Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is facing the International Criminal Court in The Hague as he stands accused of crimes against humanity. The ICC estimates up to 30,000 people died in the country’s drug war under his leadership. Read more from @dw

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#Phillippines #ICC #CriminalCourt #Hague #WarCrimes

This NYC criminal judge is a DISGRACE

https://peertube.gravitywell.xyz/w/c4kB6DyZyikABZLQjxWdVP

Dyfed‑Powys and South Wales Police buck national decline in coercive control charges

Local forces top the table

Almost ten years after coercive and controlling behaviour (CCB) was made a criminal offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015, new analysis shows that Dyfed‑Powys Police and South Wales Police are leading the way nationally in bringing charges.

• Dyfed‑Powys Police saw the biggest rise in England and Wales, with the proportion of offences leading to a charge or summons more than doubling from 4.05% to 8.65% in the past year.
• South Wales Police recorded the second‑highest increase, climbing from 10.11% to 11.16%.

By contrast, many other forces saw their charge rates fall, with the City of London dropping to zero and Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire also recording sharp declines.

What coercive control means

Coercive control covers patterns of intimidation, isolation, financial restriction and emotional manipulation. It was recognised in law in 2015 to reflect the reality that abuse is not always physical, but can still have devastating and long‑lasting effects.

Family law specialists say the rise in charges in Wales may reflect more victims feeling able to report abuse, but also highlights the scale of the problem.

“Statistics only tell part of the story”

Kathryn McTaggart, family law solicitor and director at Woolley & Co, said:

“Clients often describe years of financial restriction, emotional manipulation, or social isolation – behaviours that don’t just end when the relationship does. They continue to shape how safe someone feels during separation, whether they can engage in mediation, and the tone of negotiations.”

She warned that while criminal prosecutions show progress in some areas, the family courts remain inconsistent. Allegations of coercive control are often raised in divorce, child contact and financial disputes, but the way courts respond can vary dramatically.

What it means for families in Wales

• In divorce cases, coercive control is increasingly cited in petitions, but survivors often feel the abuse is invisible in financial settlements.
• In child contact disputes, courts are expected to investigate allegations before making decisions, but practice varies widely.
• In financial proceedings, the law sets a high bar for conduct to affect asset division, leaving many survivors feeling the economic impact of abuse is overlooked.

Campaigners say that without consistent recognition across both criminal and family courts, survivors remain at risk of being retraumatised by the very systems meant to protect them.

Ruth Dodsworth: speaking out after coercive control conviction

ITV Wales presenter Ruth Dodsworth has become one of the most high‑profile voices raising awareness of coercive control after her ex‑husband, Jonathan Wignall, was jailed in 2021 for a near‑decade campaign of harassment and abuse.

Since then, Ruth has spoken publicly about the impact of coercive control on her life and family, using her platform to encourage survivors to seek help and to press for stronger safeguards in both the criminal justice system and the family courts.

Related articles

• Maesteg man jailed after subjecting teenager to years of coercive control
• Long prison sentence for vile Swansea man who raped and controlled women
• ‘Immature’ Aberavon man jailed following controlling and abusive behaviour

Ruth Dodsworth: Speaking out on coercive control

ITV Wales presenter Ruth Dodsworth has spoken publicly about her experiences of coercive control after her ex-husband, Jonathan Wignall, was jailed in 2021 for a near-decade-long campaign of harassment and abuse.

Since the case, Ruth has become a prominent voice in raising awareness of domestic abuse, sharing her story to encourage others to seek help and to highlight the importance of safeguarding.

• TV presenter’s ex-husband jailed after near decade-long campaign of harassment and controlling behaviour
• ITV’s Ruth Dodsworth talks about her experiences of domestic abuse in support of National Safeguarding Week

#abuse #coerciveAndControllingBehaviour #coerciveControl #criminalCourt #divorce #DyfedPowysPolice #emotionalManipulation #familyCourt #familyLaw #financialRestriction #harassment #intimidation #isolation #law #relationships #RuthDodsworth #SeriousCrimeAct #socialIsolation #SouthWalesPolice

MUSE GOETTL RAISES AWARENESS FOR LYDIA’S LAW

Muse Goettl, a local drag artist known as Mama Muse, wants to bring awareness to Lydia’s Law (Bill 189) which is aimed in addressing delays in the Canadian Justice system. Specifically related to the 1,326 sexual assault (SA) cases that were withdrawn or stayed in 2022.  Goettl found Bill 189 helpful for navigating the justice system.  

“It gives me hope that there’s a chance I could be able to redo the criminal case, but that’s only if the government chooses to enact it [Bill 189],” Goettl said.  

Goettl recounted meeting his abuser in 2018, starting a relationship with him in January 2019, and experienced abuse until 2022. He was able to end the relationship in July 2022 after an arduous process where he also lost friends due to paranoia. After reaching out to an old friend for support, he found the strength to have his abuser arrested and charged in November 2022.   

“The Criminal Court system has been proven to be hostile to survivors, including myself. Good example of this, when I was told that that his charges had stayed permanently, I was told to move on with my life, and if I pursue this further, I’m gonna look vindictive,” Goettl said.   

Catherine Fife, MPP of Waterloo, currently has a petition running using Bill 189 to call for justice to sexual assault survivors. Fife hopes to adopt Recommendations 1 and 3 of the Auditor General’s 2019 Annual Report. These recommendations would make Independent Legal Advice (ILA) more accessible to survivors.   

“Every police service that receives a sexual assault complaint from a person who is 16 years of age or older shall make the person aware of the Independent Legal Advice Program that is delivered through Ontario Victim Services of the Ministry of the Attorney General,” Bill 189 states.   

Goettl’s case was severely delayed due to the backlog caused by COVID-19. Currently he faces challenges with pursuing his case through civil court because of defamation risks. He feels Lydia’s Law gives him protection and a foundation to lean on.   

“The Attorney General shall, (a) review the efficiency of the Victim Quick Response Program as a replacement for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking; and(b) report the results of the review to the Assembly within one year after section 1 comes into force,” Bill 189 states.  

Goettl’s case has, in his words, been mishandled and has had a huge impact on their mental health. He plans to raise awareness of Lydia’s Law through a charity show, social media and advocating for Lydia’s Law in Kitchener Waterloo to provide survivors with legal options.  

“The plan right now is, I want to bring awareness to this, which is why I want to do this interview. I’m planning a charity show in the new year to raise money for [Sexual Assault Support Centre]. I want to be as loud as I can about this, because it’s not fair that not just me, but thousands of others have had to go through this. They don’t have legal recourse. And the only way is through Lydia’s Law,” Goettl said.  

#AdrianQuijano #auditorsGeneral #bill189 #CatherineFife #criminalCourt #lydiasLaw #mamaMuse #mppOfWaterloo #ontarioVictimServices #SASC #SexualAssault #SexualAssaultSupportCenterSASCOfWaterlooRegion_ #sexualHealth

5 Reasons #SelfRepresentation Is a #BadIdea When Facing #CriminalCharges

Your #liberty, #reputation, and future will hang in the balance in a #criminalcourt.

https://goodmenproject.com/everyday-life-2/5-reasons-self-representation-is-a-bad-idea-when-facing-criminal-charges/