4-member retired judge panel to hold public hearings on #MeToo cases, says Maneka Gandhi

'Stree' actress&nbsp;Flora Saini had accused producer Gaurang Doshi of sexual misconduct a few days ago on her Facebook page.&nbsp;

Now, Gaurang Doshi has responded to the actress's allegation and said that he is getting ''victimised''.

“There you go… See how Flora Saini victimize me, put false allegation and gain publicity on my name. This is so brutal and cheap but I am a God blessed child. After these proofs all my loved ones to support me and protest against this…. JAI MATA DI Happy Navaratri(sic),” said Gaurav in his Facebook post. 
 
In the wake of #MeToo movement, 'Stree' actress Flora Saini had shared a post on Facebook that included two photos from 2007 that showed the actress with injuries and marks all over her face. 
 
Flora said that she was in a&nbsp;relationship with Gaurangand he had repeatedly physically assaulted her until she walked out of the relationship.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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In her post, Flora stated that Doshi had abused her physically on Valentines Day 2007. "That's me..Valentine's day 2007 beaten up by a known producer "Gaurang Doshi' who I loved n was dating then .. this was the last of the one year abuse I took..came out with a fractured jaw n a scarred soul for life..I realised me talking about it ,that time, jus went against me ,cos he was the powerful one n nobody wanted to believe some girl who was relatively new in the industry, it was his word against mine ,and of course, his word mattered.&nbsp;He threatened me that he will make sure I never work in the industry again n much more.. n he did his best to make me believe it too.. I was replaced in films, people didn't quiet wanna even meet me or let me audition," she recounted in a detailed statement on Facebook.&nbsp;

'Stree' actress Flora Saini had accused producer Gaurang Doshi of sexual misconduct a few days ago on her Facebook page. Now, Gaurang Doshi has responded to the actress's allegation and said that he is getting ''victimised''.

'Stree' actress Flora Saini had accused producer Gaurang Doshi of sexual misconduct a few days ago on her Facebook page. Now, Gaurang Doshi has responded to the actress's allegation and said that he is getting ''victimised''. “There you go… See how Flora Saini victimize me, put false allegation and gain publicity on my name. This is so brutal and cheap but I am a God blessed child. After these proofs all my loved ones to support me and protest against this…. JAI MATA DI Happy Navaratri(sic),” said Gaurav in his Facebook post. In the wake of #MeToo movement, 'Stree' actress Flora Saini had shared a post on Facebook that included two photos from 2007 that showed the actress with injuries and marks all over her face. Flora said that she was in a relationship with Gaurangand he had repeatedly physically assaulted her until she walked out of the relationship. In her post, Flora stated that Doshi had abused her physically on Valentines Day 2007. "That's me..Valentine's day 2007 beaten up by a known producer "Gaurang Doshi' who I loved n was dating then .. this was the last of the one year abuse I took..came out with a fractured jaw n a scarred soul for life..I realised me talking about it ,that time, jus went against me ,cos he was the powerful one n nobody wanted to believe some girl who was relatively new in the industry, it was his word against mine ,and of course, his word mattered. He threatened me that he will make sure I never work in the industry again n much more.. n he did his best to make me believe it too.. I was replaced in films, people didn't quiet wanna even meet me or let me audition," she recounted in a detailed statement on Facebook.

#MeToo: Producer Gaurang Doshi says that he is being 'victimised' by 'Stree' star Flora Saini

The #MeToo movement began with a global outrage over the Harvey Weinstein incident in the West, where the acclaimed Hollywood producer was accused of sexual harassment by over 80 women. With Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta's accusations of sexual harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar, the movement has now gained momentum in India.&nbsp;

Women in media and entertainment industry are coming forward exposing and shaming prominent names, which include renowned names,

Also, many are asking why these women have come out with their stories now, after all these years.

So, for everyone who will understand what I am addressing -- this is to you.

