One in seven Australian adults, including one in five women, have been victims of stalking in Australia, according to a shocking report released by the conuntry's statitics department on Wednesday (Oct 16).

The Australian Bureau of Statistc (ABS) found in its 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey (PSS) that 2.7 million adults in the country faced some sort of stalking since the age of 15.&nbsp;

This includes one in 15 men, ABS said in a release, adding that women are eight times more likely to be stalked by a male than a female.&nbsp;

Watch: Gravitas: Man stalks woman from his plane

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Particularly at risk are young women, students, those living on rent and those under financial stress, it noted.

In the last 10 years, one million women reported being stalked, mostly by men they knew, with 78 per cent of them stalked by an acquaintance.&nbsp;

Out of these, 45 per cent were current or former partners.

“Half of the women who were stalked by a male intimate partner were assaulted or threatened with assault by that same partner,” said&nbsp;William Milne, ABS head of crime and justice statistics.

Th stalking behaviours included unwanted online or phone contact (78 per cent), loitering near the victim's location (60 per cent), and following or tracking them (53 per cent), ABS said in the release.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-slater-ex-australia-opener-arrested-over-19-charges-related-to-assault-and-stalking-711498">Also read: Michael Slater, ex-Australia opener, arrested over 19 charges related to assault and stalking</a> 
 
At least half of the women said the stalking went on for more than a year, while 115,900 women said the it lasted more than three years.&nbsp;

The study found that stalking is affecting the victims' social, home and work life, with 83 per cent reporting that at least one area of their life was impacted.

<h2>What is stalking?</h2>

As per ABS definition, stalking involves various behaviours, such as loitering and following with intention to cause fear or distress. To be classified as stalking, more than one type of behaviour had to occur, or the same type of behaviour in more than one occasion, as ABS.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kolkata-horror-accused-sanjay-roy-stalked-victim-earlier-cbi-investigating-broken-door-bolt-of-seminar-hall-752772">Also read: Kolkata horror: Accused Sanjay Roy stalked victim earlier; CBI investigating broken door bolt of seminar hall</a>

Following or tracking could include being watched in person, using electronic tracking devices like GPS tracking system, spyware or hacked or accessed email, social media or other online account without consent, said the release.

Inappropriate online posting and impersonation includes sharing on the internet some offensive or unwanted messages, images or personal information with aim to damage the victim's reputation, it said.

(With inputs from agencies)

One in seven Australian adults, including one in five women, have been victims of stalking in Australia, according to a shocking report released by the conuntry's statitics department on Wednesday (Oct 16).

One in seven Australian adults, including one in five women, have been victims of stalking in Australia, according to a shocking report released by the conuntry's statitics department on Wednesday (Oct 16). The Australian Bureau of Statistc (ABS) found in its 2021-22 Personal Safety Survey (PSS) that 2.7 million adults in the country faced some sort of stalking since the age of 15. This includes one in 15 men, ABS said in a release, adding that women are eight times more likely to be stalked by a male than a female. Watch: Gravitas: Man stalks woman from his plane × Particularly at risk are young women, students, those living on rent and those under financial stress, it noted. In the last 10 years, one million women reported being stalked, mostly by men they knew, with 78 per cent of them stalked by an acquaintance. Out of these, 45 per cent were current or former partners. “Half of the women who were stalked by a male intimate partner were assaulted or threatened with assault by that same partner,” said William Milne, ABS head of crime and justice statistics. Th stalking behaviours included unwanted online or phone contact (78 per cent), loitering near the victim's location (60 per cent), and following or tracking them (53 per cent), ABS said in the release. Also read: Michael Slater, ex-Australia opener, arrested over 19 charges related to assault and stalking At least half of the women said the stalking went on for more than a year, while 115,900 women said the it lasted more than three years. The study found that stalking is affecting the victims' social, home and work life, with 83 per cent reporting that at least one area of their life was impacted. What is stalking? As per ABS definition, stalking involves various behaviours, such as loitering and following with intention to cause fear or distress. To be classified as stalking, more than one type of behaviour had to occur, or the same type of behaviour in more than one occasion, as ABS. Also read: Kolkata horror: Accused Sanjay Roy stalked victim earlier; CBI investigating broken door bolt of seminar hall Following or tracking could include being watched in person, using electronic tracking devices like GPS tracking system, spyware or hacked or accessed email, social media or other online account without consent, said the release. Inappropriate online posting and impersonation includes sharing on the internet some offensive or unwanted messages, images or personal information with aim to damage the victim's reputation, it said. (With inputs from agencies)

One in 5 women, and one in 7 adults were stalked in this country, shocking data reveals

One of the 50 men who are alleged to have taken part in the years-long drugging and raping of French woman Gisele Pelicot has admitted to his guilt, saying he was "part of this nightmare."

The man, identified in court documents as 44-year-old Lionel R, was speaking at the trial on a macabre case that shocked France. Apologising to Pelicot, he said in court on Thursday (Sep 19): "I have no choice but to accept the facts."

<h2>What is the case about?</h2>

Between 2011 and 2020, Pelicot was drugged by her now-former husband Dominique Pelicot into a 'deep coma' state. He then invited men to rape her in her bedroom in southern France.&nbsp;The accused, 50 men in total, are aged 26 to 74 and include a fireman, jailor, nurse and journalist.

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Dominique Pelicot had earlier admitted to connecting with strangers on online chatrooms and inviting them to rape her.&nbsp;He told the court he was “a rapist”, while claiming that all the men knew they were raping his unconscious wife.

Gisèle Pelicot wanted an open trial&nbsp;to raise awareness on use of drugs in rape and sexual abuse. Hundreds of women came out in support of her outside the court where the trial will continue into December.

While some of the accused told the court they were told the woman was drugged and unconcious, some others said they thought they were part of a sex game oragnised by&nbsp;the husband.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drugged-and-raped-for-decades-hundreds-gather-in-support-of-gisele-pelicot-in-france-758730">Also read:&nbsp;'Drugged and raped for decades,' Hundreds gather in support of Gisele Pelicot in France</a>

<h2>What did the accused man tell court?</h2>

“Since I never obtained Mrs Pélicot’s consent, I have no choice but to accept the facts,” Lionel R, a fireman, told the court, admitting that the raped her on 2 December 2018.

“I am sorry, I can only imagine the nightmare you’ve lived through … and I am part of this nightmare," the father of three said, addressing Gisele.

