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False allegations of abuse represent a growing threat to the falsely accused and to true victims of abuse. The following are recent examples of false allegations from several countries around the world:

• Canada: A man was awarded $1.5 million after being falsely accused of sexual impropriety on the accuser’s Instagram account seeking to “cancel” him.
• India: A woman was recently sentenced to 1,653 days in jail, the exact time an innocent man was wrongfully incarcerated due to her false rape allegations.
• United States: A couple was awarded $21.3 million after an ex fabricated abuse claims against the parent to manipulate child custody proceedings.

These are just three examples of the disturbing trend of false allegations highlighted in a recent international survey. The survey found significant percentages of people in 8 countries reported being falsely accused of abuse, including 19% in India, 10% in the United States and Australia, and 7% in Argentina.

In most countries, the majority said the false accuser was female and the accused person was male. Alarmingly, about one-third reported the false allegations were weaponised in child custody disputes – a “weapon of destruction” that can separate children from parents and lead to higher risks of behavioural issues, poverty, substance abuse, and other negative outcomes.

False allegations also harm true victims of abuse because they detract from the credibility of legitimate abuse claims and divert precious law enforcement resources away from real victims in need of support and protection. In the United States, female prosecutors charged and convicted Nikki Yovino for falsely accusing two men of rape.

To help raise awareness, International Falsely Accused Day is held on 9 September. In Argentina, proposed legislation would explicitly ban false allegations made to obstruct child-parent relationships, with penalties of up to 5 years in prison.

With high-profile cases like the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shining a light on the issue, we call on family courts to stringently enforce existing laws like perjury statutes when false claims are proven. Courts must take substantive action to crack down on this destructive behaviour.

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Republished with thanks to The International Council for Men and Boys, a non-governmental organisation that is working to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys around the world.