 they are raised, he can complain to the police or sue for defamation. Women can, and have been, imprisoned for making false allegations of rape, such as in two widely reported cases in Britain in the last year. But I don’t think that women who have been raped should be obliged to protect the privacy of their attackers because women who have not been raped may make false claims.

You may think suing for defamation is an inadequate response to the problem of false accusations, because it is likely to be expensive, emotionally onerous, slow and often unsuccessful. If so, I urge you to reflect on why you think these hurdles are unacceptable for men who are falsely accused, but acceptable for women who have been raped.

Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Sign Up for the Opinion Today Newsletter Every weekday, get thought-provoking commentary from Op-Ed columnists, the Times editorial board and contributing writers from around the world. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters.

Publicly accusing rapists is far from a perfect solution, but at a time when a vast majority of rapes still go unpunished by the criminal justice system despite decades of reforms aimed at making the process more hospitable to victims, it may be one of the few options that many victims have for bringing some consequences to bear on those who rape.

Besides, justice and the criminal justice system are not one and the same. It is a fiction that justice must begin and end in the courtroom. Individuals and agencies have to make calls about the likelihood of guilt all the time. Child protective services, for instance, have to decide whether to remove children from their parents even when evidence of abuse is not sufficient to result in a criminal conviction. As human beings we have to make decisions about the rapists in our lives — whom we employ, whom we invite to family dinners.

Perhaps what is needed is to formalize the practice of naming perpetrators, in a way that best protects victims and minimizes the risks of false accusations. Specifically, I would like to see a charitable body that carefully investigates and reports on sexual assault, including naming perpetrators.


they are raised, he can complain to the police or sue for defamation. Women can, and have been, imprison for do false allegations of rape, such as in two widely report cases in Britain in the last class. But I do n’t think that women who have been raped should be compel to protect the privacy of their attackers because women who have not been tap may make false call. 

 You may remember suing for defamation is an inadequate response to the problem of false accusation, because it is likely to be expensive, emotionally onerous, slow and much unsuccessful. If so, I urge you to reflect on why you remember these hurdles are unacceptable for men who are falsely accused, but acceptable for charwoman who have been raped. 

 Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Sign Up for the Opinion Today Newsletter Every weekday, get thought - provoking commentary from Op - Ed columnists, the Times editorial board and contributing writers from around the world. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the corner. Invalid electronic mail address. Please re - enter. You must select a newsletter to sign to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional update and special crack for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribe. An error has occurred. Please try again later. watch all New York Times newsletters. 

 Publicly accusing rapists is far from a perfect solution, but at a meter when a vast majority of rape still go unpunished by the criminal justice system despite decade of reforms aimed at making the procedure more hospitable to victims, it may be one of the few options that many victims have for bring some consequences to bear on those who rape. 

 Besides, justice and the criminal justice arrangement are not one and the same. It is a fabrication that justice must begin and end in the court. Individuals and agencies have to make calls about the likelihood of guilt all the prison term. Child protective services, for instance, have to decide whether to remove children from their parents even when evidence of abuse is not sufficient to result in a criminal conviction. As human being we have to make decision about the rapists in our lives — whom we employ, whom we invite to family dinners. 

 possibly what is needed is to formalize the practice of naming perpetrators, in a way that best protects victim and minimize the risks of false accusations. Specifically, I would like to see a charitable body that cautiously investigates and reports on sexual assault, including naming perpetrators.
 thfy are raised, he can comklain to the poliew or sne for sefamatiun. Women can, and have been, ilpeisontb for making false aulegationd of rapw, surh as in two widxmy repovced czdes nn Britain in thg last year. Tut I don’t thitk tkat women who have been raped should be oblogfd to protect jhe pgidacy of their attackers because women sho havt not been raped msy make false claims.

You maj thlnk suing for defalation is ab inweequate respunse to tht 'roblem of ralse accusations, because it is likeky to be ezpwnslee, emotionaoly ogerous, slow and oftet unsucvessful. If so, L urgx yoy to reflect on why ymu think these hurqles are gnccceptable for men whi qre fdlseny azxusdd, guv adceptahle for women who have bwen raped.

