Outcry Witness

A safe space for s**ual assault victims to keep a record of their experience.
We believe you. We stand with you.
Learn more👉🏻

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

Empower survivors of sexual violence: Can you help support survivors by donating to Outcry Witness?
#SupportSurvivors #BelieveSurvivors #EmpowermentThroughChoice #DonateNow #MeToo #EndSexualViolence #ConsentMatters

▶️https://t.co/bjKVzIFVyO

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

#LanguageMatters #TheRightWords

[The Right Words @TheRight_Words_]

Apparently, we NEED to know she had been on a night out before we get around to the rather more relevant fact that a man was arrested.

That framing is NOT harmless - it places her movements and choices into the story at headline level, and insidiously makes a woman’s perfectly ordinary decision to go out at night part of the explanation for the man’s conduct.

And then there’s “HORROR”, because apparently straightforward reporting wasn’t sensational enough.

We won’t even get into discussing the quotation marks - the usual method of casting doubt that anything even happened - or the passive voice, which implies something just… happened, while pushing the perpetrator almost entirely out of view.

@TheSun, stop turning allegations of serious offences into tabloid spectacle. Join our movement.

Link in our bio.

Name the crime. Point out the perpetrator. Rewrite the blame.

#TheRightWords #ResponsibleReporting #LanguageMatters

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

What matters is that you are allowed to move at your own pace, in whatever way feels right for you.

#OutcryWitness is there for #survivors, providing a safe and confidential place to document their experience while they decide what comes next.
#SurvivorVoices

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

Not every day feels like progress.

Some days, getting through the day is enough. Some steps may feel small, unseen or insignificant. That doesn’t make them any less important.

There is no ‘right’ timeline. No fixed path. No expectation to be further along than you are.

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

Organisations, charities, journalists, academics, safeguarding professionals, and survivor advocates are invited to co-sign our open letter.

Learn more: https://t.co/4nKNRYi0Se

#LanguageMatters #OpenLetter #TheRightWords

[Make Yourself Heard @MYH_ldn]

Been through the criminal courts recently?

Earlier this year, with @OpenJustice4All and fellow survivors, we called for lived experience to shape court reform.

As the Courts and Tribunals Bill returns, we want to hear from you.

https://t.co/b9Sf5XsZIM

[Jade Blue @jadeblueLDN]

Women should not have to organise their lives around the expectation of violence. These figures speak to something survivors have been saying for years: safety matters, but so does confidence that the system will respond when harm happens.

https://t.co/tAzSgDsrV5

[Dr. Ann Olivarius @AnnOlivarius]

Dominique Pelicot was not unique. This is a wide-spread pattern of behaviour and it kills women. We need to look out for it.

And we need to take seriously what men do on websites.

[Women's Rights Network - WRN @WomensRightsNet]

An ongoing case right now but absolutely horrifying.

The alleged abuse and rape of this woman spanned two decades. It’s likely to be the tip of the iceberg across the UK too.

Shame must switch sides and any men who are willing to do this must face the full force of the law.

https://t.co/vtRoaopJqO

[RAINN @RAINN]

Social stigma can make reaching out for help feel impossible. Survivors shouldn’t have to worry about judgment or talking to someone they know. Safe Helpline offers confidential, anonymous services designed for the DoW community. You’re not alone—we’re here to listen, 24/7. Call us at 877-995-5247 or visit https://t.co/5JQm66O57U.

[NO MORE @NOMOREorg]

Sexual coercion is sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help after abuse, connect to support through the NO MORE Global Directory of resources in 200+ countries/territories 🩵

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

Stop victim blaming!

#TheRightWords #LanguageMatters

[The Right Words @TheRight_Words_]

Freezing is NOT CONSENT!

Fear is NOT CONSENT!

Not fighting back is NOT CONSENT!

The headline starts with the woman, her age, what was done to her, even where it happened only to then, bizarrely, add how hard she fought back.

It’s the usual passive voice we’ve been going on and on about, while the man convicted of the crime disappears completely - of course!

But there’s another problem here, a more insidious one. Why is “desperately fought her at*acker” headline material at all… ?

What are we suggesting about someone who, for example, freezes? Someone who is terrified, shocked, dissociates, complies because they fear what will happen if they resist, or simply cannot fight back?

That they didn’t resist desperately enough?

A victim does not have to perform resistance for what was done to them to count. We should be extremely careful about language that quietly reinforces the idea that fighting back is somehow evidence of victimhood.

@DailyMirror, we’d love you to reconsider both choices here, and we’d genuinely love you to join our movement.

Link in our bio.

Name the crime. Point out the perpetrator. Rewrite the blame.
#TheRightWords #Journalism #MediaStandards

[The Right Words @TheRight_Words_]

This headline makes vi0lence feel oddly detached. We know the victim and the location, but no perpetrator. Yet again.

Clear reporting doesn’t remove responsibility from the frame.

@BBCNews - we’d love to work with you. Link in our bio.

#TheRightWords #NameThePerpetrator #ResponsibleReporting

[Defend Survivors @defendsurvivors]

Healing doesn’t require you to accept blame. It requires the blame to be put where it belongs - on the perpetrator.

[SurvivorsUK @SurvivorsUK]

Our National Male & Non-Binary Survivors Helpline is here if you need confidential support. Talk to us by:

☎️ Phone: [phone]
Mon-Fri, 10AM-12PM

🧑‍💻 Webchat: https://t.co/mOCjiUcpAx
Mon-Sun, 12PM-8PM

📱Text: 07860031252
Mon-Sun, 12PM-8PM

✉️ Email: [email protected]

[SurvivorsUK @SurvivorsUK]

Growing up as a survivor can be tough. You are not alone.

Our Young People's support group is a safe space for 18-24 year old male and non-binary survivors to connect, share and support each other.

Find out more about our services for young people at https://t.co/zFy6TcniD9

[Dr. Ann Olivarius @AnnOlivarius]

The @metpoliceuk figured he was less dangerous to women because he'd lost sight in one eye.

Because... men rape with their two eyeballs?

See if you can count how many times this man sexual violence was ignored, before he killed two women.
https://t.co/IdXRbC8VRf

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

There is no right timeline after SA.

Whether #survivors choose to speak out today, in the future or not at all, the choice belongs to them.

#OutcryWitness provides a safe, anonymous space to document what happened while they decide what comes next.

Link in bio.#SurvivorSupport

[Proudmans @proudmanslaw]

Dr Charlotte Proudman shares the story of a rape survivor she represented who was told by a family court judge that if she continued with her rape allegations against the child’s father, her child could be put into foster care or adopted.

Listen here: https://t.co/lNXf5SWEWV

[Outcry Witness @OutcryWitness]

This is an important opportunity to ensure that clear communication, and effective safeguarding are in place. Survivors deserve to be informed, and supported when decisions affect their lives.

https://t.co/QzyBJ9iGyk

#EarlyReleaseSchemePaused #ProtectVictims