The Dominion
April 8, 1996
Rape law reform
Letter
to the Editor
by Gordon Waugh (Whenuapai) (Abridged)
After the 60 Minutes television programme
segment on a false allegation of rape against a young Waikato University law
student, Nick Wills, there has been an enormously adverse reaction to the
comments made by Toni Allwood, the national co-ordinator of Rape Crisis, and
equally many expressions of sympathy for Nick Wills.
Also, one of the claims made at the Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care conference
was that one in five women has been raped or suffered attempted rape. The
simplest of arithmetic indicates that half our population are women, and
one-fifth amounts to 360,000. At best, that is a flamboyant and outrageous
claim.
Many people throughout the country would like to see sex abuse counsellors
made accountable for their work, and would like to see legislation amended on
these issues. They, like me, wish to reinstate balance and common sense in
this emotive area.
|