She was just 15. In response to Parsons' suicide, Nova Scotia enacted a law in August 2013 allowing victims to seek protection from cyberbullying and to sue the perpetrator. There was an error trying to send your message. In November, Lenehan handed a second young man, who snapped the photo, a conditional discharge. In a memorial gallery the Parsons family posted to YouTube, you can see Rehtaeh holding her newborn sister in her arms, her mother smiling in the background. Tell me a teenager who hasn't. Only a year later, the police concluded their investigation stating that there was insufficient evidence despite a viral photograph of Rehtaeh with her rapists. I hope we will be able to see this documentary! "That kid pled guilty to having sex with her while she was vomiting out a window," he said. If theres anything indicative of 21st-century fears of young women, perhaps it is the fear of having your most intimate photographs and videos strewn across the internet. It's a relief.". These consensual images progress a move away from a society. Rehtaehs case is yet another sad reminder of the power of social media to stretch a moment of sexual violence into a years-long ordeal that destroys a teenagers life. I had to read it more than once. She got drunk, and while vomiting out of a window, she was allegedly raped while other people took photographs. No. It sometimes feels impossible to encompass all that needs to be said. Both accused are due in youth court next Thursday. That is called rape. A photo of her rape soon began circulating online. [34], On April 26, 2013, Christie Blatchford wrote in the National Post that a problem in the case was that one of Parsons' friends claimed Parsons was "flirtatious" on the night the photo was taken, was seen laughing in bed with two boys and also there were "accounts from Rehtaeh herself and independent evidence, including retrieved online messages, that supported the suggestion the sex that took place was consensual." She has a keen interest in WikiLeaks and web culture, and her bylines have appeared in Salon, Vanity Fair, Serious Eats, and elsewhere. Do you want to send your child to school with him? Search instead for rethaeh parsons? . said Parsons was drinking at a house party with the two other teens in November, 2011, when one of the . The desire to objectify, to dominate, and assault? [7], According to an RCMP report, in March 2013, six boys, including some of Parsons' alleged rapists, had an argument with three other boys. I blamed myself for years. You probably knew nothing about her whatsoever. Her assailants documented her rape through photographs shared with classmates and posted on Instagram. But her life was derailed when she went to a friend's house for a sleepover and the two of them dropped by at a . Justice minister Ross Landry introduced the legislation in the weeks after Rehtaeh's death. I will say that I always believed Rehtaeh would make an imprint on this world. She checked herself into a hospital for six weeks as she struggled to cope with the fallout from the attack. The photo soon began circulating throughout Rehtaeh's school and community . [22][23][24][25] The report was delayed until legal proceedings involving two men charged with child pornography offences in the case concluded. A Nova Scotia man who texted a photo that showed him penetrating a 15-year-old girl and flashing a thumbs-up while she vomited won't see the inside of a prison anytime soon. Really? "[26], Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper commented on the case, saying he was "sickened" by the story and that the online bullying was "simply criminal activity. Your email address will not be published. 2023 Getty Images. Noting that her name and photo had been widely disseminated prior to the trial, both the victim's parents and the trial's judge objected to the ban. Do not hesitate to message the mods if you experience any issues! Then the slut-shaming, bullying and mental health challenges that are so often experienced by the victims of sexual assault followed her for more than 17 months leading to her eventual suicide. According to Rehtaeh's mother, Leah Parsons, the Nova Scotia teenager went to a party in 2011, when she was 15, and became drunk on vodka. Despite the fact that some people have criticized her decision. [8], A year following the alleged rape, the RCMP concluded an investigation stating, "[an] investigation into an earlier sexual assault was completed, and in consultation with the Crown, there was insufficient evidence to lay charges". never seized any of the boys phones, computers, or hard drives. But there is a problem with how we stigmatize nudity, especially that of young women. She was an amazing artist. But she still called me a slut. A woman holds a photo as several hundred people attended a community vigil to remember Rehtaeh Parsons at Victoria Park in Halifax on Thursday, April 11, 2013. She was raped that night and a photo was taken of one of her assaults. A source spoke to the Daily Dot on condition of (extra) anonymity. This attempt was apparently thwarted by school authorities. She sought assistance from the authorities. The boy's mother, meanwhile, insists that he's a good kid, although she doesn't understand "why kids are having sex at parties," she says. She was just 17 when she hanged herself in the bathroom of the familys home in Nova Scotia. New information, from Canada.com, about the police investigation into the young. He said he hadn't failed Rehtaeh, but the justice system had failed her. This, of course, brings into question