Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/ 1st November to 8th 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 1st November to 8th December 2018.
- Will the U.S Congress finalise on the sexual harassment bill?
As another congressional term comes to an end, Congress is in a race against time to finalise the much awaited sexual harassment bill. The holdup is because the House and Senate have a disagreement on how strong certain provisions should be. The House has also claimed that the Senate hasn’t gone too far to protect potential victims.
2. Putrajaya (Malaysia) works towards protecting sexual harassment victims
Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh says that companies should wrap up sexual harassment complaints under two weeks as part of their standard operating procedure (SOP). This would be following the new law that will be passed by the government if all goes well.
3. Michael Douglas speaks up
Michael Douglas speaks about alleged sexual harassment complaints made against him about a year ago. He said,
“Now the way this generally works is somebody makes a charge and then [reporters], if they are responsible, reach out as they did to every person I worked with over 25 years and they did because everybody got back to me,” Douglas added. “And there was nobody that ever [corroborated] that accusation. So, I thought it was really a misuse of power.”
4. Southern Illinois public defender charged with sexual harassment
A suit has been filed against the Illinois public defender. He has been accused by his secretary, Courtney Gabeau, 26, and a case has been filed by her against Fayette County Circuit Court for not handling the complaint properly. She was transferred to the Public Defender’s office, and within two weeks of the transfer, the Public defender started making “unwanted, humiliating and sexual comments” at her.
5. Neil Degrasse Tyson accused for the fourth time
Neil Degrasse Tyson accused for the fourth time according to a Buzzfeed report. Foz and producers of Cosmos were investigating the sexual harassment complaints made against Tyson already when the fourth accusation surfaced. The astrophysicist had made a statement against the accusations saying he is open to investigation and denying accusations especially made by Tchiya Amet.
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