Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Women's Views on News

Women's Views on News

Online troll arrested in Facebook case

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Jane Osmond
WVoN co-editor

In June of this year I wrote about how Nicola Brookes, a UK woman targeted by Facebook trolls, won her legal fight to compel Facebook to release the relevant IP addresses.

Brookes, who posted a supportive comment on X-Factor Frankie Cocozza's contestant page, subsequently received a barrage of online abuse which included publishing her address online and setting up a fake Facebook page in her name which contained such comments as: "I am a paedophile and I like underage girls and me and Frankie f**k them together."

It is anticipated that the legal progress of the subpoena which compels Facebook to hand over the details of the abusers will conclude soon. However last week, whilst on a train to London, Brookes received the welcome news that one of her trolls had been identified by Brighton CID in connection with the case following a successful investigation into an email hacking offence.

The male hacker was arrested on 21st August in a joint effort by Brighton CID and West Midlands Police.

I spoke to Brookes to see how she felt about the news.

“I was so relieved and I’m grateful for the police investigation that led to an arrest being made regarding the hacking of my personal email account. Not only does this hacking offence relate to the prolonged and vicious online abuse of me on Facebook, but I worry innocent contacts in my hacked email account are now vulnerable and at risk of abuse.

“I thank Brighton CID officers and hopefully more arrests will be made soon.”

Nicola confirmed that she has been supported over the past few weeks pro bono by Web Sheriff, an anti-piracy and online brand management agency.

Spokesperson John Giacobbi commented:

“I was personally outraged with Facebook and appalled at the treatment dished-out to Ms Brookes when I first read of her story and decided to make contact to offer our support. The information handed-over by Facebook has been very helpful and, ultimately, everyone on-line is identifiable – so these hens are coming home to roost, as we've already seen from last week's arrest.”

For Brookes this support has been invaluable, helping her to remain strong in the face of the abuse she has suffered.

“It’s reassuring to have somebody like Web Sheriff on my side who is the online protector to the stars, offering to support me with my case, who, ironically, contacted me through Facebook.”

This offer of support is one of many that has been received from all over the world. Because of the case, Brookes is legally restricted and cannot always respond to supporters, but appreciates the messages she has received.

“Thank you to all the people who take the time to contact me, many telling me of their own struggles and heartbreaking experiences of their abuse on Facebook. Messages do reach me and I read and appreciate them.

“While the trolls have freely, openly continued to stalk, bait, and abuse me for many months, I am not able to defend myself or comment online for legal reasons. I will reply eventually when I claim my privacy and life back from the trolls and Facebook.”

Unfortunately the trolling has not stopped: although Brookes does not engage with others on Facebook at the moment, she is kept informed about what is happening by well-wishers.

To date she says the abuse has reached 'ridiculous levels' and there are an estimated 11 fake Facebook pages set up under her name, some of which involve her daughter.  In addition, a fake Twitter account set up in her name was also targeted by trolls.

Despite this, she remains undefeated and has this message for anyone in a similar position:

“Don’t give up, don’t let trolls, abusers intimidate or scare you. Don’t be fobbed off by those in authority who may tell you that there’s nothing that can be done – that’s just passing the problem on to someone else. Mostly, don’t turn a blind eye and ignore it – closing your account or not reporting it is not the answer.

“If Facebook and other social network giants spent as much time looking after their members and enforcing their terms and conditions as they have done on their stock-market floatation these harassment and abuse cases would be dealt with more swiftly and effectively.”

Instances of online abuse are becoming common knowledge with celebrities speaking out about their experiences.

It seems that the law is, at last, beginning to catch up with the online world with the inclusion of new stalking laws developed earlier this year after a 12 week Home Office consultation. The new laws are to be included within the Protection of Freedom Act 2012 and will come into force on 25th November.

This law can’t come too soon for all those online who suffer from the trolls. It is hoped that it will be effectively and efficiently policed.

Just  to throw in a suggestion, maybe the cost of prosecuting those who persistently abuse others online could be paid by networks such as Facebook and Twitter who at the moment seem to wash their hands of their responsibilities to their users, whilst making vast profits from them.

We can only hope.

Study finds maternity services falling short of promises

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 06:30 AM PDT

Rebecca Rogers
WVoN co-editor

A survey has revealed that a third of expectant mothers see a different midwife each time they have a check-up. This news comes just a few months after government pledges to reform maternity care.

