Ecuador's&nbsp;Constitutional&nbsp;Court&nbsp;on Wednesday decriminalized&nbsp;abortion&nbsp;in&nbsp;cases&nbsp;of&nbsp;rape, the country's human rights ombudsman announced, a major step in Catholic-majority Latin America where termination of pregnancy is largely taboo.

Ombudsman Freddy Carrion announced the&nbsp;court's decision on Twitter, and said the ruling "was possible thanks to the women and feminist groups who have consistently battled for a more fair and egalitarian society."

In&nbsp;Ecuador,&nbsp;a conservative country with an 80 per cent Catholic population, a woman risks up to three years in prison for having an&nbsp;abortion.

The procedure is only allowed when a woman's life or health is at risk or if a pregnancy is the result of the&nbsp;rape&nbsp;of a woman with a mental disability.

In 2019, the National Assembly had voted against decriminalizing&nbsp;abortion&nbsp;in other&nbsp;cases&nbsp;of&nbsp;rape&nbsp;or fetal malformation.&nbsp;

Throughout Latin America, women's rights organizations have been pushing for a change in&nbsp;abortion&nbsp;laws.

In January this year, Argentina became only the fourth country in the region, after Cuba, Guyana and Uruguay,&nbsp;to authorize selective termination of pregnancy.

Carrion's office said the&nbsp;court's decision was taken with seven votes to two.

"From today, no raped woman will be criminalized," it said.

Every day six girls have an&nbsp;abortion&nbsp;in&nbsp;Ecuador, according to figures from the ombudsman's office.

Among those under the age of 14, 80 per cent of pregnancies are due to sexual violence.

Some 2,500 girls under the age of 14 give birth each year in&nbsp;Ecuador&nbsp;after they were raped, according to local feminist groups.

President-elect Guillermo Lasso, a conservative Catholic and vocal pro-life advocate who takes office on May 24 said he has "full respect" for the&nbsp;court's ruling.

"The independence of the government branches and the secular nature of the state are principles that cannot be negotiated," he said in a statement.

Ecuador's Constitutional Court on Wednesday decriminalized abortion in cases of rape, the country's human rights ombudsman announced, a major step in Catholic-majority Latin America where termination of pregnancy is largely taboo.

Ecuador's Constitutional Court on Wednesday decriminalized abortion in cases of rape, the country's human rights ombudsman announced, a major step in Catholic-majority Latin America where termination of pregnancy is largely taboo. Ombudsman Freddy Carrion announced the court's decision on Twitter, and said the ruling "was possible thanks to the women and feminist groups who have consistently battled for a more fair and egalitarian society." In Ecuador, a conservative country with an 80 per cent Catholic population, a woman risks up to three years in prison for having an abortion. The procedure is only allowed when a woman's life or health is at risk or if a pregnancy is the result of the rape of a woman with a mental disability. In 2019, the National Assembly had voted against decriminalizing abortion in other cases of rape or fetal malformation. Throughout Latin America, women's rights organizations have been pushing for a change in abortion laws. In January this year, Argentina became only the fourth country in the region, after Cuba, Guyana and Uruguay, to authorize selective termination of pregnancy. Carrion's office said the court's decision was taken with seven votes to two. "From today, no raped woman will be criminalized," it said. Every day six girls have an abortion in Ecuador, according to figures from the ombudsman's office. Among those under the age of 14, 80 per cent of pregnancies are due to sexual violence. Some 2,500 girls under the age of 14 give birth each year in Ecuador after they were raped, according to local feminist groups. President-elect Guillermo Lasso, a conservative Catholic and vocal pro-life advocate who takes office on May 24 said he has "full respect" for the court's ruling. "The independence of the government branches and the secular nature of the state are principles that cannot be negotiated," he said in a statement.

Ecuador court decriminalizes abortion in rape cases

India is one of the first countries to legalize abortions. Abortions became legal in India under certain conditions only in 1971. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (“MTP Act”) was passed due to the progress made in the field of medical science with respect to safer abortions. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (“the Bill”) amends the MTP Act, 1971 and was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 2nd March 2020 and passed on 17th March 2020. &nbsp;

Thereafter, Rajya Sabha passed the said bill after much deliberation on 16th March 2021. Presently, it awaits the President’s assent for it to become a law. It is pertinent to state that this Bill was presented in the Parliament before and lapsed thrice, in 2014, 2017 and 2018. 
&nbsp; 
Many Writ Petitions were filed by women activists who sought permission to abort after 20 weeks due to rape or foetal abnormalities. It is commonly reported by gynecologists that severe congenital abnormalities only show up after 20 weeks and such pregnancy cannot be legally terminated under the MPT Act,1971. The new Bill aims to resolve this issue.&nbsp;

The Bill was drafted after extensive consultation with various leading NGO’s, Indian Medical Association, the Gynecologist Associations etc., along with ethics committee. &nbsp;The amendment has given a respite to women who are rape survivors, differently-abled, minors, victims of incest etc.

The Bombay High Court, in a petition by Niketa Mehta, held that an abortion of a 24 week old fetus, which had a congenital heart defect, to be in contravention of the MTP Act, 1971, which was also later affirmed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. &nbsp;

This case raised issues around abortion laws after 20 weeks and the upbringing of a child suffering from incurable defects. This case shed light on the loopholes in the MTP Act, 1971 and prompted the government to reconsider abortion laws in the country.

The Bill regulates the state of pregnancy, specifically focussing on the increase of the time limit for abortion. Prior to the amendment, abortion undertaken within 12 weeks of conception required the opinion of a doctor and when done between 12-20 weeks, required the opinion of two doctors. The current MTP Act, 1971 does not have any provision for abortion after 20 weeks.&nbsp;

However, the amendment now allows an abortion to be done up to 20 weeks with only one doctor’s advice instead of two and two doctor’s advice in between 20-24 weeks in special cases. Additionally, the Bill also gives authority to States, to decide if a pregnancy may be terminated due to foetal abnormalities after 24 weeks, by way of setting up State-level Medical Boards. The said Board is to consist of a Paediatrician, Radiologist/ Sinologist, Gynecologist and other such members notified by the concerned State Government.

Countries all over the world have put limitations and differing time frames for allowing abortions which are based on the health of the mother and the foetus, along with the possible risk to the mother. One strong viewpoint that is put forth by this Bill is that the State has an obligation to protect all life forms, which also includes that of a foetus.&nbsp;

The Bill gives relief in this aspect by permitting termination of pregnancy after 24 weeks after the approval of the Medical Board, on diagnosis of foetal abnormalities. Having said that, in cases of rape exceeding 24 weeks of pregnancy, only recourse left was to approach the courts through a Writ Petition.&nbsp;

Both, the Act and the Bill, specify that abortion should only be performed by gynecologists or obstetricians and not by untrained persons, which commonly happens in rural areas, where there is a shortage of doctors. As for the privacy of the woman is concerned, the registered medical practitioner is permitted to reveal the details of the patient to only a person who has been authorized by law. Upon violation, the violating medical official is liable to be imprisoned for a year, or fined, or both.&nbsp;

In addition to extending the time frame for terminating pregnancy, the Central Government has also taken a progressive outlook on women, keeping in mind the current changing times. The Bill mentions “woman” and “her partner” instead of a “married woman” and “her husband”, showcasing open-mindedness of the society. &nbsp;The Central Government acknowledges the failure of contraception as well. It further gives relief to women undergoing stress of getting permissions from various courts due to the pressing time factor in pregnancy.&nbsp;

It is noteworthy that India is the first country to pass a legislation which gives mothers and their partners the right to a paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth, followed by New Zealand in 2021. More specifically, the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 1961, extends miscarriage leave to six weeks of paid leave. Even today, countries such as the UK, United States of America, Brazil and Germany do not give as much autonomy to a pregnant woman as does India.&nbsp;

It is commendable that the Central Government has taken such a bold stand while balancing the diverse cultures, traditions and schools of thought that our country maintains. With the hope of this Bill turning into an Amendment, one can be assured that the country is on the road to advancement, addressing women issues more fiercely than ever.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

India is one of the first countries to legalize abortions. Abortions became legal in India under certain conditions only in 1971. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (“MTP Act”) was passed due to the progress made in the field of medical science with respect to safer abortions.

India is one of the first countries to legalize abortions. Abortions became legal in India under certain conditions only in 1971. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (“MTP Act”) was passed due to the progress made in the field of medical science with respect to safer abortions. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (“the Bill”) amends the MTP Act, 1971 and was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 2nd March 2020 and passed on 17th March 2020. Thereafter, Rajya Sabha passed the said bill after much deliberation on 16th March 2021. Presently, it awaits the President’s assent for it to become a law. It is pertinent to state that this Bill was presented in the Parliament before and lapsed thrice, in 2014, 2017 and 2018. Many Writ Petitions were filed by women activists who sought permission to abort after 20 weeks due to rape or foetal abnormalities. It is commonly reported by gynecologists that severe congenital abnormalities only show up after 20 weeks and such pregnancy cannot be legally terminated under the MPT Act,1971. The new Bill aims to resolve this issue. The Bill was drafted after extensive consultation with various leading NGO’s, Indian Medical Association, the Gynecologist Associations etc., along with ethics committee. The amendment has given a respite to women who are rape survivors, differently-abled, minors, victims of incest etc. The Bombay High Court, in a petition by Niketa Mehta, held that an abortion of a 24 week old fetus, which had a congenital heart defect, to be in contravention of the MTP Act, 1971, which was also later affirmed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. This case raised issues around abortion laws after 20 weeks and the upbringing of a child suffering from incurable defects. This case shed light on the loopholes in the MTP Act, 1971 and prompted the government to reconsider abortion laws in the country. The Bill regulates the state of pregnancy, specifically focussing on the increase of the time limit for abortion. Prior to the amendment, abortion undertaken within 12 weeks of conception required the opinion of a doctor and when done between 12-20 weeks, required the opinion of two doctors. The current MTP Act, 1971 does not have any provision for abortion after 20 weeks. However, the amendment now allows an abortion to be done up to 20 weeks with only one doctor’s advice instead of two and two doctor’s advice in between 20-24 weeks in special cases. Additionally, the Bill also gives authority to States, to decide if a pregnancy may be terminated due to foetal abnormalities after 24 weeks, by way of setting up State-level Medical Boards. The said Board is to consist of a Paediatrician, Radiologist/ Sinologist, Gynecologist and other such members notified by the concerned State Government. Countries all over the world have put limitations and differing time frames for allowing abortions which are based on the health of the mother and the foetus, along with the possible risk to the mother. One strong viewpoint that is put forth by this Bill is that the State has an obligation to protect all life forms, which also includes that of a foetus. The Bill gives relief in this aspect by permitting termination of pregnancy after 24 weeks after the approval of the Medical Board, on diagnosis of foetal abnormalities. Having said that, in cases of rape exceeding 24 weeks of pregnancy, only recourse left was to approach the courts through a Writ Petition. Both, the Act and the Bill, specify that abortion should only be performed by gynecologists or obstetricians and not by untrained persons, which commonly happens in rural areas, where there is a shortage of doctors. As for the privacy of the woman is concerned, the registered medical practitioner is permitted to reveal the details of the patient to only a person who has been authorized by law. Upon violation, the violating medical official is liable to be imprisoned for a year, or fined, or both. In addition to extending the time frame for terminating pregnancy, the Central Government has also taken a progressive outlook on women, keeping in mind the current changing times. The Bill mentions “woman” and “her partner” instead of a “married woman” and “her husband”, showcasing open-mindedness of the society. The Central Government acknowledges the failure of contraception as well. It further gives relief to women undergoing stress of getting permissions from various courts due to the pressing time factor in pregnancy. It is noteworthy that India is the first country to pass a legislation which gives mothers and their partners the right to a paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth, followed by New Zealand in 2021. More specifically, the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 1961, extends miscarriage leave to six weeks of paid leave. Even today, countries such as the UK, United States of America, Brazil and Germany do not give as much autonomy to a pregnant woman as does India. It is commendable that the Central Government has taken such a bold stand while balancing the diverse cultures, traditions and schools of thought that our country maintains. With the hope of this Bill turning into an Amendment, one can be assured that the country is on the road to advancement, addressing women issues more fiercely than ever. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020: A Short Analysis

A protest erupted against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, demanding a public apology from him for his statement blaming 'vulgarity' in society for rape and sexual violence. &nbsp;

The demonstration was organised on Thursday by rights activist and civil society representatives outside the National Press Club here, Pakistan's News International reported.&nbsp;

The protestors criticised Khan for what they called 'victim-blaming' and called for an apology for the comment he made during a question and answer session with the public when he was asked for suggesting a solution to rising child abuse cases in the country.&nbsp;

The protestors were holding placards and banners inscribed with their demand for an apology and said that such statements would encourage rapists.&nbsp;

"It can be considered an opinion when a common person says such thing but if a prime minister makes such comment, it becomes a policy statement. We cannot ignore such a statement which puts the burden of such crimes on the way women dress up. It is a dangerous statement for women like us who work in offices, fields and factories," said one protestor.&nbsp;

Last week, Khan has blamed 'fahashi' (vulgarity) for surge in rape and sexual violence instead of the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. &nbsp;

As he took calls from the people on Sunday, Khan, when asked by a caller what the government plans to do in the light of rising incidents of rape and sexual violence, especially against children, said that there are some fights that governments and legislation alone cannot win and that the society must join in the fight. He said it was important for societies to protect themselves against 'fahashi' (vulgarity), reported Geo News. &nbsp;

The prime minister said incidents of rape and sexual violence that make their way to the media are just one per cent of the actual horrific crimes of such nature that take place.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A protest erupted against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, demanding a public apology from him for his statement blaming 'vulgarity' in society for rape and sexual violence.

