The UK government has called on victims of sexual assault in the music industry to speak out about their experiences, especially if they have signed NDAs in the past. This move is part of an inquiry into misogyny prompted by the Women and Equalities Committee, which seeks to investigate “the extent to which non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are used specifically to silence victims.” Interested parties are encouraged to submit written evidence to the committee up until November 30. The inquiry is particularly supported by Annie Mac, former BBC Radio 1 DJ, who has previously revealed to MPs the “tidal wave” of sexual abuse cases in the industry that have yet to be made public.
The government has assured victims that any evidence received cannot be used as evidence in legal proceedings due to Parliament’s powers of privilege. This means that sharing information will not lead to legal action against the victim. The government is looking into the motivations for creating and signing an NDA, as well as the circumstances of individual NDAs including the roles of those involved. They will also look into the efforts made to report inappropriate behaviour before an NDA was reached, and whether NDAs may have been used in cases where behaviour might be criminal.
The confidential evidence provided will not be made public, and the inquiry hopes to unravel the process of NDAs in the industry in order to mitigate instances of abuse against victims. This is a necessary step in the music industry since women have long been seen as second-class citizens. The industry has faced backlash from many who claim that it’s a “boys’ club” that is “rigged against women.”
Victims of sexual assault, abuse, or gender-based discrimination in the music industry are encouraged to speak out and inform the inquiry. The government hopes that this will help them investigate why NDAs are so prevailing in the field, and how they can better protect victims from these agreements
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