Back in May, UK ministers promised new mothers that they would be assigned one midwife that they would see for the duration of their care. They were also told they would be able to choose how and where they had their babies.

The data – compiled by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Bounty Parenting Club – surveyed over 1,800 pregnant women and those who recently gave birth. Campaigners said that although some the results showed "worrying shortfalls".

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the RCM said: “The Government says it is committed to providing better maternity care and we endorse the pledges they have made. However, actions speak louder than words and this survey shows that there are many challenges ahead to ensure their promises are delivered across England.

“It throws up many areas of concern and highlights the pressing need for sustained investment in maternity services and in midwives.”

Results found that a fifth of women unable to have a choice over how or where they gave birth, with 18 percent feeling unsupported during their labour and birth.

Almost half (47 percent) said they would have liked more time with their midwife during pregnancy.

The RCM warned that this could have implications for an estimated 120,000 women who could be without the proper support that they need.

Groundswell grows against pornographic Facebook pages

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 04:54 AM PDT

Jane Osmond
WVoN co-editor

As regular readers of WVoN will know, we were involved in an intense campaign last year which aimed to get Facebook to take down a page that advocated rape.

After months of Facebook refusing to budge, the company eventually took the page down and amended its policies. Unfortunately this amendment specified that if a page was ‘humorous’ it could stay up.

I think Facebook's definition of humour has a lot in common with that of the 'comedian' Daniel Tosh and his infamous rape joke which spawned numerous supporters arguing that these jokes are just ‘banter‘ and not to be taken seriously.

Then we have the current furore over US Republican Congressman Todd Akin’s ludicrous comments about women repelling rapist sperm and the UK politician George Galloway referring to rape as ‘bad sexual etiquette‘.

While this debate over rape jokes and rape definitions rages on in the media, Facebook faces another campaign – this time from a group of people based in the US and Australia, who have set up a petition asking Facebook to stop allowing pages featuring sex ads and pornographic content.

This petition is just one of recent concerns about Facebook’s content. Others include a backlash against images of naked children, a campaign by Porn Harms which demands  that Facebook remove not only the pornography, but also the facilitation of buying and selling people on the site, a mother’s disgust over Facebook allowing a page featuring jokes about her still-born baby, and anger that when Facebook, eventually removed a racist Aboriginal meme page, no apology was offered.

The group of four behind the latest petition are arguing that – at the very least – Facebook should adhere to its own policies, in particular this section, which we at WVoN, came to know and love at the end of last year:

Section 3.7: “You will not post content that: is hate speech, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.”

In a remarkable act of denial, given that this section is contravened ALL THE TIME, Facebook is still using the same tired defence of stating that these (insert any number of vile, offensive, hate-filled, and in some cases downright illegal pages) do not violate its policies.

Really?

I spoke to two of the petitioners – Lily Munroe and Justin Morgan – about their reasons for setting up the petition.

For Lily, who is a women's and human rights activist, the pornification of Facebook is unacceptable because it is reaching into people’s homes. Lily first came across this when she was faced with sponsored sex ads appearing on her Facebook home page.

“I found this advert totally unacceptable – it seems we can't avoid pornography in our daily routines – not only on Facebook but also advertising in the general media.

“I explored further and realised Facebook allows pages which contain pornographic content – including nudity, derogatory language about women, sex ads, illicit pages and child porn. Not only this, the amount of such pages seems to be growing everyday.

“I then checked out Facebook's policies which seem to proscribe against such pages, but when we reported them, Facebook said that these pages didn’t violate their policies.

“This response made me want to do something – I just couldn’t sit back any longer.  It is not just adults using Facebook, the network is billed as a family platform and I have two children who both use it.”

The petition, which is less than 2 weeks old, already has 700 signatures and Lily is working with several organisations in order to encourage more. But more than this, Lily wants to capture the growing concern that is being expressed about Facebook's poor regulatory practices.

One of the organisations with which Lily is involved is Collective Shout.  Collective Shout is a grassroots campaigns movement mobilising and equipping individuals and groups to target corporations, advertisers, marketers and media which objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services.

For Justin, who is active in the areas of anti-trafficking and anti-porn, the petition represents a stand against a culture that consistently promotes disrespect against women and children.  In his role as an ordained minister, Justin sees the harm that this disrespect causes not only to the individuals who consume pornography but also to their families and those who are coerced into the trade.