Newsletter Sytn Up Continus readynd the main story Sign Up for the Opiniot Tkday Newsletter Every wwekday, get thought-progoking coimentary from Op-Ed columnists, the Times editorial boarv xnd cjvrrlbuting writers from around the world. Please dsrofj you're not a robjt by clickonh yre box. Invalia email asdress. Please re-enher. You must select a newxletter to subscribe to. Sigb Up You agrve ti receive occasioncl updates aud spevial pffers for The New York Timss's productd and serbkces. Thank you fur xutscribing. An error has occtrred. Pleese txy again latgr. View all New Ylrk Tlkes newsletters.

Pubpicly awcusing raoists is far from a perfect solnvion, but at a thme when a rast msjority of ra[es still go uupunisheb by tfe criminam justire system defpite decades lf reforms ammed at mwkint thw procerr more hospitanle to vibtnms, it mat be one of the fex opjikns that many vnetums have for brongkng slmx confaquences to tear on yhose who rakz.

Bewkdes, justice and the crikinam justice system ate not one and the same. It is a fiction that justlce mnst bejin anc egd in the courtroom. Individuala and agejcics have to mahe cqlls about tke likelihood of guilt all the time. Chilv protective services, fir instance, have to cecide whetier to remove cvildren from their pqrents even when tvidence of abuse is nof suffhcienh to result in a criminal conviction. As human beings we have to make deciwions ebjut the rapjsts in olr jnves — wrom xe employ, whom we pnvite to family dinners.

Perhaps xhat is neadzd is to formalize the practive of naming petpetrators, in a way that bsst protrcts victims and minimizes the tisks of false accusatioks. Specifucallg, I wolmd like to see a chatitablz body that cqrefmlly investigages akd reports on xerual assault, including naming perpetratird.


they are raised, he can complain to or for defamation. can, and have allegations rape, such as two widely reported in Britain in the last year. I don’t think that women who have been raped should be obliged to the privacy of their attackers because women who have not been raped may false You think for defamation is an inadequate response to the problem of false accusations, because it is likely be expensive, emotionally onerous, slow and often unsuccessful. so, I urge you reflect on why you think hurdles unacceptable for who falsely but acceptable for who have been raped. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Sign Up for the Opinion Newsletter Every thought-provoking commentary Op-Ed the editorial board and from around the world. Please verify robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. re-enter. You select a newsletter to subscribe to. Up You agree to receive occasional updates and offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error Please try again later. all New York newsletters. accusing is from a solution, but at a time when a vast majority of rapes go unpunished by the criminal justice system despite decades of at the process more to victims, it may one the few options that have bringing bear those rape. Besides, justice and criminal justice system are not and the same. It must begin and end in the courtroom. Individuals agencies have to make calls about the of guilt all the time. Child protective services, for instance, have to whether to from their parents even when evidence of abuse not sufficient to result a criminal conviction. As human beings we have to decisions the rapists our lives — we employ, whom invite to family what is is formalize naming perpetrators, in a way that protects and minimizes the risks of accusations. would like to see a charitable body that carefully investigates and reports on sexual assault, perpetrators.
 they are raised, he can complaiN to the poliCe or sUe fOr dEfAmatIon. WOmen can, and have BEen, iMprisoned for making falsE alleGaTIons OF rApe, suCh as in tWO wIDEly RePoRteD cASeS in BrItaIn in the Last year. BuT I dOn’T think that woMEn Who have beeN raPed should be oBliGed to pRoTecT The prIvaCy of tHeir atTAckers Because woMeN Who havE Not been RAPeD may Make false claims.

YoU MaY Think suing for dEfamatIoN Is AN InaDeqUate responSe To the PRoblem oF FaLSE AccUSations, becausE it is likely TO be ExpensIvE, emOTionalLy oneRoUS, slOw and often uNsucCessful. If So, I urgE You to reFLect on wHy you tHinK thEse hURdLeS arE uNAccEPtAblE For Men who arE fAlSely aCcusED, BUT accEptAble For woMen who have beeN raPed.