"I know my apologies won’t change what happened, but I wanted to tell you that. If I had known she wasn’t aware ...I wouldn’t have gone there," The Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sexomnia-case-uk-woman-whose-rape-trial-was-dropped-over-rare-sleep-disorder-wins-huge-payout-750318">Also read:&nbsp;'Sexomnia' case: UK woman whose rape trial was dropped over rare sleep disorder wins huge payout</a>

“I should have checked that she was OK with it. I didn’t talk to her, so I could not get her consent. I feel guilty for what I did.

“I never told myself: ‘I will rape that woman'," he said while admitting he was guilty of rape.

Lionel said he didn't ask too many questions, while there were mentions about medical drugs either taken by the woman herself, or administered by the then husband.

“I never imagined that she might not be part of this game. That was my first huge error, he added.”

(With inputs from agencies)

One of the 50 men who are alleged to have taken part in the years-long drugging and raping of French woman Gisele Pelicot has admitted to his guilt, saying he was "part of this nightmare.

One of the 50 men who are alleged to have taken part in the years-long drugging and raping of French woman Gisele Pelicot has admitted to his guilt, saying he was "part of this nightmare." The man, identified in court documents as 44-year-old Lionel R, was speaking at the trial on a macabre case that shocked France. Apologising to Pelicot, he said in court on Thursday (Sep 19): "I have no choice but to accept the facts." What is the case about? Between 2011 and 2020, Pelicot was drugged by her now-former husband Dominique Pelicot into a 'deep coma' state. He then invited men to rape her in her bedroom in southern France. The accused, 50 men in total, are aged 26 to 74 and include a fireman, jailor, nurse and journalist. × Dominique Pelicot had earlier admitted to connecting with strangers on online chatrooms and inviting them to rape her. He told the court he was “a rapist”, while claiming that all the men knew they were raping his unconscious wife. Gisèle Pelicot wanted an open trial to raise awareness on use of drugs in rape and sexual abuse. Hundreds of women came out in support of her outside the court where the trial will continue into December. While some of the accused told the court they were told the woman was drugged and unconcious, some others said they thought they were part of a sex game oragnised by the husband. Also read: 'Drugged and raped for decades,' Hundreds gather in support of Gisele Pelicot in France What did the accused man tell court? “Since I never obtained Mrs Pélicot’s consent, I have no choice but to accept the facts,” Lionel R, a fireman, told the court, admitting that the raped her on 2 December 2018. “I am sorry, I can only imagine the nightmare you’ve lived through … and I am part of this nightmare," the father of three said, addressing Gisele. "I know my apologies won’t change what happened, but I wanted to tell you that. If I had known she wasn’t aware ...I wouldn’t have gone there," The Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying. Also read: 'Sexomnia' case: UK woman whose rape trial was dropped over rare sleep disorder wins huge payout “I should have checked that she was OK with it. I didn’t talk to her, so I could not get her consent. I feel guilty for what I did. “I never told myself: ‘I will rape that woman'," he said while admitting he was guilty of rape. Lionel said he didn't ask too many questions, while there were mentions about medical drugs either taken by the woman herself, or administered by the then husband. “I never imagined that she might not be part of this game. That was my first huge error, he added.” (With inputs from agencies)

France mass rape case: Accused man, a father of three, admits to sexual assault of Gisele Pelicot

In India's Jharkhand, the state High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the gang rape of a Spanish woman, who along with her husband was on a motorbike tour near Dumka.&nbsp;

On Monday (March 5), the court, highlighting the gravity of the situation, said, "The incident of crime of any kind against a foreign national may have serious national and international repercussions including impacting the tourism economy of the country."

"A sex-related crime against a foreign woman is likely to bring adverse publicity against the country and thereby tarnish the image of India across the globe," added the Jharkhand High Court.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Spanish woman gang rape case | A compensation of Rs 10 lakhs handed over to the husband of the rape survivor, by Deputy Commissioner in Dumka, Jharkhand. <a href="https://t.co/c2QU9QxWBQ">pic.twitter.com/c2QU9QxWBQ</a>
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<h2>Compensation to victim</h2>

This comes as the Jharkhand police&nbsp;on Monday, handed over $12 thousand&nbsp;(₹10 lakhs) in compensation to the couple.

"We did a fast investigation and from the side of district administration, we are providing all the help to them (rape survivor and husband). Under the victim compensation scheme, we have given them Rs 10 lakh. We will try for a speedy trial and conviction of the accused," said Anjaneyulu Dodde, Deputy Commissioner.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-spanish-couples-jharkhand-horror-brazil-embassy-reaches-out-3-apprehended-696146">Brazilian-Spanish tourist’s gang-rape in Jharkhand: Embassies reach out,&nbsp;3&nbsp;apprehended</a>

<h2>Court seeks police report</h2>

As per media reports, a Division Bench of the court, led by Acting Chief Justice S Chandrashekhar sought a report from Jharkhand's Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police (DGP), as well as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dumka district.

"As we read from the newspaper reports, 'X' is a Spanish-speaking person, but it is not known whether there is the facility of a translator with the help of whom her statement was recorded," said the bench.

"Furthermore, in view of the amendments made in the Code of Criminal Procedure and emphasis on scientific investigation in cases of offences relating to rape, there is an urgent need to seek a report from the Superintendent of Police at Dumka as to the progress of the investigation so far conducted in the matter," the bench added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jharkhand-spanish-tourist-recounts-harrowing-gang-rape-by-seven-four-arrested-so-far-696113">Spanish tourist recounts harrowing gang-rape by seven in India's Jharkhand, three arrested so far</a>

The court took note of a First Information Report (FIR) filed against seven individuals in connection with a gang rape, with several arrests already made by the police.&nbsp;

It also noted that the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority has initiated efforts to provide legal and other assistance to the victim.

Referring to a previous suo motu petition, WP(C) No. 3283 of 2023, in which the High Court had highlighted widespread incidents of crimes against women and awaited a response from the Police Department, the court said: "Therefore, this Court takes suo motu cognisance of the aforementioned incident of gang rape and directs the Registry to institute a suo motu writ petition".

(With inputs from agencies)

In India's Jharkhand, the state High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the gang rape of a Spanish woman, who along with her husband was on a motorbike tour near Dumka.

