Accusation against Alejandro Ramirez

[NickFaulks]

My concern about this point is that someone who has been assaulted and wants to confide in someone and/or report it but is not ready to name the person may remain quiet if they feel they will be pressured into naming the person. I have no way of knowing how difficult it must be to speak up about such situations but suspect it must be one of the hardest things imaginable.

I don't see why, particularly now. Jen has done it and is widely acknowledged as a heroine, with just a bit of unpleasantness from the usual suspects. Meanwhile, Ramirez is sunk.

If Sabrina's abuser when she was a junior is who the chattering classes seem to think it is, then it would cost her absolutely nothing to say so - it's not as though she is out of the public gaze now anyway. If by any chance it isn't then, whatever one may think of that person, the present state of affairs is most unfair.

[NickFaulks]

The Manchester United player that was accused of domestic abuse had the case dismissed. Hasn't he been invited back to the squad? What about the Manchester City player recently acquitted of rape ?

Do the words "case dismissed" and "acquitted" have no value? I'm not saying that I find either of these individuals particularly likeable.

[John Upham]

We know that that happened when BRE was reported to the BCF. The carpet was then lifted and the brush firmly applied.

If this is the most recent example you can think of I'd say it's time to try again, just in case things have changed.

JN Walker was more recent and there have been cases more recent than that.

Not sure of any documented cases prior to BRE but doubtless they exist.

[NickFaulks]

and there have been cases more recent than that.

?

[LawrenceCooper]

My concern about this point is that someone who has been assaulted and wants to confide in someone and/or report it but is not ready to name the person may remain quiet if they feel they will be pressured into naming the person. I have no way of knowing how difficult it must be to speak up about such situations but suspect it must be one of the hardest things imaginable.

I don't see why, particularly now. Jen has done it and is widely acknowledged as a heroine, with just a bit of unpleasantness from the usual suspects. Meanwhile, Ramirez is sunk.

If Sabrina's abuser when she was a junior is who the chattering classes seem to think it is, then it would cost her absolutely nothing to say so - it's not as though she is out of the public gaze now anyway. If by any chance it isn't then, whatever one may think of that person, the present state of affairs is most unfair.

One could argue that being abused isn't fair and any subsequent inconvenience caused to others is nothing compared to what they have gone through.

[IM Jack Rudd]

The J.N.Walker case isn't really anything to do with the BCF/ECF, though, is it? He's best known for being a chess author, which is not something over which the federation has any jurisdiction.

[John Upham]

and there have been cases more recent than that.

?

I have PM'd you with another couple of cases

[NickFaulks]

One could argue that being abused isn't fair and any subsequent inconvenience caused to others is nothing compared to what they have gone through.

"My life has been damaged so I'm going to randomly damage as many other people's lives as I can". Not my attitude, maybe yours.

[Paul McKeown]

And yes this is a big factor- in general women have higher social intelligence and men better 'spatial awareness' etc...

I know which one pays off more

An amazing demonstration of social intelligence.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"contacting the police is another way of handling the matter."

Probably the best way.

Forgetting it's ECF for a moment, imagine any organization getting a complaint from A that they have been assaulted by B. How does the organization react? Possibilities are

1) We don't want news of this to get out
2) We have always hated A/B - we can stitch them up
3) We have always liked A/B - we can stitch up the other one. (Or A/B has access to money, we'll blackmail them and get sponsorship)
4) We must do our best to be fair, but if we get it wrong, we will really damage the one we disbelieve. (And they might take action against us.)
5) We are not competent to deal with this - we need an independent enquiry (expensive if private), or tell the police.

One problem is that you are talking about a small community - people sitting in judgement may well know both parties, and find it difficult to be objective.

Look at it from A's perspective. You are telling someone about a traumatic event, and you're telling someone you know (and you cannot be certain they won't talk about it). Talking to the police, you should have trained officers, who do not know you, and should be objective. It's probably "easier" (meaning less horrible) talking to a stranger. Nowadays, they probably will take it seriously.

[LawrenceCooper]

One could argue that being abused isn't fair and any subsequent inconvenience caused to others is nothing compared to what they have gone through.

"My life has been damaged so I'm going to randomly damage as many other people's lives as I can". Not my attitude, maybe yours.

I can only hope that those in the relevant ECF posts will provide a bit more support to anyone approaching them who has suffered a similar fate. Otherwise, we may be waiting a long time for anyone else to speak up.

[Paul McKeown]

The ECF website shows the names of two safeguarding officers who can be emailed at [email protected]

Safeguarding generally deals with safeguarding groups seen as particularly vulnerable, that being minors and adults incapable or less capable of giving informed legal consent.

I am not sure that the ECF has an a particular officer assigned to dealing with accusations of sexual assault or the like.

[Paul McKeown]

5) We are not competent to deal with this - we need an independent enquiry (expensive if private), or tell the police.

The most sensible post here. Indeed the whole of KT's post should be read for a sensible understanding of the best way for the ECF and the wider chess community to deal with this difficult, and potentially explosive, issue.

[NickFaulks]

Talking to the police, you should have trained officers

Yeah, right.

[Paul McKeown]

Safeguarding generally deals with safeguarding groups seen as particularly vulnerable, that being minors and adults incapable or less capable of giving informed legal consent.

Although the safeguarding officers might be a port of call depending on the age at which the assault(s) are meant to have occured against the victim concerned. The ECF's safeguarding officers' main response in such a case should be to refer it on, though, to the legal authorities concerned.