrist, a conditional discharge or a “two years less a day”, I don’t know how I would react. What do we lack, as a society, to defend those who deserve to be defended? Since when does the “great career” of an aggressor justify an absolution? Since when has public, artistic or political power taken precedence over human integrity?
I can’t read any more about all these stories of abuse, touching, gang rapes. It seems to me that after everything we have heard in recent years, we should be somewhere else. And by “elsewhere”, I mean: crack down harder. I mean: providing more resources and listening to victims. I mean: stop judging cases independently of each other.
Because the scourge concerns us all. And if it is not already affecting us directly, the statistics seem to indicate that it will affect us soon…
While the wreckers wreak havoc, the victims row against the tide. And they’re not just fighting for justice. They fight for their physical and mental (sur)vival.
Because yes, when you get out of an assault, you’re not just a victim. We are a survivor.