Stop pressurising survivors to come out with their stories of sexual harassment. You, as an individual, have no authority to dictate them the right way and manners to deal with their trauma. You do not get to judge the man or woman who has been harassed on the basis of what they do about it.&nbsp;

I am 32. I still cannot discuss how I was touched inappropriately at seven. That was two decades ago. I did not forget. I still cannot talk about that one boyfriend who thoroughly forced me to get intimate for two years, until I finally broke free. I haven't forgotten a single man who pretended to be extra warm and nice and brushed through my body. They're around us. They're friends, relatives, colleagues, acquaintance. &nbsp;

Tanushree Dutta's revelation led to more women coming out. Don't believe them? Okay. Want an investigation? Perfect. But stop putting a timeline on sexual assault. Don’t be a part of the rape culture which prevents women from coming forward to share their experiences. You have not given us a perfect society to come out in. You have no clue how much it hurts. How much it haunts. Stop taking away their right to speak. One day, I myself want to be that loud.&nbsp;

Believe survivors, even when those they are talking about are your friends. Listen. Do not ask why they did not say this before. Ask yourself what made them remain silent.&nbsp;

Also, let’s move beyond the #metoo campaign. It is not enough. Sexual abuse is gender neutral. As is the abuse of power. Say. Repeat.&nbsp;

So do not wait for the law to take its course. Let’s stop working with serial abusers, stop sharing space with sexual assaulters. Let them know they are not welcome anymore in all the spaces which you inhabit. Close the door on them. Today. Right now.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The #MeToo movement began with a global outrage over the Harvey Weinstein incident in the West, where the acclaimed Hollywood producer was accused of sexual harassment by over 80 women.

The #MeToo movement began with a global outrage over the Harvey Weinstein incident in the West, where the acclaimed Hollywood producer was accused of sexual harassment by over 80 women. With Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta's accusations of sexual harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar, the movement has now gained momentum in India. Women in media and entertainment industry are coming forward exposing and shaming prominent names, which include renowned names, Also, many are asking why these women have come out with their stories now, after all these years. So, for everyone who will understand what I am addressing -- this is to you. Stop pressurising survivors to come out with their stories of sexual harassment. You, as an individual, have no authority to dictate them the right way and manners to deal with their trauma. You do not get to judge the man or woman who has been harassed on the basis of what they do about it. I am 32. I still cannot discuss how I was touched inappropriately at seven. That was two decades ago. I did not forget. I still cannot talk about that one boyfriend who thoroughly forced me to get intimate for two years, until I finally broke free. I haven't forgotten a single man who pretended to be extra warm and nice and brushed through my body. They're around us. They're friends, relatives, colleagues, acquaintance. Tanushree Dutta's revelation led to more women coming out. Don't believe them? Okay. Want an investigation? Perfect. But stop putting a timeline on sexual assault. Don’t be a part of the rape culture which prevents women from coming forward to share their experiences. You have not given us a perfect society to come out in. You have no clue how much it hurts. How much it haunts. Stop taking away their right to speak. One day, I myself want to be that loud. Believe survivors, even when those they are talking about are your friends. Listen. Do not ask why they did not say this before. Ask yourself what made them remain silent. Also, let’s move beyond the #metoo campaign. It is not enough. Sexual abuse is gender neutral. As is the abuse of power. Say. Repeat. So do not wait for the law to take its course. Let’s stop working with serial abusers, stop sharing space with sexual assaulters. Let them know they are not welcome anymore in all the spaces which you inhabit. Close the door on them. Today. Right now. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: #MeToo - Don't ask survivors why did they remain silent for so long

Singer Raghu Dixit, who is the latest to be accused of misconduct in the #MeToo movement, said Wednesday that the account of the person leveling allegations against him was mostly accurate but he is not a predator. 
 
The singer said he "completely misread" the situation and had immediately apologised to the person concerned and will do so again in private.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Dixit, the frontman for the Raghu Dixit Project, a multilingual folk music band, was accused of sexual harassment by an anonymous woman, whose account was shared by a fellow singer, Chinmayi Sripaada on Twitter. 
 
The woman, who called the musician "among the top predators", said Dixit once molested her at a recording.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
"Many years ago, I was called to his studio for a recording and he started talking ill about his wife (like most married men do) His wife is a wonderful human being," said the woman. 
 
"When we got done with an ad-hoc recording, he pulled me closer and asked me to give him a kiss when he was signing my cheque... Later at the door, he tried to carry me and I ran down crying..." the screenshot shared by Sripaada read. 
 