In India's Jharkhand, the state High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the gang rape of a Spanish woman, who along with her husband was on a motorbike tour near Dumka. On Monday (March 5), the court, highlighting the gravity of the situation, said, "The incident of crime of any kind against a foreign national may have serious national and international repercussions including impacting the tourism economy of the country." "A sex-related crime against a foreign woman is likely to bring adverse publicity against the country and thereby tarnish the image of India across the globe," added the Jharkhand High Court. #WATCH | Spanish woman gang rape case | A compensation of Rs 10 lakhs handed over to the husband of the rape survivor, by Deputy Commissioner in Dumka, Jharkhand. pic.twitter.com/c2QU9QxWBQ — ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2024 × Compensation to victim This comes as the Jharkhand police on Monday, handed over $12 thousand (₹10 lakhs) in compensation to the couple. "We did a fast investigation and from the side of district administration, we are providing all the help to them (rape survivor and husband). Under the victim compensation scheme, we have given them Rs 10 lakh. We will try for a speedy trial and conviction of the accused," said Anjaneyulu Dodde, Deputy Commissioner. Also read | Brazilian-Spanish tourist’s gang-rape in Jharkhand: Embassies reach out, 3 apprehended Court seeks police report As per media reports, a Division Bench of the court, led by Acting Chief Justice S Chandrashekhar sought a report from Jharkhand's Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police (DGP), as well as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dumka district. "As we read from the newspaper reports, 'X' is a Spanish-speaking person, but it is not known whether there is the facility of a translator with the help of whom her statement was recorded," said the bench. "Furthermore, in view of the amendments made in the Code of Criminal Procedure and emphasis on scientific investigation in cases of offences relating to rape, there is an urgent need to seek a report from the Superintendent of Police at Dumka as to the progress of the investigation so far conducted in the matter," the bench added. Also read | Spanish tourist recounts harrowing gang-rape by seven in India's Jharkhand, three arrested so far The court took note of a First Information Report (FIR) filed against seven individuals in connection with a gang rape, with several arrests already made by the police. It also noted that the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority has initiated efforts to provide legal and other assistance to the victim. Referring to a previous suo motu petition, WP(C) No. 3283 of 2023, in which the High Court had highlighted widespread incidents of crimes against women and awaited a response from the Police Department, the court said: "Therefore, this Court takes suo motu cognisance of the aforementioned incident of gang rape and directs the Registry to institute a suo motu writ petition". (With inputs from agencies)

Spanish woman gang rape case: Jharkhand High Court takes suo moto cognisance of crime

Crimes against women significantly surged in the Indian capital during the year 2022, with authorities reporting over 14,000 cases. According to data released by India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 14,158 cases of crime against women were reported in Delhi. This number was higher than&nbsp;the 13,982 cases reported in 2021 and well above the 9,782 cases reported in 2020.

<h2>Kidnapping and abduction</h2>

The NCRB data revealed that a total of 3,909 cases were reported related to the kidnapping and abduction of women in Delhi in 2022.

A total of 1,204 rape incidents were reported last year too.

<h2>Crime against senior citizens</h2>

The NCRB data revealed that 2022 also saw an uptick in crimes against senior citizens in Delhi, with theft being the biggest risk.

In 2022, a total of 1,313 cases were reported against senior citizens, against 1,166 in 2021 and 906 in 2020.

There were 22 cases where senior citizens were murdered and 14 incidents of assault on elderly women with intent to outrage modesty.

According to police officials, most senior citizens who fell victim to theft were actually duped by their domestic help or someone else who worked in their house.

Watch:&nbsp;Study: Financial fraud top cybercrime in India

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“We usually keep in touch with aged persons living in our locality and send a designated constable now and then to check on their well-being and inform them to keep their valuables securely or in their bank locker,” an officer was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

<h2>Farmers dying by suicide (All India)</h2>

The NCRB data also painted a grim picture of the miseries of Indian farmers and daily-wage workers, with at least 154 of them committing suicide daily due to “family problems” and “illness”.

A majority of farmer suicides were reported in Maharashtra, followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

As per the NCRB data, at least 1,70,924 farmers ended life in 2022, in comparison to 1,64,033 farmers in 2021.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tomato-crimes-continue-in-india-truck-full-of-pricey-vegetable-has-been-hijacked-614718">Also read:&nbsp;`Tomato crimes` continue in India, truck full of pricey vegetable has been hijacked</a>

Cities and urban spaces, too, showed a consistent increase in suicides from 2019 to 2022. As per the data of 53 megacities, the numbers increased by 4.6 per cent, 6.5 per cent, 8.8 per cent, and 1.5 per cent in the respective years.

<h2>Safest City of India</h2>

Meanwhile, India's Kolkata city emerged as the safest city for the third consecutive year, recording the least number of cognisable offences per lakh population among metropolises.

The eastern metropolis, which reported 86.5 cases of cognisable offences per lakh people in 2022, was followed by Pune (280.7) and Hyderabad (299.2), the NCRB data stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

Crimes against women significantly surged in the Indian capital during the year 2022, with authorities reporting over 14,000 cases. According to data released by India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 14,158 cases of crime against women were reported in Delhi.

Crimes against women significantly surged in the Indian capital during the year 2022, with authorities reporting over 14,000 cases. According to data released by India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 14,158 cases of crime against women were reported in Delhi. This number was higher than the 13,982 cases reported in 2021 and well above the 9,782 cases reported in 2020. Kidnapping and abduction The NCRB data revealed that a total of 3,909 cases were reported related to the kidnapping and abduction of women in Delhi in 2022. A total of 1,204 rape incidents were reported last year too. Crime against senior citizens The NCRB data revealed that 2022 also saw an uptick in crimes against senior citizens in Delhi, with theft being the biggest risk. In 2022, a total of 1,313 cases were reported against senior citizens, against 1,166 in 2021 and 906 in 2020. There were 22 cases where senior citizens were murdered and 14 incidents of assault on elderly women with intent to outrage modesty. According to police officials, most senior citizens who fell victim to theft were actually duped by their domestic help or someone else who worked in their house. Watch: Study: Financial fraud top cybercrime in India × “We usually keep in touch with aged persons living in our locality and send a designated constable now and then to check on their well-being and inform them to keep their valuables securely or in their bank locker,” an officer was quoted as saying by Indian Express. Farmers dying by suicide (All India) The NCRB data also painted a grim picture of the miseries of Indian farmers and daily-wage workers, with at least 154 of them committing suicide daily due to “family problems” and “illness”. A majority of farmer suicides were reported in Maharashtra, followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. As per the NCRB data, at least 1,70,924 farmers ended life in 2022, in comparison to 1,64,033 farmers in 2021. Also read: `Tomato crimes` continue in India, truck full of pricey vegetable has been hijacked Cities and urban spaces, too, showed a consistent increase in suicides from 2019 to 2022. As per the data of 53 megacities, the numbers increased by 4.6 per cent, 6.5 per cent, 8.8 per cent, and 1.5 per cent in the respective years. Safest City of India Meanwhile, India's Kolkata city emerged as the safest city for the third consecutive year, recording the least number of cognisable offences per lakh population among metropolises. The eastern metropolis, which reported 86.5 cases of cognisable offences per lakh people in 2022, was followed by Pune (280.7) and Hyderabad (299.2), the NCRB data stated. (With inputs from agencies)

Crime against women surges in India’s capital Delhi; 14,000 cases reported in 2022

A law to criminalise "virginity repair" surgery, known as hymenoplasty, has been introduced by the British government.