what the RCMP, with their greater (legal) resources, have in terms of evidence. The heart of the problem lies in the fact that there is nothing inherently shameful about the naked human body. Try not to drop it this time., Screenshots via AnonPaste.me. Secondly, All the bullying and messaging and harassment that never let up are also to blame. [32][33] Parsons has been described as a "victim of sexting". [20] "The school to which Rehtaeh transferred received no information about these events and did not get to know Rehtaeh well," the report noted. Press J to jump to the feed. Nor that her mother, Leah Parsons, would meet Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, to create a Crime Victims Bill of Rights. In November 2011, Rehtaeh Parsons, then 15, allegedly went with a friend to a home in which she was reportedly raped by four teenage boys. The review of the RCMP's investigation continues. The alleged rape went unreported for several days until Parsons broke down and told her family, who contacted an emergency health team and the police. Rape and revenge porn is about power. Holten is empowered by these photos. Two young men have been charged. Did you know she loved to read, would drop everything to help an animal or friend in need? We may earn a commission from links on this page. Credit: Telegraph.co.uk In November of 2011, 15-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons was gang raped at a party by four of her male peers. This still does not justify the unfairness of what happened, but I hope it can give you and Rehtaehs mother some sense of peace and acceptance. Police initially concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone after a yearlong investigation. Everybody has a right to know, in all honesty, even a young offender. To me, Id think youd get the boys right away, separate them., The police told her that the distribution of the photos wasnot really a criminal issue, its more of a community issue.. She could never have imagined that her death would unite friends and supporters with an international force of hacktivists and anti-bully activists. In addition to her parents, she left behind two darling sisters, Temyson and Teaghan, who both live in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia with Leah. The conclusion to Leah Parsonss Facebook post is heartbreaking. Despite the darkness and the cruelty of this situation, there are positive things happening that I believe have been inspired by the way we treat women who fall victim to online predators. [18] The authors received more than 150 submissions from the general public,[18] but curiously failed to interview Parson's friends or her teachers. [29] In its news release, Anonymous blamed the death on "school teachers, administrators, the police and prosecutors, those who should have been role models in the late Rehtaeh's life. Please contact Crisis Services Canada or your local mental health hotline. Please be respectful of each other when posting, and note that users new to the subreddit might experience posting limitations until they become more active and longer members of the community. But they havent come out and said the reasoning for dropping the case originally. We are in essence doing what the RCMP should have done themselves, investigate the circumstance thoroughly. I cannot imagine going through what she did with the cyberbulling. Why ex Neighbours actress Caitlin Stasey launched feminist website Herself.com, Teenager commits suicide after photograph of her being gang-raped goes viral, Consent Is Key: A Victim of Revenge Porn Released Her Own Nude Photos. If only is a poor response in the wake of this tragedy and it makes me so angry that those, yet again, who are supposed to protect their citizens (regardless of country) fail to do so. When I was 15 years old, I went to a party with my Friend. The two boys who had sex with her, both 16, passed the photo to several friends. An independent review released in June concluded the Halifax regional school board could have done a better job but was hindered by the fact that Rehtaeh was often absent from class. The teen in the photo was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation and ordered not to drink alcohol. He put me in his parents car where I slept. Dont worry, we wont send spam! When Rehtaeh Parsons died following a suicide attempt, a national conversation was sparked on how people address sexual assault and consent. Nor that the Halifax Regional Police would open an internal investigation to the negligent way the case was handled, why a yearlong investigation with photo evidence closed without a single charge. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan . She made my life complete. Rehtaeh Parsons is shown in a Facebook photo. On April 4, 2013, Rehtaeh Parsons ( / rte /, r-TAY-; [1] December 9, 1995 - April 7, 2013), a 17-year-old student at Cole Harbor District High School, attempted suicide by hanging herself [2] at her home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, leading to a coma and decision to shut down medical support machinery on April 7, 2013 . