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'Slutwalkers' take protest to Downing Street

 

Erin Cardiff
Wednesday 19 September 2012 03:38 EDT
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Women in their underwear with slogans adorned on their bodies are set to gather outside Downing Street today in protest at the way the legal system lets down rape victims.

The demonstration is part of the SlutWalk movement, which calls for a change in police and prosecution priorities to get more rapists and sex offenders behind bars. It comes ahead of a march due to take place later this month.

According to the campaigners, only seven out of every 100 reported rapes end in conviction.

"SlutWalk wants justice for the thousands of rape survivors who were told by the police and courts that they were dressed too provocatively, they didn't scream loudly enough, they were too drunk or too young or too mentally ill to understand what had happened to them," a spokeswoman said.

"It does terrible things to people when they don't get justice. Without justice there is no protection for you, your friends or family - whoever got away with it and others like him will expect to get away with it again.

"By marching again this year, we are letting the authorities know that we will not go away until they take rape seriously by thoroughly investigating and prosecuting."

The SlutWalk movement began in 2011, after a Toronto policeman caused outcry by telling a group of students that women should not dress provocatively in order to avoid being sexually assaulted.

Hundreds of women have since joined protests and marches in Canada, the United States and Britain.

PA

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