Under an amendment to the health care bill added on Monday, any procedure that attempts to reconstruct the hymen will be illegal no matter if the individual undergoing the surgery consents or not.

A growing number of clinics, private hospitals, and pharmacies offer the controversial surgery promising the restoration of virginity - with a large number of girls and young women coerced into the procedure.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/extra-money-with-parents-changes-babies-brains-says-a-landmark-study-447588" hreflang="en">Extra money with parents changes babies' brains, says a landmark study</a>

The purpose of this procedure is to make a girl or woman bleed when she next has sexual contact by creating a fake hymen using scar tissue.

Since the government committed to criminalising virginity testing last July, campaigners, including doctors and midwives, had called for the surgery to be outlawed.

It is considered a form of violence against women and girls to engage in either of these practices.

The ban will provide vital protection to girls under family pressure, according to one British survivor of "honour" based abuse who was harassed by her parents for months into having the surgery.

Hymenoplasty can never be justified on medical grounds, says &nbsp;Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

He said that they have been campaigning for the introduction of a ban on both virginity testing and hymenoplasty alongside women's health and rights organisations, as both are inextricably linked with violence against women and girls.

Neither of these practices have a place in the medical world and should never be performed, he said adding that any time they learn that someone is performing these procedures, they will inform the General Medical Council so that appropriate action can be taken.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/in-a-first-two-kidneys-from-genetically-modified-pig-transplanted-into-brain-dead-man-446320" hreflang="en">In a first, two kidneys from genetically modified pig transplanted into brain dead man</a>

Morris went on to say that women deserve to be in charge of their own sexuality and reproductive health.

The executive director of the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, Diana Nammi, said that every woman and girl who undergoes this invasive surgery do so under extreme duress, either direct or indirect. This is generally seen as a way to present the girl as a 'virgin', and oftentimes it is done to facilitate a forced marriage arranged by the family.

Approximately half of the time, hymenoplasty does not make the woman or girl bleed after having intercourse, which leaves her extremely vulnerable to 'honour'-based abuse or even 'honour' killing.

Consultations with experts led the government to come to the decision to ban hymenoplasty.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) applauded this move. In a tweet, the organisation said that they are pleased to see that the Government of United Kingdom "has tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to ban hymenoplasty alongside virginity testing."

They added that, they "will continue to work closely with the Government to ensure there is guidance, support and education for healthcare professionals on how to safeguard women as the ban comes into force."

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We're so pleased to see <a href="https://twitter.com/GOVUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOVUK</a> has tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to ban hymenoplasty alongside virginity testing, these two harmful practices are inextricably linked and it's essential that they are together as part of the same change in law.(1/2)
— RoyalCollegeObsGyn (@RCObsGyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCObsGyn/status/1485930843151425536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

A law to criminalise "virginity repair" surgery, known as hymenoplasty, has been introduced by the British government. Under an amendment to the health care bill added on Monday, any procedure that attempts to reconstruct the hymen will be illegal no matter if the individual undergoing the surgery consents or not.

A law to criminalise "virginity repair" surgery, known as hymenoplasty, has been introduced by the British government. Under an amendment to the health care bill added on Monday, any procedure that attempts to reconstruct the hymen will be illegal no matter if the individual undergoing the surgery consents or not. A growing number of clinics, private hospitals, and pharmacies offer the controversial surgery promising the restoration of virginity - with a large number of girls and young women coerced into the procedure. Also read | Extra money with parents changes babies' brains, says a landmark study The purpose of this procedure is to make a girl or woman bleed when she next has sexual contact by creating a fake hymen using scar tissue. Since the government committed to criminalising virginity testing last July, campaigners, including doctors and midwives, had called for the surgery to be outlawed. It is considered a form of violence against women and girls to engage in either of these practices. The ban will provide vital protection to girls under family pressure, according to one British survivor of "honour" based abuse who was harassed by her parents for months into having the surgery. Hymenoplasty can never be justified on medical grounds, says Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He said that they have been campaigning for the introduction of a ban on both virginity testing and hymenoplasty alongside women's health and rights organisations, as both are inextricably linked with violence against women and girls. Neither of these practices have a place in the medical world and should never be performed, he said adding that any time they learn that someone is performing these procedures, they will inform the General Medical Council so that appropriate action can be taken. Also read | In a first, two kidneys from genetically modified pig transplanted into brain dead man Morris went on to say that women deserve to be in charge of their own sexuality and reproductive health. The executive director of the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, Diana Nammi, said that every woman and girl who undergoes this invasive surgery do so under extreme duress, either direct or indirect. This is generally seen as a way to present the girl as a 'virgin', and oftentimes it is done to facilitate a forced marriage arranged by the family. Approximately half of the time, hymenoplasty does not make the woman or girl bleed after having intercourse, which leaves her extremely vulnerable to 'honour'-based abuse or even 'honour' killing. Consultations with experts led the government to come to the decision to ban hymenoplasty. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) applauded this move. In a tweet, the organisation said that they are pleased to see that the Government of United Kingdom "has tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to ban hymenoplasty alongside virginity testing." They added that, they "will continue to work closely with the Government to ensure there is guidance, support and education for healthcare professionals on how to safeguard women as the ban comes into force." We're so pleased to see @GOVUK has tabled an amendment to the Health and Care Bill to ban hymenoplasty alongside virginity testing, these two harmful practices are inextricably linked and it's essential that they are together as part of the same change in law.(1/2) — RoyalCollegeObsGyn (@RCObsGyn) January 25, 2022 ×

The obsession with virginity: UK government moves to criminalise 'virginity repair' surgery, tests

A Malaysian teenager is facing major backlash for speaking out against the passivity shown towards rape culture in the country’s schools. Ain took to TikTok to point to excesses teachers take with words, especially while referring to traumatic crimes like rape.

Since then, the 17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam has received support from many on social media, while also receiving a lot of backlash for speaking out against the same.

Insensitivity a 'joke'?

The teacher in question&nbsp;was referring to protections offered in the country against rape. While doing so, the teacher reportedly said the following to students - “So if you want to rape anyone, rape someone above 18”.&nbsp;

Ain raised the issue with another teacher, but was chided for being “emotional and sensitive”, she revealed to BBC. Even though she has received immense support on social media since speaking out, the general backlash and the attitude of others speaks&nbsp;of how such heinous crimes are infantilised as “jokes”.

