Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/ 6th to 12th 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 6th January to 12th January, 2018.

Michael Douglas denies sexual harassment claim before accuser comes forward

Michael Douglas claims that in December his lawyer told him that a publication was looking into accusations from a former employee, who worked at his company three decades ago. According to Douglas, the woman is alleging that the actor used “colorful language” in front of her, masturbated in front of her, and then “blackballed” her from the industry. Douglas admits that colorful language was probably used in front of her, while on the phone with friends, in what he called “private conversations” However, he denies the allegations of masturbating in front of the woman, calling the accusation, “a complete lie, fabrication, no truth to it whatsoever.” He also denies shutting the former employee out of Hollywood.

“I had the choice of waiting for a story to come out, one that will clearly get picked up by other newspapers and magazines, and then I have to sit there and try to defend myself,” he told Deadline in an interview published on Wednesday. “Or, try to share with the public, a little ahead of the story, my thoughts and concerns.”

James Franco accused of sexual harassment

James Franco has been accused of sexual harassment on Twitter after he won the best actor award at the golden Globes. Franco told Seth Meyers he has read the tweets but has not responded “I think, well, the ones I read were not accurate,” the actor said. “But one of the things that I’ve learned is that this is a conversation that obviously needs to be had.”

On Sunday night, actress Violet Paley tweeted: “Cute #TIMESUP pin James Franco. Remember the time you pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed penis & that other time you told my friend to come to your hotel when she was 17? After you had already been caught doing that to a different 17 year old?”

Filmmaker Sarah Tither-Kaplan tweeted: “Hey James Franco, nice #timesup pin at the #GoldenGlobes, remember a few weeks ago when you told me the full nudity you had me do in two of your movies for $100/day wasn’t exploitative because I signed a contract to do it? Times up on that!”

Microsoft President on sexual harassment

Microsoft’s President said on Tuesday there would probably be fewer reports on sexual harassment if there were more women in leadership. “I just don’t believe that any institution that has a strong representation of women at the leadership level is likely to face some of the problems we’ve been reading about,” said Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer at the software giant. “We need to do a lot more to address diversity issues in the tech sector,” he added on CNBC’s “Squawk Alley.””There is no substitute for getting more women in more positions of leadership.

Delhi Police Data

According to Delhi Police data more than five rape cases were reported on an average every day in the national capital last year, and in most incidents the accused was known to the victim, as many as 3,273 molestation cases were reported last year in comparison to 4,035 in 2016, according to the statistics shared by Delhi Police. The cases of eve-teasing declined from 894 in 2016 to 621 last year, it said.

Almost 92 per cent of the rape cases were solved as opposed to 86 per cent in 2016, the statistics said. Eighty three per cent of the molestation cases were worked out in 2017 as compared to 72 per cent in 2016.

Sexual harassment in Bollywood

Actress Shenaz Treasury said that sexual harassment exists in Bollywood and that she has experienced it herself. “Whether it’s Hollywood or Bollywood, sexual harassment is a reality. I’ve experienced it first-hand and I know many of my counterparts have as well. The image it paints is simply a reflection of a male-dominated industry, but with pressure and support for #MeToo activism, things will change,” Shenaz told IANS in an email interview.“ Take a look at the wave of truth that has toppled so many powerful men in the West. I think men in the industry have been put on notice that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated any longer,” she said.

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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!