Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic / 14th- 20th October
Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic
Written by Nikunj Morarka
Policy and Legal Team
Sexual violence is a global pandemic. One in three women experience 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 sensitisation 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 14th to 20th October 2017.
Top Managing Partner questions sexual harassment claims
Ogilvy & Mather India managing partner Chandana Agarwal in a private post that was leaked implied that people grabbing and pinching women is not really sexual harassment and that, “There are some experiences that are just part of growing up especially in India.” She implied that focusing on such cases trivialises the issue and takes attention away from more traumatic cases.
Bob Weinstein now accused of sexual harassment
Amanda Segel who was was the executive producer of the series “The Mist,” claimed that Bob Weinstein, the brother of Harvey Weinstein, made repeated sexual advances towards her and didn’t stop till she threatened to leave the show through her lawyers. “We take all allegations of this nature very seriously, and are investigating,” Spike, the network on which the show aired, said in a statement.
Rape case registered against former husband
A 27 year old female teacher has accused her former husband of rape. The couple got married in 2009 and in 2013 the husband demanded divorce which the wife refused. Finally they reached a compromise and in the process the wife signed papers not knowing that they were divorce papers. She later found out that the court had accepted the divorce and immediately filed a police complaint and after three years of investigation the police has registered a case of rape and breach of trust and fraud.
Quentin Tarantino speaks up
Quentin Tarantino, a famous film director in Hollywood, whose movies were produced by Harvey Weinstein finally broke his silence and admitted that he knew about several instances of harassment by Weinstein and also revealed that his girlfriend had told him about Weinstein behaving inappropriately with her. He apologised for not speaking up before and said that he regretted doing his last film with Weinstein despite knowing about his harassment.
Indian Weinstein?
In an interview Priyanka Chopra was asked if there was “a” Harvey Weinstein in India to which she said, “I don’t think there’s ‘a’ Weinstein. I don’t even think there’s only ‘a’ Harvey Weinstein in Hollywood. There are a lot more men and there will be a lot more stories that will come up and I think that just not in India but all over the world.” Questions have been raised by many about sexual harassment in the Indian film industry following the Harvey Weinstein scandal but no specific allegations have been made following the scandal.
Connect with us?
In case you like this new series, hate it, or think there are stories that we should be covering but have missed out on, please email us at [email protected]. We look forward to your inputs and feedback!