The teenager’s ferocious words have struck a chord with a few. In fact, now Malaysians are asking for schools to become safer for boys and girls alike. Many have written songs about the same, asking the authorities to take necessary steps to spread awareness about the severity of a crime like rape.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-woman-accuses-spy-of-rape-by-tricking-her-into-relationship-384233" hreflang="en">UK: Woman accuses spy of rape by tricking her into relationship</a>

Since in spoke out, Malaysian kids erupted on social media - sharing similar instances they faced in their educational institutions. Many also reported incidents of harassment and abuse at the hands of teachers who&nbsp;allegedly do nothing to break the cycle.&nbsp;

'We want to educate'

“We want to educate. We want to change”, Ain told BBC.&nbsp;

But soon after her post on social media, many began to criticise her for taking a joke too seriously. Some comments went as far as urging her to “cover” herself to avoid being raped.&nbsp;

Ain’s father spoke out in her support during a chat with BBC, saying that this incident serves as “proof that our culture, our society… we need to rectify this and come out from that kind of way of thinking”.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/break-their-lineage-break-their-roots-report-details-chinese-authorities-torture-rape-of-uighur-muslims-378793" hreflang="en">'Break their lineage, break their roots': Report details Chinese authorities’ torture, rape of Uighur Muslims</a>

This doesn’t end here. Turns out, the family took the matter to the police.

Local outlet MalaysiaKini reported that the deputy inspector-general of police dismissed the claims as “maybe a joke”.

According to Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, the teacher who made the “joke” has been transferred while the matter is being investigated.

&nbsp;

A Malaysian teenager is facing major backlash for speaking out against the passivity shown towards rape culture in the country’s schools. Ain took to TikTok to point to excesses teachers take with words, especially while referring to traumatic crimes like rape.

A Malaysian teenager is facing major backlash for speaking out against the passivity shown towards rape culture in the country’s schools. Ain took to TikTok to point to excesses teachers take with words, especially while referring to traumatic crimes like rape. Since then, the 17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam has received support from many on social media, while also receiving a lot of backlash for speaking out against the same. Insensitivity a 'joke'? The teacher in question was referring to protections offered in the country against rape. While doing so, the teacher reportedly said the following to students - “So if you want to rape anyone, rape someone above 18”. Ain raised the issue with another teacher, but was chided for being “emotional and sensitive”, she revealed to BBC. Even though she has received immense support on social media since speaking out, the general backlash and the attitude of others speaks of how such heinous crimes are infantilised as “jokes”. The teenager’s ferocious words have struck a chord with a few. In fact, now Malaysians are asking for schools to become safer for boys and girls alike. Many have written songs about the same, asking the authorities to take necessary steps to spread awareness about the severity of a crime like rape. Also read: UK: Woman accuses spy of rape by tricking her into relationship Since in spoke out, Malaysian kids erupted on social media - sharing similar instances they faced in their educational institutions. Many also reported incidents of harassment and abuse at the hands of teachers who allegedly do nothing to break the cycle. 'We want to educate' “We want to educate. We want to change”, Ain told BBC. But soon after her post on social media, many began to criticise her for taking a joke too seriously. Some comments went as far as urging her to “cover” herself to avoid being raped. Ain’s father spoke out in her support during a chat with BBC, saying that this incident serves as “proof that our culture, our society… we need to rectify this and come out from that kind of way of thinking”. Also read: 'Break their lineage, break their roots': Report details Chinese authorities’ torture, rape of Uighur Muslims This doesn’t end here. Turns out, the family took the matter to the police. Local outlet MalaysiaKini reported that the deputy inspector-general of police dismissed the claims as “maybe a joke”. According to Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, the teacher who made the “joke” has been transferred while the matter is being investigated.

How a Malaysian teenager's fight against rape culture in schools caused national backlash

Woman's murder by alleged harasser in Kuwait sparks protest, outrage

The Forensics Department of Khyber Medical College University has proposed a plan to charge rape victims Pakistani Rs 25,000 for medical examination and Rs 5,000 for an autopsy for the local residents of Peshawar, The Express Tribune said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Management Committee held on February 14 in which 17 new charges were approved.

Police Department already has a limited investigation budget and the introduction of such high charges will likely force local police stations to ask the victims` families to pay for not only autopsy but also DNA tests and medical examination of rape victims.

"When you go to a police station they often ask you to pay for the diesel for police vehicles. Now they will ask the general public to pay the charges of autopsy and even medical examination of rape victims. So the decision is not a welcome one," a rights activist Tamur Kamal told The Express Tribune.

The proposed plan also suggested charges for keeping corpses in the cold storage to Rs 1,500 per 24 hours. For DNA testing Rs 18,000 has been fixed.

"For the district Peshawar autopsy cases the department will charge Rs 5,000 per case while for the cases referred from other districts the charges will be Rs 25,000 per post-mortem," said an official of the department, adding that for kinship and paternity test Rs 20,000 fee has been proposed.

"For drug abuse analysis Rs 3,000 charges have to be paid. Urine tests and alcohol analysis will cost Rs 2,000. Test for poison detection to cost Rs 4,000 while freezer charges for dead bodies will be Rs 1,500 per 24 hours," he informed The Express Tribune.

The unclaimed bodies are sent to the Khyber Medical College University for cold storage by the local police where they are stored sometimes for months till their identification and retrieval by the family.

The Express Tribune reported that the decision to introduce 17 new charges was taken to meet the operational expenditures of the Forensic Department.

The Forensics Department of Khyber Medical College University has proposed a plan to charge rape victims Pakistani Rs 25,000 for medical examination and Rs 5,000 for an autopsy for the local residents of Peshawar, The Express Tribune said.

