Yesterday, 17-year-old Rehtaeh Parsons' father wrote a heart-rending letter about his daughter. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 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. She was just 15. The end of this story could have been quite different. Unfortunately Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons share a seeming failure on the part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to properly serve and protect them. [19] Among the 13 recommendations[20] made by the authors were: The report traced Parson's history through the school system. 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. 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. Another was about taking away their ability to make decisions. Update:2 arrests made in Rehtaeh Parsons rape case. Rehtaeh Parsons had her life support machine switched off after she attempted suicide following bullying over an explicit image taken against her will (Creative Commons) A man has walked free. Parsons' case sparked outrage across Canada. This inquiry, which was requested by the Dexter government in August 2013 and released on October 8, 2015, during the government of Stephen McNeil, was performed by Murray Segal, a former chief prosecutor in Ontario. Parsons' parents have called it rape. Why? 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. "I don't sit here as a parent and say he's perfect," she told Blatchford. The charges against both men are disgusting. The legacy of Rehtaeh Parsons In the 5 years since her tragic death, the image of the alleged rape of the Nova Scotia teenager has sparked outrage, reviews, and new laws but also an awakening. Regardless of whether they were willing participants in these images or victims of sexual assault, they are shamed. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The Canadian police only reopened the case following her death and were able to convict two boys of making and distributing child pornography. 27 / Intimate Images and Cyber-protection Act, "Halifax police investigating violation of publication ban", "Rehtaeh Parsons' name can be published again unless it's derogatory", Rehtaeh Parsons (December 9, 1995 April 7, 2013), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Suicide_of_Rehtaeh_Parsons&oldid=1127364187. He put me in his parents car where I slept. My daughter was three years old when we went to watch Babe: Pig in the City. Rehtaeh Parsons, a 15 year old student from Nova Scotia, was raped by four schoolboys while drunk at a sleepover. Justice is Blind: a slogan that is paraded through courthouses across the United States, a motto adopted by countries across the globe. Teen in Photo Having Sex with Rehtaeh Parsons: I Didn't - Jezebel I am so very sorry for what happened to Rehtaeh. No Jail Time For Teen Who Took Photo That Led A Rape - BuzzFeed News . Rehtaeh Parsons killed herself after allegedly being been raped and bullied (Facebook) The father of a teenage Canadian girl who killed herself after allegedly being raped by . [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]. Is Christie Blatchford wrong about Rehtaeh Parsons? It sometimes feels impossible to encompass all that needs to be said. 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. Rehtaehs family took her off life support on Sunday, April 7. Photos: Canadian teenager Rehtaeh Parsons Updated 1:29 PM EDT, Fri August 9, 2013 Link Copied! Anonymous says they know who Rehtaeh Parsons' rapists are, providing a little extra "incentive" for Canadian authorities to re-open the case themselves. Wait a sec. 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. The law was passed in response to Parsons' suicide. There was an error trying to send your message. The RCMP expressed concern that the posters might lead to vigilantism, although they did not name the accused. Earlier this year I flew to Halifax to be interviewed for an Investigation Discovery documentary about Rehtaeh. Secondly, All the bullying and messaging and harassment that never let up are also to blame. This attempt was apparently thwarted by school authorities. How could the police press no charges in a case where obvious child pornography spread virally across an entire high school? Rehtaeh Parsons Was My Daughter | HuffPost News Facebook apologises over dating ad showing picture of Rehtaeh Parsons [12] Citing the offender's age at the time of the crime and Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Crown had advised the Judge that the only possible penalties in this case were either probation or a conditional discharge. 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. She was a straight-A student. The sentencing hearing was held Thursday morning in Halifax in provincial court. 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. 