A protest erupted against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, demanding a public apology from him for his statement blaming 'vulgarity' in society for rape and sexual violence. The demonstration was organised on Thursday by rights activist and civil society representatives outside the National Press Club here, Pakistan's News International reported. The protestors criticised Khan for what they called 'victim-blaming' and called for an apology for the comment he made during a question and answer session with the public when he was asked for suggesting a solution to rising child abuse cases in the country. The protestors were holding placards and banners inscribed with their demand for an apology and said that such statements would encourage rapists. "It can be considered an opinion when a common person says such thing but if a prime minister makes such comment, it becomes a policy statement. We cannot ignore such a statement which puts the burden of such crimes on the way women dress up. It is a dangerous statement for women like us who work in offices, fields and factories," said one protestor. Last week, Khan has blamed 'fahashi' (vulgarity) for surge in rape and sexual violence instead of the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. As he took calls from the people on Sunday, Khan, when asked by a caller what the government plans to do in the light of rising incidents of rape and sexual violence, especially against children, said that there are some fights that governments and legislation alone cannot win and that the society must join in the fight. He said it was important for societies to protect themselves against 'fahashi' (vulgarity), reported Geo News. The prime minister said incidents of rape and sexual violence that make their way to the media are just one per cent of the actual horrific crimes of such nature that take place. (With inputs from agencies)

Protest erupts in Pak demanding Imran Khan to apologise over rape statement 

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has filed an appeal on his rape and sexual assault conviction, saying the trial judge made several errors that denied him an impartial jury.

Harvey Weinstein appeals against sex crimes conviction, seeks new trial

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya took to social media after he said that he would "rape" fellow fighter Kevin Holland.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/germany-players-in-human-rights-message-ahead-of-world-cup-qualifier-373322" hreflang="en">Germany players in 'Human Rights' message ahead of World Cup qualifier</a>

He made those remarks in an expletive-laden video on Instagram earlier this week directed at Holland, who had targeted him in a series of remarks.

The 31-year-old, who currently resides in New Zealand, later deleted the video and said he had "crossed the line".

"I understand the gravity of this word and how it can affect and hurt other people apart from my opponent, although that was never my intention," Adesanya tweeted.

"I am still growing under the spotlight, and I take this as a lesson to be more selective with words under pressure."

His apology came after New Zealand's deputy prime minister and minister of sport and recreation, Grant Robertson, condemned his comment.

"We have to take rape seriously. It's not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all," Robertson said.

Adesanya was undefeated in MMA with a 20-0 record until he was beaten by Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight title match at UFC 259 on March 6.

(Inputs from Reuters)

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya took to social media after he said that he would "rape" fellow fighter Kevin Holland. ALSO READ: Germany players in 'Human Rights' message ahead of World Cup qualifier He made those remarks in an expletive-laden video on Instagram earlier this week directed at Holland, who had targeted him in a series of remarks.

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya took to social media after he said that he would "rape" fellow fighter Kevin Holland. ALSO READ: Germany players in 'Human Rights' message ahead of World Cup qualifier He made those remarks in an expletive-laden video on Instagram earlier this week directed at Holland, who had targeted him in a series of remarks. The 31-year-old, who currently resides in New Zealand, later deleted the video and said he had "crossed the line". "I understand the gravity of this word and how it can affect and hurt other people apart from my opponent, although that was never my intention," Adesanya tweeted. "I am still growing under the spotlight, and I take this as a lesson to be more selective with words under pressure." His apology came after New Zealand's deputy prime minister and minister of sport and recreation, Grant Robertson, condemned his comment. "We have to take rape seriously. It's not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all," Robertson said. Adesanya was undefeated in MMA with a 20-0 record until he was beaten by Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight title match at UFC 259 on March 6. (Inputs from Reuters)

'Lesson to be more selective with words': UFC star Adesanya apologises for 'rape' remark

Schools and their psycho-social interactions and spaces are an important part of young people’s lives. It is at school that they gain knowledge, learn behaviours and attitudes and develop as individuals into young adults. The school experience has a long-lasting impact on children’s physical, mental and emotional development and well-being. Safe and protected learning environments in schools are therefore vital for ensuring the health and well-being of children and young people.

However, evidence shows that across the world children experience physical, sexual and psychological violence in school settings. This includes teacher-perpetrated abuse, such as corporal punishment or sexual coercion; peer-perpetrated abuse, like bullying or discrimination; and with increasing exposure to the Internet and mobile technologies, many students are vulnerable to online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). Violence in school environment has the potential to prevent children, especially girls from exercising their right to a safe and inclusive education.&nbsp;

Globally, an estimated 246 million children experience violence in and around school every year, leading to compromised attendance, lower academic results and higher drop-out rates as per a UNESCO-UNGEI policy paper. According to data released by Plan International in 2013 , as quoted in the policy paper, more than 1 in 3 students between the ages of 13 and 15 worldwide experience bullying on a regular basis. Over half of all children worldwide live in countries where they are not legally protected from corporal punishment in schools, of which 45% live in South Asia. Students who experience bullying, a form of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), score lower in math and reading than those who do not. SRGBV is associated with the loss of 1 primary grade of schooling, translating to a yearly cost of around $17 billion to low and middle-income countries.&nbsp;

A study by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007 found that just under 70 per cent of children (aged 5 to 18) in 13 states reported experiencing physical abuse (Kacker et al., 2007). A 2009-2010 study found that almost all children and young people experience corporal punishment in school (NCPCR, 2012). In fact, the scale and scope of SRGBV remains unclear due to a lack of comparable global data. Wider studies on school violence have focused on physical violence and bullying and have not necessarily looked at it from a gender perspective.&nbsp;

School-related gender-based violence cannot be seen in isolation from gender-based violence in wider society. Violence in schools reflects underlying social norms with regard to gender roles, authority and agency. Disturbingly, the regressive social norms and attitudes that justify violence continue to shape our children. They grow up witnessing violence within their communities, families and homes. &nbsp;India has a deeply hierarchical society where children in many school settings experience discrimination based on gender, caste, ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status. Evidence suggests that children from marginalized groups are often more vulnerable to school-based violence – both physically and psychologically. Witnessing or experiencing violence in the home drive children to believe violence is ‘normal’ and increases the risk of them bullying or perpetrating sexual violence in their own lives. Also experiences of violence at school are often linked with poverty, economic constraints and poor development that increase the risk of violence for many children.&nbsp;

Gender inequality and discrimination in broader context are reflected and reinforced in the school environment. Distorted notions of masculinity are associated with several forms of violence against children in school settings. School-related gender-based violence is complex and multifaceted, EFA GMR and UNGEI policy brief shows that “Girls also commit violent acts and boys also experience sexual abuse at school. Different forms of gender-based violence in schools overlap and reinforce each other.” Certain forms of violence are viewed as normal and a way to discipline the children. Silence towards violence permit the violence in schools to often go unreported. Due to cultural taboos and social stigma, children are reluctant to report the acts of violence.&nbsp;

SRGBV violates children’s fundamental rights and has wide-ranging consequences for their physical and emotional well-being, growth, school performance and attendance and the likelihood of them experiencing violence in future. The experience of violence leads to poor academic performance, school absenteeism and dropout among children. Children who have gone through abuse or bulling often experience low self-esteem and depression, which may lead to self-harm and risk-taking. Sexual violence not only has negative physical and emotional consequences, but also compromises educational progress and well-being for children.&nbsp;

India prohibited corporal punishment in 2009 and schools were provided with teacher guidelines to encourage ‘positive engagement’ with children. However, there is little evidence that suggests that these policy reforms have eliminated corporal punishment. A &nbsp;study carried out for Young Lives in Andhra Pradesh, where corporal punishment is banned, found that 82% of boys aged 7–8 and 72% of girls had experienced physical punishment in school. However, initiatives such as Gender Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) program in schools in Jharkhand have shown some success in reducing SRGBV.&nbsp;

SRGBV needs to be addressed at a policy and implementation level, using a comprehensive, integrated, multi-sectoral and long-term approach. While government and civil society organizations can programmatically tackle the problem of school-related violence, interventions targeted at teachers and community members are also necessary. Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) can be used effectively to address social norms that drive violence against children in general and education settings specifically. SBCC interventions can be used to address social norms that link masculinity to violence and the culture of silence that forces girls to accept and suffer it. Young girls and boys must be encouraged to speak up against violence in their own lives, families and communities. Finally, governments must focus on generating evidence on violence in educational settings to inform policies, programmes and strategies. The Education for All and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 will not be achieved without eliminating gender-based violence in schools.

Schools and their psycho-social interactions and spaces are an important part of young people’s lives. It is at school that they gain knowledge, learn behaviours and attitudes and develop as individuals into young adults.

Schools and their psycho-social interactions and spaces are an important part of young people’s lives. It is at school that they gain knowledge, learn behaviours and attitudes and develop as individuals into young adults. The school experience has a long-lasting impact on children’s physical, mental and emotional development and well-being. Safe and protected learning environments in schools are therefore vital for ensuring the health and well-being of children and young people. However, evidence shows that across the world children experience physical, sexual and psychological violence in school settings. This includes teacher-perpetrated abuse, such as corporal punishment or sexual coercion; peer-perpetrated abuse, like bullying or discrimination; and with increasing exposure to the Internet and mobile technologies, many students are vulnerable to online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). Violence in school environment has the potential to prevent children, especially girls from exercising their right to a safe and inclusive education. Globally, an estimated 246 million children experience violence in and around school every year, leading to compromised attendance, lower academic results and higher drop-out rates as per a UNESCO-UNGEI policy paper. According to data released by Plan International in 2013 , as quoted in the policy paper, more than 1 in 3 students between the ages of 13 and 15 worldwide experience bullying on a regular basis. Over half of all children worldwide live in countries where they are not legally protected from corporal punishment in schools, of which 45% live in South Asia. Students who experience bullying, a form of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), score lower in math and reading than those who do not. SRGBV is associated with the loss of 1 primary grade of schooling, translating to a yearly cost of around $17 billion to low and middle-income countries. A study by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007 found that just under 70 per cent of children (aged 5 to 18) in 13 states reported experiencing physical abuse (Kacker et al., 2007). A 2009-2010 study found that almost all children and young people experience corporal punishment in school (NCPCR, 2012). In fact, the scale and scope of SRGBV remains unclear due to a lack of comparable global data. Wider studies on school violence have focused on physical violence and bullying and have not necessarily looked at it from a gender perspective. School-related gender-based violence cannot be seen in isolation from gender-based violence in wider society. Violence in schools reflects underlying social norms with regard to gender roles, authority and agency. Disturbingly, the regressive social norms and attitudes that justify violence continue to shape our children. They grow up witnessing violence within their communities, families and homes. India has a deeply hierarchical society where children in many school settings experience discrimination based on gender, caste, ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status. Evidence suggests that children from marginalized groups are often more vulnerable to school-based violence – both physically and psychologically. Witnessing or experiencing violence in the home drive children to believe violence is ‘normal’ and increases the risk of them bullying or perpetrating sexual violence in their own lives. Also experiences of violence at school are often linked with poverty, economic constraints and poor development that increase the risk of violence for many children. Gender inequality and discrimination in broader context are reflected and reinforced in the school environment. Distorted notions of masculinity are associated with several forms of violence against children in school settings. School-related gender-based violence is complex and multifaceted, EFA GMR and UNGEI policy brief shows that “Girls also commit violent acts and boys also experience sexual abuse at school. Different forms of gender-based violence in schools overlap and reinforce each other.” Certain forms of violence are viewed as normal and a way to discipline the children. Silence towards violence permit the violence in schools to often go unreported. Due to cultural taboos and social stigma, children are reluctant to report the acts of violence. SRGBV violates children’s fundamental rights and has wide-ranging consequences for their physical and emotional well-being, growth, school performance and attendance and the likelihood of them experiencing violence in future. The experience of violence leads to poor academic performance, school absenteeism and dropout among children. Children who have gone through abuse or bulling often experience low self-esteem and depression, which may lead to self-harm and risk-taking. Sexual violence not only has negative physical and emotional consequences, but also compromises educational progress and well-being for children. India prohibited corporal punishment in 2009 and schools were provided with teacher guidelines to encourage ‘positive engagement’ with children. However, there is little evidence that suggests that these policy reforms have eliminated corporal punishment. A study carried out for Young Lives in Andhra Pradesh, where corporal punishment is banned, found that 82% of boys aged 7–8 and 72% of girls had experienced physical punishment in school. However, initiatives such as Gender Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) program in schools in Jharkhand have shown some success in reducing SRGBV. SRGBV needs to be addressed at a policy and implementation level, using a comprehensive, integrated, multi-sectoral and long-term approach. While government and civil society organizations can programmatically tackle the problem of school-related violence, interventions targeted at teachers and community members are also necessary. Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) can be used effectively to address social norms that drive violence against children in general and education settings specifically. SBCC interventions can be used to address social norms that link masculinity to violence and the culture of silence that forces girls to accept and suffer it. Young girls and boys must be encouraged to speak up against violence in their own lives, families and communities. Finally, governments must focus on generating evidence on violence in educational settings to inform policies, programmes and strategies. The Education for All and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 will not be achieved without eliminating gender-based violence in schools.

Opinion: Education for All can't be achieved without eliminating gender-based violence in school

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday.

A government representative did not comment on the specifics of the accusations in response to a Reuters query, saying in a statement that Bahrain took the protection of human rights "extremely seriously" and had a "zero-tolerance policy" of mistreatment in the justice system.

In a joint statement, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said about 13 children aged between 11 and 17 were held in early to mid-February as authorities tried to dissuade protesters from gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the uprising.

"Five children, arrested on Feb. 14-15, said that police from the station beat, insulted, and threatened them with electric shocks from a car battery," the two groups said, quoting the children and their families.

"An officer hit a 13-year-old on his head and threatened to rape him, give him electric shocks, and beat his genitals."

In some cases, the rights groups said, Bahraini police arrested children accused of burning tires or blocking a road on the day of their arrest.

Police also accused children of vandalism, planting a fake bomb and throwing petrol bombs in November 2020, they added in the statement.