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Instead, today a. Rehtaeh Parsons killed herself after she said she had been raped and bullied (Facebook) Hacktivist group Anonymous has threatened to release the names of four boys accused of . Parsons had little memory of the event, except that, at one point, she vomited while a boy was allegedly raping her. Rehtaeh Parsons was raped by four boys at a party. "Humans make mistakes," said the young man, who turned 20 yesterday. During his sentencing, as the National Post's Christie Blatchford notes, the teen said that Parsons' eventual death had nothing to do with his actions, telling the court, "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of sending the picture." Photo by Hilary Beaumont, Ivan Herritt, who showed up to support Rehtaeh's family and wore an Anonymous-branded hoodie but said he wasn't part of the group, said the court decision was "absolutely disgusting.". He was sentenced to 12 months probation. Leah Parsons added in an interview with Nova Scotias Chronicle Herald: People texted her all the time, saying Will you have sex with me? Girls texting, saying Youre such a slut.. Each photograph becomes a subject. She's gone," Glen Canning said. Regardless of whether they were willing participants in these images or victims of sexual assault, they are shamed. If not, well Im sure theres plenty of other people who believe in the importance of bringing justice to a young bullycide victim., The balls in your court, RCMP, he added. Other photos offer a further glimpse into her life. The death of Rehtaeh, who was taken off life support after a suicide attempt in April, led to an outcry. Collect, curate and comment on your files. She was a straight-A student. The group was a gathering place for those who supported the boys rather than Rehtaeh. ", "She didn't get to see any of those goals listed and she never will," Leah added. Another was about taking away their ability to make decisions. VICE Canada respected the ban while it was in place. I just never imagined it would be at such a young age and it would cost her her life.". And of course, theres backlash. Only one other person was convicted in the case, a 17-year-old. The RCMP expressed concern that the posters might lead to vigilantism, although they did not name the accused. This happened in the 80s before there were cell phones. Arrests were made in that case. Only several months after Rehtaehs assault, a 16-year-old high school student was raped by two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio. Six years after Rehtaehs death her life and struggle is still making a difference in peoples lives. Its about highlighting the facts of that night. It recommended that the Halifax Regional School Board clarify the transfer approval process between schools, in order to stamp out any inconsistencies between policy and practices. He said the photo was a "gross violation of the personal integrity of Ms. Parsons" and that the man had showed "utter contempt for Ms. Parsons," saying she was "no more than a . Another 20-year-old man charged in the case, whose identity is also protected, was given a conditional discharge in November after he pleaded guilty to making child pornography by taking the photo of the accused. I want to help demystify the female form, to assist in the erasure of coveting it, and to help celebrate the ever-changing face of it. Consent is key. Posted on Apr 9, 2013Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 7:00 pm CDT, Rehtaeh Parsons was just 15 years old when she was allegedly raped by four boys at a friends home in 2011. In December, Diab removed the ban on the condition that Rehtaeh's name is respected. "[27] Rehtaeh's funeral on April 13 was attended by 500 people, including Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who said he came "first and foremost as a father trying to imagine what kind of incredible, unfathomable grief could be visited upon a family. Others in this world took that away from her. She would be haunted by that photograph and what it meant until her last breath. "[22], Significantly, the Segal report found that school board officials prevented a police investigator from talking to students at Parsons school. Earlier in the day, Rehtaeh's parents said news of the arrests brought them some solace, though the girl's father expressed disappointment that his daughter never saw justice served. "[36], In August 2013, Nova Scotia enacted a law allowing victims of cyberbullying to seek protection, including help in identifying anonymous perpetrators, and to sue the individuals or the parents in the case of minors. I mention Rehtaeh Parsons, Steubenville, and the Vanderbilt cases because of the enormous amount of media attention they havegained, but there have been many women and men who have been victims of sexual assault and harassment. Thank you for your message. Once her peers heard the male's version of what happened that evening, Rehtaeh became known as a "slut". The photo shows Parsons and the 17-year-old both naked from the waist down, with him pressed against her. (The Parsons family has pushed for Rehtaeh's name to be published and her story to be told. In 2012, another Canadian teen, Amanda Todd, committed suicide after a tormenter coaxed her into flashing her breasts on a teen videochat site, then harassed and blackmailed her for years by sharing X-rated images of her across the Internet. A photo of the rape Continue reading Rehtaeh Parsons Case Solved By Anonymous In . I went back to my friends house to sleep over after this with her and told her what happened. "I don't sit here as a parent and say he's perfect," she told Blatchford. In November 2014, the Halifax Chronicle Herald violated the ban by publishing the name and photo of Parsons on its front page and online; the story was accompanied by an editor's note, stating: "We've decided to publish the name of the victim in this story, despite a court-ordered ban. How can we undo the damage that has been done? Their lives took