Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/ 11th to 16th March 2018
Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic
Written by Shaziya Shaikh
Blogging Team
Sexual violence is a global pandemic. One in three women experiences sexual or physical violence – most likely from their intimate partner, according to a report from the World Health Organization. There is an urgent need to increase sensitization regarding sexual violence and the awareness of consent and sexual violence amongst persons at large. In this series, we examine sexual violence and related issues that have come up in the news, on a weekly basis, published every Saturday. This is an attempt to improve awareness regarding incidents of sexual violence and related matters, so that we, as a society can take steps towards collective action to reduce its incidence. It is an effort to ensure that we acknowledge the rampant sexual violence that exists, lest we forget.
This issue looks at 11th to 16th March 2018.
1. Video uploaded on social media triggers gang-raped victim to file a complaint against the rapists
A 40-year-old woman filed a complaint on 5th March against six of her rapists. The complaint was registered a month after the crime as the filmed video was uploaded on social media.
The woman is a labourer at a roadside dhaba in Kota, Rajashtan. She was raped by six men while visiting her in-laws in Baran. She was trapped by a familiar face offering help; he took her to an isolated place and along with five more men raped her and filmed it too.
2. Uber trying to restrain women from speaking of their assaults in the court
A California class-action lawsuit court records disclosed Uber’s argument that victims of sexual assaults by Uber drivers should settle the cases privately through arbitration.
Nine women have come up to represent each and every victim of assault and violence in Uber cars in hopes that the ride-sharing firm works better to secure safety of its passengers.
3. Haryana, the 3rd state to assign capital punishment for the rape of 12-year-old girls.
On 15th of March, the Haryana assembly passed a bill equipping the law to sentence death penalty for the ones found guilty of raping 12-year-old and below girls.
The bill was passed by the Indian National Lok Dal and supported by Congress men. “After Section 376-A of the Penal Code, the following Section shall be inserted, namely 376-AA,” the Bill stated.
After Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Haryana is the third state to accept death penalty as punishment for sexual offenders of young girls.
4. 23-year-old convicted for sexual abuse of school students in Arizona.
Yohel Gattaz, former cheerleading coach was sentenced to five years of imprisonment for sexually abusing two girls. The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to lessened charges of four counts of attempted molestation in February.
He has been previously charged with sexual abuse, molestation and aggravated assault.
5. 23-year-old woman accuses a businessman of sex crimes against her
North-eastern woman escaped to her homeplace, after being sexually abused by a Bengaluru businessman for a year. She spilled the beans to a women’s rights organization in Nagaland accusing Wahengbam Lalit Singh of offering her a job as a maid and taking advantage of her repeatedly over a year.
The accused man and his wife have escaped.
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