Bermuda's top judge ended up in the dock yesterday when an MP slammed remarks made before a man accused of serious sexual assault walked free from court.

And Paget East MP Kim Young called for judges and others involved in the criminal justice system to be given sensitivity training on women's issues.

Ms Young -- referring to a court report in yesterday's edition of The Royal Gazette -- said women's rights had to be respected.

She explained: "It was a story which reportedly said a judge told a jury in a sexual assault case and stalking case as to whether or not the `no' was genuine in regard to a witness's testimony.

But Ms Young insisted: "When they say `no' they mean `no' -- a woman has a right and it should be respected.'' Ms Young hit out after Chief Justice Austin Ward asked a jury in a sex assault case to consider whether either party had a motive to lie.

And he added that the jury should consider whether the complainant "had been sending the accused mixed messages'' and "whether the no was a genuine no.'' Ms Young said: "When she says no, she does mean no. If this was accurately reported, there was a recommendation in the Task Force on women's issues about additional training in gender bias for judges, magistrates, Crown counsels and Police.

"I think on the basis of what was reported, we need that.'' The 37-year-old accused was found not guilty of charges of serious sexual assault, stalking and depriving his former girlfriend of her liberty.

Judge slammed He was also found not guilty of an alternative charge of sexual assault, which they were asked to consider instead of the more serious sex charge.

It had been alleged the man had stalked the 50-year-old woman after she broke up with her and then forced her into an abandoned house before raping her.

Neither can be identified for legal reasons.

And Ms Young called on Bermudians to throw their weight behind the Island branch of Amnesty International's bid to mark International Women's Day -- March 8 -- by getting Government to sign up to the UN's Bill of Rights for Women.

The UN document has been signed by 200 nations, which includes most "so-called developed countries'' -- but Bermuda and the US have yet to join up.

Organiser LeYoni Junos said earlier this week it was hoped to get at least 10,000 signatures on petitions seeking the adoption of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Petitions will be circulated next week and organisers are looking for support from the entire community, including corporate Bermuda, charities and professional organisations.

Anyone who wants to add support to the campaign can contact Ms Junos on 296-3429.