Sexual Violence : A Global Pandemic/20th January to 26th January 2018
Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic
Written by Nikunj Morarka
Policy and Legal 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 20th January to 26th January 2018.
New case filed against Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein’s former personal assistant, Sandeep Rehal, has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. The Weinstein Company (TWC), his brother Robert Weinstein and TWC’s head of Human Resources Frank Gil are also named in the suit. Rehal worked at TWC from 2013 to 2015. The court filing obtained by Deadline alleges that over the course of more than two years she was “forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment” that included “endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of her boss, Harvey Weinstein.”
Clinton supported aide after sexual harassment allegations
A senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign was kept on the campaign team at Clinton’s request after he was accused of sexually harassing a young aide according to reporting by the New York Times. Sources with knowledge of the situation told The Times that Clinton’s campaign manager recommended that the adviser, Burns Strider, be removed from the campaign, but Strider instead underwent counseling and received reduced pay for several weeks. Strider was Clinton’s adviser and a co-founder of the American Values Network. Five years after the campaign, he was selected to lead Correct the Record, an independent pro-Clinton group, and was fired after allegations that he sexually harassed a young female staffer there.
Las Vegas Mogul accused of sexual harassment
Steve Wynn is being accused of sexual misconduct by a number of female employees at his Las Vegas hotel and casino. The Wall Street Journal spoke with 150 people who currently work for Wynn or have in the past, and a number of the women who no longer work at one of the billionaire businessman’s properties were incredibly forthcoming in describing the lengths they would allegedly go to in order to avoid being alone with their boss.
One worker said that she was coerced into performing a sex act on Wynn, 76, with her hand at the end of his massages, adding that Wynn asked at one point if she could use her mouth rather than rubbing his penis to climax when they were done with the session. That woman refused, but in 2007 another employee was not able to decline Wynn’s advances when he ordered her to disrobe and lie on a table so they could have sex. She reported Wynn and received a $7.5 million settlement, which was revealed by Wynn’s ex-wife Elaine in court papers
Rape charges against 5 year old dropped
Delhi Police dropped charges of rape against a five-year-old boy who was booked last year after a girl of the same age was allegedly sexually assaulted in a reputed school in the capital city’s Dwarka area. Now, the Delhi Police has decided to drop the charges against the boy since the Indian Penal Code’s Section 82 states that no act committed by a child under the age of seven can be considered as an offence.They have instead booked the principal and coordinator of the school as well as a class teacher from the instruction. The vice chairman of the school too has been booked by Delhi Police.
Female IIT student accuses officer of rape
An IIT-Kanpur female student has accused an Indian Air Force officer of raping her repeatedly after promising marriage. She alleged in her FIR lodged yesterday that she was raped by the officer at the girl’s hostel of the institute, Circle Officer (Kalyanpur), Navin Kumar Singh said today. The police officer said the police have started investigation, but no arrest has been made.
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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!