The Forensics Department of Khyber Medical College University has proposed a plan to charge rape victims Pakistani Rs 25,000 for medical examination and Rs 5,000 for an autopsy for the local residents of Peshawar, The Express Tribune said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Management Committee held on February 14 in which 17 new charges were approved. Police Department already has a limited investigation budget and the introduction of such high charges will likely force local police stations to ask the victims` families to pay for not only autopsy but also DNA tests and medical examination of rape victims. "When you go to a police station they often ask you to pay for the diesel for police vehicles. Now they will ask the general public to pay the charges of autopsy and even medical examination of rape victims. So the decision is not a welcome one," a rights activist Tamur Kamal told The Express Tribune. The proposed plan also suggested charges for keeping corpses in the cold storage to Rs 1,500 per 24 hours. For DNA testing Rs 18,000 has been fixed. "For the district Peshawar autopsy cases the department will charge Rs 5,000 per case while for the cases referred from other districts the charges will be Rs 25,000 per post-mortem," said an official of the department, adding that for kinship and paternity test Rs 20,000 fee has been proposed. "For drug abuse analysis Rs 3,000 charges have to be paid. Urine tests and alcohol analysis will cost Rs 2,000. Test for poison detection to cost Rs 4,000 while freezer charges for dead bodies will be Rs 1,500 per 24 hours," he informed The Express Tribune. The unclaimed bodies are sent to the Khyber Medical College University for cold storage by the local police where they are stored sometimes for months till their identification and retrieval by the family. The Express Tribune reported that the decision to introduce 17 new charges was taken to meet the operational expenditures of the Forensic Department.

Pakistan to charge rape victims Rs 25,000 for medical examination

The University of St Andrews in Scotland, one of world’s oldest universities recently became entangled in a controversy.

Over 20 people have claimed to be sexually assaulted or raped on campus, further claiming they were attacked by members of a specific fraternity. Fraternities or sororities are common in US colleges, and are social organisations for students only. They’re also called Greek letter organisations (GLOs). Uncommon in the UK, they're not considered official student bodies in the country.

The accusations were made on an Instagram page titled “St Andres Survivors”. Following the reports, the university has agreed to follow up on the claims, and to work with the police in tracing the perpetrators.

Allegations on multiple fronts

The allegations include physical assault, coercion, and rape which reportedly took place on the campus.

The fraternity in question is an offshoot of US-based group, called “Alpha Epsilon Pi”. The same fraternity has also faced accusations of sexual assault across its chapters in the United States.

<h6><img alt="This undated file photo shows St Andrews, the university town in Fife, Scotland." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="707a0d8d-b01c-4e68-acdc-0515b25c6015" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-6_7.jpg" /> 
This undated file photo shows St Andrews, the university town in Fife, Scotland. | AFP</h6>

Since the allegations came to light, several members of the sorority have been suspended at St Andrews.

The university is the third-oldest English-speaking varsity in the world and is one the top-rated places to study in the globe. The university has been attended by many British royals like Prince William, and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

The university on Monday announced that it had attempted to reach the owner of the Instagram page, while offering assistance in the impending investigations.

A fix-it-all course!

As part of plans to avoid such behaviour in the future, the university will now imbibe a compulsory module on sexual consent.

In a statement, the university said, “We welcome the 'St Andrews Survivors' account's efforts to provide people of all genders a space to voice their experiences of sexual misconduct”.

The administration also pledged support to survivors. "The University's primary concern is to ensure Survivors know that we are ready and willing to support their decisions and take action, facilitate Police reporting, and provide ongoing support accordingly."

The fraternity in question on July 3 had come out with a statement which said that they find the “content of these allegations abhorrent”, while adding that they were taking these allegations seriously.

Their statement further claimed that students who accepted involvement in such incidents have been immediately expelled, with a thorough investigation to follow.

The University of St Andrews in Scotland, one of world’s oldest universities recently became entangled in a controversy. Over 20 people have claimed to be sexually assaulted or raped on campus, further claiming they were attacked by members of a specific fraternity.

The University of St Andrews in Scotland, one of world’s oldest universities recently became entangled in a controversy. Over 20 people have claimed to be sexually assaulted or raped on campus, further claiming they were attacked by members of a specific fraternity. Fraternities or sororities are common in US colleges, and are social organisations for students only. They’re also called Greek letter organisations (GLOs). Uncommon in the UK, they're not considered official student bodies in the country. The accusations were made on an Instagram page titled “St Andres Survivors”. Following the reports, the university has agreed to follow up on the claims, and to work with the police in tracing the perpetrators. Allegations on multiple fronts The allegations include physical assault, coercion, and rape which reportedly took place on the campus. The fraternity in question is an offshoot of US-based group, called “Alpha Epsilon Pi”. The same fraternity has also faced accusations of sexual assault across its chapters in the United States. This undated file photo shows St Andrews, the university town in Fife, Scotland. | AFP Since the allegations came to light, several members of the sorority have been suspended at St Andrews. The university is the third-oldest English-speaking varsity in the world and is one the top-rated places to study in the globe. The university has been attended by many British royals like Prince William, and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. The university on Monday announced that it had attempted to reach the owner of the Instagram page, while offering assistance in the impending investigations. A fix-it-all course! As part of plans to avoid such behaviour in the future, the university will now imbibe a compulsory module on sexual consent. In a statement, the university said, “We welcome the 'St Andrews Survivors' account's efforts to provide people of all genders a space to voice their experiences of sexual misconduct”. The administration also pledged support to survivors. "The University's primary concern is to ensure Survivors know that we are ready and willing to support their decisions and take action, facilitate Police reporting, and provide ongoing support accordingly." The fraternity in question on July 3 had come out with a statement which said that they find the “content of these allegations abhorrent”, while adding that they were taking these allegations seriously. Their statement further claimed that students who accepted involvement in such incidents have been immediately expelled, with a thorough investigation to follow.

World's third-oldest English speaking university erupts in controversy after former students allege sexual assault

A 21-year-old Austrian tourist was allegedly molested by the owner of a massage parlour in Udaipur district of Rajasthan Monday.

The police, who acted swiftly on the woman&#39;s complaint,&nbsp;arrested the 45-year-old owner on the charge of outraging her modesty. 
 
&quot;The woman&#39;s statement has been recorded. The accused has been arrested. The embassy will be apprised of the matter,&quot; Superintendent of Police of Udaipur Rajendra Prasad told PTI.

The incident happened when the tourist had visited the massage parlour near Hanuman Ghat of the city.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that the accused touched her with ill intentions under the pretext of a massage, investigating officer in the case Ram Singh Chundawat told PTI.

He said that the woman is a research scholar and has been staying in the city for the past three months. 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Police has arrested the 45-year-old owner on the charge of outraging the woman's modesty

A 21-year-old Austrian tourist was allegedly molested by the owner of a massage parlour in Udaipur district of Rajasthan Monday. The police, who acted swiftly on the woman's complaint, arrested the 45-year-old owner on the charge of outraging her modesty. "The woman's statement has been recorded. The accused has been arrested. The embassy will be apprised of the matter," Superintendent of Police of Udaipur Rajendra Prasad told PTI. The incident happened when the tourist had visited the massage parlour near Hanuman Ghat of the city. In her complaint, the woman alleged that the accused touched her with ill intentions under the pretext of a massage, investigating officer in the case Ram Singh Chundawat told PTI. He said that the woman is a research scholar and has been staying in the city for the past three months. (PTI)

India: Austrian tourist molested by parlour owner in Udaipur

Several women were molested by&nbsp;New Year&#39;s eve revellers in&nbsp;India&#39;s commercial hub, Bengaluru.