Four of the children remain in detention, including a 16-year-old with a serious medical condition, New York-based HRW and BIRD said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bahrain`s attorney general directed the public prosecution to adopt the aims of a law on corrective justice for children and their protection issued on Feb. 18 and intended to take effect six months later.

The government representative added that when dealing with those younger than 18, the decisions of the criminal justice system in the Gulf Arab nation weigh "each individual child`s best interests, as well as their rehabilitation and place in society".

Bahrain`s U.S.-backed, Sunni Muslim monarchy used force to suppress the 2011 uprising, led mostly by members of the Shi`ite Muslim majority, and cracked down hard on sporadic unrest and dissent later. It was the only Gulf state to experience one of the "Arab Spring" uprisings a decade ago.

Mass trials followed and thousands were imprisoned, with many others fleeing abroad. Subsequently there have been clashes between protesters and security forces, who have been targeted by bomb attacks.

Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticised the kingdom’s lack of an independent judiciary and accused its security forces of committing torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity.

The government denies the charges.

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday.

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday. A government representative did not comment on the specifics of the accusations in response to a Reuters query, saying in a statement that Bahrain took the protection of human rights "extremely seriously" and had a "zero-tolerance policy" of mistreatment in the justice system. In a joint statement, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said about 13 children aged between 11 and 17 were held in early to mid-February as authorities tried to dissuade protesters from gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the uprising. "Five children, arrested on Feb. 14-15, said that police from the station beat, insulted, and threatened them with electric shocks from a car battery," the two groups said, quoting the children and their families. "An officer hit a 13-year-old on his head and threatened to rape him, give him electric shocks, and beat his genitals." In some cases, the rights groups said, Bahraini police arrested children accused of burning tires or blocking a road on the day of their arrest. Police also accused children of vandalism, planting a fake bomb and throwing petrol bombs in November 2020, they added in the statement. Four of the children remain in detention, including a 16-year-old with a serious medical condition, New York-based HRW and BIRD said. In a statement on Wednesday, Bahrain`s attorney general directed the public prosecution to adopt the aims of a law on corrective justice for children and their protection issued on Feb. 18 and intended to take effect six months later. The government representative added that when dealing with those younger than 18, the decisions of the criminal justice system in the Gulf Arab nation weigh "each individual child`s best interests, as well as their rehabilitation and place in society". Bahrain`s U.S.-backed, Sunni Muslim monarchy used force to suppress the 2011 uprising, led mostly by members of the Shi`ite Muslim majority, and cracked down hard on sporadic unrest and dissent later. It was the only Gulf state to experience one of the "Arab Spring" uprisings a decade ago. Mass trials followed and thousands were imprisoned, with many others fleeing abroad. Subsequently there have been clashes between protesters and security forces, who have been targeted by bomb attacks. Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticised the kingdom’s lack of an independent judiciary and accused its security forces of committing torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity. The government denies the charges.

Bahrain police beat, threaten detained children with rape, rights groups say

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

A government spokesperson did not comment on the specifics of the accusations in response to a detailed query. The spokesperson said in a statement, Bahrain takes the protection of human rights 'extremely seriously' and had a 'zero-tolerance policy' towards mistreatment within the justice system.&nbsp;

A joint statement by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said that around 13 children aged 11-17 were detained in early to mid-February as authorities tried to dissuade protesters from gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the uprising.&nbsp;

"Five children, arrested on February 14 and 15, said that police from the station beat, insulted, and threatened them with electric shocks from a car battery," the statement said, quoting the children and their families.&nbsp;

"An officer hit a 13-year-old on his head and threatened to rape him, give him electric shocks, and beat his genitals."&nbsp;

The rights groups' statement said Bahraini police in some cases arrested children for allegedly burning tires or blocking a road on the day of their arrest. It said police also accused children of vandalism, planting a fake bomb and throwing petrol bombs in November 2020.&nbsp;

Four of the children remain in detention, including a 16-year-old with a serious medical condition, HRW and BIRD said.&nbsp;

The Bahrain government spokesperson also said the Gulf Arab country's criminal justice system, when dealing with people under age 18, makes decisions based on considerations of 'each individual child's best interests, as well as their rehabilitation and place in society'.&nbsp;

Bahrain's US-backed, Sunni Muslim monarchy suppressed the uprising, led mostly by members of the Shiite Muslim majority, by force in 2011 and cracked down hard on sporadic unrest and dissent afterwards. It was the only Gulf state to experience one of the 'Arab Spring' uprisings a decade ago.&nbsp;

Mass trials followed and thousands of people were imprisoned and many others fled abroad. Bahrain has since seen sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces, who have been targeted by bomb attacks.&nbsp;

Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticised the kingdom’s lack of an independent judiciary and accused its security forces of committing torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity. The government denies the charges.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Bahraini security forces have beaten children and threatened them with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases last month, the anniversary of a 2011 pro-democracy uprising, rights groups said on Wednesday. A government spokesperson did not comment on the specifics of the accusations in response to a detailed query. The spokesperson said in a statement, Bahrain takes the protection of human rights 'extremely seriously' and had a 'zero-tolerance policy' towards mistreatment within the justice system. A joint statement by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said that around 13 children aged 11-17 were detained in early to mid-February as authorities tried to dissuade protesters from gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the uprising. "Five children, arrested on February 14 and 15, said that police from the station beat, insulted, and threatened them with electric shocks from a car battery," the statement said, quoting the children and their families. "An officer hit a 13-year-old on his head and threatened to rape him, give him electric shocks, and beat his genitals." The rights groups' statement said Bahraini police in some cases arrested children for allegedly burning tires or blocking a road on the day of their arrest. It said police also accused children of vandalism, planting a fake bomb and throwing petrol bombs in November 2020. Four of the children remain in detention, including a 16-year-old with a serious medical condition, HRW and BIRD said. The Bahrain government spokesperson also said the Gulf Arab country's criminal justice system, when dealing with people under age 18, makes decisions based on considerations of 'each individual child's best interests, as well as their rehabilitation and place in society'. Bahrain's US-backed, Sunni Muslim monarchy suppressed the uprising, led mostly by members of the Shiite Muslim majority, by force in 2011 and cracked down hard on sporadic unrest and dissent afterwards. It was the only Gulf state to experience one of the 'Arab Spring' uprisings a decade ago. Mass trials followed and thousands of people were imprisoned and many others fled abroad. Bahrain has since seen sporadic clashes between protesters and security forces, who have been targeted by bomb attacks. Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticised the kingdom’s lack of an independent judiciary and accused its security forces of committing torture and other forms of ill-treatment with impunity. The government denies the charges. (With inputs from agencies)

Cops beat, threaten detained children with rape in Bahrain: Rights groups

More than three years after the massive social media-led #MeToo movement on sexual misconduct, which started in Hollywood and swept all walks of life across the world, much remains to be done in addressing the problem.

Are women's complaints of sexual harassment at workplace being addressed?

An index created by Equileap, a women's workplace equality organisation, showed that most big firms are failing to address sexual harassment at work.

Despite the #MeToo campaign that began in October, 2017 that sparked a wider debate around harassment, pay and representation, 51% of companies assessed for the index did not publish an anti-sexual harassment policy last year, said Equileap. However, this is an improvement on 58% recorded in 2019.

The data was drawn from 3,702 firms in 23 countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Britain and Australia.

 
Workplace harassment has been one of the reasons that keeps women from achieving their careers.

According to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency in the US, 60% women in the country reported sexual harassment.

Data from Hong Kong City University found 80% of women in China having reported harrasent at some stage of their career.

The situation in India

A ComplyKaro Services analysis of annual reports from BSE 100 companies revealed a 14% rise in sexual harassment complaints in financial year 2019-20 alone.

In India, 95 per cent of women working in the informal sector finds it difficult to access legal mechanisms to report sexual harassment at the workplace.

And because the #MeToo was a social-media led movement, it had little effect in remote and rural areas of the country.

More than three years after the massive social media-led #MeToo movement on sexual misconduct, which started in Hollywood and swept all walks of life across the world, much remains to be done in addressing the problem.

More than three years after the massive social media-led #MeToo movement on sexual misconduct, which started in Hollywood and swept all walks of life across the world, much remains to be done in addressing the problem. Are women's complaints of sexual harassment at workplace being addressed? An index created by Equileap, a women's workplace equality organisation, showed that most big firms are failing to address sexual harassment at work. Despite the #MeToo campaign that began in October, 2017 that sparked a wider debate around harassment, pay and representation, 51% of companies assessed for the index did not publish an anti-sexual harassment policy last year, said Equileap. However, this is an improvement on 58% recorded in 2019. The data was drawn from 3,702 firms in 23 countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Britain and Australia. Workplace harassment has been one of the reasons that keeps women from achieving their careers. According to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency in the US, 60% women in the country reported sexual harassment. Data from Hong Kong City University found 80% of women in China having reported harrasent at some stage of their career. The situation in India A ComplyKaro Services analysis of annual reports from BSE 100 companies revealed a 14% rise in sexual harassment complaints in financial year 2019-20 alone. In India, 95 per cent of women working in the informal sector finds it difficult to access legal mechanisms to report sexual harassment at the workplace. And because the #MeToo was a social-media led movement, it had little effect in remote and rural areas of the country.

International Women's Day: Sexual harassment policies in global companies leave much to be desired

A second woman who worked under New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has stepped forward to accuse him of sexually harassing her.&nbsp;

Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy of the New York administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo harassed her last spring when the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the state.&nbsp;

She said that the New York governor asked her several inappropriate questions related to her personal life, including age differences in romantic relationships.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-accused-of-misrepresentation-of-covid-deaths-363157/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared," Bennett said in the report.&nbsp;

Cuomo agreed for an independent probe, saying it will be headed by a former federal judge.&nbsp;

"I was trying to be a mentor to her. I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate," the New York governor said in a statement on Saturday.

The latest allegations come after New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio joined a chorus of political leaders on Thursday demanding an independent investigation into the claims of another Cuomo aide who has also made accusations of sexual harassment.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-aide-of-new-york-governor-cuomo-accuses-him-of-sexual-harassment-349811">Former aide of New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment</a>

"We need a full and independent investigation," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is also a Democrat and long-time rival of Cuomo.&nbsp;

Lindsey Boylan, who worked under Cuomo from 2015 to 2018, said the New York governor kissed her on the mouth forcefully and suggested playing strip poker during a flight.

She also said Cuomo went "out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs."

Boylan made these allegations in a blog post published on Wednesday and she first opened up about her harassment in December last year in which she said Cuomo "sexually harassed" her "for years" in a tweet. 
&nbsp;

A second woman who worked under New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has stepped forward to accuse him of sexually harassing her. Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy of the New York administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo harassed her last spring when the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the state.

A second woman who worked under New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has stepped forward to accuse him of sexually harassing her. Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy of the New York administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo harassed her last spring when the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the state. She said that the New York governor asked her several inappropriate questions related to her personal life, including age differences in romantic relationships. Watch | "I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared," Bennett said in the report. Cuomo agreed for an independent probe, saying it will be headed by a former federal judge. "I was trying to be a mentor to her. I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate," the New York governor said in a statement on Saturday. The latest allegations come after New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio joined a chorus of political leaders on Thursday demanding an independent investigation into the claims of another Cuomo aide who has also made accusations of sexual harassment. Also read | Former aide of New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment "We need a full and independent investigation," said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is also a Democrat and long-time rival of Cuomo. Lindsey Boylan, who worked under Cuomo from 2015 to 2018, said the New York governor kissed her on the mouth forcefully and suggested playing strip poker during a flight. She also said Cuomo went "out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs." Boylan made these allegations in a blog post published on Wednesday and she first opened up about her harassment in December last year in which she said Cuomo "sexually harassed" her "for years" in a tweet.

Another woman who worked under New York Governor Cuomo accuses him of sexual harassment

It's time world leaders woke up to what's happening in Ethiopia's Tigray region. After reports of rape being used as a tool of war, satellite images show 500+ buildings have been gutted. Ethnic tensions are running high. WION's Palki Sharma says it's time to act.

Gravitas: Tigray Conflict: A wake-up call

Senegal's parliament on Friday voted to lift the immunity of leading opposition MP Ousmane Sonko, who has been accused of rape, local media reported.

Sonko finished third in 2019 elections that saw President Macky Sall win a second term in office, and is considered a future presidential contender in the West African state.

But controversy has dogged the 46-year-old since early this month, when Senegalese media reported that a beauty-salon employee had filed rape charges against him.

Sonko, head of the opposition Pastef party, has denied the charges and accused the president of conspiring against him.

Senegal's 165-seat parliament voted on Friday to lift his legal immunity, with 98 MPs voting in favour of the motion, one voting against and two abstaining, local radio reported.&nbsp;

Die Mandiaye Ba, the head of the parliamentary committee responsible for the motion, told AFP that opposition MPs left the chamber before the vote.

Earlier on Friday, Sonko supporters gathered in several suburbs of the capital Dakar and burned tyres in protest.

The opposition leader said during a press conference on Thursday that he would not speak to police investigators, citing procedural irregularities in the lifting of his immunity.&nbsp;

"If Macky Sall wants to get rid of me, he must, for once, agree to get his hands dirty," Sonko said.&nbsp;

He had previously pledged to cooperate with the police, however.

The rape allegation against Sonko comes amid uncertainty over whether Sall, 59, will seek a third term.&nbsp;

Presidents in the former French colony of about 16 million people are limited to two consecutive terms, but Sall launched a constitutional review in 2016, raising suspicions he intends to run again.

Other presidents in West Africa -- such as Guinea's Alpha Conde or Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara -- have used constitutional changes to win third terms.&nbsp;

Senegal's parliament on Friday voted to lift the immunity of leading opposition MP Ousmane Sonko, who has been accused of rape, local media reported. Sonko finished third in 2019 elections that saw President Macky Sall win a second term in office, and is considered a future presidential contender in the West African state.