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. We must understand what is at stake when these images go viral, whether they were taken by the women themselves or their lovers, but especially when the women arenot consentingto what is taking place in these pictures or videos. A woman holds a photo of Rehtaeh Parsons at Victoria Park in Halifax on April 11, 2013. . Its about highlighting the facts of that night. The conclusion to Leah Parsonss Facebook post is heartbreaking. I had to read it more than once. Blatchford: Even the Rehtaeh Parsons case has more than one side - ocanada And the message they relay. 2023 Miss Millennia Magazine Privacy Policy Splendor Theme by Restored 316, The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. You need to have a number of people holding [the government] to account and seeing what's actually done", said Dalhousie law professor Wayne MacKay. [3] According to the family, the boys were not questioned and their phones were not reviewed for the photograph of the rape in progress. Because, in reality, it makes me so fucking pissed that a kid had to be a catalyst when all she really wanted was to just live her life. Images via DarksideBarones/Twitter. On April 4, 2013, Rehtaeh Parsons (/rte/, r-TAY-;[1] December 9, 1995 April 7, 2013), a 17-year-old former Cole Harbour District High School student, attempted suicide by hanging[2] at her home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, leading to a coma and the decision to switch her life support machine off on April 7, 2013. This is unacceptable. And there are many that find video and images of their assault posted through social media and shared through text messages. Through the eyes of her parents, this film re-examines these alarming events, which ultimately led to Rehtaeh's suicide. [8] The story drew international attention and sparked outrage on the Internet, with CBC reporting the phrase "Nova Scotia" was "trending on Twitter worldwide. Nothing was done about that because they couldnt prove who had pressed the photo button on the phone, Parsons told the Herald. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. "This has had a huge negative impact on me," he said. Canadian teenager Rehtaeh Parsons . 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. 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. 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. I hope this will provide some measure of comfort to family members.". Facebook apologies for dating ad showing Rehtaeh Parsons 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. The death of Rehtaeh Parsons cannot be attributed to one single individual beyond herself (as the one who took her own life). THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan . 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 . [7], According to an RCMP report, in March 2013, six boys, including some of Parsons' alleged rapists, had an argument with three other boys. On April 7, 2013, almost two years after her sexual assault, Rehtaeh killed herself. New laws are being considered after these events. Rehtaeh Parsons Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images After gang-rape photo goes viral, 17-year-old victim hangs herself Parsons had little memory of the event, except that, at one point, she vomited while a boy was allegedly raping her. 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. [30] Leah Parsons had called for the case to be settled legally rather than by vigilantes. Nobody expects them to shout from the rooftops. "You should have been crying when she was alive," the judge told him. 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. That is called rape. [22][23][24][25] The report was delayed until legal proceedings involving two men charged with child pornography offences in the case concluded. Rehtaeh Parsons Pictures, Images and Stock Photos View rehtaeh parsons videos Browse 32 rehtaeh parsons stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and 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. It released the identities of 19 people speaking ill against Parsons online. The girl told her parents that while she was heavily. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a1aa1346911fa80a19d61cea02e4d757" );document.getElementById("gd89858695").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. [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. Sat, Apr 13: Family and friends gathered together for Rehtaeh Parsons' funeral today. It is about having control over someones body. She was just 17 when she hanged herself in the bathroom of the familys home in Nova Scotia. Kevin Morris is a veteran web reporter and editor who specializes in longform journalism. She has a keen interest in WikiLeaks and web culture, and her bylines have appeared in Salon, Vanity Fair, Serious Eats, and elsewhere. When gang-rape victim Rehtaeh Parsons hanged herself April 5, she saw nothing ahead for herself but a future of accumulating pain. Editor-in-Chief of Miss Millennia Magazine. There's a part in the movie when Babe knocks over a goldfish bowl and the fish falls onto the floor and starts flopping around. 