a terrible turn in November 2011 when Rahtaeh attended a party with a few friends. This article originally appeared on VICE Canada. Your email address will not be published. The episode, The Girl in the Photo, was released yesterday in the United States and, going by the comments, emails, and Facebook posts Im receiving, it made quite an impact. The tone can be expressed with a few quotes: Oh my I dun think this shits ever gunna end nothings gunna happen this time just like before no eveidence n people keep talkin bout chargeing them for child porn well fuck gotta charge a whole bunch of people every single person that got the pic I guess all them gotta b charged aswell OH MY! ), In an interview with the National Post, the teen and his parents insisted that the sex was consensual. [41], In December 2014, Nova Scotia's attorney general announced that she was directing the province's Public Prosecution Service to pursue breaches of the publication ban in Parsons' case only if the breach is derogatory of Rehtaeh Parsons. [22] Segal made 17 recommendations, and found the system "failed" on just about every level; a series of improvements to policies, procedures and actions relating to cyberbullying, sexual violence, investigations and prosecutions was contained in the report,[23] but significantly Segal wrote that it was reasonable of the Crown Prosecutor's office to conclude there was no realistic prospect that sexual assault charges would result in conviction, and thus "the decision not to lay charges of sexual assault was understandable. A judge for the Halifax Provincial Court imposed a mandatory DNA sample and ordered that the accused apologize to Rehtaeh Parsons' family. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated the case, but found insufficient evidence to press chargesdespite photographic evidence of the crime. When Rehtaeh was born I dedicated everything to her and promised her the world. The saga of 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons, the Nova Scotia teen who took her own life in early April, continues. Once the two boys were done they carried her over and laid her on the bed to sleep. I remember crying and saying NO but it didnt stop. Rehtaeh's case also sparked an online campaign for justice involving the hacktivist group Anonymous. [5], After her suicide, posters appeared locally in support of the boys who allegedly attacked Parsons. Rehtaeh's death has been compared to similar cases in the United States, including 15-year-old California girl Audrie Pott, who hanged herself after her family says she was sexually assaulted by friends and a photo surfaced online. I am in tears over this. The day after she discovered the photo, she formed a suicide plan and came close to putting it in effect, ex-plaining that she couldn't see another option. "I am truly sorry. Rehtaeh Parsons, a 15 year old student from Nova Scotia, was raped by four schoolboys while drunk at a sleepover. [10] On April 12, the RCMP announced the case was being reopened in light of "new and credible information" that they said did not come from the Internet.[11]. We are highlighting the actions, both off and online, of 19 individuals in Rehtaehs broader community. Parsons attempted to hang herself two years later and suffered severe brain damage. Funny you asked. "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of the photo.". I left her house that night and walked to a friends house. Where's the rape charge? I wish I had known her :(, It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. ~ Marcus Aurelius, 2023 All rights reserved Glenford Canning. Their names can't be legally published in Canada. The teen's family said she was tormented for months after a digital photo of the alleged November, 2011 gang rape was circulated around her school. Canadian media cannot refer to Parsons or the man by name because . Sign-up to get the latest news and update information. teen's death, says mom. He also faces separate charges of assault and making death threats. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Nothing was done about that because they couldnt prove who had pressed the photo button on the phone, Parsons told the Herald. [3] Her death has been attributed to online distribution of photos of an alleged gang rape that occurred 17 months prior to her suicide, in November 2011. The crime itself. [6] The teenagers were drinking vodka at a small party. Web of Lies After a teenage house party spirals out of control, a shocking photo goes viral around the local schools. [19] Canning said that Parsons was strip-searched by two men while receiving treatment in 2012 at the IWK, while the IWK denied the allegations.[19]. Posted on Apr 25, 2013Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 5:34 pm CDT. The boy raping Rehtaeh posed and gave a thumbs up. Instead, the police called it a "he said, she said" case and also decided the photo was not criminal, in spite of Parsons being a minor. She later locked herself in a bathroom and attempted suicide. I wish I had known her. 35 reviews. [42], Last edited on 14 December 2022, at 08:33, Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case, Post-assault treatment of sexual assault victims, List of suicides that have been attributed to bullying, Rehtaeh Parsons Video Tribute Marks Life Of 'Angel' (VIDEO), "Rehtaeh Parsons, Canadian Girl, Dies After Suicide Attempt; Parents Allege She Was Raped By 4 Boys", "Canadian teen commits suicide after alleged rape, bullying", Rape, bullying led to N.S. If these boys had not taken pictures of their assault, what would they be charged with? Anonymous says they know who Rehtaeh Parsons' rapists are, providing a little extra "incentive" for Canadian authorities to re-open the case themselves. Lastly, the justice system failed her. The 17-year old student from Cole Harbour, N.S., committed suicide after four boys sexually asssaulted her and then distributed photos of the. Earlier this month, Emma Holten, a victim of revenge porn released by a spiteful waste-of-life ex-boyfriend, released her own nude photos and started the Consent Project. The young man cried when he first heard Rehtaeh died. And now he's not a young offender, so everyone should know who he is. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. "Her voice was not heard when she struggled to be heard, but it sure is now," Leah Parsons told the court during her victim impact statement. A woman holds a photo of Rehtaeh Parsons at Victoria Park in Halifax on April 11, 2013. . Really? You can read our previous coverage of the court case here and here. The death of Rehtaeh Parsons cannot be attributed to one single individual beyond herself (as the one who took her own life). [39], A replacement law, the Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act,[39] was passed in 2017[40] and came into force in 2018. 95 talking about this. Her parents took her off life support three days later. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Rehtaeh Parsons' case attained worldwide notoriety last April, when she committed suicide after months of cyber-bullying. Rehtaeh Parsons had her life support machine switched off after she attempted suicide following bullying over an explicit image taken against her will, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Facebook apologises over dating ad showing picture of Parsons, Rehtaeh Parsons: Man who shared explicit photo before death of girl, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. "[2] The blog of Rehtaeh's father, Glen Canning, also went viral. A vicious campaign of cyber bullying ensues that drives an innocent girl to take desperate action. In which we treat women like objects and allow them to be the subjects of their lives. The charges come a day after a new law took effect in the province that allows people to sue if they or their children are being cyberbullied. How could the police press no charges in a case where obvious child pornography spread virally across an entire high school? According to Jezebel,just this week two Vanderbilt University football players were found guilty for the gang rape of a student that took place in the summer of 2013. That is not called consensual sex. It is about having control over someones body. She was transferred from Cole Harbour District High School, to Dartmouth High School, to Prince Andrew High School to Citadel High School. Rehtaehs story is well documented in the media. "I was unable to console her as she crumbled emotionally after that photo was taken. Thumbs up. "This will be a life sentence for me," he concluded. ", Listing mitigating factors in the case, his lawyer said the man became well known after Anonymous activists in Halifax publicized his name. If only. He's made mistakes. The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, applauded the progress in the case and said Rehtaeh's death was a terrible tragedy that touched people across Canada. The Canadian police only reopened the case following her death and were able to convict two boys of making and distributing child pornography. "Rehtaeh Parsons case prompts scrutiny of police, prosecution procedures", "Rehtaeh Parsons Suicide: Justice Minister Revisiting Alleged Rape Case", Rehtaeh Parsons case to be reopened by police, "Young man enters guilty plea in high-profile Nova Scotia child porn case", "No jail time in high-profile child pornography case in Halifax", "No jail for Canadian man over photo of alleged sex assault", "Second young man pleads guilty in Rehtaeh Parsons case", "Second man sentenced in Rehtaeh Parsons case gets probation", "Rehtaeh Parsons case: Teen in explicit photo gets probation", CH: "Rehtaeh Parsons report: Review IWK, Capital Health programs", therecord.com: "Rehtaeh Parsons cyberbullying report calls for hospital review", ottawasun.com: " Rehtaeh Parsons report calls for changes to Nova Scotia curriculum", theobserver.ca: "Rehtaeh Parsons report calls for changes to Nova Scotia curriculum", macleans.ca: "Review: Crown decision in Rehtaeh Parsons case was reasonable>, cbc.ca: "Rehtaeh Parsons report makes 17 recommendations", globalnews.ca: "Rehtaeh Parsons report prompts review of how school boards deal with police>, ctvnews.ca: "Report provides validation for family of Rehtaeh Parsons", Rehtaeh Parsons' mom calls for vigilantes to stop, Stephen Harper 'sickened' by Rehtaeh Parsons story, Friends, family, dignitaries attend Rehtaeh Parsons funeral, "Rehtaeh Parsons Suicide: Web Calls On Anonymous To Act After Nova Scotia Teen's Death (UPDATE: Anonymous Responds)", 'Anonymous' won't release names of Rehtaeh Parsons suspects, Bullying blamed in death of Nova Scotia teen, "U.S. teen's death eerily similar to Rehtaeh Parsons' story - Nova Scotia - CBC News", "3 U.S. teens arrested for sexual battery after girl's suicide - World - CBC News", "Rehtaeh Parsons case: RCMP worried posters supporting 4 boys could incite vigilantism", "Christie Blatchford: Why there may never be a case against the alleged Rehtaeh Parsons rapists", "Cyberbullying law inspired by Rehtaeh Parsons' suicide takes effect", "N.S.
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