Dixit, in his lengthy statement shared on Twitter, said Sripaada should not be attacked for sharing the story as she was only standing up for others. 
"I remember the incident that Chinmayi's post refers to. I know who the person in question is and I have apologised to her in the past and apart from this public apology, will do so again privately.&nbsp; 
 
"This incident did happen but not entirely like it was described. It was completely silly misjudgment on my part. I gave the person a hug and that led me to trying to kiss her before she stopped and left from my studio. She then texted me and told me that she did not like my behavior and I apologised profusely for what I did," Dixit said.&nbsp; 
 
He said he and his wife, with whom he is separated now, were in a bad space at the time and in the discussion with the singer, he did talk about his personal life. 
 
"... I definitely sought comfort. This person was incredibly sweet and sympathetic to what I said and I completely misread the situation. 
"Am I a predator? Definitely not. Did I lure this singer or any other with a chance to sing for a movie? Not at all. This singer had already finished singing the song. Did I speak ill of my wife? No, but I did vent out that we were in a bad place."&nbsp; 
 
Barely minutes before Dixit issued his statement, Sripaada shared another anonymous account of a woman who described how he propositioned her by narrating a sob story about his wife.&nbsp; 
 
"Once he called me home to make me listen to new tunes for his movie and wanted my opinion on the same. While we were in his studio he shared his sob story and then while he was playing his tune, he asked me to sit on his lap so I could listen closely. I politely told him to take a walk. Finally, he realized nothing was happening," the screenshot, shared by Sripaada said. 
&nbsp;

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More Raghu Dixit <a href="https://t.co/5ZOucRdxlR">pic.twitter.com/5ZOucRdxlR</a>
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&nbsp;

 
The woman said the next time Dixit called her, she went with her boyfriend. She claimed other women have confided in her about Dixit's alleged repeated behavior. 
Dixit is yet to respond to the second post. 
&nbsp; 
Sripaada was one of the first women from the South Indian film industry to accuse Vairamuthu of harassment when they were both in Switzerland for an event in 2005-06. After her account became public, several other women have come up with their stories against the Tamil poet-lyricist.

Singer Raghu Dixit, who is the latest to be accused of misconduct in the #MeToo movement, said Wednesday that the account of the person leveling allegations against him was mostly accurate but he is not a predator.

Singer Raghu Dixit, who is the latest to be accused of misconduct in the #MeToo movement, said Wednesday that the account of the person leveling allegations against him was mostly accurate but he is not a predator. The singer said he "completely misread" the situation and had immediately apologised to the person concerned and will do so again in private. Dixit, the frontman for the Raghu Dixit Project, a multilingual folk music band, was accused of sexual harassment by an anonymous woman, whose account was shared by a fellow singer, Chinmayi Sripaada on Twitter. The woman, who called the musician "among the top predators", said Dixit once molested her at a recording. "Many years ago, I was called to his studio for a recording and he started talking ill about his wife (like most married men do) His wife is a wonderful human being," said the woman. "When we got done with an ad-hoc recording, he pulled me closer and asked me to give him a kiss when he was signing my cheque... Later at the door, he tried to carry me and I ran down crying..." the screenshot shared by Sripaada read. Dixit, in his lengthy statement shared on Twitter, said Sripaada should not be attacked for sharing the story as she was only standing up for others. "I remember the incident that Chinmayi's post refers to. I know who the person in question is and I have apologised to her in the past and apart from this public apology, will do so again privately. "This incident did happen but not entirely like it was described. It was completely silly misjudgment on my part. I gave the person a hug and that led me to trying to kiss her before she stopped and left from my studio. She then texted me and told me that she did not like my behavior and I apologised profusely for what I did," Dixit said. He said he and his wife, with whom he is separated now, were in a bad space at the time and in the discussion with the singer, he did talk about his personal life. "... I definitely sought comfort. This person was incredibly sweet and sympathetic to what I said and I completely misread the situation. "Am I a predator? Definitely not. Did I lure this singer or any other with a chance to sing for a movie? Not at all. This singer had already finished singing the song. Did I speak ill of my wife? No, but I did vent out that we were in a bad place." Barely minutes before Dixit issued his statement, Sripaada shared another anonymous account of a woman who described how he propositioned her by narrating a sob story about his wife. "Once he called me home to make me listen to new tunes for his movie and wanted my opinion on the same. While we were in his studio he shared his sob story and then while he was playing his tune, he asked me to sit on his lap so I could listen closely. I politely told him to take a walk. Finally, he realized nothing was happening," the screenshot, shared by Sripaada said. More Raghu Dixit pic.twitter.com/5ZOucRdxlR — Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) 10 October 2018 × The woman said the next time Dixit called her, she went with her boyfriend. She claimed other women have confided in her about Dixit's alleged repeated behavior. Dixit is yet to respond to the second post. Sripaada was one of the first women from the South Indian film industry to accuse Vairamuthu of harassment when they were both in Switzerland for an event in 2005-06. After her account became public, several other women have come up with their stories against the Tamil poet-lyricist.

