Do not hesitate to message the mods if you experience any issues! Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The photo was taken like it was a typical Facebook photo, just some kids having fun. She would be haunted by that photograph and what it meant until her last breath. She loved animals. 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. . New information, from Canada.com, about the police investigation into the young. We believe it's in the public interest in this unique case, given the widespread recognition of [her] name, and given the good that can come, and has already come, from free public debate over sexual consent and the other elements of her story." The boy raping Rehtaeh posed and gave a thumbs up. [8] The story drew international attention and sparked outrage on the Internet, with CBC reporting the phrase "Nova Scotia" was "trending on Twitter worldwide. Photographs of the attack, which took place at a rave, spread throughout social media. Rehtaeh took her own life last week at the age of 17 after being gang raped in 2011 and relentlessly bullied by her classmates and peers ever since. Its about highlighting the facts of that night. Facebook. "[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. "I thought, Oh, today I don't have to remind people, I don't have to send out a notice to say her name today, we're actually allowed to say her name. The girl's identity was protected by a statutory publication ban but her parents pushed to have her name released, saying they wanted her story and her name to be shared widely. Justice is Blind: a slogan that is paraded through courthouses across the United States, a motto adopted by countries across the globe. A Halifax court ruled on Thursday that no jail time or probation would be given to the young man responsible for the photo that led Rehtaeh Parsons to kill herself in April 2013. Two young men have been charged. 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. [30] Leah Parsons had called for the case to be settled legally rather than by vigilantes. How could the police press no charges in a case where obvious child pornography spread virally across an entire high school? I just never imagined it would be at such a young age and it would cost her her life.". She is giving her consent to be photographed, and aware these images will be posted on the internet. 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. Legend: TikToker parodied pharmaceutical company and said it was lowering the price of insulinthe company actually did it, The Mandalorian season 3 brings it back to basics, The Mandalorian finally explains what happened to Cara Dune after Gina Caranos firing, Finally my coffee will be right: Customer makes her own coffee order at self-serve Dunkin Express, *First Published: Apr 9, 2013, 5:04 pm CDT. Police in Canada have charged two young men with distributing child pornography in the cyberbullying case of Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old who killed herself after a photo of her allegedly being raped was shared online. "[27] Later, Anonymous announced it would not publicize the names of the individuals it believed to be the rapists, in respect of the Parsons family's wishes. Perhaps Rehtaehs suffering and death can act asa catalyst for reassessing how we treat women who have been violated. When given a chance to speak Thursday, the man who posed for the photo said, "I have already apologized to Rehtaeh a few days after the picture was sent." never seized any of the boys phones, computers, or hard drives. Today, Rehtaeh's mother Leah Parsons said she was relieved the ban was lifted. I went back to my friends house to sleep over after this with her and told her what happened. I hope this will provide some measure of comfort to family members.". She sought assistance from the authorities. The pre-sentence report says the man cried when he learned Parsons had been taken off a life-support machine after she slipped into a coma due to a suicide attempt. 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. A vicious campaign of cyber bullying ensues that drives an innocent girl to take desperate action. This article originally appeared on VICE Canada. "The public had the right to know who the creeps are amongst them. Shunned by almost everyone she knew, Rehtaeh was forced to move away and attend a new school. 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. Sort by: Most popular Bullying Kills Those are the people that took the life of my beautiful girl. (The young man who posed for the photo was also underage at the time. 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. 04/16/13 AT 12:45 PM. [26], Parsons' suicide and the circumstances surrounding it have been compared to those of British Columbian Amanda Todd[26][31] and with Audrie Pott, a fifteen-year-old girl from Saratoga, California, United States, and appear to show similar characteristics. Rehtaeh, 17, was taken off life-support in April 2013 following a suicide attempt after the explicit photo of her was circulated amongst her peers in Cole Harbour, N.S. Only a year later, the police concluded their investigation stating that there was insufficient evidence despite a viral photograph of Rehtaeh with her rapists. In a heartbreaking victim impact statement delivered during his Thursday sentencing, Rehtaeh's mother Leah told the teennow a manhow much she'd lost with her daughter's death, and chided him for not bothering to learn what a beautiful and generous person she was: I know that Rehtaeh did nothing to deserve that type of treatment. [16] In an unusual move for a case involving minors convicted of a crime, the judge ruled that this conviction would be kept in his criminal record for a period of five years. She was taken off life support a short while later. Did you know she loved to read, would drop everything to help an animal or friend in need? I wish I had known her. [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. It is because these participants are in control of their choices. She later locked herself in a bathroom and attempted suicide. Would you trust your family members to be around him in a public spot? A judge for the Halifax Provincial Court imposed a mandatory DNA sample and ordered that the accused apologize to Rehtaeh Parsons' family. "That kid pled guilty to having sex with her while she was vomiting out a window," he said. She got drunk, and while vomiting out of a window, she was allegedly raped while other people took photographs. The two who were in the photo and took the photo, respectively, are both now 20; one pled guilty to manufacturing child pornography and the other to distributing it. 