Hey @spccohen, why is the framing of this piece you wrote victim-blaming the MOTHER?

Whitney is portrayed as neglectful while reports of her fear and physical abuse are a footnote at the bottom of your piece.

In no world is this responsible reporting of fatal domestic abuse. Imagine having your three children stolen by a violent ex-partner and then media paint you as a bad mother.

Whitney was failed by Travis: the PERPETRATOR of this violence and who is responsible.

Today, during a talk I was giving on coercive control, I was struck again by the sheer scale of male violence against women, and how much of it remains uncounted…

We say three women a week are killed by men, but the reality is likely far worse when we factor in domestic abuse-related suicide - an area with limited data and little formal recognition:

🔺 Three women a week are estimated to die by suicide due to domestic abuse.

🔺 Some estimates suggest the real number could be as high as 10 women a week.

🔺 Nearly 30 women attempt DA-related suicide every day data suggests.

The true toll remains unknown. And yet, we still don’t treat this as the crisis it is.

Worse still, perpetrators are routinely not held to account, and walk free.

Ryan Wellings was the first to stand trial for a partner’s suicide after domestic abuse. Despite being convicted of coercive control - threatening Kiena Dawes with acid and a drill - he was CLEARED of manslaughter.

Kiena repeatedly reported his physical and psychological abuse to police, yet no meaningful action was taken. Just weeks before her death, she reached out again, desperate for protection. She didn’t get it.

Kiena left a suicide note saying Wellings had killed her, yet the defence blamed her history of mental health, erasing his role in the abuse that drove her there.

These are not just tragedies. They are the result of a sustained campaign of domestic abuse. Yet, the law refuses to recognise them, failing to hold perpetrators accountable.

The more we fail abused women, the more we refuse to recognise the true scale of male violence against women and girls. More on Kiena’s story ⬇️

https://twitter.com/david_challen/status/1878790356579319822

Ryan Wellings, who abused and coercively controlled Kiena Dawes for two years, threatening her with acid and to use a drill to take out her teeth, was CLEARED of manslaughter after her suicide.

Another reminder that justice system is failing victims.
➡️ bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… Wellings was the first person tried for the unlawful killing of a partner who died by suicide after domestic abuse. Accused of coercive control and violence against Kiena Dawes from 2020 to 2022, he was found guilty of these charges.

Described by prosecutor Paul Greaney KC as an "entitled, aggressive bully" and by Ms Dawes' friends as "horrible" with a jealous streak, the jury heard Wellings did not like being answered back - which "triggers his anger".

His abuse of Ms Dawes included regular slapping and "ragging" by her hair. He also sponged off her, unable to hold down work, securing and leaving 22 jobs and draining her of money while she worked two jobs.

Just hours after the Jo Cox Foundation shared this thread, a man was charged with threatening Jess Phillips, who has devoted her life to tackling MVAWG. Targeted after a male billionaire’s abusive rhetoric, this shows the real-world harm of reckless discourse.

https://twitter.com/jocoxfoundation/status/1876293887188463856

If you cannot condemn men who threaten women in public life, you validate a society where MVAWG roams free and escalation runs riot.

Phillips, like the late Jo Cox, fights for women’s safety despite risks.

🧵 Prof Alexis Jay, the former chair of a national inquiry into child sexual abuse, has called for the "full implementation" of reforms set out in her 2022 report, which warned of "endemic" abuse across society in England and Wales.
➡️ bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… A campaign group chaired by Prof Jay, called Act on IICSA, said ministers must commit to a "clear timeline" to adopt the recommendations laid out by the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The government says it supports the changes.

Dominique Pelicot found guilty.

The panel of five judges have convicted Dominique Pelicot of aggravated rape of Gisèle Pelicot.

He was also convicted of making and distributing pictures and images of Gisèle Pelicot.

Dominique Pelicot has also been found guilty of making and distributing sexual images of his adult daughter Caroline and the wives of his sons.

Live updates ➡️ bbc.co.uk/news/live/cnv3… Fifty other men are being given verdicts and sentenced - the majority have denied rape.

Gisèle and her children are just sat on the bench looking at the defendants, resting their heads on the wall, reports Laura Gozzi.

Another defendant found guilty of rape of own wife...

🧵 Shocking new research from @YouthEndowFund shows the extent of our failure to support young people experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violent...

🔺 49% of teenagers in a relationship in the last year have experienced violent or controlling behaviour from their partner.

"My biggest fear is if children can't access the support they need that they're then going to end up in the same position as Holly and potentially be murdered,"
- Holly Newton's mother, Micala Trussler.

➡️ bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… The new research also found 27% of respondents had been in a romantic relationship during the past year. Of those, almost half said they had been subject to controlling behaviours, such as having their partner check who they had been talking to on their phone.

#CoerciveControl

Gisèle Pelicot is on the stand today and asked about her decision to continue using the surname "Pelicot".

Gisèle explains that when the trial began her children were "ashamed" of the name.

She adds: "I have grandchildren who are called that.