#MeToo: Singer Raghu Dixit accused of sexual harrasment; singer apologises

&nbsp;The Maharashtra State Women`s Commission (MSWC) on Tuesday took cognizance of Tanushree Dutta`s allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar after the former knocked the doors of the women`s body seeking an investigation.

The MSWC has issued notices to Nana Patekar, director Rakesh Sarang&nbsp;and choreographer Ganesh Acharya, among others, directing them to file a reply within 10 days.

The commission has also asked the state police for an update of the investigation over Dutta`s complaint. 
 
&nbsp;The former beauty queen has been asked to appear before the MSWC and record her statement in detail as the earlier statement came through her lawyer. 
 
"We have taken cognizance of Tanushree Dutta`s complaint and have asked her to appear before the commission within 10 days. We have sent notices to people against whom Tanushree has filed a complaint, asking them to appear before us within 10 days," Vijaya Rahatkar of Maharashtra State Commission for Women told ANI.

A directive has been issued to all cine and television associations to form committees for redressal of such complaints.

On Monday, Dutta had demanded an investigation into the investigations her harassment allegations against Patekar, Ganesh Acharya, producer Samee Siddiqui, director Rakesh Sarang, and several Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers.

Tanushree has alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her on the sets of the film in 2008.

&nbsp;She accused him of harassing her while shooting for a special dance number in the movie and also stated that Bollywood dance choreographer Ganesh Acharya teamed up against her. 
 
She revealed how before shooting the song, she had clearly mentioned that she will not enact or perform any lewd, vulgar or uncomfortable steps.

&nbsp;Dutta further stated that on the fourth day of the shoot, Patekar`s behavior was inappropriate as he was grabbing her by the arms and pushing her around on the pretext of teaching her some steps.

Dutta complained the same to the authorities, but, new steps were introduced by Acharya, which was intimate and included Patekar touching her inappropriately, she alleged.

&nbsp;The actor further said she was being "forced and pressurized" to do the steps and after she refused, the producer threatened to defame her.

On the way out, her car was brutally attacked but with the help of the police she managed to escape from the spot, the complaint further read.

Dutta stated that she had also lodged a complaint with Cine And TV Artistes` Association (CINTAA) in March 2008. 
 
Denying allegations leveled against him by Dutta, Patekar in a recent media interaction said that the truth behind what happened ten years ago won`t change.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Maharashtra State Women`s Commission (MSWC) on Tuesday took cognizance of Tanushree Dutta`s allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar after the former knocked the doors of the women`s body seeking an investigation.

The Maharashtra State Women`s Commission (MSWC) on Tuesday took cognizance of Tanushree Dutta`s allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar after the former knocked the doors of the women`s body seeking an investigation. The MSWC has issued notices to Nana Patekar, director Rakesh Sarang and choreographer Ganesh Acharya, among others, directing them to file a reply within 10 days. The commission has also asked the state police for an update of the investigation over Dutta`s complaint. The former beauty queen has been asked to appear before the MSWC and record her statement in detail as the earlier statement came through her lawyer. "We have taken cognizance of Tanushree Dutta`s complaint and have asked her to appear before the commission within 10 days. We have sent notices to people against whom Tanushree has filed a complaint, asking them to appear before us within 10 days," Vijaya Rahatkar of Maharashtra State Commission for Women told ANI. A directive has been issued to all cine and television associations to form committees for redressal of such complaints. On Monday, Dutta had demanded an investigation into the investigations her harassment allegations against Patekar, Ganesh Acharya, producer Samee Siddiqui, director Rakesh Sarang, and several Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers. Tanushree has alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her on the sets of the film in 2008. She accused him of harassing her while shooting for a special dance number in the movie and also stated that Bollywood dance choreographer Ganesh Acharya teamed up against her. She revealed how before shooting the song, she had clearly mentioned that she will not enact or perform any lewd, vulgar or uncomfortable steps. Dutta further stated that on the fourth day of the shoot, Patekar`s behavior was inappropriate as he was grabbing her by the arms and pushing her around on the pretext of teaching her some steps. Dutta complained the same to the authorities, but, new steps were introduced by Acharya, which was intimate and included Patekar touching her inappropriately, she alleged. The actor further said she was being "forced and pressurized" to do the steps and after she refused, the producer threatened to defame her. On the way out, her car was brutally attacked but with the help of the police she managed to escape from the spot, the complaint further read. Dutta stated that she had also lodged a complaint with Cine And TV Artistes` Association (CINTAA) in March 2008. Denying allegations leveled against him by Dutta, Patekar in a recent media interaction said that the truth behind what happened ten years ago won`t change.

