Slapps, NDAs and gendered ‘lawfare’: how the rich and powerful silence victims of sexual offences

By Francesca Farrington, Lecturer in Law, School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool

The conviction of Russell Brand came nearly two decades after “Me Too” was coined. Yet the years the former comedian avoided accountability serve as a stark reminder of the dangers victims still face when speaking out. The truth is that women who name predators are increasingly at risk of legal proceedings.

While the #MeToo movement emboldened victims to speak truth to power, it also exposed the tactics offenders use to silence them. UN special rapporteur Irene…

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