"Today, I want them to be proud of their grandmother.

"My name is known across the world now. They shouldn't be ashamed of carrying that name.

"Today we will remember Gisèle Pelicot."

Yes we will. What a woman.

#ShameMustChangeSides 'Gisèle Pelicot has finished her evidence.

As she left the stand she walked back to her side of the courtroom, sitting down with a slight smile.

She rests her head against the wall. Dominique sits across the room - he has barely changed expression throughout. He stares ahead.'

Wonderful reporting above by @lauragzzi.

Man loaded with LSD and ketamine argued w/mum over his drug use then killed her:

CLEARED of murder.

Woman in fear of her life killed abusive partner, on bail for assaulting her, and who threatened to kill her:

CONVICTED of murder.

Tell us again women get treated lightly… Julie Ann McIlwaine was strangled on a previous holiday + lived in a refuge for six months in 2021 to get away from her abusive partner, James Crossley.

Her partner also threatened to shoot her children and burn the house down.

Julie was said to be “living in chronic fear”.

A soldier, a nurse, a lorry driver, a builder, a baker… these are just some of the men accused of the rape and assault of Gisèle Pelicot. By labelling rapists as “monsters,” we actively distance them from ordinary men, ignoring the reality that sexual violence against women is a deliberate choice made by countless men who walk all parts of our society.

Such labels prevent us from confronting the truth this trial now holds up to the world: that many men walk freely in our communities, appearing trusted and safe, yet actively choose to commit acts of violence against women and girls…

Many of the men accused in this trial have attempted to normalise their acts of sexual violence by framing their behaviour as a misunderstanding of consent, and even a reaction to personal struggles. These excuses do not mitigate their actions. Some of the men conceded they ‘should have left’ when they saw Gisèle Pelicot was unconscious, whilst others have been more explicit in their views towards women earlier in life, “I had a hatred towards women.”

This normalisation by these men of their violent behaviours creates a disturbing disparity, minimising the seriousness of their crimes and shifting focus away from the harm of the victim. One of the men accused went as far to state he was ‘was simply following her husband’s instructions,’ going as far to directly tell Gisèle Pelicot in court:

“It’s not me you should be angry with, it’s your husband,”

This is an abhorrent case. Yet, it is an incredible survivor, Gisèle Pelicot, who in choosing to waive her anonymity now holds these ‘ordinary’ men up to the world, to show the full extent of the crimes. To stare down that the men who committed these acts were characters who occupied the community in her life, even ones she unwittingly greeted in her everyday life:

“I saw him now and then in the bakery; I would say hello. I never thought he’d come and rape me,”
- Gisèle Pelicot

➡️ theguardian.com/world/2024/oct… Reading the accounts from the men in this trial and blindly believing their acts of violence against women are limited to this case is dangerous. Some of the men are known offenders, others should be best labelled for now as ‘previously unknown offenders’. Start digging…

WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS:

Not happy with becoming an Olympian, child rapist Steven Van de Velde plays victim and SOBS about being booed.

Real victim’s understand the true depths of their harms and trauma, Steven. Perps like you however think only of sportswashing your acts of sexual violence.

What ‘remorseful’ perp would ever dream of allowing himself to be held aloft as role model sportsman on the world stage?

Volleyball association @nevobo, who supported Van de Velde, believes the boos directed at him the Dutch player were 'organised' by British tabloids.

Tell that to the countless survivors of CSA, sexual violence and domestic abuse who bravely spoke out against a child rapist being platformed on the world stage as a ‘role model’. FULL INTERVIEW (if you can stomach it) here:

omroepwest.nl/sport/4869171/…

THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE TO SEE:
Child rapist competing at an Olympics.

THINGS YOU DO LIKE TO SEE:
Child rapist booed every moment he competes. So long as the IOC supports a child rapist as an Olympian 'role model', I'll keep highlighting that he is in fact a remorseless child rapist and shouldn't be one. This is stain on the Olympic Games that will never wash out, and nor should it.

As a child bereaved by fatal domestic abuse, headlines calling a man who killed three women a “nice guy” and “normal person” have felt personally traumatic.

The media called my father a “gentle man” and “nice chap”, which misrepresented the controlling reality that myself and my family experienced for years. It compounded our trauma.

Reporting like this causes so much damage – both to victims’ families, and to public understandings of coercive control. It has to stop. Now.

We need every single newsroom trained in how to report domestic abuse deaths, and to lobby the regulator for stronger rules. The press has the power to prevent further deaths and save women’s lives.

Please support this crowdfunder I’ve started to support @we_level_up’s crucial work to train journalists in their Dignity For Dead Women guidelines.

This takes all of us ➡️ gofundme.com/f/levelup-media ⬆️ PLEASE SHARE!
I have spoken to many families bereaved of fatal domestic abuse and alongside Level Up we have pushed to change reporting standards in newsrooms. We need your help to stop the damage being done to the families, traumatised by this reporting. This has to stop.

