A 72-year-old man from France, Dominique Pelicot, was convicted of drugging his wife, Gisele Pelicot, and allowing men to rape her repeatedly over a decade.
Pelicot received the maximum sentence of 20 years on December 19, 2024, in a case that sparked global outrage over sexual violence.
50 other men were also convicted in the case. Speaking in court, Gisele said, &ldquo;The profile of a rapist is not someone met in a car park late at night. A rapist can also be in the family, among our friends.&rdquo;
While the details of the case have horrified people worldwide, it is not the only instance of violence against women that has made headlines in 2024.
<h2>Kolkata doctor rape case</h2>
In the east Indian state of West Bengal, mass protests erupted after a young doctor was found murdered in the lecture hall at Kolkata&rsquo;s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-big-conspiracy-report-finds-no-evidence-of-struggle-resistance-at-kolkata-rg-kar-rape-scene-786381">&lsquo;A big conspiracy?&rsquo; Report finds no evidence of &lsquo;struggle, resistance&rsquo; at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene</a>
She had allegedly been sexually assaulted and tortured before being murdered.
A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested after the incident, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later took over the case.
The case brought to the surface the anger over women&rsquo;s safety in India, echoing the widespread protests following the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, which became famous as the 'Nirbhaya (fearless) case'.
Although harsher laws were introduced in India after the 2012 incident, there has been little evidence that these laws have reduced sexual violence.
Government data shows that in 2022, over 31,000 cases of rape were reported in India, equating to 85 rapes per day. 
Conviction rates for rape cases have remained low in the country, ranging between 27 per cent and 28 per cent from 2018 to 2022.
<h2>Crime against women in Afghanistan</h2>
In Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban have been accused of using sexual violence as a tool of oppression.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-women-banned-from-midwife-and-nurse-education-in-new-talibans-decree-report-781269">Afghan women 'banned from midwife and nurse education' in Taliban's new decree: Report</a>
As per a recent report, a human rights activist who fled the country after being raped and tortured in prison was sent a video of her assault as an intimidation tactic.
The video later made headlines and highlighted the crime against women taking place in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
<h2>Rape&nbsp;being used as a weapon of war in conflict zones</h2>
Violence against women has also&nbsp;been reported in conflict zones. In Sudan, a civil war has led to widespread sexual violence.
Human Rights Watch reported that the Rapid Support Forces have raped multiple women and girls, with some used as sex slaves. A recent investigation documented the cases of 79 survivors aged 7 to 50.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-for-the-first-time-uses-genocide-for-israels-actions-in-gaza-calls-for-investigation-776996">Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation</a>
The United Nations reported nearly 3,700 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2023, with 95% of the victims being women and girls. Of these cases, 32% involved children, mostly girls, and 21 incidents targeted LGBTQI individuals.
"In the Sudan and Haiti, women and girls are being brutalized and terrorized by sexual violence committed at gunpoint. In Afghanistan, the systematic assault on, and erasure of, women and their rights is destroying lives and livelihoods. Two years since Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of displaced and refugee women and girls face a heightened risk of being preyed upon by traffickers,&rdquo; said Pramila Patten, the UN&rsquo;s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict while presenting the report on 23 April 2024.
In the Middle East, women and girls are disproportionately affected by the ongoing bloodshed, displacement, trauma, and terror, she added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/multiple-onlyfans-accounts-with-suspected-child-sexual-abuse-material-report-786457">Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-gay-couple-gets-100-years-in-jail-for-raping-adopted-sons-and-filming-child-pornography-786444"></a>According to the UN, women and children were among the victims of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. In 2024, they are more than half of the victims of Israel's invasion of Gaza.
The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink, with survivors of gender-based violence, pregnant women, and others in desperate need with nowhere to turn, Patten pointed out.
These reports of sexual violence against women in 2024 show a harsh global reality. Sadly, they are just the visible surface of a far deeper crisis, with many more cases hidden by fear and societal stigma. These incidents show the urgent need to address the root causes and ensure accountability.
(With inputs from agencies)

While the details of Gisele Pelicot's case have horrified people worldwide, it is not the only instance of violence against women that has made headlines in 2024.

