Rehtaeh Parsons was a typical, 17 year-old teenager in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. At a party in 2011, then 15 yesr-old Rehtaeh was allegedly sexually assaulted by four boys, who then posted pictures of the incident online. Afterwards not only was Rehtaeh understandably traumatized but relentless bullying from her peers after being labeled a “slut”.

Though Rehtaeh reported the incident to the police, they soon dropped the case without charges. On April 4 2013, Rehtaeh took her own life.

Rehtaeh’s story is just one of too many like hers where young women are sexually assaulted and then subjected to the public violence of victim blaming.

Nova Scotia’s Justice Minister Ross Landry passed the provincial Cyber Safety Act after public outcry to Rehtaeh’s death, which allows victims of online violence to take their cases to court. However, the men responsible for Rehtaeh’s assault have not been brought to justice. Because of the nature of the attacks against Rehtaeh and the online distribution of the images of her assault, her case was thrown out.

Rehtaeh Parson’s tragically short life shows the real consequences of a society that blames the victims of sexual assault for being assaulted. Her memory lives on.