#MeToo: Notices issued against Nana Patekar by MSCW

&nbsp;Extending support to the movement to call out and report sexual harassment, the Producers Guild of India on Tuesday announced to set up a committee to help the victims of sexual abuse.

In a statement, the Guild said, "We are instituting a committee within the Guild to lead this effort, and we are determined to stay the course till workplaces in the industry are safe spaces for everyone".

A meeting has been called in the coming week to formulate the agenda of the committee.

"We believe that there is an urgent need to set up a robust process to ensure the highest standards of safety for employees and crew members at the workplace - whether in offices or on sets of productions," it added.

The Guild further noted that there is an urgent need to ensure the highest standard of safety for employees.

The decision has come at a time when several cases of sexual harassment are being reported in the Indian film and television industry.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Extending support to the movement to call out and report sexual harassment, the Producers Guild of India on Tuesday announced to set up a committee to help the victims of sexual abuse.

Extending support to the movement to call out and report sexual harassment, the Producers Guild of India on Tuesday announced to set up a committee to help the victims of sexual abuse. In a statement, the Guild said, "We are instituting a committee within the Guild to lead this effort, and we are determined to stay the course till workplaces in the industry are safe spaces for everyone". A meeting has been called in the coming week to formulate the agenda of the committee. "We believe that there is an urgent need to set up a robust process to ensure the highest standards of safety for employees and crew members at the workplace - whether in offices or on sets of productions," it added. The Guild further noted that there is an urgent need to ensure the highest standard of safety for employees. The decision has come at a time when several cases of sexual harassment are being reported in the Indian film and television industry.

#Me Too:  'Producers Guild of India' to ensure safety for  women in film industry; committee to be set up

BJP MP Udit Raj Tuesday termed the #MeToo movement in India a "wrong practice" and questioned the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody after 10 years.

The #MeToo storm has intensified in the country with more women recounting their experiences of sexual harassment in the entertainment and media industry.

"#MeToo movement is important but what is the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody ten years later? How will the truth in these allegations be established after so long?&nbsp;

"The person on whose the allegations will be levelled, how much it will tarnish his image is worth giving a thought. A wrong practice is being initiated," he tweeted in Hindi.

The lawmaker from the north-west Delhi constituency said the #MeToo movement was being used for blackmailing.

"How is it possible that a girl who is in a live-in relationship can level rape allegations against her partner and he is booked and sent to jail. Such incidents are happening so frequently these days. Isn't it being used for blackmailing?" he said.

The movement started after actor Tanushree Dutta alleged that Nana Patekar sexually harassed her on the sets of a movie in 2008. Since then, many women have come out in public to share their experiences of harassment.&nbsp;

BJP MP Udit Raj Tuesday termed the #MeToo movement in India a "wrong practice" and questioned the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody after 10 years.

BJP MP Udit Raj Tuesday termed the #MeToo movement in India a "wrong practice" and questioned the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody after 10 years. The #MeToo storm has intensified in the country with more women recounting their experiences of sexual harassment in the entertainment and media industry. "#MeToo movement is important but what is the relevance of making sexual harassment allegations against anybody ten years later? How will the truth in these allegations be established after so long? "The person on whose the allegations will be levelled, how much it will tarnish his image is worth giving a thought. A wrong practice is being initiated," he tweeted in Hindi. The lawmaker from the north-west Delhi constituency said the #MeToo movement was being used for blackmailing. "How is it possible that a girl who is in a live-in relationship can level rape allegations against her partner and he is booked and sent to jail. Such incidents are happening so frequently these days. Isn't it being used for blackmailing?" he said. The movement started after actor Tanushree Dutta alleged that Nana Patekar sexually harassed her on the sets of a movie in 2008. Since then, many women have come out in public to share their experiences of harassment.

