Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/14th to 21st July 2018
Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic
Written by Nitin Gupta
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 news from 14th to 21st July 2018.
1. India Christian priest arrested for allegedly raping a woman
Johnson V Mathew, a counsellor of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, and three other accused were arrested for allegedly abusing a married woman in Kerala. The priests are accused of using victim’s secret confession to “blackmail and sexually abuse” her.
He was charged under Section 354, outraging modesty of a woman, of the Indian Penal Code.
2. Australian Universities told to do more to tackle sex assaults and harassment on campus
A new set of 12 guidelines as a result of a year-long consultation period with organisations from Universities Australia (UA) has been released to help campuses strengthen support for sexual assault survivors.
The recommendations are released after the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Change The Course report last year revealed 1 in 5 students from 39 Australian universities was sexually harassed in 2016.
3. Andy Dick Pleads Not Guilty
The 52-year-old comedian Andy Dick, accused of groping a woman, pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts, sexual battery and battery. His co-workers allegedly accused him of groping, licking and sexually propositioning them.
“I don’t grope people anymore. I don’t expose myself anymore,” Andy Dick said reportedly.
4. Man jailed for sexually molesting three girls over four decades
Mark Ryley, 56, sentenced to a total of 14 years’ imprisonment for sexually abusing three female victims over the course of four decades i.e. between 1981 and 2014. The victims were reportedly under 16 when the abuse started.
5. 19-Year-Old In Kerala Arrested For Sexually Abusing 2 Boys at an orphanage
A teenager was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two boys at an orphanage near Kochi. The incident came forward when the officials probing an another case visited the orphanage and met the children.
The accused is charged under various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Juvenile Justice Act.
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