A 72-year-old man from France, Dominique Pelicot, was convicted of drugging his wife, Gisele Pelicot, and allowing men to rape her repeatedly over a decade. Pelicot received the maximum sentence of 20 years on December 19, 2024, in a case that sparked global outrage over sexual violence. 50 other men were also convicted in the case. Speaking in court, Gisele said, “The profile of a rapist is not someone met in a car park late at night. A rapist can also be in the family, among our friends.” While the details of the case have horrified people worldwide, it is not the only instance of violence against women that has made headlines in 2024. Kolkata doctor rape case In the east Indian state of West Bengal, mass protests erupted after a young doctor was found murdered in the lecture hall at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Also read: ‘A big conspiracy?’ Report finds no evidence of ‘struggle, resistance’ at Kolkata RG Kar rape scene She had allegedly been sexually assaulted and tortured before being murdered. A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested after the incident, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later took over the case. The case brought to the surface the anger over women’s safety in India, echoing the widespread protests following the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, which became famous as the 'Nirbhaya (fearless) case'. Although harsher laws were introduced in India after the 2012 incident, there has been little evidence that these laws have reduced sexual violence. Government data shows that in 2022, over 31,000 cases of rape were reported in India, equating to 85 rapes per day. Conviction rates for rape cases have remained low in the country, ranging between 27 per cent and 28 per cent from 2018 to 2022. Crime against women in Afghanistan In Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban have been accused of using sexual violence as a tool of oppression. Also read: Afghan women 'banned from midwife and nurse education' in Taliban's new decree: Report As per a recent report, a human rights activist who fled the country after being raped and tortured in prison was sent a video of her assault as an intimidation tactic. The video later made headlines and highlighted the crime against women taking place in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Rape being used as a weapon of war in conflict zones Violence against women has also been reported in conflict zones. In Sudan, a civil war has led to widespread sexual violence. Human Rights Watch reported that the Rapid Support Forces have raped multiple women and girls, with some used as sex slaves. A recent investigation documented the cases of 79 survivors aged 7 to 50. Also read: Pope Francis, for the first time, labels Israel's actions in Gaza as 'genocide'; calls for investigation The United Nations reported nearly 3,700 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2023, with 95% of the victims being women and girls. Of these cases, 32% involved children, mostly girls, and 21 incidents targeted LGBTQI individuals. "In the Sudan and Haiti, women and girls are being brutalized and terrorized by sexual violence committed at gunpoint. In Afghanistan, the systematic assault on, and erasure of, women and their rights is destroying lives and livelihoods. Two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of displaced and refugee women and girls face a heightened risk of being preyed upon by traffickers,” said Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict while presenting the report on 23 April 2024. In the Middle East, women and girls are disproportionately affected by the ongoing bloodshed, displacement, trauma, and terror, she added. Also read: Multiple OnlyFans accounts with suspected child sexual abuse material: Report According to the UN, women and children were among the victims of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. In 2024, they are more than half of the victims of Israel's invasion of Gaza. The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink, with survivors of gender-based violence, pregnant women, and others in desperate need with nowhere to turn, Patten pointed out. These reports of sexual violence against women in 2024 show a harsh global reality. Sadly, they are just the visible surface of a far deeper crisis, with many more cases hidden by fear and societal stigma. These incidents show the urgent need to address the root causes and ensure accountability. (With inputs from agencies)

Sexual violence against women in 2024: From Kolkata to Gisele Pelicot rape cases, a year of horrors

A study has highlighted “alarming” proportions of sexism in France, noting that women are facing new forms of harassment including online violence, verbal abuse on social media and pornography with “barbaric” content.

The study —a first of its kind in France—conducted by the High Authority on Equality (HCE), a consultative body, surveyed 2,500 people and found sexist behaviour increasing in “all spheres”.

It noticed a particular increase in men believing violent and discriminatory behaviour against women to be acceptable.

The study highlighted how older men still held conservative attitudes towards male and female roles in society, while the younger men occasionally displayed aggressive macho tendencies.

Taking the case of the #MeToo movement—which created waves around the world in which women revealed how they were abused by men in power—the study detected a male backlash against the movement, with French men seeking “to reduce women to silence or discredit them”.

Despite people being aware of the violence and discrimination since the #MeToo movement “bias and gender stereotypes, sexist cliches and everyday sexism are still commonplace”, the HCE found.

It stated that situations of “discrimination, violence and harassment” have reached “alarming proportions”.

According to its findings, 24 per cent of the women aged 18-24 surveyed said that they were subjected to “psychological control or excessive jealousy” by a partner, while 15 per cent admitting that they had been beaten by their partner or ex-partner. For women aged 50-64, this rose to 20 per cent.

More than 37 per cent of the women polled said they had been subject to non-consensual sex.

The HCE further broke down the figures and revealed that 33 per cent of women had sex when they did not want to but their partner insisted, 12 per cent had unprotected sex at the insistence of their partner. This figure rose to 18 per cent in the 25-34 age group.

“People recognise and deplore the existence of sexism but fail to reject it in practice, a phenomenon particularly widespread among the men questioned. This gap between perception, statements and practice has tangible consequences in terms of symbolic, physical, sexual and economic violence,” the report said.

The HCE president, Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, said that she was not surprised with the findings.

“We wanted to do for sexism what has been done for racism,” Pierre-Brossolette told the Guardian.

“It’s not enough to protect women and punish men. If we don’t address the roots of everyday sexism and change the mentality we will never move forward. We cannot just deplore the situation we need to change it.”

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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A study has highlighted “alarming” proportions of sexism in France, noting that women are facing new forms of harassment including online violence, verbal abuse on social media and pornography with “barbaric” content.