#MeToo movement in India is a wrong practice: MP Udit Raj

US prosecutors have launched a probe to determine whether film star Sylvester Stallone should be charged in connection with a sexual assault reported last year, a spokesman said Wednesday.

"A case was presented today by the Santa Monica Police Department regarding Sylvester Stallone," Greg Risling, a spokesman at the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, told AFP.

"It is under review by our sex crime task force."

The case involves a woman who reported last November that the 71-year-old actor, best known for his roles in the "Rocky" and "Rambo" movies, had assaulted her in 1990.

Risling declined to provide more details about the alleged assault or to clarify whether California's 10-year statute of limitations applies in the case.

Police in Santa Monica and Stallone's attorney, Martin Singer, could also not be reached for comment.

The allegation against the star comes in the wake of the #MeToo movement that has focused attention on sexual harassment in Hollywood and beyond.

Singer in December told US media when the allegation first surfaced that his client "categorically disputes the claim and it is apparent that the woman filed the report to get a media outlet to publish the story."

He acknowledged that Stallone had a relationship with the alleged victim while shooting a movie in Israel in 1987 while he was single.

The attorney said at the time that he planned to submit a claim against the woman for filing a false police report.

The #MeToo campaign took off last year following sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. It has since become a worldwide phenomenon.

Hundreds of celebrities and powerful people, including actor Kevin Spacey and longtime broadcast journalist Charlie Rose, have been accused of sexual harassment in the wake of the Weinstein scandal.

The case involves a woman who reported last November that the 71-year-old actor, best known for his roles in the 'Rocky' and 'Rambo' movies, had assaulted her in 1990

US prosecutors have launched a probe to determine whether film star Sylvester Stallone should be charged in connection with a sexual assault reported last year, a spokesman said Wednesday. "A case was presented today by the Santa Monica Police Department regarding Sylvester Stallone," Greg Risling, a spokesman at the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, told AFP. "It is under review by our sex crime task force." The case involves a woman who reported last November that the 71-year-old actor, best known for his roles in the "Rocky" and "Rambo" movies, had assaulted her in 1990. Risling declined to provide more details about the alleged assault or to clarify whether California's 10-year statute of limitations applies in the case. Police in Santa Monica and Stallone's attorney, Martin Singer, could also not be reached for comment. The allegation against the star comes in the wake of the #MeToo movement that has focused attention on sexual harassment in Hollywood and beyond. Singer in December told US media when the allegation first surfaced that his client "categorically disputes the claim and it is apparent that the woman filed the report to get a media outlet to publish the story." He acknowledged that Stallone had a relationship with the alleged victim while shooting a movie in Israel in 1987 while he was single. The attorney said at the time that he planned to submit a claim against the woman for filing a false police report. The #MeToo campaign took off last year following sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. It has since become a worldwide phenomenon. Hundreds of celebrities and powerful people, including actor Kevin Spacey and longtime broadcast journalist Charlie Rose, have been accused of sexual harassment in the wake of the Weinstein scandal.

Sylvester Stallone under probe for sexual assault

Top Chinese tech firms and some government departments have been singled out in a report that says discriminatory hiring practices based on gender are widespread in China and are linked to a shrinking proportion of women in the labour force.

Job ads posted by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd were among those that deterred female applicants or objectified women, said Human Rights Watch in a report released on Monday.

In many of the adverts, prospective employers boasted of "beautiful girls" at their workplace as a selling point for new employees, while others included specific height, appearance and temperament requirements for women that were unrelated to the roles.

"We have investigated these incidents and are making immediate changes. We are sorry they occurred and we will take swift action to ensure they do not happen again," Tencent said in a statement.

An Alibaba spokeswoman said the company "will conduct stricter reviews of the recruiting advertisements to ensure compliance with our policy."

A Baidu spokeswoman said the postings were "isolated instances".

The report comes amid a larger Chinese movement against gender-based discrimination and harassment, buoyed by the global #MeToo movement, which has since been heavily censored online in the country.