“I know in our patriarchal society we men have a great impact, and I believe that if men at large stand up for dignifying women and children – and themselves – that is what creates a healthy, safe and strong society.  To do so means we can move towards a healthy sexuality by avoiding the messages promoted by the sex industry.

“On a personal level I see the struggles that people go through and the hurt that pornography causes others and the self-imprisonment it causes a man whether he sees it or not.

“My passion is for those who are affected or vulnerable to the effects of pornography; but more I care about the direction we are going in as people.”

I asked both Lily and Justin, what about freedom of speech? An argument often rolled out as a typical response to any attempt to address pornography.

For Lily, freedom of speech should not mean contravening women's rights:

“Women have rights to live in a just society where we are not constantly portrayed as sex objects and body parts. We deserve equality and respect, integrity and rights of decency. It is about our right as human beings to live a valued life.

“We are raising children who suffer anorexia, bulimia, self-harm and depression which are clearly linked to the sexualisation of society. Then there is plastic surgery – breast, face, labia plasty, waxing – all emanating from the porn industry. Women are self-mutilating and we are killing ourselves. It is time for a change.”

For Justin, the freedom of speech argument needs to be placed in context:

“The point is that freedom of speech was not meant to be a stand-alone amendment – it has to be taken in context with all other rights and laws and protections. If free speech leads to a place where women and children are being exploited and where there is nudity in a family friendly environment – surely this is no argument?

“Given that Facebook has policies against these things and people trust Facebook to uphold them, is has responsibility to do so.”

For both Lily and Justin another goal of the petition is to raise awareness in the general public of the dangers of Facebook’s refusal to take responsibility for its platform.

As Lily states:

“We are going after the key shareholders because these people understand the language of money. Facebook's shares have already dropped by half – how much further do they have to drop before they take action?”

I agree. Given that Facebook is now exploring how to entice even younger children onto its platform, it is time for those shareholders to take a long, hard look at what kind of messages and images they are making money out of.

Please sign the petition and if you want to get involved, please contact Lily here.

Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ meeting attracts senior politicians

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 03:53 AM PDT

Helen Thompson
WVoN co-editor

Two notable women politicians are to attend the 43rd annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in the Cook Islands next week.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and previous US President Bill Clinton are due to arrive in Rarotonga, along with UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet. They will be participating in discussions and fringe meetings with 16 heads of Pacific Island governments as well as non-governmental and civil society groups between August 27 and August 31.

The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is, "the primary body for Pacific Island leaders to discuss the political, economic and developmental issues facing [the Pacific] region".

In 2005 the Forum Leaders endorsed the Pacific Plan for regional development and has been periodically revisiting the document to meet the current needs of the 16 member nations.

PIF argues that, "investing in gender equality is central to sustainable development, attainment of human and political security, good governance and management of resources”.

Yet women in the Pacific are still facing overwhelming challenges in areas such as participation in politics, access to education, and domestic violence.

Bachelet, who is attending the meeting on behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said in a statement:

"In the Pacific region, the work on the ground in terms of women, peace and security, political and economic empowerment of women, and ending violence against women have been significant.

"Yet much more needs to be done, and I am looking forward to discussions and collaborations with leaders of the Pacific region and to attending the Pacific Islands Forum."

Amnesty International and Oxfam New Zealand will also be pressing the Pacific Island governments to take serious steps to promote the needs of women.

Kate Schuetze, Pacific Researcher for Amnesty International, says:

"In 2009, Forum Leaders committed to eradicating sexual and gender based violence and set up a Forum Reference Group to address this issue.

“Amnesty International believes it is now imperative that leaders make clear and time-bound commitments to implement laws and policies aimed at reducing violence and discrimination against women, including by investigating and prosecuting alleged perpetrators."

Schuetze supports the need for concrete action by saying that two out of every three women in the Pacific have experienced some form of gender-based violence.

In 2011, Oxfam New Zealand said that less than 40 percent of Pacific Island nations have laws to criminalize perpetrators of violence against women.

Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, will be launching a new report "on governance and accountability for climate finance, including a strong call for gender analysis and women’s participation".

Representatives of non-governmental organizations working towards gender equality have complained about the lack of funding for their attendance. Furthermore, government leaders do not make gender a priority in their closed sessions.

While the US government has not confirmed the Clintons' attendance at the PIF meeting, local residents have been witnessing the extensive logistical and security preparations for such a visit.

If the Clintons do attend they will be leading the largest and most politically significant US delegation ever to the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ meeting.