Outrage Over Global Epidemic of False Allegations

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Henry Herrera

Telephone: +1-301-801-0608

Outrage Over Global Epidemic of False Allegations

December 9, 2024 – Around the world, false allegations of abuse are facing strong criticism as egregious injustices have come to public attention (1):

United States: The explosion in false allegations in the U.S. began with the infamous Duke lacrosse case in 2006. The 2022 defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against Amber Heard was an important milestone. In recent years, the number of false allegation cases and subsequent defamation damage awards have increased dramatically (2).

Spain: In September, Madrid City Hall Councilor Carla Toscano warned, “False allegations exist.…The results are men with their lives destroyed, men whose right of honor is harmed, children of living fathers who are turned into orphans, and broken families…It could happen to you.” (3)

Australia: Two university students were dating when the woman decided to break off the relationship to pursue other romantic interests. But she had second thoughts, asking him to take her back. When he declined, she began to send him lurid messages such as “Let’s hook up please I’m begging you” and “I have just called the police because you keep ignoring me.” (4)

When he continued to disregard her, she accused him of rape, resulting in his incarceration. Last week the innocent man was freed on appeal. Commentator Bettina Arndt expressed her disgust with the woman’s antics, revealing, “this creature had the effrontery to turn up to visit him in prison, full of remorse, claiming she had no idea this would happen to him.” (5)

Argentina: Public revulsion over false accusation has turned into a social movement where the Women’s Front Against False Allegations has waged a national campaign that included rallies in 14 provinces, media efforts, and lobbying of lawmakers (6).

On November 20, the Argentinian Senate convened a hearing that featured the tearful testimony of 15-year-old Ana Jazmín Carro (7). The girl recounted how feminists had convinced her that as a woman, “no man should tell her what to do.” So she falsely accused her father of sexually molesting her. Five years later, the innocent man still languishes in jail (8).

In response, the Argentinian Justice Minister Cúneo Libarona declared, “This a paradigmatic case of gender ideology took control of innocent mind to turn them into puppets…We’re going to eradicate the gender ideology from the justice system.” The following week, the Argentine Senate issued an official opinion to curb the false accusations epidemic.

Indeed, feminists openly advocate for their use. American Teen Vogue columnist Emily Lindin casually declared, “If some innocent men’s reputations have to take a hit in the process of undoing the patriarchy, that is a price I am absolutely willing to pay.” (9)

A YouGov survey conducted in eight countries found many millions of persons report being falsely accused of abuse (10):

India: 19%
Australia: 10%
United States: 10%
Canada: 8%
Argentina: 7%
United Kingdom: 4%
Poland: 4%
Spain: 4%

Since 2021, International Falsely Accused Day has been observed around the world on September 9. (11) DAVIA urges lawmakers, prosecutors, family judges to take action to curb the epidemic of false allegations.

The Domestic Abuse and Violence International Alliance – DAVIA — consists of 174 member organizations from 38 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. DAVIA seeks to ensure that domestic violence and abuse polices are science-based, family-affirming, and sex-inclusive. https://endtodv.org/coalitions/davia/

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