Senegal's parliament on Friday voted to lift the immunity of leading opposition MP Ousmane Sonko, who has been accused of rape, local media reported. Sonko finished third in 2019 elections that saw President Macky Sall win a second term in office, and is considered a future presidential contender in the West African state. But controversy has dogged the 46-year-old since early this month, when Senegalese media reported that a beauty-salon employee had filed rape charges against him. Sonko, head of the opposition Pastef party, has denied the charges and accused the president of conspiring against him. Senegal's 165-seat parliament voted on Friday to lift his legal immunity, with 98 MPs voting in favour of the motion, one voting against and two abstaining, local radio reported. Die Mandiaye Ba, the head of the parliamentary committee responsible for the motion, told AFP that opposition MPs left the chamber before the vote. Earlier on Friday, Sonko supporters gathered in several suburbs of the capital Dakar and burned tyres in protest. The opposition leader said during a press conference on Thursday that he would not speak to police investigators, citing procedural irregularities in the lifting of his immunity. "If Macky Sall wants to get rid of me, he must, for once, agree to get his hands dirty," Sonko said. He had previously pledged to cooperate with the police, however. The rape allegation against Sonko comes amid uncertainty over whether Sall, 59, will seek a third term. Presidents in the former French colony of about 16 million people are limited to two consecutive terms, but Sall launched a constitutional review in 2016, raising suspicions he intends to run again. Other presidents in West Africa -- such as Guinea's Alpha Conde or Ivory Coast's Alassane Ouattara -- have used constitutional changes to win third terms.

Senegal parliament lifts immunity for opposition MP accused of rape

When a government employee first went to police two years ago with claims of being raped in Australia’s Parliament building, she dropped the case, fearful of losing her job. Two years later, she decided to speak out publicly, prompting a political fallout that emboldened her Wednesday to file an official police report.

In the days since she went public, three other women have come forward, telling local news outlets that the same man, a former Liberal Party employee, had sexually assaulted them.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-apologises-to-women-who-alleged-rape-in-parliament-364056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Most cases of this nature don’t end up in a conviction,” the former government employee, Brittany Higgins, 26, said in a phone interview with The New York Times. “I’m speaking my truth, and I know it’s the right thing to do.”

To women’s rights advocates, the situation reflects the systemic misogyny in Australia’s halls of power, especially in the governing conservative Liberal Party.

Higgins said she had been questioned by the defense minister, then her boss, in the same room where the attack took place: the minister’s office. Those allegations drew an apology from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “This should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation,” he said last week. “That is not OK.”

But he was excoriated for what critics called a “train wreck” of a response. He seemed to suggest that it wasn’t until he’d had a chat with his wife — who he said had asked, “What if it was one of your daughters?” — that he offered an apology.

Some current and former government employees said they hoped the accusations finally catalyzed a cultural shift in Parliament. Some women’s rights advocates said such attitudes toward women ran deep in the blood of not only Australia’s government but also the nation at large, which has tended to lag behind other Western countries on gender issues.

“We really refuse to believe women,” said Sharna Bremner, an assault survivor and the founder of End Rape on Campus Australia, adding that the country’s strict defamation laws have tended to stifle the #MeToo movement.

The new accusations by the other women, spanning 2016 to 2020, were reported by the newspaper The Australian and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. At least one woman who came forward said she had done so out of support for Higgins. The women, who could not be reached for comment, have not been publicly identified. They have not publicly identified the man, either.

“I’m so sorry they had to go through this because I know how soul-destroying it is,” Higgins said of the women coming forward. She and her partner both left their jobs as a result of her ordeal, she added. “It’s been incredibly difficult,” she said. “It’s been deeply painful for my family to go through, for my loved ones to go through. I commend them personally on their bravery.”

One of the three women, whose accusations were first published Sunday in The Weekend Australian, said she had chosen to tell her story to help shine a light on the “awful” culture in the Australian government.

The woman told the paper that she met the man last year for dinner. She said that after he bought her several drinks, they went to her home, where he had sex with her without wearing a condom, despite her telling him they could not have sex unless he wore one. She told The Australian that if Higgins’ case had been properly dealt with by the government in 2019, “this would not have happened to me.”

Another woman, whose accusations were published by The Australian on Monday, said the same man had sexually assaulted her just days before the 2016 election. The woman said she had just finished high school. The man bought several rounds of vodka and tequila shots for her and offered to “look after” her in his hotel room, she said. The woman said that, after falling asleep, she awoke to find herself half undressed and the man lying on top of her.

She told The Australian that hearing Higgins’ story made her think her attacker “has a pattern of behavior.”

Another woman, whose account was made public Monday, said the same man “reached his hand under the table and stroked her thigh” in 2017, during drinks with colleagues at a bar in Canberra, the ABC reported.

In the days since all four women went public, Morrison has announced several inquiries into areas such as workplace culture, how sexual abuse accusations are handled by the government and what his own office knew about the alleged assault of Higgins at the time. Some of the investigations will be conducted by government ministers and others by independent agencies, he said.

Critics have said the government’s response has been lackluster. Governmental inquiries, they say, are likely to fall short of the kind of drastic cultural shift required to change attitudes toward women in Parliament and beyond.

“A review is a political Band-Aid,” said Rachael Burgin, a lecturer in criminology at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. “I’ve seen nothing from anyone in the government to suggest that they’ve taken it seriously enough to see some substantive change,” Burgin added.

Others have questioned Morrison’s claims that he had no knowledge of the alleged assault when it first occurred. Morrison has said he did not know about it until Feb. 12. He has since asked Phil Gaetjens, secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to conduct an inquiry.

Higgins’ former boss in Parliament, Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, has also apologized to Higgins, especially for holding a meeting about the alleged assault in the same room where it had occurred. On Wednesday, as Reynolds was set to discuss her handling of the accusations, she was hospitalized, citing existing medical conditions.

Higgins has said she was “determined to drive significant reform in the way the Australian Parliament handles issues of this nature and treats ministerial and parliamentary staff more generally.” She said that, for example, in 2019, an employee in the prime minister’s office had refused to provide her with access to the closed-circuit television footage from the evening of the alleged assault.

“Brittany Higgins is giving us an opportunity here to actually fix something,” said Clare O’Neil, a member of the opposition Labor Party. “This is a nation’s Parliament. We should be setting the standard, not the floor.” 
&nbsp;

When a government employee first went to police two years ago with claims of being raped in Australia’s Parliament building, she dropped the case, fearful of losing her job.

When a government employee first went to police two years ago with claims of being raped in Australia’s Parliament building, she dropped the case, fearful of losing her job. Two years later, she decided to speak out publicly, prompting a political fallout that emboldened her Wednesday to file an official police report. In the days since she went public, three other women have come forward, telling local news outlets that the same man, a former Liberal Party employee, had sexually assaulted them. Watch | “Most cases of this nature don’t end up in a conviction,” the former government employee, Brittany Higgins, 26, said in a phone interview with The New York Times. “I’m speaking my truth, and I know it’s the right thing to do.” To women’s rights advocates, the situation reflects the systemic misogyny in Australia’s halls of power, especially in the governing conservative Liberal Party. Higgins said she had been questioned by the defense minister, then her boss, in the same room where the attack took place: the minister’s office. Those allegations drew an apology from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “This should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation,” he said last week. “That is not OK.” But he was excoriated for what critics called a “train wreck” of a response. He seemed to suggest that it wasn’t until he’d had a chat with his wife — who he said had asked, “What if it was one of your daughters?” — that he offered an apology. Some current and former government employees said they hoped the accusations finally catalyzed a cultural shift in Parliament. Some women’s rights advocates said such attitudes toward women ran deep in the blood of not only Australia’s government but also the nation at large, which has tended to lag behind other Western countries on gender issues. “We really refuse to believe women,” said Sharna Bremner, an assault survivor and the founder of End Rape on Campus Australia, adding that the country’s strict defamation laws have tended to stifle the #MeToo movement. The new accusations by the other women, spanning 2016 to 2020, were reported by the newspaper The Australian and the Australian Broadcasting Corp. At least one woman who came forward said she had done so out of support for Higgins. The women, who could not be reached for comment, have not been publicly identified. They have not publicly identified the man, either. “I’m so sorry they had to go through this because I know how soul-destroying it is,” Higgins said of the women coming forward. She and her partner both left their jobs as a result of her ordeal, she added. “It’s been incredibly difficult,” she said. “It’s been deeply painful for my family to go through, for my loved ones to go through. I commend them personally on their bravery.” One of the three women, whose accusations were first published Sunday in The Weekend Australian, said she had chosen to tell her story to help shine a light on the “awful” culture in the Australian government. The woman told the paper that she met the man last year for dinner. She said that after he bought her several drinks, they went to her home, where he had sex with her without wearing a condom, despite her telling him they could not have sex unless he wore one. She told The Australian that if Higgins’ case had been properly dealt with by the government in 2019, “this would not have happened to me.” Another woman, whose accusations were published by The Australian on Monday, said the same man had sexually assaulted her just days before the 2016 election. The woman said she had just finished high school. The man bought several rounds of vodka and tequila shots for her and offered to “look after” her in his hotel room, she said. The woman said that, after falling asleep, she awoke to find herself half undressed and the man lying on top of her. She told The Australian that hearing Higgins’ story made her think her attacker “has a pattern of behavior.” Another woman, whose account was made public Monday, said the same man “reached his hand under the table and stroked her thigh” in 2017, during drinks with colleagues at a bar in Canberra, the ABC reported. In the days since all four women went public, Morrison has announced several inquiries into areas such as workplace culture, how sexual abuse accusations are handled by the government and what his own office knew about the alleged assault of Higgins at the time. Some of the investigations will be conducted by government ministers and others by independent agencies, he said. Critics have said the government’s response has been lackluster. Governmental inquiries, they say, are likely to fall short of the kind of drastic cultural shift required to change attitudes toward women in Parliament and beyond. “A review is a political Band-Aid,” said Rachael Burgin, a lecturer in criminology at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. “I’ve seen nothing from anyone in the government to suggest that they’ve taken it seriously enough to see some substantive change,” Burgin added. Others have questioned Morrison’s claims that he had no knowledge of the alleged assault when it first occurred. Morrison has said he did not know about it until Feb. 12. He has since asked Phil Gaetjens, secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to conduct an inquiry. Higgins’ former boss in Parliament, Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, has also apologized to Higgins, especially for holding a meeting about the alleged assault in the same room where it had occurred. On Wednesday, as Reynolds was set to discuss her handling of the accusations, she was hospitalized, citing existing medical conditions. Higgins has said she was “determined to drive significant reform in the way the Australian Parliament handles issues of this nature and treats ministerial and parliamentary staff more generally.” She said that, for example, in 2019, an employee in the prime minister’s office had refused to provide her with access to the closed-circuit television footage from the evening of the alleged assault. “Brittany Higgins is giving us an opportunity here to actually fix something,” said Clare O’Neil, a member of the opposition Labor Party. “This is a nation’s Parliament. We should be setting the standard, not the floor.”

She made a 'soul-destroying' rape claim. Then 3 others came forward.

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

A former French government minister faces at least three years in prison after a court found him guilty of raping an employee during "foot massages" in his office and at the home of his co-defendant. The verdict has come after nearly ten years of legal battles that initially led to an acquittal.

Georges Tron, 63, was a cabinet minister under prime minister Francois Fillon when he was forced to resign in 2011 over allegations made by two women who worked for him while he was mayor of Draveil, outside Paris.

France has been confronting a wave of sexual assault allegations that has pushed the government to promise tougher laws to protect victims and punish assailants. The country has been roiled by thousands of women breaking their silence since last year's publication of "Consent" by Vanessa Springora, whose account of abuse by a prize-winning author while she was still a minor has just been translated to English.

The women said that between 2007 and 2010, Tron, known for practising reflexology as a hobby, imposed foot massage sessions that would involve groping and digital penetration, at times turning into threesomes with his deputy Brigitte Gruel.

Virginie Ettel and Eva Loubrieu testified that they felt powerless to resist the politician over fear of losing their jobs. Ettel later resigned, while Loubrieu was fired after being accused of theft.

But the court convicted Tron of raping only Ettel, saying he had applied "psychological constraint" because she was his direct subordinate at city hall.

Gruel was handed a suspended two-year sentence.

Tron and Gruel deny the allegations, which were rejected just over two years ago by a court that found no use of force and said the women appeared motivated by a desire for "vengeance." Tron's lawyer at the time, Eric Dupond-Moretti, had declared "a victory for justice."

(with inputs from AFP)

A former French government minister faces at least three years in prison after a court found him guilty of raping an employee during "foot massages" in his office and at the home of his co-defendant.

A former French government minister faces at least three years in prison after a court found him guilty of raping an employee during "foot massages" in his office and at the home of his co-defendant. The verdict has come after nearly ten years of legal battles that initially led to an acquittal. Georges Tron, 63, was a cabinet minister under prime minister Francois Fillon when he was forced to resign in 2011 over allegations made by two women who worked for him while he was mayor of Draveil, outside Paris. France has been confronting a wave of sexual assault allegations that has pushed the government to promise tougher laws to protect victims and punish assailants. The country has been roiled by thousands of women breaking their silence since last year's publication of "Consent" by Vanessa Springora, whose account of abuse by a prize-winning author while she was still a minor has just been translated to English. The women said that between 2007 and 2010, Tron, known for practising reflexology as a hobby, imposed foot massage sessions that would involve groping and digital penetration, at times turning into threesomes with his deputy Brigitte Gruel. Virginie Ettel and Eva Loubrieu testified that they felt powerless to resist the politician over fear of losing their jobs. Ettel later resigned, while Loubrieu was fired after being accused of theft. But the court convicted Tron of raping only Ettel, saying he had applied "psychological constraint" because she was his direct subordinate at city hall. Gruel was handed a suspended two-year sentence. Tron and Gruel deny the allegations, which were rejected just over two years ago by a court that found no use of force and said the women appeared motivated by a desire for "vengeance." Tron's lawyer at the time, Eric Dupond-Moretti, had declared "a victory for justice." (with inputs from AFP)

Former French minister convicted of rape

A woman has revealed that she was raped by 20 firefighters when she was between 13 and 15 years old. Following this revelation, locals of France have come out in support of her.

