To: Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP, First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Stop Silencing Victims of Sexual Violence
Limit the use of NDAs - it's time to stop protecting powerful men at the expense of the people they've harmed.
Why is this important?
The ongoing conversations surrounding Russell Brand and David Walliams have once again brought into sharp focus an issue that we can no longer afford to ignore: the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and abuse.
NDAs were never supposed to be a licence to silence people. Yet, in certain circumstances, they can be used to protect reputations, safeguard careers and keep deeply concerning behaviour out of the public domain.
Think about what that means.
Someone who has experienced harassment, intimidation or abuse may be legally prevented from speaking about what happened to them. Meanwhile, the person with the power, money, influence and reputation to protect can carry on, potentially leaving others unaware of concerns that may affect their own safety.
How is that acceptable?
This isn't about denying anyone their right to a fair process. It isn't about trial by social media or assuming guilt before facts have been established. It's about recognising that confidentiality agreements should never be used to cover up wrongdoing, prevent people from reporting abuse or shield individuals and organisations from accountability.
The power imbalance is enormous. And when money, legal teams and reputation management enter the picture, whose interests are really being protected?
Survivors deserve to be heard. People deserve to be able to speak about their experiences without fear of legal retaliation. And organisations should not be able to use confidentiality agreements to bury complaints and protect their own interests.
NDAs that silence people about sexual harassment, abuse and misconduct must be challenged. Their use needs urgent reform.
We cannot keep saying we believe survivors while allowing legal mechanisms to silence them.
We cannot keep talking about protecting people while protecting the systems that prevent them from speaking.
And we cannot keep waiting for another high-profile controversy before asking why this is still happening.
Please support this petition. Add your name, share it and help push for change.
Silence protects the powerful. Accountability protects people. It's time we got our priorities right.
NDAs were never supposed to be a licence to silence people. Yet, in certain circumstances, they can be used to protect reputations, safeguard careers and keep deeply concerning behaviour out of the public domain.
Think about what that means.
Someone who has experienced harassment, intimidation or abuse may be legally prevented from speaking about what happened to them. Meanwhile, the person with the power, money, influence and reputation to protect can carry on, potentially leaving others unaware of concerns that may affect their own safety.
How is that acceptable?
This isn't about denying anyone their right to a fair process. It isn't about trial by social media or assuming guilt before facts have been established. It's about recognising that confidentiality agreements should never be used to cover up wrongdoing, prevent people from reporting abuse or shield individuals and organisations from accountability.
The power imbalance is enormous. And when money, legal teams and reputation management enter the picture, whose interests are really being protected?
Survivors deserve to be heard. People deserve to be able to speak about their experiences without fear of legal retaliation. And organisations should not be able to use confidentiality agreements to bury complaints and protect their own interests.
NDAs that silence people about sexual harassment, abuse and misconduct must be challenged. Their use needs urgent reform.
We cannot keep saying we believe survivors while allowing legal mechanisms to silence them.
We cannot keep talking about protecting people while protecting the systems that prevent them from speaking.
And we cannot keep waiting for another high-profile controversy before asking why this is still happening.
Please support this petition. Add your name, share it and help push for change.
Silence protects the powerful. Accountability protects people. It's time we got our priorities right.
