The case in summary: Health nurses around the country report an increase in unwanted sexual incidents in groups of friends. A verdict is awaited in a case in which four girlfriends are accused of raping a fifth girlfriend at a party. The defendants deny criminal guilt. According to Bufdir, the abuser is a friend in almost one in five rape cases. There are large dark figures when it comes to sexual abuse by peers, and many young people feel pressured to participate in sexual acts. It can be difficult to report such cases, as the abuser is often a friend or part of the same social circle. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I feel that I am good at saying no, but I understand that it can be difficult to say no to friends and lovers. Maybe it can be a bit embarrassing, says Celina Fjermeros. She is Russian president at Vennesla high school, and is concerned with setting healthy boundaries. – You have to dare to stand up for yourself. You mustn’t do anything that you don’t think is right, says the 18-year-old. She describes the girlfriend-rape case, where four girlfriends are accused of raping a fifth girlfriend at a party, as very serious. – I had never heard of something like that before in a group of friends, says Fjermeros. Celina Fjermeros (th) and her friends at Vennesla high school say they were shocked when they heard about the friend’s rape case. They have not previously heard of female friends crossing each other’s boundaries sexually. Front: Marit Urdal, Johanna Frantzen Løvdal, Sonya Tenney and Anne Omestad Wehus. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news – More common than we think In recent years, health nurses around the country have noticed a change in youth culture. – We are experiencing an increase in unwanted sexual incidents in groups of friends, says head of the National Group of Health Nurses NSF, Ann Karin Swang. The same is said by health nurse Kari Mygland Michaelsen at Vennesla upper secondary school. – I think it is much more common than we think, and a large number of dark figures, says the health nurse. Have you experienced unwanted sexual contact with any of your friends? Yes ⛔️ No ✅ Uncertain 😣 Show result “Sexual environment” This week the verdict is expected in the case where four friends are accused of having raped a fifth friend at a party. The girls grew up in the same rural environment in Southern Norway, and were close friends. In court, they explained about a “sexual environment”, where it was common for them to kiss and “grope” each other at parties. Lawyer Åshild Schmidt assisted the offended girl in the girlfriend-rape case in Agder district court. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news The 19-year-olds are accused of forcing their friend to use a Womanizer. One of the friends also allegedly fingered and performed oral sex, while the other three held the victim, according to the indictment. The friends deny criminal guilt, and believe the sexual intercourse was voluntary. In court, the defendants explained that the friend never clearly said no. Hello 📣 Do you have any tips on this matter? Or other matters you would like to advise on? Feel free to contact me by email 👇🏻 One in five cases is “rape by a friend”. Several people news has spoken to think it is good that such cases come up in the legal system. – We believe that it is important to bring out that such cases take place, also in gangs of friends, and with perpetrators who break the stereotype of who commits rape, says general secretary Line Kolstad Rødseth in LMSO. The organization Nok believes the same. Norway. Managing director Ingvild Hestad Torkelsen refers to figures from Bufdir, which show that in almost one in five rape cases the aggressor is a friend. – We also know that many abuses happen at parties, where other limits are also tested, and when intoxicated the ability to perceive other people’s signals is much worse. – Many feel pressured. There are large dark figures when it comes to sexual abuse from peers, confirms postdoctoral fellow Ane Ugland Albæk at the University of Agder. – Many people feel pressured to take part in sexual acts they think others expect, and young people may be afraid of being banned from the group of friends or being bullied if they say no. Ane Ugland Albæk, postdoctoral fellow and associate professor at the Department of Psychosocial Health (UiA). Photo: Privat It can also be a pressure of expectation, according to Ugland Albæk. – It can apply both to being active participants in sexual acts and to facilitating and planning the sexual acts of others. – Difficult to report In such cases it is also difficult to report, says the health nurse at Vennesla upper secondary school. – Because it is not a strange man or woman who has jumped over a bush, it is your friend. One in the same class or one in the same gang. So that’s why it’s difficult to review, says Mygland Michaelsen. Health nurse Kari Mygland Michaelsen teaches young people to take responsibility for themselves, also in sexual situations. – It is important to be clear about what you want and what you don’t want. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Russian President Celina Fjermeros also understands that it will be difficult to report such cases. – It is difficult to review. It is important to speak up about what is not right. Russian President Celina Fjermeros finds it tough to criticize her own friends, and says she understands that it is difficult. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Published 01.10.2024, at 10.45
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