Australian justice
Sometimes something so shocking happens that you could lose faith in the human race. In Queensland, Australia, a gang of NINE MEN recently raped a little 10 YEAR OLD girl. Is that what I'm talking about? No. Yes it's wicked, it's sick and it's painful to think about. And of course it's shocking - the thought that ALL of these men seemed to think it acceptable to carry out such a vile act is horrifying.
But what really shook me up was the response of Judge Sarah Bradley. This judge (pictured) decided not to jail the men thus implying that the child didn't deserve protection. But she didn't stop at simply implying. The most shocking aspect of the entire story was her statement to these criminals that the little girl "probably agreed to have sex with all of you"!!!
How can a 10 year old girl possibly AGREE to have sex? She is 10 years old, she is a child and even if she had said the word YES, she's too young, she's not capable of really understanding what that means. This judge has basically told potential and existing paedophiles the world over that ten year olds are old enough to make a judgement about having sex. Is that not the argument paedophiles use? That children are sexual beings and enjoy "having sex" which is how they refer to rape?
If you ask me Judge Bradley should be tried. You can be tried for inciting racism so how about making her accountable for justifying and therefore encouraging paedophilia?
The only good thing to come of this is that it's sparked a review of sentencing policy for cases of child sex abuse in Queensland. I moved a resolution at SNP conference in October calling for such a review in Scotland. As I've said before I'm not part of the "lock them up and throw away the key" brigade but I do think we have a responsibility to protect children and taking this type of offender OUT of the community has to be the safest option for those children.
But what really shook me up was the response of Judge Sarah Bradley. This judge (pictured) decided not to jail the men thus implying that the child didn't deserve protection. But she didn't stop at simply implying. The most shocking aspect of the entire story was her statement to these criminals that the little girl "probably agreed to have sex with all of you"!!!How can a 10 year old girl possibly AGREE to have sex? She is 10 years old, she is a child and even if she had said the word YES, she's too young, she's not capable of really understanding what that means. This judge has basically told potential and existing paedophiles the world over that ten year olds are old enough to make a judgement about having sex. Is that not the argument paedophiles use? That children are sexual beings and enjoy "having sex" which is how they refer to rape?
If you ask me Judge Bradley should be tried. You can be tried for inciting racism so how about making her accountable for justifying and therefore encouraging paedophilia?
The only good thing to come of this is that it's sparked a review of sentencing policy for cases of child sex abuse in Queensland. I moved a resolution at SNP conference in October calling for such a review in Scotland. As I've said before I'm not part of the "lock them up and throw away the key" brigade but I do think we have a responsibility to protect children and taking this type of offender OUT of the community has to be the safest option for those children.
And the decision of the Judge in the Australian case is disgusting, and has rightly been condemned by the new PM. It cannot be accepted that a child of that age is able to consent to sexual activity if anything, I think that her decision may reflect an underlying racism, in that aboriginal communities 'do' that kind of thing. However, community activists from Aboriginal communities have condemned the decision, and rightly pointed out that there is nothing cultural about it.
This is an issue that surely members of all political parties can agree on, and we should be using the consensual nature of the Scottish Parliament to bring new light to the subject, and review relevant legislation. (Comment this)