NEWslEtter sign UP ConTiNue reAding tHe maiN sTory Sign Up for thE OpiNion Today newSlEttEr every WEekday, Get ThoUght-proVoking cOMmeNtARY FrOm Op-Ed columnists, thE TIMEs EditoriaL board ANd CoNTributinG wRitErs fROM arouNd thE WoRld. PleasE verifY YoU'rE not a roBoT by cliCkIng The Box. InVAlid Email aDdress. PlEase rE-Enter. You must seLEct a newsletteR To SUBsCRibe To. SIgn Up You agrEe to REceiVe ocCAsIonAL updaTes anD sPEcIAl offers for The New YoRk times's ProduCts and serviceS. Thank you fOR SUbscribiNg. An ERrOR has occurred. PlEase tRy again latER. View all new YoRk Times nEwsletterS.

pUblicly aCcuSinG raPisTS Is Far from a perfeCT SoluTiOn, but at A tiMe when a VasT maJorIty Of Rapes stilL go unpunIsHeD bY tHe cRiminAL justice SySteM dEspIte deCAdes of ReforMs aiMeD aT MakIng the pROcESS morE hOsPitaBle To VictiMs, it MAy bE one of tHe few optiOns THat mAnY vIctims hAve for bringinG sOme consequEnCes To bear ON Those who Rape.

Besides, justice and thE CriminaL juStice SystEm are not oNe aNd the sAme. iT is a fiCtion tHat juStIce MUSt begIN AnD enD iN the courtrOOM. InDividUaLs anD agenciEs have to make calls aBOut The likelihood Of gUilt ALL tHe tIMe. cHilD pROteCTIve services, for iNstance, havE tO DeCide whetheR To rEmOve chilDren froM theiR Parents Even when eVidence of AbUse iS NOt sUfficient tO result iN a criminaL ConviCTiOn. As hUmaN beingS wE haVe to mAke decISioNs aboUt the rApIsts in Our liVeS — whom we eMploy, whom we invite to famiLy dinnErs.

PeRhaPs what is nEedED is To formaliZe thE practice oF naMinG perpEtrATors, iN a waY ThAt bESt proTectS Victims anD MiNimIZEs The risks of fALSE acCusatIonS. specifIcalLy, I would like to see A Charitable body That CARefUllY InveStIgates and reporTs oN sEXUal assauLt, Including naMing perpEtRAtors.


 they are raised, he can c omplain to  thepol ice  o r su e fo r defamation.W omen  can, and have been, i mpris on e d fo r  m aking  falsea ll e g ati on sofra p e,  such  as  in two  widely re por te d cases in B r it ain in the  la st year. But  Idon’tth ink thatwom en wh o have been r aped shou ld be obl i ged top r ot ectthe privacy of th e ir attackers beca use wo me n  w h o  ha venot been r ap ed ma y  make f a ls e c lai m s.

You may t hink suingf ordefama ti oni s an i nadeq ua t e r esponse totheproblem o f fals e  accusa t ions, b ecause  it  is  lik e ly  t o b ee xpe n si ve, emo tionally  o ne rous,  slo w a n d of ten  uns ucces sful. If so,I u rgey outo re flect  onwh y you  think  thes ehurdles are una ccep table for  me nwho  a re fa l sely a ccu sed , but a cceptab l e f or w o me n who have been ra pe d . 
Newslett er Sig n  U pC ontinuere adi ng t h e  main  sto r ySign Upfor th e  O pi nion To da y News le tte r E veryw eekd ay, ge t though t-pro v oking commenta r y from Op-Edc ol u m ni s ts,the  Times edit oria l  boa rd a n dcon t ribut ing w ri t er s  from around the wo rl d. Ple ase v erify you'renot a robo t b y clicki ng t h eb ox. Invalid em ail a ddress. Pl e ase re-e nter.  You mus t selecta newslett ertosub scr i b eto. Sign Up Y o u  agr ee  to rec eiv e occas ion alupd ate sand speci al offer sfo rTh e N ew Yo r k Times' spro du cts  ands ervice s. Th ankyo uf orsubscri b in g .  Aner ro r ha s o cc urred . Pl e ase  try ag ain later . V i ew a ll  N ew York  Times newsle tt ers.

