Ghislaine Maxwell Found Guilty

Absolutely, VioletSky. It's the same as questioning why a victim of domestic abuse didn't leave the relationship the first time the abuse took place.

I'm not a lawyer but the actions of the victims is not the issue - surely the crime was procuring under-age girls in the first place.

Me neither but I know enough about the CJS to know that it has been proved that crimes against underage girls were committed and one of the perpetrators found guilty.

I'm astonished and dismayed that some are still putting these girls, now survivors, on trial.

MissAdventure

Which is why a lot of female victims don't report crime.

Absolutely

We have laws to protect children. A 14 year old is easily persuaded by what seems to be a caring and considerate woman and a rich good looking man that what they are asking her to do is normal (and fun). It is only much later that the victim realises she has been groomed and abused. The choice you make at 14 is not always the wisest one.
It would help if people on this thread stopped referring to "women" who were involved they were "girls" or "children?"

Trial by social media, where some verdicts will follow these girls their whole lives

^groomed^

Yes. It's a form of brainwashing on susceptible teenagers.

VioletSky

MissAdventure

Which is why a lot of female victims don't report crime.

This

Imagine a family member coming to someone with those views and their response was to question their actions.

It happens all the time. I won't repeat what my mother said when I told her and I was a small child when it happened to me but it prevented me from seeking support until much later in life.

A child is a child. 14 or 4.

You cannot equate your experience as a four year old to the experiences of teenage girls VS.

Blondiescot

Absolutely, VioletSky. It's the same as questioning why a victim of domestic abuse didn't leave the relationship the first time the abuse took place.

Totally different Blondiescot. A victim of domestic abuse may be unable to leave home for a number of reasons. I can testify to that from personal experience.

All the fuss that was kicked up about jimmy Savile's victims seems to have died down.
Everyone thought that those girls were after money.
The bbc programme about him stated he was responsible for over 500 incidents.

I wasn't 4, that is just when it started

Germanshepherdsmum

Blondiescot

Absolutely, VioletSky. It's the same as questioning why a victim of domestic abuse didn't leave the relationship the first time the abuse took place.

Totally different Blondiescot. A victim of domestic abuse may be unable to leave home for a number of reasons. I can testify to that from personal experience.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree it was possible to just walk away.

They were caught up in an evil circle of powerful people, even those who knew it was wrong eg the pilot, carried on doing their bidding.

A young girl stood no chance of extricating herself from this malevolent web.

As I started the thread I feel duty-bound to keep responding but some of the posts have sickened me.

Carry on victim-blaming.

trisher

We have laws to protect children. A 14 year old is easily persuaded by what seems to be a caring and considerate woman and a rich good looking man that what they are asking her to do is normal (and fun). It is only much later that the victim realises she has been groomed and abused. The choice you make at 14 is not always the wisest one.
It would help if people on this thread stopped referring to "women" who were involved they were "girls" or "children?"

So maybe they found what seem to have been an exotic lifestyle fun. A girl of 14 may make unwise choices but is old enough to understand what she is being asked to do. The reason this surfaced many years later, as with other cases, is that someone has put the idea of grooming and abuse in their heads and whispered the prospect of money. They don't suddenly have a Damascene conversion when they get older. For it to happen to you once is one thing, to agree to continue with the lifestyle and be flown around the world to glamorous destinations to do so is another thing entirely. And remember not all the girls were 14, that's simply an emotive age to pick up on.

Children under 16 can't consent to sex

Its emotive because we literally cant believe anyone would be defending an adult having sex with a 14 year old. Do you think the age of consent should be lowered to 14 then.

Anytime or place where there is a group of people with "power", the whole dynamic changes.
Be it workplace bullying, social media, gang related, corporate crime.
People (adults) can be sucked into witnessing things, participating, even, or turning a blind eye.
Again, think saville.
Lots of blind eyes turned, but he courted power, because that was his best cover.

Children under 16 cannot consent to sex

Keep saying it

Virginia Giuffre walked away

Callistemon asking questions is not victim blaming

I have a 14 year old, he's a child.

So is mine.
Very much so.

Calistemon

Germanshepherdsmum

Blondiescot

Absolutely, VioletSky. It's the same as questioning why a victim of domestic abuse didn't leave the relationship the first time the abuse took place.

Totally different Blondiescot. A victim of domestic abuse may be unable to leave home for a number of reasons. I can testify to that from personal experience.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree it was possible to just walk away.

They were caught up in an evil circle of powerful people, even those who knew it was wrong eg the pilot, carried on doing their bidding.

A young girl stood no chance of extricating herself from this malevolent web.

How so Calistemon? Were the girls held prisoner, chained, drugged? If that had been the case we would have heard it by now. They were old enough to know that they were engaging in prostitution, old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, old enough to say No after the first time. My view is that they enjoyed the goodies which came their way, enjoyed going to seemingly exciting places and meeting famous people and therefore didn't want to put a stop to it.

No one has said a 14 year old isn’t a child , I have questioned if a 17 year is a child.

So, if they enjoyed the goodies, does that mean no crime was committed??

I worked for my local authority supporting families in the past and we had to be very clear regarding the law as people (professionals in some cases) make up crap about 14 year olds being some how complicit in their own rapes and abuse.

Galaxy

Its emotive because we literally cant believe anyone would be defending an adult having sex with a 14 year old. Do you think the age of consent should be lowered to 14 then.

I am not defending the adults. Where have I suggested that? I am saying that the evidence is that the girls' continuing participation shows them to have been willing participants.