Does Not.
What does Does Not mean?:
I do not consent.
She does not consent.
He does not believe.
The title Does Not is taken from the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Section 1
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TWO WORDS
No is no. Does not is does not. I don’t consent means that an individual doesn’t agree with what you propose. Does not illustrates the power in words that determines whether something should or shouldn’t happen.
Rowena (Closed), 2008 by Gillian Wearing
WHY DOES NOT?
Rape offences have been increasing dramatically year on year. Some may purport to not understand whether somebody does or does not consent. The law is clear and the Lawyers Arts Club is raising further awareness of the Sexual Offences Act by using one of the most powerful phrases in the English Legal System.
WHAT LAW IS ON THE WALL?
The phrase is taken from the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which clearly defines what rape is and how if a woman does not consent to the penetration of her vagina, anus or mouth, it is rape. If the man does not believe that the woman consents, its rape.
Sexual Offences Act 2003. 1 Rape (1) A person (A) commits an offence if— (a) he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, (b) B does not consent to the penetration, and (c) A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
THE LAW IS CLEAR
It is there in black and white. There is no excuse or reason for anyone in the United Kingdom to not comprehend the meaning of consent.
“Rape is the only crime in which the victim becomes the accused”
NO ROOM FOR CONFUSION
The law is clear as stipulated above. Nobody ‘asks for it’ regardless of their sex, clothing or indications that are not explicit. If a person is too young or too intoxicated they cannot give informed consent.
Susanna and the Elders, 1610. Artemisia Gentileschi.
RAPE OUTSIDE THE UK
Without informed consent a man would be committing the offence of rape if the woman doesn’t consent. In the US a woman is twice as likely to be raped as she is to develop breast cancer. In Afghanistan women are imprisoned for being raped. Only 1 in 4 rapes in the US are actually reported.
THE THREATS WE FACE
Grooming gangs continue to abuse children in our towns and police are still failing to investigate, according to alleged victims and campaigners.
Whistle-blower and former detective at Greater Manchester Police, Maggie Oliver, has told Sky News that she helped 2,000 victims in 2020 alone who had been "fobbed off by the authorities".
HOW DO THE POLICE AND COURTS DEAL WITH ALLEGATIONS OF RAPE?
Despite the statistics above police forces across the United Kingdom treat rape very seriously, however due to the complexities of certain situations it can often be difficult to prosecute offenders.
In 2019-20, the police referred 2,747 cases to the CPS, a reduction of 40% in three years and the lowest number since the figures were first published in 2014-15.
It is also taking longer for suspects to be charged, with the average time from a case initially being referred to the CPS to a decision to charge up from 53 days in 2015-16 to 145 days in 2019-20, which is almost five months.
WHY IS THE PHRASE ‘DOES NOT’ SO IMPORTANT IN 2021 AN BEYOND?
The importance of a woman’s rights to say no. Does Not. is a permanent reminder to all that see it that consent is required.
Rolf Harris - Court Scene by Elizabeth Cook.
CONSENT MATTERS
Consent is the verbal agreement to move things forward and without it there can be no further action. Both parties cannot just be open to the idea nor can one be seen as overtly suggestive for there to be consent.
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL TRAUMA
Rape victims can suffer with trauma for their entire life. Even for those that have suffered the threat of rape, this can also be the case. The long term psychological implications of having been a victim of rape are well researched and often conclude that someone who has been raped will live with that forever.
Scene of Rape and Murder- Francisco Goya.
RAPE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Rape convictions fell in 2020 but offences have been going up year on year. The United Kingdom has a number of recent cases involving large scale rape in an almost commercial fashion amongst grooming gangs in towns and cities across the country. The rape capital of the U.K is currently Telford in Shropshire taking this unwanted crown from Rotherham in 2020.
Rape is one of the most terrible crimes on earth and it happens every few minutes. The problem with groups who deal with rape is that they try to educate women about how to defend themselves. What really needs to be done is teaching men not to rape. Go to the source and start there.
RAPE IN RECENT CULTURE?
The #metoo became a global movement that brought sexual offences from men to the front pages via a Hollywood lens. High profile celebrities including Kevin Spacey, Louis CK and Harvey Weinstein were publicly accused of rape and other sexual offences. These powerful and influential men in positions of great responsibility still did not it seems comprehend the term - does not.
Crank Rape Scene
INTERACTIVE ART THAT SPARKS DISCUSSION
This is an on going, ever evolving interactive artwork to keep people engaged with the law and the discussion that comes from it.
Does Not. artwork installation on Thomas Telford Statue in Overdale, Telford on 03/04/21.
WHY TELFORD?
Telford in Shropshire which has a population of 170,000 has had over a thousand victims of rape over a 40 year period involving girls as young as 11. Most recently there was 37 convictions resulting in not one prosecution despite over 267 names given to the police with victims fearing some of the worst sexual offenders are still at large in the Shropshire town.
Abduction of a Sabine Woman by Giambologna
BE HEARD AND GET INVOLVED.
BACK TO LAW ON THE WALL
Lawyers Arts Club - is an organisation creating content by uniting the law and the arts for the purpose of sparking discussion.
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