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. She checked herself into a hospital for six weeks as she struggled to cope with the fallout from the attack. "I am truly sorry. 35 Rehtaeh Parsons Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO 35 Rehtaeh Parsons Premium High Res Photos Browse 35 rehtaeh parsons stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Each photograph becomes a subject. Never has the message been so powerful than Caitlin Staseys (ofReign)Herself,a feminist website that features not only nude photographs of women but also in-depth interviews with each participant. We are highlighting the actions, both off and online, of 19 individuals in Rehtaehs broader community. [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]. Other photos offer a further. These images reclaim power over the female body. That is called rape. This has never been about solely highlighting the alleged abusers. [39], Canadian media reports about criminal trials involving child pornography are subject to a publication ban under the Criminal Code: they must omit any information that would identify any minor who was involved in or witness to the case, including the victim, or be subject to fines. So the public has a right to know who these rapists are, who these sexual deviants are. Rehtaeh Parsons' suicide caused outcry across North America (AP) Facebook has issued an apology after publishing a dating advertisement that used a picture of Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old. 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. If only. "Simply making the report doesn't guarantee it happens. I just saw the episode about Rehtaeh on ID. Perhaps we should consider a disclaimer. Rehtaehs former school, Cole Harbour District Highschool, did not support or even acknowledge her when she needed them the most. Amanda Todd's case has gone completely . 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. The report said the Parsons family faced challenges when they turned to Nova Scotia's mental health system for help. 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. Leah Parsons said she planned to meet with Segal as soon as he's back in town. 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. Lorraine Murphy is an Ottawa-based cybersecurity journalist and founding editor of the Cryptosphere. She died shortly after. Miss Millennia Magazine LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Rehtaehs story is well documented in the media. 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. Theres something so powerful and beautiful about that. A photo of her rape soon began circulating online. 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. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, The man also faces separate charges of assault and making death threats, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. We consider a womans sexuality so linked to her physicality that for a woman to appear naked publicly is automatically an act of sex and not for herself My prerogative was to share the stories and plight of women just like you or me. Why ex Neighbours actress Caitlin Stasey launched feminist website Herself.com, 11 Absolutely Empowering Ways to Celebrate the Woman In Your Life, 7 Important Adulting Skills That Everyone Should Know, 6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Business Going When Times Are Tough, 5 Low-risk Investment Alternatives To A Savings Account, The Truth About Millennials And Plastic Surgery, How To Dominate Dating When You Live A Busy Life, Download: 100+ Websites That Pay You To Blog. Instead, today a. Dont worry, we wont send spam! This issue is so problematic in a multitude of ways. 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. In the end, several adults (members of the school district) were indicted for failing to report child abuse and tampering with an ongoing investigation. These consensual images progress a move away from a society. She's gone," Glen Canning said. How and why is she being sentenced? "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of the photo.". The desire to objectify, to dominate, and assault? The dox continues for nearly 5,000 words, exhaustively quoting the Speak the Truth Facebook group, which was deactivated on April 15 after multiple complaints from, among others, Rehtaehs father. Three years ago in British Columbia, another teenage girl was gang-raped. Thank you for sharing and thank you for staying strong for Rehtaeh spreading the word on cyber bullying, getting laws changed, providing resources for the sexually abused, and much much more. 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 response to Parsons' suicide, Nova Scotia enacted a law in August 2013 allowing victims to seek protection from cyberbullying and to sue the perpetrator. The administrator of a website that used photos of Rehtaeh Parsons to advertise online dating is apologizing and has taken down his website, saying the use of the girl's image was a mistake . Rehtaeh Parsons' case attained worldwide notoriety last April, when she committed suicide after months of cyber-bullying. And now he's not a young offender, so everyone should know who he is. Oregon Tea Party raid. We were in the groove.". Their beloved daughter left this world on April 7, 2013, at the age of 17. Fed up with the abuse that continues on and offline against a dead rape victim and her family, hacker collective Anonymous decided the law wasnt working fast enough. When were completely happy with our efforts the information will go to the people we believe can make the difference in the case. Others in this world took that away from her. Despite these convictions,it is still not enough. 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. [35] In response, Parsons' father, Glen Canning, accused Blatchford of victim blaming and argued, "The two boys involved in taking and posing for the photograph stated Rehtaeh was throwing up when they had sex with her. Within a few hours, the Tea Party posted a message saying "Anonymous: We appreciate your resources and admire your tactics. "I don't sit here as a parent and say he's perfect," she told Blatchford. Rehtaeh Parsons was 15 years old when she attended a party, including four male friends. He was bullied as a result of the photo, his lawyer told the court. The outrage over. The crime itself. You can read our previous coverage of the court case here and here. Secondly, All the bullying and messaging and harassment that never let up are also to blame. She was an amazing artist. Her mother said a boy took a photo of the alleged assault in 2011 and that her daughter was bullied for months after it was distributed online. Rehtaeh Parsons is shown in a Facebook photo. 