The men mobbed, groped and made lewd remarks to the&nbsp;women&nbsp;in the city&#39;s bustling areas of MG Road and Brigade road in the wee hours of &nbsp;Sunday. The incident was captured by&nbsp;CCTV cameras installed in the area.

Karnataka&#39;s home minster, G Parmeshwara,&nbsp;dismissed&nbsp;the incident, blaming it on &quot;youngsters&quot; aping the &quot;Westerners&quot;.

&quot;There was need to look into how such events can be organised and regulated. We cannot have 10,000 police men,&quot; he said. &quot;Unfortunately, what is happening is as I said days like new year Brigade Road, Commercial Street, M G Road, large number of youngsters gather. Youngsters who are almost like Westerners, they try to copy the Westerners not only in the mindset, but even the dressing.&quot;

&quot;Such incidents do happen on New Year&#39;s day and on Christmas. We take a lot of precautions,&quot; he told news agency ANI, adding, that the government had installed more than 25 CCTVs.

The minister&#39;s remarks drew an angry response from the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, Lalitha Kumaramangalam,&nbsp;who demanded the home minister should resign and apologise to the women of the country for making such remarks.

&quot;Such remarks from the Home Minister is unacceptable and regrettable. I want to ask this minister are Indian men so pathetic and weak that when they see a woman in Western clothes on a day of revelry, they get out of control? When will the Indian men learn to respect women? The minister should apologise to the women of the country and resign,&quot; Kumaramangalam said. 
 
Reacting to the police&#39;s claims that there are no official complaints of molestation, the NCW chief said pictorial information is enough for them to take action.

&quot;There is enough proof in terms of pictorial information. They can take action regardless of whether an FIR was lodged. If there were 1,500 policemen and still they could not prevent such incidents, well then it&#39;s a very sorry state of affairs and police do not deserve to be the police if they can&#39;t protect women,&quot; she said. 
 
Kumaramangalam said that&nbsp;the commission has&nbsp;taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and has&nbsp;written to the director general of police&nbsp;(DGP), the city police commissioner and home minister seeking a reply on what action has been taken immediately.

The nearly 1,500 policemen posted in the area were outnumbered by the miscreants who came in cars, on bikes and by foot. Helpless women ran towards female policemen deployed in the area to escape the miscreants,<a href="http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/bengalurus-night-of-shame/articleshow/56279784.cms"> local media reported</a>.

&quot;This type of indisciplined behaviour, on the part of such elements, is not desirable, certainly we will take actions. We will identify some of the main culprits and we will take action,&quot; said Director General of Karnataka police, Om Prakash.

 
No distress calls reported, no cases registered: Bengaluru Police

City police officially claimed that they did not receive any distress calls and did not register a single case of molestation or harassment, <a href="http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/bengalurus-night-of-shame/articleshow/56279784.cms">Bangalore Mirror</a> reported.

Nagendra Kumar, deputy commissioner of police, Command Centre, Bengaluru, told Bangalore Mirror that even the city control room did not receive any such distress calls and most of the calls received during New Year celebrations on Saturday night were either regular enquiry calls or for traffic assistance.

&ldquo;We got around 450 calls at the city control room when on Saturday night, especially after 10 pm till wee hours in the morning, and not even one was about women being assaulted or molested,&rdquo; he said.

Sandeep Patil former deputy commissioner (central) of the city, under whose limits Brigade Road and MG Road fall, concurred, saying, &quot; no case of molestation has been registered so far.&quot;

He told Bangalore Mirror that a number of women did approach the police seeking help as they got separated from their family members and friends.

&ldquo;So we used our public address systems to locate and our men ensured they faced no hardship. No case of molestation has been registered so far,&rdquo; he added.

A retired senior police officer told the daily that city New Year revellers were always unruly mob and the police should have deployed adequate security.

&ldquo;It has been the case since the 70s. Handling the New Year crowd in Bengaluru is very difficult, but that means the police department should have a clear plan and be well-prepared to ensure there are no major incidents,&rdquo; said Ajai Kumar Singh, retired director-general of police.

Women&#39;s rights activist, Ranjana Kumari, demanded action against the cops on duty at the time of the incident for failing to protect the women.

&quot;I demand that all the policemen who were there should be suspended. Senior police officers should take action. Investigation should be done and also footage, which is available, on the basis of that those people should be immediately arrested and booked,&quot; said Kumari in New Delhi.

Nearly four out of five women in India have faced public harassment ranging from staring, insults and wolf-whistling to being followed, groped or even raped, Reuters reported, citing a survey by the charity ActionAid UK in May 2016.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

'When will the Indian men learn to respect women? The minister should apologise to the women of the country and resign,' said the NCW chief

