Foreword - Everyone is Talking About This: the true story of a rape case

Everyone is Talking About This: the true story of a rape case audiobook

Trigger warnings: this podcast deals with rape, sexual assault, anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
Before the events that I describe in this audiobook, I naively thought that I was a person who knew how badly women are served by the criminal justice system when they report the crime of rape or sexual assault.

As my family and I actually went through the experience of the police, the courts, the legal process, I quickly discovered that I was wrong. I had no idea how bad it is.

In writing it all down and sharing it with you, the listeners, I hope to shed some light on all the things that mitigate against perpetrators even being charged, let alone convicted, of this terrible crime.

Can we change this? I’d like to think so but there is so, so much work to do. My first step is in publishing this audiobook. Please share it with your friends across the world, talk about it, shout about it. The more information is out there, the better.

If you would like to get in touch with me, I can be contacted on [e-mail].

I’ll leave you with some quotes that will certainly get you thinking:
“In effect, what we are witnessing is the decriminalisation of rape. In doing so, we are failing to give justice to thousands of complainants.

In some cases, we are enabling persistent predatory sex offenders to go on to reoffend in the knowledge that they are highly unlikely to be held to account. This is likely to mean we are creating more victims as a result of our failure to act.”

Report of the Victim’s Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, 2020

“Whenever the profile of rape victims/survivors and their poor treatment by the criminal justice system begins to receive the attention it deserves, there comes a backlash and a rise in public concern regarding the fate of the ‘falsely’ accused.”

The Decriminalisation of Rape: Why the justice system is failing women and what needs to change

‘…the problem that the mothers of these girls [in Eastern Congo] faced was a problem faced by women everywhere: that even when they do speak up and denounce crimes against them, the criminal justice system so often fails them.

Sexual abuse thrives in silence, but it also thrives when men are free to act with impunity.’

The Power of Women by Denis Mukwege

Please be aware that this podcast mentions sexual assault, rape, eating disorders and mental health issues. There is occasional strong language and some graphic detail.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this podcast, here are some organisations you can contact in the UK:
Rape Crisis
0808 500 2222 - calls are free.
Or you can visit their website - https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk/
Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity
08088010677 - calls are free.
Or visit their website - https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
You can also speak to your GP or, if you are still at school, someone from your safeguarding team.
To my listeners - please do tell your friends about this audiobook podcast and encourage them to listen so that as many people as possible are aware of the reality victims of rape are up against on a daily basis here in the UK and across the world.
Help me to spread the word!
And contact me on: [e-mail]
or via Twitter: @63136_survivors to tell me what you like about the podcast and what I could improve.
Thank you!