The #MeToo movement began last year as victims of discrimination and sexual harassment took to social media to share their stories under the hashtag #MeToo. Silicon Valley firms have since been accused of discriminatory behaviour, turning the focus on tech worldwide.

Human Rights Watch, which analysed 36,000 Chinese job advertisements largely posted since 2013, also criticized adverts for government roles, construction workers and kindergarten teachers.

It said that so far in 2018, 19 percent of the Chinese civil service job adverts it reviewed were "men only" or at least said men were preferred. Only one job posting this year listed a preference for a female candidate, it said.

Reuters sent a fax seeking comment to the Ministry of Public Security, a bureau mentioned in the report but did not receive a response.

Some firms looked to avoid scrutiny of their practices, including using code words to show a male preference, Human Rights Watch said. One used the Chinese word for south, "nan", which in Chinese has the same pronunciation as the word for "man", it said.

It added discriminatory hiring behaviour was a key issue behind the relatively low numbers of women in the workforce and growing gender disparity over urban pay.

Chinese laws ban discrimination based on gender, but "enforcement is low and Chinese authorities rarely proactively investigate companies that repeatedly violate relevant laws," Human Rights Watch said in the report.

The country's #MeToo movement has, however, been gaining momentum on university campuses since late last year, and several schools have cut ties with professors amid claims of harassment and assault dating back decades.

The Human Rights Watch report received a muted response on Chinese social media on Tuesday, with almost no posts commenting on the issue on popular microblog platforms such as Alibaba-backed Weibo or Tencent's mobile chat app WeChat.

Chinese social media firms are often required to censor civil rights discussions, including previous Human Rights Watch findings and posts related to the #MeToo movement.

Job ads posted by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd were among those that deterred female applicants or objectified women, said Human Rights Watch in a report released on Monday

Top Chinese tech firms and some government departments have been singled out in a report that says discriminatory hiring practices based on gender are widespread in China and are linked to a shrinking proportion of women in the labour force. Job ads posted by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd were among those that deterred female applicants or objectified women, said Human Rights Watch in a report released on Monday. In many of the adverts, prospective employers boasted of "beautiful girls" at their workplace as a selling point for new employees, while others included specific height, appearance and temperament requirements for women that were unrelated to the roles. "We have investigated these incidents and are making immediate changes. We are sorry they occurred and we will take swift action to ensure they do not happen again," Tencent said in a statement. An Alibaba spokeswoman said the company "will conduct stricter reviews of the recruiting advertisements to ensure compliance with our policy." A Baidu spokeswoman said the postings were "isolated instances". The report comes amid a larger Chinese movement against gender-based discrimination and harassment, buoyed by the global #MeToo movement, which has since been heavily censored online in the country. The #MeToo movement began last year as victims of discrimination and sexual harassment took to social media to share their stories under the hashtag #MeToo. Silicon Valley firms have since been accused of discriminatory behaviour, turning the focus on tech worldwide. Human Rights Watch, which analysed 36,000 Chinese job advertisements largely posted since 2013, also criticized adverts for government roles, construction workers and kindergarten teachers. It said that so far in 2018, 19 percent of the Chinese civil service job adverts it reviewed were "men only" or at least said men were preferred. Only one job posting this year listed a preference for a female candidate, it said. Reuters sent a fax seeking comment to the Ministry of Public Security, a bureau mentioned in the report but did not receive a response. Some firms looked to avoid scrutiny of their practices, including using code words to show a male preference, Human Rights Watch said. One used the Chinese word for south, "nan", which in Chinese has the same pronunciation as the word for "man", it said. It added discriminatory hiring behaviour was a key issue behind the relatively low numbers of women in the workforce and growing gender disparity over urban pay. Chinese laws ban discrimination based on gender, but "enforcement is low and Chinese authorities rarely proactively investigate companies that repeatedly violate relevant laws," Human Rights Watch said in the report. The country's #MeToo movement has, however, been gaining momentum on university campuses since late last year, and several schools have cut ties with professors amid claims of harassment and assault dating back decades. The Human Rights Watch report received a muted response on Chinese social media on Tuesday, with almost no posts commenting on the issue on popular microblog platforms such as Alibaba-backed Weibo or Tencent's mobile chat app WeChat. Chinese social media firms are often required to censor civil rights discussions, including previous Human Rights Watch findings and posts related to the #MeToo movement.

Chinese tech giants, the government under fire for 'men only' job ads

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