Several women were molested by New Year's eve revellers in India's commercial hub, Bengaluru. The men mobbed, groped and made lewd remarks to the women in the city's bustling areas of MG Road and Brigade road in the wee hours of Sunday. The incident was captured by CCTV cameras installed in the area. Karnataka's home minster, G Parmeshwara, dismissed the incident, blaming it on "youngsters" aping the "Westerners". "There was need to look into how such events can be organised and regulated. We cannot have 10,000 police men," he said. "Unfortunately, what is happening is as I said days like new year Brigade Road, Commercial Street, M G Road, large number of youngsters gather. Youngsters who are almost like Westerners, they try to copy the Westerners not only in the mindset, but even the dressing." "Such incidents do happen on New Year's day and on Christmas. We take a lot of precautions," he told news agency ANI, adding, that the government had installed more than 25 CCTVs. The minister's remarks drew an angry response from the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, Lalitha Kumaramangalam, who demanded the home minister should resign and apologise to the women of the country for making such remarks. "Such remarks from the Home Minister is unacceptable and regrettable. I want to ask this minister are Indian men so pathetic and weak that when they see a woman in Western clothes on a day of revelry, they get out of control? When will the Indian men learn to respect women? The minister should apologise to the women of the country and resign," Kumaramangalam said. Reacting to the police's claims that there are no official complaints of molestation, the NCW chief said pictorial information is enough for them to take action. "There is enough proof in terms of pictorial information. They can take action regardless of whether an FIR was lodged. If there were 1,500 policemen and still they could not prevent such incidents, well then it's a very sorry state of affairs and police do not deserve to be the police if they can't protect women," she said. Kumaramangalam said that the commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and has written to the director general of police (DGP), the city police commissioner and home minister seeking a reply on what action has been taken immediately. The nearly 1,500 policemen posted in the area were outnumbered by the miscreants who came in cars, on bikes and by foot. Helpless women ran towards female policemen deployed in the area to escape the miscreants, local media reported. "This type of indisciplined behaviour, on the part of such elements, is not desirable, certainly we will take actions. We will identify some of the main culprits and we will take action," said Director General of Karnataka police, Om Prakash. No distress calls reported, no cases registered: Bengaluru Police City police officially claimed that they did not receive any distress calls and did not register a single case of molestation or harassment, Bangalore Mirror reported. Nagendra Kumar, deputy commissioner of police, Command Centre, Bengaluru, told Bangalore Mirror that even the city control room did not receive any such distress calls and most of the calls received during New Year celebrations on Saturday night were either regular enquiry calls or for traffic assistance. “We got around 450 calls at the city control room when on Saturday night, especially after 10 pm till wee hours in the morning, and not even one was about women being assaulted or molested,” he said. Sandeep Patil former deputy commissioner (central) of the city, under whose limits Brigade Road and MG Road fall, concurred, saying, " no case of molestation has been registered so far." He told Bangalore Mirror that a number of women did approach the police seeking help as they got separated from their family members and friends. “So we used our public address systems to locate and our men ensured they faced no hardship. No case of molestation has been registered so far,” he added. A retired senior police officer told the daily that city New Year revellers were always unruly mob and the police should have deployed adequate security. “It has been the case since the 70s. Handling the New Year crowd in Bengaluru is very difficult, but that means the police department should have a clear plan and be well-prepared to ensure there are no major incidents,” said Ajai Kumar Singh, retired director-general of police. Women's rights activist, Ranjana Kumari, demanded action against the cops on duty at the time of the incident for failing to protect the women. "I demand that all the policemen who were there should be suspended. Senior police officers should take action. Investigation should be done and also footage, which is available, on the basis of that those people should be immediately arrested and booked," said Kumari in New Delhi. Nearly four out of five women in India have faced public harassment ranging from staring, insults and wolf-whistling to being followed, groped or even raped, Reuters reported, citing a survey by the charity ActionAid UK in May 2016. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Women molested by New Year revellers in India's Bengaluru, minster blames 'western ways'

A Moroccan television channel partly-owned by the state has apologised following outrage over the broadcast of a programme tutoring women on what make-up to use after they have been hit.

The programme was broadcast by 2M last week on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

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<h5>The programme was broadcast by 2M last week on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women</h5>
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The programme &quot;Sabahiyate&quot; showed &quot;the type of make-up to use when a woman has been hit&quot;.

A woman with a swollen face was depicted with the presenter showing how to &#39;&#39;camouflage the reddish part&#39;&#39;. The green applied with a brush should be followed by &quot;an orange corrector then yellow, then a foundation&quot;, she said.

The presenter clarified that the woman had not really been hit, the bruises were just &quot;cinematic effects&quot;.

The aim of the tutorial was to &quot;provide solutions to women who need such advice so they can continue with their daily lives and go to work&quot;.

On Monday, 2M said it was sorry in a video posted on Facebook.

&quot;We have always put women at the centre of our debates and have taken the defence of their rights to heart,&quot; it said. &quot;We apologise for broadcasting the makeup segment, the result of an error of judgment on our part, and beg your indulgence and understanding.&quot;

The video gained more attention when it was uploaded to the channel&#39;s website after its initial broadcast on Wednesday. Social media reacted with outrage and shock Friday, after which it was removed from the website.

&quot;So 2M has decided to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with anti-bruise makeup!&quot; was one comment, AFP reported.

Another social media user noted: &quot;Ladies, 2M has the solution if you get punched in the face by your husband, father or brother.&quot;

&quot;Black eye? Bruising? No problem! 2M&#39;s makeup artist has a miracle product!&quot; wrote another.

Last Friday, the channel&#39;s management had issued a statement offering &quot;sincere apologies given the sensitivity and seriousness of the subject&quot; and called the sequence &quot;completely inappropriate .

Human Rights Watch acting women&#39;s rights division director Janet Walsh wrote on Monday that Morocco was &quot;still discussing a draft domestic violence law&quot;&nbsp;

The New York-based HRW has said that violence against women is common in the North African country, AFP said.

In an official 2009-2010 study, it was found that almost two thirds of Moroccan women had been physically, psychologically, sexually or economically abused, and that of those, some 55 per cent said they had suffered domestic violence.

(With inputs from AFP)

2M broadcast a programme last week tutoring women how to cover up their bruises with make-up after they've been hit

A Moroccan television channel partly-owned by the state has apologised following outrage over the broadcast of a programme tutoring women on what make-up to use after they have been hit. The programme was broadcast by 2M last week on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The programme was broadcast by 2M last week on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women × The programme "Sabahiyate" showed "the type of make-up to use when a woman has been hit". A woman with a swollen face was depicted with the presenter showing how to ''camouflage the reddish part''. The green applied with a brush should be followed by "an orange corrector then yellow, then a foundation", she said. The presenter clarified that the woman had not really been hit, the bruises were just "cinematic effects". The aim of the tutorial was to "provide solutions to women who need such advice so they can continue with their daily lives and go to work". On Monday, 2M said it was sorry in a video posted on Facebook. "We have always put women at the centre of our debates and have taken the defence of their rights to heart," it said. "We apologise for broadcasting the makeup segment, the result of an error of judgment on our part, and beg your indulgence and understanding." The video gained more attention when it was uploaded to the channel's website after its initial broadcast on Wednesday. Social media reacted with outrage and shock Friday, after which it was removed from the website. "So 2M has decided to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with anti-bruise makeup!" was one comment, AFP reported. Another social media user noted: "Ladies, 2M has the solution if you get punched in the face by your husband, father or brother." "Black eye? Bruising? No problem! 2M's makeup artist has a miracle product!" wrote another. Last Friday, the channel's management had issued a statement offering "sincere apologies given the sensitivity and seriousness of the subject" and called the sequence "completely inappropriate . Human Rights Watch acting women's rights division director Janet Walsh wrote on Monday that Morocco was "still discussing a draft domestic violence law" The New York-based HRW has said that violence against women is common in the North African country, AFP said. In an official 2009-2010 study, it was found that almost two thirds of Moroccan women had been physically, psychologically, sexually or economically abused, and that of those, some 55 per cent said they had suffered domestic violence. (With inputs from AFP)

Morocco TV says sorry for make-up for battered women