Biased GREVIO-statements in Finnish media
According to the Finnish broadcasting company YLE news on domestic violence, GREVIO-expert Johanna Nelles is demanding Finland to take more actions to bridle violence against women, and women only[i] although men in Finland experience domestic violence as much as women[ii]. Why are men excluded?
Nelles is also said to have claimed that according to Finnish legislation a rapist can only be judged if violence, force or threat has been used, and that without bruises there cannot be a verdict. What Nelles said is not the case. Section 1 of chapter 20 of the Criminal Code of Finland says: ”(2) Also a person who, by taking advantage of the fact that another person, due to unconsciousness, illness, disability, state of fear or other state of helplessness, is unable to defend himself or herself or to formulate or express his or her will, has sexual intercourse with him or her, shall be sentenced for rape.”[iii] What is more, trials in Finland are often of word against word -type and no evidence of violation is neither presented nor required. Numerous false rape charges and also verdicts have been seen in Finland. Fair attention should be paid in preventing of false accusations and lies, too.
In supporting the change proposal of the definition of rape in Finnish Criminal Code, Nelles noted, that the proposal sets men alone responsible for recognition of female desire. We cannot understand why this should be the target. It would remove women´s all sex-behavioral responsibilities and would require men to be able to read the thoughts of women in order to have sex. Instead it is mutual discussion and agreement we need!
We find it very difficult to understand and accept that a representative of GREVIO has spoken the way YLE has written. It seems obvious that Johanna Nelles just shoots around her politically colored opinions disregarding facts and human rights. Is GREVIO supporting what Nelles said?
If the Istanbul Convention requires this kind of activities and disinformation, we will fight against the treaty and for getting Finland out of it.
Miesten tasa-arvo ry