A study has highlighted “alarming” proportions of sexism in France, noting that women are facing new forms of harassment including online violence, verbal abuse on social media and pornography with “barbaric” content. The study —a first of its kind in France—conducted by the High Authority on Equality (HCE), a consultative body, surveyed 2,500 people and found sexist behaviour increasing in “all spheres”. It noticed a particular increase in men believing violent and discriminatory behaviour against women to be acceptable. The study highlighted how older men still held conservative attitudes towards male and female roles in society, while the younger men occasionally displayed aggressive macho tendencies. Taking the case of the #MeToo movement—which created waves around the world in which women revealed how they were abused by men in power—the study detected a male backlash against the movement, with French men seeking “to reduce women to silence or discredit them”. Despite people being aware of the violence and discrimination since the #MeToo movement “bias and gender stereotypes, sexist cliches and everyday sexism are still commonplace”, the HCE found. It stated that situations of “discrimination, violence and harassment” have reached “alarming proportions”. According to its findings, 24 per cent of the women aged 18-24 surveyed said that they were subjected to “psychological control or excessive jealousy” by a partner, while 15 per cent admitting that they had been beaten by their partner or ex-partner. For women aged 50-64, this rose to 20 per cent. More than 37 per cent of the women polled said they had been subject to non-consensual sex. The HCE further broke down the figures and revealed that 33 per cent of women had sex when they did not want to but their partner insisted, 12 per cent had unprotected sex at the insistence of their partner. This figure rose to 18 per cent in the 25-34 age group. “People recognise and deplore the existence of sexism but fail to reject it in practice, a phenomenon particularly widespread among the men questioned. This gap between perception, statements and practice has tangible consequences in terms of symbolic, physical, sexual and economic violence,” the report said. The HCE president, Sylvie Pierre-Brossolette, said that she was not surprised with the findings. “We wanted to do for sexism what has been done for racism,” Pierre-Brossolette told the Guardian. “It’s not enough to protect women and punish men. If we don’t address the roots of everyday sexism and change the mentality we will never move forward. We cannot just deplore the situation we need to change it.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

France remains ‘highly sexist in all spheres of life’, says study

The French parliament on Thursday adopted legislation that characterises sex with a child under the age of 15 as rape and punishable by up to 20 years in jail, bringing its penal code closer in line with many other Western nations.

While the age of consent was previously 15, prosecutors in&nbsp;France&nbsp;used to be required to prove sex was non-consensual to obtain a rape conviction.

"This is an historic law for our children and our society," Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti told the National Assembly.

"No adult aggressor will be able to claim the consent of a minor younger than 15-years-old."

The vote in favouor of the bill was unanimous at its final reading, the Assembly said on Twitter.

There had been concerns from some lawmakers that an age of consent below which sex automatically constituted rape might criminalise a consensual sexual relationship between a minor and a person only a few years older.

As a consequence, a "Romeo and Juliet" clause that allows for sexual relations between a minor and an individual up to five years older. The clause will not apply in cases of sexual assault.

The legislation also considers incestuous sex with a minor under 18 to be rape.

In a country that has long cherished its self-image as the land of seduction and romance, sexual abuse against women and children for years went undetected or undeclared in the upper echelons of power and within celebrity circles. But there has been much soul-searching in recent years.

The #MeToo movement that swept around the world after numerous women in 2017 accused US&nbsp;movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault proved a turning point in&nbsp;France. So too did the fall from grace in 2020 of a French writer who had written openly about his pedophilia.

France&nbsp;had already toughened its sex crimes laws in 2018 when it outlawed sexual harassment on the streets, leaving cat-callers and aggressively lecherous individuals facing potential on-the-spot fines.

(With input from agencies)

The French parliament on Thursday adopted legislation that characterises sex with a child under the age of 15 as rape and punishable by up to 20 years in jail, bringing its penal code closer in line with many other Western nations.

The French parliament on Thursday adopted legislation that characterises sex with a child under the age of 15 as rape and punishable by up to 20 years in jail, bringing its penal code closer in line with many other Western nations. While the age of consent was previously 15, prosecutors in France used to be required to prove sex was non-consensual to obtain a rape conviction. "This is an historic law for our children and our society," Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti told the National Assembly. "No adult aggressor will be able to claim the consent of a minor younger than 15-years-old." The vote in favouor of the bill was unanimous at its final reading, the Assembly said on Twitter. There had been concerns from some lawmakers that an age of consent below which sex automatically constituted rape might criminalise a consensual sexual relationship between a minor and a person only a few years older. As a consequence, a "Romeo and Juliet" clause that allows for sexual relations between a minor and an individual up to five years older. The clause will not apply in cases of sexual assault. The legislation also considers incestuous sex with a minor under 18 to be rape. In a country that has long cherished its self-image as the land of seduction and romance, sexual abuse against women and children for years went undetected or undeclared in the upper echelons of power and within celebrity circles. But there has been much soul-searching in recent years. The #MeToo movement that swept around the world after numerous women in 2017 accused US movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault proved a turning point in France. So too did the fall from grace in 2020 of a French writer who had written openly about his pedophilia. France had already toughened its sex crimes laws in 2018 when it outlawed sexual harassment on the streets, leaving cat-callers and aggressively lecherous individuals facing potential on-the-spot fines. (With input from agencies)

France passes 'historic' bill to set age of sexual consent at 15

French President Emmanuel Macron said on his Twitter account that France needs to adapt its laws to better protect children from sexual violence.

'France will tighten law on incest', says French President Emmanuel Macron