We need to talk

Re: Why should Ghomeshi not be allowed a voice? Christie Blatchford, Sept. 15

The comments expressed by Christie Blatchford in her column underlie many of the issues that women face when making the courageous move to come forward to report sexual violence.

Blatchford perpetuates many victim blaming or shaming statements throughout the column. For example, to state that the women were “treated with kid gloves” by the police is to make a mockery of the additional trauma and public scrutiny these women were forced to endure in taking the step to report to the police and going forward with the criminal justice system.

Blatchford stated Chief Bill Blair “all but publicly begged complainants to bring their stories to the police”. The police should have called out to other survivors of Ghomeshi’s brutality. This is their job. In reality, we know that only 1 in 8 women will report their assault to police (Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, Hidden from Sight Report 2011). Additionally, only 3 out of every 1000 sexual assaults in Canada end in a criminal conviction (YWCA, 460,000 and Counting, 2015.)

Holding those who commit sexual violence accountable is critical, and the place to begin is how we talk about sexual violence. To any survivor who read her column and felt blamed, shamed, or doubted in her experience, we want to say, “We believe you.” Carrolyn Johnston, Acting Executive Director, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, Ottawa