Sex assault and other victims free to speak out after gagging order ban

The government is changing the law to allow victims and witnesses of crimes, including sexual assault, to speak openly about their experiences with anyone. Previously, individuals, particularly victims, were made to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that restricted them from disclosing information. The new amendment to the Victims and Courts Bill broadens the scope of an existing change, which previously only allowed disclosure to specific bodies like the police or victim support groups. Now, victims can speak freely to family, friends, employers, and journalists without fear of legal repercussions. This law change extends similar protections previously introduced for whistleblowers and victims of workplace harassment and abuse. In exceptional and limited circumstances, where both parties agree to confidentiality on certain details, NDAs can still be enforced, but even then, specific exceptions will allow individuals to speak out. Zelda Perkins, a former assistant to Harvey Weinstein who broke an NDA to speak out about her experiences, has been a vocal advocate for this legal reform. She argues that NDAs have been misused to silence victims and hide criminal behavior. T... download the app to read more