SEX abuse campaigners have reacted with horror that Prince Andrew has pledged to redeem himself by becoming an ambassador against “sex trafficking”.
The shamed Duke of York has finally spoken of his “regret” that he was pals with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In court documents released this week in the US, the prince claimed he wanted to support the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking” and “the victims”.
But sex abuse charities and campaigners distanced themselves from the Duke of York who has stopped short of an apology to sex trafficking victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Teresa Parker, spokesperson for Women’s Aid, said: “I have been speaking to some of the survivors of abuse we work with at Women’s Aid today, and the last thing they personally want is for any powerful man accused of abusing women to be campaigning on their behalf, or pledging support for them.
“We know only too well that those who perpetrate abuse against women can be manipulative, and it is for this reason that many survivors of abuse will feel this way.
“Where financial settlements are made because the accused have wealth and power in a situation – such as when a footballer accused of domestic abuse negotiates an out-of-court settlement – from a survivor’s perspective, this is the opposite of justice being done.
“It is about using money and power to manage and control the situation. And we know that power and control are ultimately at the heart of abuse, so paying for a situation to go away is part of this.
“The best campaigners for abuse are the brave women who have survived it, not those trying to publicly clear their name.”
Lily Di Giovanni, 40, of the Isle of Wight, was sexually abused for eight years from the age of 14 and is “appalled” by Prince Andrew’s decision to pay out and to become an ambassador for those who have been sex trafficked.
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She told The Celeb Report: “It’s awful that he has chosen to make a payment. Why pay a woman off if it never happened? That in itself shows a huge amount of guilt and The Queen should not be protecting him.
“I think authorities should have extradited him to the courts in America to take the stand and give witness testimony. All of the others have.
“He can’t be protected because he’s a member of the royal family, he needs to address the claims not pay them off.
“He has been able to brush them under the rug, give them some money, and now will be left alone.
“That in itself shows guilt, if he was not guilty he would have gone to America to take the stand and give testimony.
“Instead he’s scurried away like the little pig he is and let the taxpayer give money. I’m furious, he should have taken the stand.”
Physio Emma Gruenbaum, 50, who labelled Andrew a constant “sex pest” when she gave him massages in 2005, said the best way he can help sex abuse victims is to stay “completely hidden from public view.”
Talking about Prince Andrew’s pledge to support victims, she said: “In my opinion, the best way he can help victims of sex trafficking is to donate his private income and stay completely hidden from public view.
“No one ever needs to hear a word of his creepy nonsense again.”
Emma, who attended the Duke for sports massages at Royal Lodge where he made it “absolutely clear” he wanted more, added: “I am relieved that the ordeal of a trial is now over for Ms Giuffre.
“It is wonderful to see such a powerful man, with infinite resources, backed into a corner by a woman who refuses to be silenced and intimated anymore. Bravo to her.”
Jess Phillips, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, said Andrew’s pledge to help victims displayed “a shocking level of arrogance”.
Speaking to The Celeb Report, she added: “How exactly is he going to support victims of trafficking?
“What makes him think that either charities in that space, or even more so, the victims, in that space would consider him to be an honest broker in this?
“Also, what does Prince Andrew think he’s got to offer exactly? There is a shocking level of arrogance about it.
“I am sure that the statement was agreed by all parties but he has got literally zero experience. I don’t know why he would think that was appropriate and I find that to be another bizarre moment in his lack of self-awareness.”
Dr Charlotte Proudman, a leading barrister in domestic abuse law and a campaigner for better treatment of vulnerable women, told The Celeb Report: “It is wholly arrogant of Prince Andrew to think that victims of sex trafficking would ever want his support.
“He has never done anything for victims of abuse. But when it’s convenient for him, he uses their trauma and abuse as a way of trying to reform himself.
“He remains a man accused of rape who has not faced justice, he has not apologised, he used vicious victim-blaming tactics that backfired including trying to expose her mental health records to the world to discredit her.
“No victim would want the support of a man who gaslit Guiffre and used abusive tactics to get his way.”
Prince Andrew’s lawyers revealed on Tuesday that they had reached a confidential settlement with his sex abuse accuser in the US.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre accused the Queen’s son of sexually abusing her on three separate occasions when she was 17-years-old.
Campaigners were furious after court documents claimed: “Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.
“He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking and by supporting the victims.”
Royal insiders say although major charities and campaigners will not want to be associated with the disgraced prince he could look to do work with his daughter.
Princess Eugenie is the co-founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective which fights to help women trapped in modern slavery.