The victim's case is being examined in France's highest court for the allegations made by the girl.&nbsp;

She has accused the firefighters of raping her over a period of two years, while she was a minor. However, three of the accused have agreed to have sex with her, but have claimed it was consensual, and not rape.

However, the victim's journal — which was written shortly after the incidents — she says she was "terrified and paralysed with fear".

She has accused a firefighter, Pierre, from the Bourg-la-Reine fire station in Paris of sending her "affectionate messages" after getting her number from her medical file. She further revealed that he had asked her to undress in front of the webcam, and then passed around her number to his colleagues when she agreed. She has also accused the other firefighters of demanding the same from her. "

Pierre had known the girl as he had helped her battle severe anxiety seizures back in 2008 when she was 13 years old. This has come as a shock for her mother too who said she used to bake cakes for the firemen as a thank you for helping her daughter through the seizures — which had severely increased after the assaults, leading to firefighters visiting her house to "help" her nearly 130 times in two years. &nbsp;

"I thought he was the last person to do such a thing because he had helped her so many times and saw how vulnerable she was," said the victim's mother.

The victim has also confessed that Pierre had taken her to his apartment while in his full uniform and had raped her. Two of his colleagues later came to his apartment and she was subjected to gang rape. This had taken place in November 2009, when was 14 years old.

Two of the accused admitted to having "group sex" with the victim while on duty and in their full uniforms. Another one admitted to having engaged in sexual activity in the cubicle of a Paris hospital's toilet but denied having spotted any signs of restraint or vulnerability from the minor girl.

What has fueled Parisians with anger is that out of the 20 accused, only three have been charged with "sexual violation" as of now, but none have been charged for rape. In France, the maximum sentence for sexual violation is seven years, which is much less when compared to 20 years for rape.

"Every stereotype about rape is in this case: the judges and the psychiatrist say Julie is a liar, that she consented to sex with all those men, and that she is lying about being raped because she is ashamed," said Marjolaine Vignola, the victim's advocate.

Several feminist groups are now joining hands and marching on the streets of Paris demanding justice for the victim who has been fighting to prove her accusations true for nearly 10 years.

"For 10 years they were fighting alone, now thousands of feminists from all over France are joining them," said Marguerite Stern, from a feminist group l’Amazone. "We are demanding that the firefighters be tried for rape and not ‘sexual violation’. This culture of misogyny in our courts must end."

A woman has revealed that she was raped by 20 firefighters when she was between 13 and 15 years old. Following this revelation, locals of France have come out in support of her.

A woman has revealed that she was raped by 20 firefighters when she was between 13 and 15 years old. Following this revelation, locals of France have come out in support of her. The victim's case is being examined in France's highest court for the allegations made by the girl. She has accused the firefighters of raping her over a period of two years, while she was a minor. However, three of the accused have agreed to have sex with her, but have claimed it was consensual, and not rape. However, the victim's journal — which was written shortly after the incidents — she says she was "terrified and paralysed with fear". She has accused a firefighter, Pierre, from the Bourg-la-Reine fire station in Paris of sending her "affectionate messages" after getting her number from her medical file. She further revealed that he had asked her to undress in front of the webcam, and then passed around her number to his colleagues when she agreed. She has also accused the other firefighters of demanding the same from her. " Pierre had known the girl as he had helped her battle severe anxiety seizures back in 2008 when she was 13 years old. This has come as a shock for her mother too who said she used to bake cakes for the firemen as a thank you for helping her daughter through the seizures — which had severely increased after the assaults, leading to firefighters visiting her house to "help" her nearly 130 times in two years. "I thought he was the last person to do such a thing because he had helped her so many times and saw how vulnerable she was," said the victim's mother. The victim has also confessed that Pierre had taken her to his apartment while in his full uniform and had raped her. Two of his colleagues later came to his apartment and she was subjected to gang rape. This had taken place in November 2009, when was 14 years old. Two of the accused admitted to having "group sex" with the victim while on duty and in their full uniforms. Another one admitted to having engaged in sexual activity in the cubicle of a Paris hospital's toilet but denied having spotted any signs of restraint or vulnerability from the minor girl. What has fueled Parisians with anger is that out of the 20 accused, only three have been charged with "sexual violation" as of now, but none have been charged for rape. In France, the maximum sentence for sexual violation is seven years, which is much less when compared to 20 years for rape. "Every stereotype about rape is in this case: the judges and the psychiatrist say Julie is a liar, that she consented to sex with all those men, and that she is lying about being raped because she is ashamed," said Marjolaine Vignola, the victim's advocate. Several feminist groups are now joining hands and marching on the streets of Paris demanding justice for the victim who has been fighting to prove her accusations true for nearly 10 years. "For 10 years they were fighting alone, now thousands of feminists from all over France are joining them," said Marguerite Stern, from a feminist group l’Amazone. "We are demanding that the firefighters be tried for rape and not ‘sexual violation’. This culture of misogyny in our courts must end."

Paris: 20 firefighters accused of raping minor for 2 years; France rallies in support of victim

UN has received reports of an increase in sexual violence and abuse in Ethiopia's conflict-hit Tigray region. There has been a high number of reported rapes in the capital, Mekelle.

UN: Disturbing rise in rape in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit Tigray region

A Pakistani religious leader has been arrested on Friday for collecting "obscene" images of a minor girl and blackmailing the family.&nbsp;

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) crime cell arrested the suspect following a successful raid, Faizullah Korejo, the agency's additional director at its Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Karachi said as reported by Dawn.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Korejo said a "brave mother" informed them that they have appointed a Qari (religious teacher) to teach Quran to her children at home.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/provincial-govt-to-pay-for-pakistan-hindu-temple-destroyed-by-mob-353834">Provincial govt to pay for Pakistan Hindu temple destroyed by mob</a>

Later, the 13-year-old child complained that the teacher is "physically abusing" her while teaching and was even in possession of "obscene" images of her for blackmailing.&nbsp;

The accused also sent the photographs to the girl's mother via Whatsapp for blackmailing.&nbsp;

"The accused was threatening the family that if his unethical demands were not met, he would make the pictures viral on social media," said Korejo.

The FIA official said that then one of their teams conducted a raid to nab the suspect.&nbsp;

The suspect was arrested and his mobile phone was confiscated that showed "obscene" image of the minor, Korejo said.

The religious leader has been booked under various sections of Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and Pakistan Penal Code.&nbsp;

The FIA took service of a stress counsellor for the minor victim to give her professional counselling.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A Pakistani religious leader has been arrested on Friday for collecting "obscene" images of a minor girl and blackmailing the family. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) crime cell arrested the suspect following a successful raid, Faizullah Korejo, the agency's additional director at its Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Karachi said as reported by Dawn.

A Pakistani religious leader has been arrested on Friday for collecting "obscene" images of a minor girl and blackmailing the family. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) crime cell arrested the suspect following a successful raid, Faizullah Korejo, the agency's additional director at its Cybercrime Reporting Centre in Karachi said as reported by Dawn. Watch | Korejo said a "brave mother" informed them that they have appointed a Qari (religious teacher) to teach Quran to her children at home. Also read | Provincial govt to pay for Pakistan Hindu temple destroyed by mob Later, the 13-year-old child complained that the teacher is "physically abusing" her while teaching and was even in possession of "obscene" images of her for blackmailing. The accused also sent the photographs to the girl's mother via Whatsapp for blackmailing. "The accused was threatening the family that if his unethical demands were not met, he would make the pictures viral on social media," said Korejo. The FIA official said that then one of their teams conducted a raid to nab the suspect. The suspect was arrested and his mobile phone was confiscated that showed "obscene" image of the minor, Korejo said. The religious leader has been booked under various sections of Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and Pakistan Penal Code. The FIA took service of a stress counsellor for the minor victim to give her professional counselling.

Pakistan: Religious leader arrested for abusing, blackmailing minor girl

South Korea’s most infamous rapist was released on Saturday after serving 12 years in prison, sparking angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats that led to an increased police presence outside the predator’s home.

Protesters gathered outside a prison in southern Seoul on Saturday, shouting “Send him to hell!” and “Castrate him!,” as Cho Doo-soon was released.

Cho was arrested in 2008 and later convicted of raping an 8-year-old girl, and his name has since become synonymous with the soft-glove treatment sex offenders are said to receive in the country’s courts.

When Cho, now 68, was released at dawn Saturday, people were still enraged.

“What kind of country is this, protecting such a rapist?” protesters shouted as Cho was driven out in a gray government van under heavy police protection.

Some protesters lay down on the pavement, holding signs and shouting slogans, in an attempt to prevent Cho from leaving. Police officers removed them and built barricades to allow the van carrying Cho to pass. Protesters kicked at the van and hurled eggs and insults at the vehicle. Anonymous death treats were issued against Cho online, forcing the authorities to add more police officers and surveillance cameras around his home.

Public anger has surged in recent months as the date of Cho’s release approached. On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed a bill, nicknamed the “Cho Doo-soon law,” which banned people convicted of sexually assaulting minors from leaving their homes at night or during hours when students commute to and from school. The law also bans such sex offenders from going near schools.

South Korean courts have long been accused of leniency in meting out justice to white-collar criminals and sex offenders.

In April, a 24-year-old man named Son Jong-woo was released from prison after completing an 18-month sentence for running one of the world’s biggest child pornography websites. In July, a local court rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s request to have him extradited to face money-laundering and other charges in an American court.

Women’s rights advocates have said the justice system’s inability to properly punish sex offenders has allowed sexual abuse to proliferate nationwide.

But sex crimes here have also attracted more scrutiny in recent years, coupled with the country’s growing #MeToo movement, and the government has vowed tougher punishments. Last month, a 25-year-old man named Cho Joo-bin was sentenced to 40 years in prison for blackmailing young women, including eight minors, into making sexually explicit videos that he sold through encrypted online chat rooms.

Cho Doo-soon, who is not related to Cho Joo-bin, was drunk when he kidnapped a first-grader on her way to school and raped her in a church restroom in 2008. His drunkenness, age and “weak mental state” were cited as mitigating factors when the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison. The prosecutors, who in South Korea can push for stiffer punishments after sentencing in an appeal, chose not to.

Cho’s pending release from prison captured the attention of many South Koreans and the local news media for weeks. The Justice Ministry had not revealed from which prison Cho would be released on Saturday or at what time. But hundreds of protesters and journalists found out and gathered outside the Seoul prison from which he was released, the Justice Ministry facility in Ansan south of Seoul where Cho made a brief stop, and a house in Ansan where he planned to live with his wife.

Ansan residents have protested his return home, saying that they don’t feel safe with him in their neighborhood.

The police promised round-the-clock monitoring. Cho was seen wearing an electronic ankle monitor when he left prison on Saturday and was ordered to wear it for seven years. His whereabouts and photograph will be available on a government website for registered sex offenders.

The police also installed a monitoring system at his home and will make random visits there to check on him. They also have added 35 surveillance cameras, brighter streetlights and police booths in Cho’s neighborhood to monitor his movements and also deter people who have threatened to attack him. Police officers specially trained in martial arts will patrol his neighborhood.

Cho, wearing a cap and mask, did not respond to questions shouted by reporters on Saturday. But Ko Jeong-dae, a Justice Ministry official assigned to supervise Cho during his post-prison life, said Cho was surprised by the rage directed at him.

“While we were moving in the car, he told me he hadn’t expected this,” Ko told reporters in a briefing. “He said he had committed an unpardonable atrocity and he would live in repentance for the rest of his life.”

South Korea’s most infamous rapist was released on Saturday after serving 12 years in prison, sparking angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats that led to an increased police presence outside the predator’s home.

South Korea’s most infamous rapist was released on Saturday after serving 12 years in prison, sparking angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats that led to an increased police presence outside the predator’s home. Protesters gathered outside a prison in southern Seoul on Saturday, shouting “Send him to hell!” and “Castrate him!,” as Cho Doo-soon was released. Cho was arrested in 2008 and later convicted of raping an 8-year-old girl, and his name has since become synonymous with the soft-glove treatment sex offenders are said to receive in the country’s courts. When Cho, now 68, was released at dawn Saturday, people were still enraged. “What kind of country is this, protecting such a rapist?” protesters shouted as Cho was driven out in a gray government van under heavy police protection. Some protesters lay down on the pavement, holding signs and shouting slogans, in an attempt to prevent Cho from leaving. Police officers removed them and built barricades to allow the van carrying Cho to pass. Protesters kicked at the van and hurled eggs and insults at the vehicle. Anonymous death treats were issued against Cho online, forcing the authorities to add more police officers and surveillance cameras around his home. Public anger has surged in recent months as the date of Cho’s release approached. On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed a bill, nicknamed the “Cho Doo-soon law,” which banned people convicted of sexually assaulting minors from leaving their homes at night or during hours when students commute to and from school. The law also bans such sex offenders from going near schools. South Korean courts have long been accused of leniency in meting out justice to white-collar criminals and sex offenders. In April, a 24-year-old man named Son Jong-woo was released from prison after completing an 18-month sentence for running one of the world’s biggest child pornography websites. In July, a local court rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s request to have him extradited to face money-laundering and other charges in an American court. Women’s rights advocates have said the justice system’s inability to properly punish sex offenders has allowed sexual abuse to proliferate nationwide. But sex crimes here have also attracted more scrutiny in recent years, coupled with the country’s growing #MeToo movement, and the government has vowed tougher punishments. Last month, a 25-year-old man named Cho Joo-bin was sentenced to 40 years in prison for blackmailing young women, including eight minors, into making sexually explicit videos that he sold through encrypted online chat rooms. Cho Doo-soon, who is not related to Cho Joo-bin, was drunk when he kidnapped a first-grader on her way to school and raped her in a church restroom in 2008. His drunkenness, age and “weak mental state” were cited as mitigating factors when the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison. The prosecutors, who in South Korea can push for stiffer punishments after sentencing in an appeal, chose not to. Cho’s pending release from prison captured the attention of many South Koreans and the local news media for weeks. The Justice Ministry had not revealed from which prison Cho would be released on Saturday or at what time. But hundreds of protesters and journalists found out and gathered outside the Seoul prison from which he was released, the Justice Ministry facility in Ansan south of Seoul where Cho made a brief stop, and a house in Ansan where he planned to live with his wife. Ansan residents have protested his return home, saying that they don’t feel safe with him in their neighborhood. The police promised round-the-clock monitoring. Cho was seen wearing an electronic ankle monitor when he left prison on Saturday and was ordered to wear it for seven years. His whereabouts and photograph will be available on a government website for registered sex offenders. The police also installed a monitoring system at his home and will make random visits there to check on him. They also have added 35 surveillance cameras, brighter streetlights and police booths in Cho’s neighborhood to monitor his movements and also deter people who have threatened to attack him. Police officers specially trained in martial arts will patrol his neighborhood. Cho, wearing a cap and mask, did not respond to questions shouted by reporters on Saturday. But Ko Jeong-dae, a Justice Ministry official assigned to supervise Cho during his post-prison life, said Cho was surprised by the rage directed at him. “While we were moving in the car, he told me he hadn’t expected this,” Ko told reporters in a briefing. “He said he had committed an unpardonable atrocity and he would live in repentance for the rest of his life.”

