Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/ 15th December to 22nd December 2018
Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic
Written by Sabah Batul
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 15th December to 22nd December 2018.
1) Uber driver and his five victims
Uber driver, Alarcon-Nunez, 39, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico is charged with ten felonies. The felonies include rape, attempt to rape, oral copulation, first-degree burglary, grand theft of personal property, among others. He is accused of assaulting the fifth rider in SLO. and is to face trial.
2) Predator on loose
Police warn people about the sexual predator on loose who has assaulted six women near New York University. The most recent attacks took place within fifteen minutes of one another on Thursday night. The perpetrator was caught on camera.
3) A win for victims
Google searches about sexual harassment have broken record!Researchers say that after the #MeToo movement caught stride, the movement initially launched by an activist, Tarana Burke, caught the public eye after producer Harvey Weinstein was accused. Since then many men and woman have come forward and shared their experiences with sexual harassment.
4) Civil society questions the ordinance
Civil society questions the validity of the ordinance that was made to protect sexually assaulted children. Senior Advocate Mushtaq Ahmad Dar said: “The life of the ordinance is limited. After six months if the government fails to enact it as a law its validity is over”. The law was made under the PDP-BJP government, and the ordinance was called the Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Children from Sexual Offences 2018 but since the state of Kashmir is now under the governors rule, the ordinance is been questioned.
5) March for rights
Sexual assault survivors participated in a ten thousand kilometre march on 22nd December, a march which is called the ‘Dignity March’. The purpose of the march is to inform people and to also win justice for the survivors.
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!