“I understand that a strong woman standing up to you is met with such reticence,” replies Jess Phillips to a group of men intimidating after her win.

Jess then tells of how a young woman delivering leaflets yesterday was filmed and screamed at by an older man, who then slashed her tyres.

Huge respect to Jess. JESS PHILLIPS: “Today I was to be joined by the family of Jo Cox who wanted to come out and campaign with me. And there is absolutely no way that I could have allowed for them to see what was aggressive and violence in our democracy.”

A tale as old as time: rapist with a sporting talent given a free pass so he can continue his professional career.

Dutch volleyball player Steven Van de Velde admitted three counts of rape 12-year-old British girl in 2016, was sentenced to just 4 years, then allowed to return to the Netherlands to complete his sentence, only to be released in 2017 after serving just ONE YEAR.

Upon release, Van de Velde said: "I have been branded as a sex monster, as a paedophile. That I am not, really not."

He quite literally is a paedophile rapist and now he's a paedophile rapist going to the Paris Olympics... The Dutch Olympic Committee (@nocnsf) said:

"After his release, Van de Velde sought and received professional counselling. He demonstrated to those around him - privately and professionally - self-insight and reflection."

They added he met 'all criteria for the Olympic Games.'

Independent candidate @Akhmedyakoob1 said “70% of hell will be women” and joked about domestic abuse on a podcast:

“Getting back to masculinity, I personally would give her a backhander. I’m not joking.”

Parliament does not need more misogynists.
theguardian.com/politics/artic… @Akhmedyakoob1 Akhmed is also an Andrew Tate supporter:

"I like the way he talks... I've not heard him say anything wrong."

"He's not a misogynist ...they promote hard work... don't sit there and cry like a little girl, you go and work hard."

Brace yourself once again for the sentence in this case…

Lee Carran punched and kicked a woman 'as if she was a football', throwing her to the ground and grabbing her throat. His acts were caught on CCTV and by an independent witness at the scene.

Carran was arrested and later released on bail. Following his release… yep, you guessed it: he pursued the victim again, this time to another city, where she moved to escape him. Carran followed her.

The victim bravely disclosed a history of domestic abuse including:

🔺 Numerous assaults.

🔺 Strangled the victim to the point of blacking-out.

🔺 Controlled 'every aspect' of her life, taking control of her phone and money and prevented her from seeing her family.

Carran pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and non-fatal strangulation.

His sentence?

THREE AND A HALF YEARS + a restraining order.

Firstly, it must be stated how incredibly brave this victim/survivor is to report to police. Her perpetrator is jailed, she is safe now and that is what is important.

However, it is appalling to see police repeatedly failing to stop escalating patterns of abuse by releasing offenders on bail and to see woefully short jail terms being handed down for serious acts of violence, due to sentencing guidelines.

These cases and their outcomes happen day-in-day-out and the pattern and behaviour of abusers is not being confronted. We must have a more proactive approach to policing risk, protecting victims and see coercive and controlling behaviour as a serious offence (max 5-years sentencing does not take this abuse seriously).
➡️ cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-… I’m trying v hard to not become desensitised to reading these cases and to continue sharing them. The outcomes are not acceptable and this needs to be said repeatedly, again and again. In the cold light of day the basic facts speak for themselves. What if he killed her on bail?

A footballer has been cleared of raping a sleeping woman + intending to cause distress by sending naked photos of her to his teammates w/the caption “anyone want a go?” and a crying laughing emoji.

“I was just showing off and being a lad."

This is foul.theguardian.com/uk-news/articl… I'm sure many, including myself, would love to know what swayed the jury to believing this man's account.

Especially as the defendant failed to mention the images in police questioning and refused to answer questions about them.

Man makes his ‘I have a Handmaid’s Tale dream’ speech attacking graduating women for choosing to work saying, “I’d guess the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will have”, and praises his wife who “leans into her vocation of homemaker.” This is NFL kicker, Harrison Butker, making his commencement speech at the graduation ceremony of Benedictine College.

Butker used his speech to also decry various "diabolical lies told to women" about topics including abortion, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and surrogacy.

🧵 Christine Rawle jailed for murder of husband said her attack followed years of physical, psychological + sexual torment from her husband.

Reading this case I believe this abused woman (and her son) have been horrifically failed by police the CJS ⬇️theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/m… The prosecution argued Rawle stabbed her husband in a temper after a row over money, whilst the defence claimed that she had been subject to years of bullying, intimidation, coercion + physical/sexual attacks leaving her trapped in “invisible handcuffs” ⬇️theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/m…

🧵 Christine Rawle jailed for murder of husband said her attack followed years of physical, psychological + sexual torment from her husband.

Reading this case I believe this abused woman (and her son) have been horrifically failed by police the CJS ⬇️theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/m… The prosecution argued Rawle stabbed her husband in a temper after a row over money, whilst the defence claimed that she had been subject to years of bullying, intimidation, coercion + physical/sexual attacks leaving her trapped in “invisible handcuffs” ⬇️theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/m…