Protests erupt as South Korea’s most notorious rapist walks free

When questioned about crimes against women by wayward youth, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav once said, rather than condemning, that kids can commit mistakes.

On the other hand, our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi once said that we don’t ask our sons, when returning home at night, as to why they are late or where they have been, but daughters are grilled. These are two contrasting statements worth thinking about if we have to change the situation.

The brutality of the rape of our daughters&nbsp;Nirbhaya, Kathua and Hathras refuses to fade away from our minds. The pain is only deepening further with the number of cases increasing at an alarming rate and their brutality getting severe. &nbsp;

A heinous crime like rape is not only devastating to the victim but most damaging to the survivor as well as the community.&nbsp;

National Crimes Records Bureau 2019 data indicates India faces about 88 rapes every single day. The number is worrisome also because sexual abuse reported on minors and even infants is on the rise. &nbsp;

Even animals are not aggressive so the depraved human perpetrators need to be called devils and not insult animals. Rajasthan is in the top spot per lakh population with one of the highest reported numbers of rapes and sexual abuse.&nbsp;

The state administration cites ease of reporting to be one of the factors for the increased number of cases reported in comparison to states like Uttar Pradesh that recorded less reporting than previous years. &nbsp;

Number of reported crimes is not true portrayal of the problem as the conviction rate remains very low. Only 27 percent of cases got a conviction decree in the year 2018. Nearly three quarter of the total number of devils got away.

An important fact here is that the number of reported cases is just the tip of the iceberg, if we go by the findings of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in the year 2007, one of the major findings is that 50 per cent of the abusers are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility. &nbsp;

Moreover, politicisation of cases, threatening victims, blaming and shaming them and insensitive media coverage discourages rape survivors and victims' family to report the case.&nbsp;

Even with stringent laws, legal processes remain tedious and insensitive with advocates dealing with the abuse survivors as they interrogate criminals.&nbsp; 
Delay in justice and low conviction are dampeners for under-reporting or withdrawal from seeking justice.&nbsp;

Low social status of women and the caste dynamics clearly seems to favour the abusers and rape as a tool to re-establish their status by targetting vindictive actions on women. &nbsp;

Who can forget Bhanwari Devi’s case in Rajasthan about 25 years ago that lead to formulation of prevention against sexual harassment at workplace law.&nbsp;

Bhanwari Devi was 'taught a lesson' for preventing child marriage by the angry Gujjar community. Thus the crime of child marriage in the region also continued unabated. &nbsp;

The case stormed the nation but the caste dynamics strongly prevails and the unfortunate Harthras case not only reflects that we as a society have not changed a bit but the process also remains as complex as it was.&nbsp;

The discrimination faced by the victim's family is further fuelled by statements made by people in leadership and political positions. These statements often defend such acts by men and boys by blaming and shaming women for their quest for equality.

Kathua rape and murder of a minor led to nationwide protest and agitations eventually leading to formulation of stringent legislation. But even death penalty fails to curb the massive number of rapes in the country.&nbsp;

Harsh punishments like the death penalty also pose a risk of under-reporting if the abuser is from an influential family. The social construct and power dynamics are often in favour of supporting male members and influences the decisions hugely.&nbsp;

We really need to introspect deeply on where we as individuals and as a society are failing.&nbsp;

It is important to realise that the problem of abuse and rape is deep-rooted and relates closely to the status of women in society. Deteriorating child sex ratio, high percentage of girls dropping out of education, child marriage, teen pregnancies and more statistics that otherwise look comparatively benign tell a much greater story.

Evidently, all of these issues reflect a more serious situation among under-privileged scheduled tribes and castes, the communities that face high number of rapes and abuse.

Stringent legislation and its enforcement are no doubt the most important factors but it is equally important to assess how these laws are impacting the community. If so then legislations need to be re-visited in favour of safeguarding the survivors.&nbsp;

Hitting the issue early and at the right time is crucial, devising a robust sex education component in school education and sensitising our communities and particularly leaders to behave responsibly could have a long-lasting positive impact. &nbsp;

And not to forget that there are good examples from other countries that look at rape as the most heinous crime causing lifelong damage to a person. These countries have then worked effectively on penalties and solutions.

(The opinions expressed in this article are writers' own)

When questioned about crimes against women by wayward youth, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav once said, rather than condemning, that kids can commit mistakes.

When questioned about crimes against women by wayward youth, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav once said, rather than condemning, that kids can commit mistakes. On the other hand, our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi once said that we don’t ask our sons, when returning home at night, as to why they are late or where they have been, but daughters are grilled. These are two contrasting statements worth thinking about if we have to change the situation. The brutality of the rape of our daughters Nirbhaya, Kathua and Hathras refuses to fade away from our minds. The pain is only deepening further with the number of cases increasing at an alarming rate and their brutality getting severe. A heinous crime like rape is not only devastating to the victim but most damaging to the survivor as well as the community. National Crimes Records Bureau 2019 data indicates India faces about 88 rapes every single day. The number is worrisome also because sexual abuse reported on minors and even infants is on the rise. Even animals are not aggressive so the depraved human perpetrators need to be called devils and not insult animals. Rajasthan is in the top spot per lakh population with one of the highest reported numbers of rapes and sexual abuse. The state administration cites ease of reporting to be one of the factors for the increased number of cases reported in comparison to states like Uttar Pradesh that recorded less reporting than previous years. Number of reported crimes is not true portrayal of the problem as the conviction rate remains very low. Only 27 percent of cases got a conviction decree in the year 2018. Nearly three quarter of the total number of devils got away. An important fact here is that the number of reported cases is just the tip of the iceberg, if we go by the findings of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in the year 2007, one of the major findings is that 50 per cent of the abusers are persons known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility. Moreover, politicisation of cases, threatening victims, blaming and shaming them and insensitive media coverage discourages rape survivors and victims' family to report the case. Even with stringent laws, legal processes remain tedious and insensitive with advocates dealing with the abuse survivors as they interrogate criminals. Delay in justice and low conviction are dampeners for under-reporting or withdrawal from seeking justice. Low social status of women and the caste dynamics clearly seems to favour the abusers and rape as a tool to re-establish their status by targetting vindictive actions on women. Who can forget Bhanwari Devi’s case in Rajasthan about 25 years ago that lead to formulation of prevention against sexual harassment at workplace law. Bhanwari Devi was 'taught a lesson' for preventing child marriage by the angry Gujjar community. Thus the crime of child marriage in the region also continued unabated. The case stormed the nation but the caste dynamics strongly prevails and the unfortunate Harthras case not only reflects that we as a society have not changed a bit but the process also remains as complex as it was. The discrimination faced by the victim's family is further fuelled by statements made by people in leadership and political positions. These statements often defend such acts by men and boys by blaming and shaming women for their quest for equality. Kathua rape and murder of a minor led to nationwide protest and agitations eventually leading to formulation of stringent legislation. But even death penalty fails to curb the massive number of rapes in the country. Harsh punishments like the death penalty also pose a risk of under-reporting if the abuser is from an influential family. The social construct and power dynamics are often in favour of supporting male members and influences the decisions hugely. We really need to introspect deeply on where we as individuals and as a society are failing. It is important to realise that the problem of abuse and rape is deep-rooted and relates closely to the status of women in society. Deteriorating child sex ratio, high percentage of girls dropping out of education, child marriage, teen pregnancies and more statistics that otherwise look comparatively benign tell a much greater story. Evidently, all of these issues reflect a more serious situation among under-privileged scheduled tribes and castes, the communities that face high number of rapes and abuse. Stringent legislation and its enforcement are no doubt the most important factors but it is equally important to assess how these laws are impacting the community. If so then legislations need to be re-visited in favour of safeguarding the survivors. Hitting the issue early and at the right time is crucial, devising a robust sex education component in school education and sensitising our communities and particularly leaders to behave responsibly could have a long-lasting positive impact. And not to forget that there are good examples from other countries that look at rape as the most heinous crime causing lifelong damage to a person. These countries have then worked effectively on penalties and solutions. (The opinions expressed in this article are writers' own)

Countering crimes against women effectively

Outrage erupted in Brazil Tuesday (Nov 3) over video footage of a rape trial where the defendant's attorney verbally attacked and humiliated the alleged victim, leaving her in tears and vainly begging the judge to intervene.

Mariana Ferrer, a 23-year-old event promoter, accused wealthy businessman Andre Aranha, 42, of raping her during a party she was hired to promote in 2018 in the trendy beach resort of Florianopolis in southern Brazil.

She says she was drugged before the assault happened.

Aranha hired high-profile defence attorney Gaston da Rosa Filho, who virulently attacked Ferrer's credibility during the trial.

Filho aggressively questioned Ferrer over sensual photos she had posted online and told her, "I pray to God my son never meets a woman like you." He called Ferrer's rape allegation a "little show" and accused her of using it for financial gain.

"It's no use to fake cry. Get your crocodile tears out of here," he said after she broke down at the trial, held by remote video link earlier this year.

The episode left a shaken Ferrer begging Judge Rudson Marcos to intervene.

"Please, your honour, even defendants, even murderers, aren't treated the way I'm being treated," she said through sobs.

Aranha was acquitted after Filho successfully argued his client had at worst committed "culpable rape" - in other words, that he did not realise Ferrer was unable to consent, according to news site The Intercept Brazil.

But backlash broke out when the site published excerpts of the trial video.

The National Justice Council (CNJ), a judicial oversight body, announced an investigation into Marcos's conduct.

The hashtag #JusticeforMariFerrer was meanwhile a top trending topic on Twitter.

"The scenes from Mariana Ferrer's trial are appalling. The justice system should be a place of refuge, not of torture and humiliation," tweeted Brazil Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.

Outrage erupted in Brazil Tuesday (Nov 3) over video footage of a rape trial where the defendant's attorney verbally attacked and humiliated the alleged victim, leaving her in tears and vainly begging the judge to intervene.

Outrage erupted in Brazil Tuesday (Nov 3) over video footage of a rape trial where the defendant's attorney verbally attacked and humiliated the alleged victim, leaving her in tears and vainly begging the judge to intervene. Mariana Ferrer, a 23-year-old event promoter, accused wealthy businessman Andre Aranha, 42, of raping her during a party she was hired to promote in 2018 in the trendy beach resort of Florianopolis in southern Brazil. She says she was drugged before the assault happened. Aranha hired high-profile defence attorney Gaston da Rosa Filho, who virulently attacked Ferrer's credibility during the trial. Filho aggressively questioned Ferrer over sensual photos she had posted online and told her, "I pray to God my son never meets a woman like you." He called Ferrer's rape allegation a "little show" and accused her of using it for financial gain. "It's no use to fake cry. Get your crocodile tears out of here," he said after she broke down at the trial, held by remote video link earlier this year. The episode left a shaken Ferrer begging Judge Rudson Marcos to intervene. "Please, your honour, even defendants, even murderers, aren't treated the way I'm being treated," she said through sobs. Aranha was acquitted after Filho successfully argued his client had at worst committed "culpable rape" - in other words, that he did not realise Ferrer was unable to consent, according to news site The Intercept Brazil. But backlash broke out when the site published excerpts of the trial video. The National Justice Council (CNJ), a judicial oversight body, announced an investigation into Marcos's conduct. The hashtag #JusticeforMariFerrer was meanwhile a top trending topic on Twitter. "The scenes from Mariana Ferrer's trial are appalling. The justice system should be a place of refuge, not of torture and humiliation," tweeted Brazil Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes.

Fury in Brazil over humiliation of woman at rape trial

Protesters took to Dhaka's streets on Wednesday to demand action on rising rape cases in Bangladesh, saying a new law that expanded the use of the death penalty was not enough to bring about real change.

Women's rights campaigners are demanding a root and branch reform of the legal system and more education to address what they say is a rising incidence of violence against women in Bangladesh.

Earlier this month, the government changed the law to make rape committed by a single person punishable by death following protests triggered by an online video showing a group of men sexually assaulting a woman.

Previously, the death penalty could only be applied to gang rape, or rape that resulted in the victim's death.

"We didn't protest to change the law or to look for punishments. We protested to change this culture where women and girls are treated unfairly," said Shireen Huq, founder of Naripokkho, a women's rights group.

"To change this, we need to attack the root. We need to include sex education in curriculums. We also need to educate families so that they stop blaming girls for this," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Government ministers could not immediately be reached for comment. Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters last week that he was confident the change in the law would lead to a drop in rapes.