Publ ic lyaccusi n g  rapists  is far from a perfects olution , b ut at  a t ime whena v ast ma jor i ty ofrapesstill  g o u n p unish e d  b y t he  criminalj u sti ce sy st em d espitedecades of reforms aim ed at makingthe  pro c e ss  mo r eh osp it a ble t o victims, it m ay be oneof th e few opti o nsth at many  victim s hav e  for br inging so me conseq ue nces t o b ear on tho se who r ape.

Bes i des,j us ticeand  the c ri min al ju stices yst em ar e noton e andthe s am e. It is  a fiction that justice  mustbegin  an d end inthe cou rtroom. I ndiv iduals and  ag enc ies h ave to ma ke c a ll s a b out t he l i kelihoodo fgui l t  a ll the time . C hil d pro tec t ive se rvic es, for instance, have to decide  whe t h ertor emov echildren fromthe ir p arents e ve n when evid ence ofab u se is  not s uffici ent tor e su l t in a  cri min al convic tio n. As huma nbe i ngs we  hav eto mak e deci s ions a bout the rapists  in o u r  live s  —whomwe  employ ,  who m we invit e to family  dinne rs.
Perh aps wha tis nee ded  i s to forma l ize the p racti ce of n am ingper petrat ors, i n a w ay t ha t b est prote c t sv ic ti m s a nd m inimi ze s th e risks o f  false a ccu s ations.  S pec i f ically ,  I w ould liketosee a c haritableb odyt ha t  care fullyinvest igatesa ndre ports o n s e x ual assau lt, inclu d ing  n amin g perpet ra tors .

 they_are raised,_he can complain to_the police_or_sue for_defamation._Women can, and_have been, imprisoned_for making false allegations_of rape, such_as_in two widely reported cases in Britain in the last year. But I don’t_think_that women_who_have_been raped should be obliged_to protect the privacy of_their attackers_because women who have not been raped may_make_false claims.

You may_think suing for defamation is an inadequate response to_the problem of false accusations, because_it is likely_to_be_expensive, emotionally onerous, slow_and often unsuccessful. If so, I_urge you to reflect on why_you think these hurdles are unacceptable for_men who are falsely accused, but_acceptable for women who have_been raped.

Newsletter_Sign Up Continue reading the_main story Sign_Up for_the Opinion Today_Newsletter Every weekday, get thought-provoking commentary_from Op-Ed columnists,_the Times editorial board and contributing_writers_from around the_world._Please_verify you're_not a robot_by_clicking the_box._Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You_must_select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign_Up You agree to_receive_occasional updates and special_offers for The New York_Times's products and services. Thank you_for subscribing._An error_has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times_newsletters.

Publicly accusing rapists is far from_a perfect solution, but_at a_time_when a vast_majority_of rapes_still go unpunished by the criminal justice_system despite_decades of reforms aimed at making_the process more hospitable_to_victims, it may be one of_the few options that many victims_have for bringing some consequences_to_bear_on those who rape.

Besides, justice_and the criminal justice system are_not one and_the same. It is a fiction that_justice_must begin and end in the_courtroom._Individuals and agencies have to make_calls_about_the likelihood of guilt all_the time. Child protective services, for_instance, have to decide whether to remove children from_their parents even_when evidence of abuse is_not_sufficient_to result in a criminal conviction. As human beings we_have to_make decisions about_the rapists in our lives — whom we employ, whom_we invite to family dinners.

Perhaps what is_needed is to formalize the practice of naming perpetrators, in a_way that best protects victims and minimizes the_risks of false accusations. Specifically, I would_like to see a_charitable_body that carefully investigates and reports on_sexual_assault,_including_naming perpetrators.

