Some of these people do not hesitate to reveal the identity of their alleged assailant, a growing list and among which are famous personalities. This is the case of host Maripier Morin, who was the subject of a denunciation by the singer-songwriter Safia Nolin.
The latter published a testimony on her Instagram account on Tuesday, describing a well-watered evening in 2018, where the host allegedly sexually harassed her and made racist remarks, she alleges.
feet11 that this is not sexual harassment. I’ve been trying to get this into my head for two years. His comments are harassment, no matter who makes him live whom “,” text “:” It is not because the person in question is a woman and measures 4 feet 11 that it is not sexual harassment. I’ve been trying to get this into my head for two years. His words remain harassment, no matter who makes him live whom “}}” lang = “fr”>It is not because the person in question is a woman and is 4 feet 11 that it is not sexual harassment. I’ve been trying to get this into my head for two years. His words remain harassment, no matter who makes him live whom
, said Safia Nolin in particular.
Without denying the facts, Maripier Morin reacted by apologizing on Wednesday on his own Instagram account. I could not read or understand the limit that I could have crossed. If that was the case, I still apologize and am still deeply sorry
, she explained.
The host also pointed out that she herself had experienced situations of excess and abuse
from some people. It’s deplorable to realize that I happened to be one of those people that night
, she added, specifying that she had tried to reach Safia Nolin, but that she did not wish to speak to him.
The singer-songwriter also did not wish to grant an interview to Radio-Canada.
In the evening, the Montreal company Blush Lingerie also announced on social networks that it is dissociating from Maripier Morin and that it is ending all collaboration with it. Abuse, whatever it is, and this type of behavior has never been and will never be tolerated by us
, wrote the company.
Blush has always strived and will always strive to remain a safe space for all women all over the world, where mutual support and respect are of high importance
, we added.
“The phone does not hang up”
The case of Maripier Morin and Safia Nolin, although publicized due to the popularity of the two women, is just one of many. Almost a week ago, Sabrina Comeau also shared her story on Instagram. Quickly, hundreds of women imitated it.
Women, we feel all alone when it happens to us and now I realize that I’m really, but really not alone
, she said.
messages in my sleeping box “,” text “:” Right now, I think there must be about 500 messages in my sleeping box “}}” lang = “en”>Right now, I think there are about 500 messages in my box sleeping
, said the young woman. Some 500 messages, not counting the hundreds of testimonies already made public.
If my testimony made things happen like that, it is because there is a reason. It’s that there are a lot of women who are affected by this
, she said.
At the Juripop legal clinic, which set up a special program a little more than a month ago dedicated to victims of sexual crimes, the same observation is made: the phone does not disturb
. Since Monday morning, we count a callminutes “,” text “:” every 15 or 20 minutes “}}” lang = “en”>every 15 or 20 minutes, assured the director general of the clinic, lawyer Sophie Gagnon.
It is important to remember that sexual violence is the only violent crime in Canada that does not decrease in occurrence. So it is really, unfortunately, a bane of society.
On Wednesday, the Quebec minister responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest, did not hesitate to qualify the sexual assaults as scourge
.
As Minister responsible for the Status of Women, I am deeply touched by the situation, she said. I sincerely believe that no one should be subjected to such acts and that by educating and empathizing towards the victims, this scourge can be stopped.
The Minister also recalled that the limitation period for sexual assault has recently been abolished by the government, so that victims can obtain justice even several years after the fact
.
A dangerous trend?
This tendency to seek justice on social networks worries some people, including lawyer-criminalist Danièle Roy, who even describes it as dangerous. She fears the court of public opinion.
We live in a democratic country and we have established rules of law, precisely because we do not want citizens to do justice for themselves. It’s a dangerous addiction
, says Me Roy.
Sociologist Sandrine Ricci believes that movement must be considered in a very specific social context. It is important to consider this for what it is, that is to say a movement that expresses exasperation. Compared to what? In relation to the flaws in the justice system, in relation to normalization, a significant social trivialization of sexual violence
, she explained.
For Ms. Sophie Gagnon, of the Juripop clinic, this tendency to denounce publicly instead of following the normal course of justice is the symptom of a malaise that persists in society with regard to crimes of a sexual nature. It is still very taboo to denounce, and when there are leaders around us who do so, it creates a domino effect that gives people confidence to speak up.
If we continue to turn to social media and traditional media rather than the justice system, I think that shows […] that we still have work to do to adapt the justice system to the reality of victims and survivors to regain their confidence.
It is true that navigating the justice system can be difficult for victims. There is still a need for legal education
, also believes Me Gagnon.
A question that was asked a lot in 2017, during the #MeAussi movement, and which has come up since this weekend, for example, is all the issues surrounding defamation, it creates a lot of fear in people who wish to report.
According to her, people who have experienced sexual violence are in the best position to know what is best for them to obtain justice. Sometimes it goes through the justice system, and sometimes it doesn’t.
The Montreal Police Department did not want to confirm whether it had received more complaints than usual in connection with this new wave of information.
With information from Kim Vermette and the show 15-18
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