Bangladesh has seen a surge in reported sexual crimes in recent years, but convictions remain rare at just 3% of cases.

Nearly 1,000 sexual crimes were reported between January and September, including more than 200 gang rapes, according to human rights group Ain-o-Salish Kendra.

Women's rights campaigners say the true figure is likely much higher as such crimes often go unreported.

Among the proposals put forward by the Rape Law Reform Coalition of 17 human rights groups are more options for sentencing convicted rapists.

At the moment, the only options are life imprisonment or death, which campaigners said could make judges reluctant to convict.

It also wants the government to review the use of character evidence in rape cases, which it says provides scope for blaming the victim.

Campaigners have also urged the government to ensure rape trials are completed within 180 days.

"There are cases which have been running for 12 years. We need to improve on this," said Maleka Banu, a spokeswoman for Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, a women's rights group.

Activist Shrobona Shafique was among the about 150 protesters who turned out on Wednesday, following a larger demonstration over the weekend that was attacked by counter-demonstrators.

"We raised our voice against the attack of the anti-rape rally. We also reaffirmed that we don't think death sentence is the solution," she said. "We need systemic changes."

Protesters took to Dhaka's streets on Wednesday to demand action on rising rape cases in Bangladesh, saying a new law that expanded the use of the death penalty was not enough to bring about real change.

Protesters took to Dhaka's streets on Wednesday to demand action on rising rape cases in Bangladesh, saying a new law that expanded the use of the death penalty was not enough to bring about real change. Women's rights campaigners are demanding a root and branch reform of the legal system and more education to address what they say is a rising incidence of violence against women in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, the government changed the law to make rape committed by a single person punishable by death following protests triggered by an online video showing a group of men sexually assaulting a woman. Previously, the death penalty could only be applied to gang rape, or rape that resulted in the victim's death. "We didn't protest to change the law or to look for punishments. We protested to change this culture where women and girls are treated unfairly," said Shireen Huq, founder of Naripokkho, a women's rights group. "To change this, we need to attack the root. We need to include sex education in curriculums. We also need to educate families so that they stop blaming girls for this," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Government ministers could not immediately be reached for comment. Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters last week that he was confident the change in the law would lead to a drop in rapes. Bangladesh has seen a surge in reported sexual crimes in recent years, but convictions remain rare at just 3% of cases. Nearly 1,000 sexual crimes were reported between January and September, including more than 200 gang rapes, according to human rights group Ain-o-Salish Kendra. Women's rights campaigners say the true figure is likely much higher as such crimes often go unreported. Among the proposals put forward by the Rape Law Reform Coalition of 17 human rights groups are more options for sentencing convicted rapists. At the moment, the only options are life imprisonment or death, which campaigners said could make judges reluctant to convict. It also wants the government to review the use of character evidence in rape cases, which it says provides scope for blaming the victim. Campaigners have also urged the government to ensure rape trials are completed within 180 days. "There are cases which have been running for 12 years. We need to improve on this," said Maleka Banu, a spokeswoman for Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, a women's rights group. Activist Shrobona Shafique was among the about 150 protesters who turned out on Wednesday, following a larger demonstration over the weekend that was attacked by counter-demonstrators. "We raised our voice against the attack of the anti-rape rally. We also reaffirmed that we don't think death sentence is the solution," she said. "We need systemic changes."

Bangladeshi protestors say death penalty not the answer to rise in rape

Hundreds of locals in Dhaka staged a protest rally from&nbsp;Dhaka to Noakhali to raise their voices against the rising number of rape incidents in the country.

With banners reading "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity), several hundreds of locals and members of the opposition political party gathered&nbsp;at Shahbagh in the capital city on Friday morning.

The protestors are demanding&nbsp;exemplary punishment of the sexual violence attackers, resignation of the&nbsp;home minister and&nbsp;Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) charter, the local media reported.

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These protests have been increasing in number with the sudden increase in the cases of sexual violence against women, especially since the recent case of gang rape in Sylhet's MC College and in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila.

The protestors have started a two-day rally in which they will be marching to Gulistan on foot and then head towards Narayanganj by bus to hold a rally. From there, they will then move to&nbsp;Comilla and Feni and then hold a rally in Maizdi of Noakhali.

A total of seven buses will transport nearly 450 people and then five additional buses will join at Narayanganj,&nbsp;Samajtantrik Chhatra Front's Dhaka University unit Vice President Sadekul Islam Sadik told the local reporters.

Hundreds of locals in Dhaka staged a protest rally from Dhaka to Noakhali to raise their voices against the rising number of rape incidents in the country. With banners reading "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity), several hundreds of locals and members of the opposition political party gathered at Shahbagh in the capital city on Friday morning.

Hundreds of locals in Dhaka staged a protest rally from Dhaka to Noakhali to raise their voices against the rising number of rape incidents in the country. With banners reading "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity), several hundreds of locals and members of the opposition political party gathered at Shahbagh in the capital city on Friday morning. The protestors are demanding exemplary punishment of the sexual violence attackers, resignation of the home minister and Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) charter, the local media reported. Also read| India invited for global aid conference on rohingya refugees These protests have been increasing in number with the sudden increase in the cases of sexual violence against women, especially since the recent case of gang rape in Sylhet's MC College and in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila. The protestors have started a two-day rally in which they will be marching to Gulistan on foot and then head towards Narayanganj by bus to hold a rally. From there, they will then move to Comilla and Feni and then hold a rally in Maizdi of Noakhali. A total of seven buses will transport nearly 450 people and then five additional buses will join at Narayanganj, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front's Dhaka University unit Vice President Sadekul Islam Sadik told the local reporters.

Bangladesh: Hundreds begin two-day march to protest against increase in rape cases

Bangladesh’s cabinet on Monday approved the death penalty for rapists amid nationwide protests in the wake of a series of gang rapes and sexual assaults.

Bangladesh has seen a surge of sexual crimes in recent years, with nearly 1,000 incidents reported between January and September, more than a fifth of them gang rapes, according to human rights group Ain-o-Salish Kendra.

Experts, however, said tougher penalties would not be enough to tackle the problem and authorities needed to immediately address systemic problems in rape trials and the extremely low conviction rates.

Rights activists blame the increasing number of assaults on a culture of impunity and protection of suspects by influential individuals for political reasons.

The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the proposal to make the death penalty the highest punishment for rape, Law Minister Anisul Huq told Reuters.

"The law needed to be amended quickly...(Cabinet) has decided an ordinance will be promulgated tomorrow, with the approval of the president, as the parliament is not holding sessions currently," he said.

The latest outpouring of national anger was sparked by a video of a group of men stripping and attacking a woman for almost half an hour in the southeastern district of Noakhali.

An investigation by an autonomous state body, the National Human Rights Commission, found the woman in the video had been raped repeatedly and terrorised with weapons by one of the group over the last year.

"No mercy to rapists" shouted protesters gathered in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere, hundreds of women and students among them. Many carried placards bearing messages such as "Stop rape culture."

"Every day, newspapers carry fresh stories of sexual violence against women," said Sahana Islam, a university student, who joined the protests.

"I fear I am next. I want death penalty for the rapists so that the rest of the inhuman creeps can learn what will happen to them if they ever dare to do it."

When survivors file a complaint for sexual assault in Bangladesh prosecution is very rare and takes years to complete, and the conviction rate in trials that do go to court is very low.

In addition, many rapes go unreported because women fear being stigmatised.

A 2013 survey conducted by the United Nations found that, among men in Bangladesh who admitted to committing rape, 88% of rural respondents and 95% of urban respondents said they faced no legal consequences.

Bangladesh’s cabinet on Monday approved the death penalty for rapists amid nationwide protests in the wake of a series of gang rapes and sexual assaults. Bangladesh has seen a surge of sexual crimes in recent years, with nearly 1,000 incidents reported between January and September, more than a fifth of them gang rapes, according to human rights group Ain-o-Salish Kendra.

Bangladesh’s cabinet on Monday approved the death penalty for rapists amid nationwide protests in the wake of a series of gang rapes and sexual assaults. Bangladesh has seen a surge of sexual crimes in recent years, with nearly 1,000 incidents reported between January and September, more than a fifth of them gang rapes, according to human rights group Ain-o-Salish Kendra. Experts, however, said tougher penalties would not be enough to tackle the problem and authorities needed to immediately address systemic problems in rape trials and the extremely low conviction rates. Rights activists blame the increasing number of assaults on a culture of impunity and protection of suspects by influential individuals for political reasons. The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the proposal to make the death penalty the highest punishment for rape, Law Minister Anisul Huq told Reuters. "The law needed to be amended quickly...(Cabinet) has decided an ordinance will be promulgated tomorrow, with the approval of the president, as the parliament is not holding sessions currently," he said. The latest outpouring of national anger was sparked by a video of a group of men stripping and attacking a woman for almost half an hour in the southeastern district of Noakhali. An investigation by an autonomous state body, the National Human Rights Commission, found the woman in the video had been raped repeatedly and terrorised with weapons by one of the group over the last year. "No mercy to rapists" shouted protesters gathered in the capital Dhaka and elsewhere, hundreds of women and students among them. Many carried placards bearing messages such as "Stop rape culture." "Every day, newspapers carry fresh stories of sexual violence against women," said Sahana Islam, a university student, who joined the protests. "I fear I am next. I want death penalty for the rapists so that the rest of the inhuman creeps can learn what will happen to them if they ever dare to do it." When survivors file a complaint for sexual assault in Bangladesh prosecution is very rare and takes years to complete, and the conviction rate in trials that do go to court is very low. In addition, many rapes go unreported because women fear being stigmatised. A 2013 survey conducted by the United Nations found that, among men in Bangladesh who admitted to committing rape, 88% of rural respondents and 95% of urban respondents said they faced no legal consequences.

Bangladesh approves death penalty for rape amid protests

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it had registered a case and taken over the investigation of the Hathras gang rape-murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman.

The CBI registered the case on a complaint of the victim`s brother who alleged that an accused had tried to strangulate her sister in a millet field on September 14.

The case was earlier probed by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The agency took over the case following the a request by the Uttar Pradesh government and further notification from the central government.

The CBI said that it has constituted a special team to probe the case, which led to the widespread criticism of the UP government after the victim was hurriedly cremated by Hathras police on September 30.

The woman died at a Delhi hospital on September 29, a fortnight after she was allegedly raped at her village by four upper-caste men. 
&nbsp;

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it had registered a case and taken over the investigation of the Hathras gang rape-murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it had registered a case and taken over the investigation of the Hathras gang rape-murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman. The CBI registered the case on a complaint of the victim`s brother who alleged that an accused had tried to strangulate her sister in a millet field on September 14. The case was earlier probed by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The agency took over the case following the a request by the Uttar Pradesh government and further notification from the central government. The CBI said that it has constituted a special team to probe the case, which led to the widespread criticism of the UP government after the victim was hurriedly cremated by Hathras police on September 30. The woman died at a Delhi hospital on September 29, a fortnight after she was allegedly raped at her village by four upper-caste men.

CBI takes over Hathras gang-rape case, begins probe

Bangladesh government is considering introduction of a death penalty for those convicted of rape. A government minister confirmed this on Friday following angry protests that erupted this week over online video. The video showed a group of men sexually assaulting a woman. Currently, the maximum punishment for rape is life imprisonment.

A proposal for an urgent amendment to current rape legislation is being prepared. The review is to be submitted on Monday.

"We need to ensure that those who are proven guilty get the punishment they deserve... this is being drafted on behalf of the prime minister's instructions," Law Minister Anisul Huq told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Women's rights activist are demanding stricter implementation of law instead of solely making them stricter.

More than 950 women were raped in Bangladesh in the first nine months of this year, according to rights group Ain o Salish Kendra. That was similar to the number of rapes reported during the same period last year, but up from 2018.

Campaigners, however, say the real number is much higher, with many women reluctant to report sexual assaults.

Hundreds of Bangladeshis took to the streets of Dhaka and other cities this week to protest, demanding safe spaces for women and the arrest of rapists after the video circulated on social media.

An investigation by the country's National Human Rights Commission - an autonomous state body - found that the woman in the video had been threatened and raped repeatedly by one of the men in the group over the last year.

Police have arrested at least 10 suspects in connection with the video, said Alamgir Hossain, police superintendent in Noakhali, the southeastern city where the footage was shot.

Two weeks earlier, the alleged gang rape of a woman in a student hostel in the northeastern city of Sylhet sparked similar street protests and calls for the government to take steps to tackle sexual violence.

"The Bangladesh government needs to listen to women," said Meenakshi Ganguly, from Human Rights Watch, on Friday. "The government should ensure that all sexual assault survivors are treated with dignity."

Salma Ali, president of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, said tougher penalties would not be enough.

"Focusing solely on capital punishment won't work... Our Women and Children Repression Prevention tribunals are overburdened. The number of courts need to increase," she said.

"We also need to focus on victim protection. Several other aspects related to this law need to be updated," she added.

(With Reuters inputs)

Bangladesh government is considering introduction of a death penalty for those convicted of rape. A government minister confirmed this on Friday following angry protests that erupted this week over online video.

