UK MP calls for appointment of woman in all-male Justice Ministry amid ‘diminishing seriousness’ on rape

August 22, 2012 | World News | Written by

London, Aug. 22: Prime Minister David Cameron should appoint a woman as Justice Minister because many male politicians ‘diminish’ the seriousness of rape,

Member of Parliament Louise Mensch said.

Mensch’s call comes after she claimed that women are ‘fed up’ with the ‘loathsome’ views of men on sexual violence.

According to The Telegraph, the demand by Mensch, who is standing down as the Conservative member for Corby and East Northamptonshire, comes after she criticized Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke for claiming that ‘date rape’ was less ‘serious’ than other attacks.

“The Justice Department at present has no women; it stumbled both on trying to grant anonymity to men accused of rape, a Lib Dem idea, and in Ken Clarke’s own unfortunate comments about rape. I hope (and expect) that the Prime Minister will use the opportunity of the reshuffle to promote some of the talented female lawyers on his benches into the department that governs rape, sexual trafficking and other crimes against women,” Mensch said.

“This week shows us what so many male politicians really think about consent, and sex, and the rights of a woman to withhold it, or attach conditions to it,” she added.

Her comments followed an outcry over remarks by George Galloway, an MP, who attempted to play down sex crime allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the report said.

Even Galloway’s own party leader attacked him for suggesting that Assange was accused of nothing more serious than ‘bad sexual etiquette’, the report added.

Galloway has also been condemned by Salma Yaqoob, the leader of Respect, over his remarks.

“Let me be clear, as a politician and as a woman, rape occurs when a woman has not consented to sex,” she said, adding: “George Galloway’s comments on what constitutes rape are deeply disappointing and wrong.”

However, Galloway strongly defended his claim that the allegations made against Assange by two women in Sweden did not constitute rape, even if they were proved to be true, the report said. (ANI)