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. I'm proud of Anonymous for doing what they did.". And able to make decisions about their bodies. In July 2010, there was a reaction to the use of one of Anonymous' slogans by the Oregon Tea Party. [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". Once her peers heard the male's version of what happened that evening, Rehtaeh became known as a "slut". 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. That she was bright and funny? 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. The young man cried when he first heard Rehtaeh died. Then the slut-shaming, bullying and mental health challenges that are so often experienced by the victims of sexual assault followed her for. Another was about taking away their ability to make decisions. "It was all mutual. Pinterest CMO Andra Mallard joins the Kajabi board (Exclusive), Resurfaced podcast clip shows The 1975s Matt Healy calling Ice Spice dumb, mocking accents, Fashion and comedy icon Tyshon Lawrence shares insight from building an audience of over 18 million followers on TikTok, AI tool users beware: Copyright Offices denial of protection for graphic novel underscores new legal vulnerabilities for creators, *First Published: Apr 25, 2013, 8:34 am CDT, 2 arrests made in Rehtaeh Parsons rape case. "[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. The 20-year-old, whose case was made famous thanks to an Anonymous campaign, will be getting 12 months probation. If we did something stupid when we were a kid, made out with some boy or something, the worst thing you had to worry about was, was your name going to be written in some stall?". "[22], Significantly, the Segal report found that school board officials prevented a police investigator from talking to students at Parsons school. Her and her BF set me up with his best friend. 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. The man said that he did not expect the photo to be shared among people. Two years earlier, when Rehtaeh was just 15 years old, she told her mother that four teenage boys had raped her while she was drunk on vodka and passed her around at a small house party in. Yesterday, 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons' father wrote a heart-rending letter about his daughter. Please try again later. Both accused are due in youth court next Thursday. I amsimply stating that all women should have the ability to make these decisions:when and who they want to have sex with, and whether or not they want to share nude photographs of themselves. There was shots and just being a 15 year old that wanted to be liked and cool I drank. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. Photos: Canadian teenager Rehtaeh Parsons Updated 1:29 PM EDT, Fri August 9, 2013 Link Copied! The incident was photographed and the photo became widespread in Parsons' school and town in three days. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Nous parlons en anglais et en franais. Parsons, who was attempting to throw up out of a window at the time the photo was taken, while the teenage boy was having sex with her and holding his thumb up to the camera while another teenager took the picture, according to Herald News. She was just 17 when she hanged herself in the bathroom of the familys home in Nova Scotia. The conclusion to Leah Parsonss Facebook post is heartbreaking. Yeah, it's an oddly-worded headline. I am not ashamed of my body, but it is mine. Parsons attempted to hang herself two years later and suffered severe brain damage. 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 . We look forward to seeing what the results are of the review.". [19] Among the 13 recommendations[20] made by the authors were: The report traced Parson's history through the school system. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Press J to jump to the feed. Child pornography charges laid in case where girl killed herself after images of her alleged rape were posted online, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Rehtaeh Parsons, who killed herself after photographs of her alleged rape were distributed online. A woman holds a photo of Rehtaeh Parsons at Victoria Park in Halifax on April 11, 2013. . He also said, "I have pled (sic) guilty to distributing child pornography, not a sexual assault" and, "I never played a part in the bullying [of Rehtaeh], nor would I.". [6] The teenagers were drinking vodka at a small party. The ban remains technically in place but unbiased reports about the case will not be subject to prosecution. In addition to her parents, she left behind two darling sisters, Temyson and Teaghan, who both live in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia with Leah. VICE Canada respected the ban while it was in place. The man, 20, who remains anonymous under Canadian law as he was 17 at the time, is the second person convicted of distributing child pornography charges after spreading a photo via text message of Rehtaeh Parsons, who committed suicide in April 2013 after being tormented by those who viewed the image. I had to read it more than once. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. As a result, "he has to likely move away.". Only one other person was convicted in the case, a 17-year-old. Web of Lies After a teenage house party spirals out of control, a shocking photo goes viral around the local schools. Justice minister Ross Landry introduced the legislation in the weeks after Rehtaeh's death. 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. Rehtaeh stood up for others, showed compassion to animals and people. The Chronicle Herald became the subject of investigation for its actions following complaints by police, although other media outlets have been investigated in Halifax for violating the ban but have not been subject to any charges. Holten is empowered by these photos. Thats right: the group designed to support the boys had been responsible for leaking the name of one of the accused. The man, whose identity is protected because he was 17 at the time of the offence, admitted to posing with Parsons at a house party in Cole Harbour, N.S., in a photo taken two years . The photo soon began circulating throughout Rehtaeh's school and community . "Humans make mistakes," said the young man, who turned 20 yesterday. Your email address will not be published. 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. If the news of her rape and subsequent death had not gone viral, Im not sure if Rehtaeh would have ever been given the justice she deserved. Wait a sec. You certainly should have, the judge said, but you should have been crying while she was alive.. And in Steubenville, Ohio, the rape of a teenage girl by two local football stars was chronicled and shared in real time via Instagram and Twitter last August.