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. The second person convicted in the Rehtaeh Parsons child pornography case in Nova Scotia has been sentenced to 12 months probation. You certainly should have, the judge said, but you should have been crying while she was alive.. Following the suicide, Rehtaeh Parsons's mother, Leah Parsons, went public with the story and started a memorial Facebook page[7] called "Angel Rehtaeh. Her and her BF set me up with his best friend. 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. Canadian police have yet to convict a single person in the case of Amanda Todd, despite a detailed trail of online evidence. Rehtaeh Anne Parsons was born to Leah Parsons and Glen Canning on December 9, 1995, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am not ashamed of my body, but it is mine. "I will not live with the guilt of someone passing away, but I will live with the guilt of the photo.". Victims also can seek a protection order that could place restrictions on or help identify the cyberbully. [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". [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]. Its true, but only if youre privileged, white, and male. Parsons had little memory of the event, except that, at one point, she vomited while a boy was allegedly raping her. A chronology of the Rehtaeh Parsons case | Globalnews.ca Neither was given any jail time. Rehtaeh Parsons Suicide: Teen Rape Case Re-Opened, Father Thanks Anonymous She sought assistance from the authorities. She stated: The pictures are an attempt at making me a sexual subject instead of an object. 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. We are highlighting the actions, both off and online, of 19 individuals in Rehtaehs broader community. He insists the sex was consensual and that he didn't 'bully' Rehtaeh, while his parents defend him as a good kid "who's made some mistakes.". Nor that her mother, Leah Parsons, would meet Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, to create a Crime Victims Bill of Rights. Within a few hours, the Tea Party posted a message saying "Anonymous: We appreciate your resources and admire your tactics. Crown decision in Rehtaeh Parsons' case was reasonable, review The girl in the photo, Rehtaeh Parsons, faced vicious slut-shaming and harassment as a result of the photo. The 20-year-old, whose case was made famous thanks to an Anonymous campaign, will be getting 12 months probation. New information, from Canada.com, about the police investigation into the young. Those are the people that took the life of my beautiful girl. 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. Tell me a teenager who hasn't. never seized any of the boys phones, computers, or hard drives. Only several months after Rehtaehs assault, a 16-year-old high school student was raped by two high school football players in Steubenville, Ohio. 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. In December, Diab removed the ban on the condition that Rehtaeh's name is respected. Then about 15-years-old, she reportedly drank some vodka. You probably knew nothing about her whatsoever. "We've been waiting for [the review] more so than we've been waiting for the sentencing results," Parsons said. 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. A photo of her rape soon began circulating online. Judge Gregory Lenehan said Parsons, who was 17 at the time of her death, did not know the photo was being taken and did not give consent for it to be shared. This page was last edited on 14 December 2022, at 08:33. I can assure you we had the names of the alleged rapists within hours of the story going live, he said: Unfortunately a few short-sighted Anons have rushed to release names (almost every dox Ive seen has incorrect names). Police initially concluded there were no grounds to charge anyone after a yearlong investigation. And a photo of the incident had subsequently been . So, I wont try to do that. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Roland Wells said one man, 18, had been charged with two counts of distributing child pornography and the second man, also 18, was charged with making child pornography and distributing it. 04/16/13 AT 12:45 PM. Both of you are in my heart. Thank you for your message. Dont worry, we wont send spam! What we dont want to do is just drop names and start a witch hunt. Shes looking into the camera. They gave no thought at all to her. "[2] The blog of Rehtaeh's father, Glen Canning, also went viral. Rehtaeh was born to Leah and Glen in December 1995. The Rehtaeh Parsons' case has aired on the Investigation Discovery television program Web of Lies and her parents Glen Canning and Leah Parsons are speaking out about the program and their daughter's case. Leah Parsons said she planned to meet with Segal as soon as he's back in town. Perhaps Rehtaehs suffering and death can act asa catalyst for reassessing how we treat women who have been violated. Each photograph becomes a subject. Web of Lies - After a teenage house party spirals out of control, a shocking photo goes viral around the local schools. 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. The death of Rehtaeh, who was taken off life support after a suicide attempt in April, led to an outcry.