Bangladesh government is considering introduction of a death penalty for those convicted of rape. A government minister confirmed this on Friday following angry protests that erupted this week over online video. The video showed a group of men sexually assaulting a woman. Currently, the maximum punishment for rape is life imprisonment. A proposal for an urgent amendment to current rape legislation is being prepared. The review is to be submitted on Monday. "We need to ensure that those who are proven guilty get the punishment they deserve... this is being drafted on behalf of the prime minister's instructions," Law Minister Anisul Huq told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Women's rights activist are demanding stricter implementation of law instead of solely making them stricter. More than 950 women were raped in Bangladesh in the first nine months of this year, according to rights group Ain o Salish Kendra. That was similar to the number of rapes reported during the same period last year, but up from 2018. Campaigners, however, say the real number is much higher, with many women reluctant to report sexual assaults. Hundreds of Bangladeshis took to the streets of Dhaka and other cities this week to protest, demanding safe spaces for women and the arrest of rapists after the video circulated on social media. An investigation by the country's National Human Rights Commission - an autonomous state body - found that the woman in the video had been threatened and raped repeatedly by one of the men in the group over the last year. Police have arrested at least 10 suspects in connection with the video, said Alamgir Hossain, police superintendent in Noakhali, the southeastern city where the footage was shot. Two weeks earlier, the alleged gang rape of a woman in a student hostel in the northeastern city of Sylhet sparked similar street protests and calls for the government to take steps to tackle sexual violence. "The Bangladesh government needs to listen to women," said Meenakshi Ganguly, from Human Rights Watch, on Friday. "The government should ensure that all sexual assault survivors are treated with dignity." Salma Ali, president of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, said tougher penalties would not be enough. "Focusing solely on capital punishment won't work... Our Women and Children Repression Prevention tribunals are overburdened. The number of courts need to increase," she said. "We also need to focus on victim protection. Several other aspects related to this law need to be updated," she added. (With Reuters inputs)

Bangladesh considers introducing death penalty for rape after protests against online video

Has Indian judiciary failed our daughters? Why do Indian daughters continue to face violence despite the government framing tough anti-rape legislation? The laws do not seem to have any deterrence for the rapists as the numbers suggest. A woman is raped every 16 minutes in India.&nbsp;

According to the National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) 'Crime in India 2019' report, the country had recorded 88 rape cases every day and 32,033 in the year. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh top the shame list with 6,000 and 3,065 rape cases last year respectively.

But the situation is far more horrible as the figures are gross underestimates. These are just the cases that have been reported. Majority of the crimes against women are committed by people known to the victims such as close family members, neighbours, employers and friends.

And in many cases, the victims either remain reluctant to report crimes or they are coerced by their families to keep mum due to stigma attached with it. India’s deep-seated patriarchy is largely to be blamed for this sorry state of affairs.

The government was forced to pass a tough anti-rape law in April 2013 following a massive outcry over the brutal rape of Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a moving bus in New Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012. The law made stalking a crime and introduced death sentence for convicted rapists.&nbsp;

But has it brought about any positive change in the society? Young girls and women continue to fall prey to the rapists. In several cases, the accused get away with minor punishments due to lack of evidence and they are also protected by police and politicians. The misuse of police in destroying evidence is not a hidden secret.

Shoddy police work

The shoddy police investigation in the latest Hathras rape case also raises several questions. &nbsp;

Why were samples of the 19-year-old Dalit girl taken on September 22 when she was admitted to the hospital on September 14?

Why did it take three days to send the samples to a lab in Agra? The lab received the samples on September 25.

The vaginal swabs in rape cases should be taken within 72 hours. In fact, according to the guidelines &amp; protocols for medico-legal care for survivors/victims of sexual violence by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “the likelihood of finding evidence after 72 hours (3 days) is greatly reduced; however it is better to collect evidence up to 96 hours in case the survivor may be unsure of the number of hours elapsed since the assault.”&nbsp;

Why did the hospital authorities delay in taking samples? &nbsp;

Was it an act of gross negligence or it was purportedly delayed?

Now the UP police is claiming that the victim was not raped as the forensic report, which was received by the Agra lab 11 days after the crime, has found no evidence of rape.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/justiceforssr-to-justiceforkangana-the-art-of-riding-coattails-hashtags-to-hashtags-330778">#JusticeForSSR to #JusticeForKangana: The art of riding coattails – hashtags to hashtags</a>

It is also banking on the post-mortem report issued by Safdarjung Hospital which does not mention rape. The post-mortem report says there were “multiple old healed tears” in the private parts of the deceased. Certainly, there will be very little chances of finding any evidence if the samples are collected beyond permissible time limit.

Questionable actions of&nbsp;authorities

The decision of the local authorities to cremate the victim in the dead of the night and that too in the absence of her family members also raises several doubts. Why was the family denied a last look at the body? Why did the district officials not permit the body to be taken home for last rites? What was the urgency? The UP police and the local administration need to answer these questions.

Accused arrested, but will there be justice in time?

Now that all the four accused have been arrested, the case will be heard by the Fast Track Court (FTC) after the police file the charge sheet. The problem is that most of these FTCs in several states have the same drawbacks as the district courts. Improper infrastructure, inadequate staff, frequent adjournments continue to dog these FTCs. As of 2019, there were more than 1.66 lakh pending cases of crime against women and children in the FTCs across the country.

Even if the FTC completes all the legal formalities and passes its judgment, it will not be a final closure of the case. The accused have every right to challenge the FTC decision to higher courts and finally the Supreme Court. &nbsp;

Delays in case closures

The case in point is the Delhi medical student rape case, when a fast-track court was set up on January 17, 2013 a month after the crime. &nbsp;

The court wrapped up the proceedings within eight months and sentenced the four surviving convicts to death in the case. The Supreme Court upheld the death penalty on May 5, 2017, but the convicts were hanged on March 20 this year after they took time exhausting all their legal remedies.&nbsp;

It took more than seven years before the convicts could be sent to the gallows despite having been sentenced to death in a fast-track.

The unusual delay in closure is also traumatic for the rape survivor as she is haunted by the flashbacks, nightmares and upsetting memories.&nbsp;

Moreover, as the case drags from one court to another, she is subjected to the same rigmarole of answering uncomfortable questions which may prove to be very disturbing for her. In some cases, it is observed that the survivors end their lives due to the stigma attached with the incident of rape.

There is an urgent need to fast track justice also. If &nbsp;justice is prompt, it will certainly act as a deterrent and instill fear among the people who entertain any such wicked thoughts. The criminal justice system should be such that it is not seen as failing to deliver justice after rape. For, justice delayed is justice denied.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Has Indian judiciary failed our daughters? Why do Indian daughters continue to face violence despite the government framing tough anti-rape legislation? The laws do not seem to have any deterrence for the rapists as the numbers suggest.

Has Indian judiciary failed our daughters? Why do Indian daughters continue to face violence despite the government framing tough anti-rape legislation? The laws do not seem to have any deterrence for the rapists as the numbers suggest. A woman is raped every 16 minutes in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) 'Crime in India 2019' report, the country had recorded 88 rape cases every day and 32,033 in the year. Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh top the shame list with 6,000 and 3,065 rape cases last year respectively. But the situation is far more horrible as the figures are gross underestimates. These are just the cases that have been reported. Majority of the crimes against women are committed by people known to the victims such as close family members, neighbours, employers and friends. And in many cases, the victims either remain reluctant to report crimes or they are coerced by their families to keep mum due to stigma attached with it. India’s deep-seated patriarchy is largely to be blamed for this sorry state of affairs. The government was forced to pass a tough anti-rape law in April 2013 following a massive outcry over the brutal rape of Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a moving bus in New Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012. The law made stalking a crime and introduced death sentence for convicted rapists. But has it brought about any positive change in the society? Young girls and women continue to fall prey to the rapists. In several cases, the accused get away with minor punishments due to lack of evidence and they are also protected by police and politicians. The misuse of police in destroying evidence is not a hidden secret. Shoddy police work The shoddy police investigation in the latest Hathras rape case also raises several questions. Why were samples of the 19-year-old Dalit girl taken on September 22 when she was admitted to the hospital on September 14? Why did it take three days to send the samples to a lab in Agra? The lab received the samples on September 25. The vaginal swabs in rape cases should be taken within 72 hours. In fact, according to the guidelines & protocols for medico-legal care for survivors/victims of sexual violence by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “the likelihood of finding evidence after 72 hours (3 days) is greatly reduced; however it is better to collect evidence up to 96 hours in case the survivor may be unsure of the number of hours elapsed since the assault.” Why did the hospital authorities delay in taking samples? Was it an act of gross negligence or it was purportedly delayed? Now the UP police is claiming that the victim was not raped as the forensic report, which was received by the Agra lab 11 days after the crime, has found no evidence of rape. Also Read | #JusticeForSSR to #JusticeForKangana: The art of riding coattails – hashtags to hashtags It is also banking on the post-mortem report issued by Safdarjung Hospital which does not mention rape. The post-mortem report says there were “multiple old healed tears” in the private parts of the deceased. Certainly, there will be very little chances of finding any evidence if the samples are collected beyond permissible time limit. Questionable actions of authorities The decision of the local authorities to cremate the victim in the dead of the night and that too in the absence of her family members also raises several doubts. Why was the family denied a last look at the body? Why did the district officials not permit the body to be taken home for last rites? What was the urgency? The UP police and the local administration need to answer these questions. Accused arrested, but will there be justice in time? Now that all the four accused have been arrested, the case will be heard by the Fast Track Court (FTC) after the police file the charge sheet. The problem is that most of these FTCs in several states have the same drawbacks as the district courts. Improper infrastructure, inadequate staff, frequent adjournments continue to dog these FTCs. As of 2019, there were more than 1.66 lakh pending cases of crime against women and children in the FTCs across the country. Even if the FTC completes all the legal formalities and passes its judgment, it will not be a final closure of the case. The accused have every right to challenge the FTC decision to higher courts and finally the Supreme Court. Delays in case closures The case in point is the Delhi medical student rape case, when a fast-track court was set up on January 17, 2013 a month after the crime. The court wrapped up the proceedings within eight months and sentenced the four surviving convicts to death in the case. The Supreme Court upheld the death penalty on May 5, 2017, but the convicts were hanged on March 20 this year after they took time exhausting all their legal remedies. It took more than seven years before the convicts could be sent to the gallows despite having been sentenced to death in a fast-track. The unusual delay in closure is also traumatic for the rape survivor as she is haunted by the flashbacks, nightmares and upsetting memories. Moreover, as the case drags from one court to another, she is subjected to the same rigmarole of answering uncomfortable questions which may prove to be very disturbing for her. In some cases, it is observed that the survivors end their lives due to the stigma attached with the incident of rape. There is an urgent need to fast track justice also. If justice is prompt, it will certainly act as a deterrent and instill fear among the people who entertain any such wicked thoughts. The criminal justice system should be such that it is not seen as failing to deliver justice after rape. For, justice delayed is justice denied. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Why have stringent laws failed to instill fear in rapists

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, said that his government is committed to ensuring the safety woman, adding that those who harm the dignity of `mothers and sisters` in Uttar Pradesh will be `destroyed` and given exemplary punishment.

"Those who even think of damaging the honour of our mothers and sisters will be destroyed completely. They will be given such punishment that it will serve as an example in future. Your UP government is committed to the safety and security of every mother and sister. This is our promise, our determination," Adityanath said in a tweet in Hindi.

The Chief Minister`s assurance came amid massive political uproar over the alleged gang-rape and death of the victim in the Hathras case. Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were arrested and sent back to Delhi when they attempted to meet the victim on Thursday.Earlier in the day, Congress held a prayer meet for the victim at Maharishi Valmiki Temple in the national capital where party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that gross injustice was done to the alleged gangrape victim and is being done to her family.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad had also said that he will stage a protest at India Gate at 5 pm demanding justice.Also, a delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) was roughed up by Uttar Pradesh Police at Hathras border.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirbhaya-rape-case-lawyer-seema-kushwaha-to-help-fight-hathras-victim-331947">Nirbhaya rape case lawyer, Seema Kushwaha, to help fight Hathras victim</a>

The delegation, including party MP Derek O`Brien, was on the way to meet the family of the victim of the Hathras incident.The 19-year-old Hathras girl died at Delhi`s Safdarjung hospital on September 29, a fortnight after allegedly being gang-raped.&nbsp;

All the four accused in the incident have been arrested.The government has formed a three-member SIT to probe the case and said the matter will be heard in the fast track court.The post-mortem report reads that the victim suffered a fracture of "C6 cervical vertebra" and there was "extravasations of blood along the fracture line" and the underlying spinal cord was "contused with ascending oedema". Also, the postmortem report denies rape charges.&nbsp; 
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, said that his government is committed to ensuring the safety woman, adding that those who harm the dignity of `mothers and sisters` in Uttar Pradesh will be `destroyed` and given exemplary punishment.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Friday, said that his government is committed to ensuring the safety woman, adding that those who harm the dignity of `mothers and sisters` in Uttar Pradesh will be `destroyed` and given exemplary punishment. "Those who even think of damaging the honour of our mothers and sisters will be destroyed completely. They will be given such punishment that it will serve as an example in future. Your UP government is committed to the safety and security of every mother and sister. This is our promise, our determination," Adityanath said in a tweet in Hindi. The Chief Minister`s assurance came amid massive political uproar over the alleged gang-rape and death of the victim in the Hathras case. Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were arrested and sent back to Delhi when they attempted to meet the victim on Thursday.Earlier in the day, Congress held a prayer meet for the victim at Maharishi Valmiki Temple in the national capital where party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that gross injustice was done to the alleged gangrape victim and is being done to her family. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad had also said that he will stage a protest at India Gate at 5 pm demanding justice.Also, a delegation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) was roughed up by Uttar Pradesh Police at Hathras border. Also Read | Nirbhaya rape case lawyer, Seema Kushwaha, to help fight Hathras victim The delegation, including party MP Derek O`Brien, was on the way to meet the family of the victim of the Hathras incident.The 19-year-old Hathras girl died at Delhi`s Safdarjung hospital on September 29, a fortnight after allegedly being gang-raped. All the four accused in the incident have been arrested.The government has formed a three-member SIT to probe the case and said the matter will be heard in the fast track court.The post-mortem report reads that the victim suffered a fracture of "C6 cervical vertebra" and there was "extravasations of blood along the fracture line" and the underlying spinal cord was "contused with ascending oedema". Also, the postmortem report denies rape charges.

UP CM promises 'exemplary' action against those who harm dignity of 'mothers and sisters'

A Pakistani lawmaker has claimed that 82% of rape perpetrators in Pakistan are family members of the victims, such as that include fathers, brothers, grandfathers, and uncles, of the rape survivors.

Speaking on a TV show Shandana Gulzar Khan quoted figures by the rights group War on Rape (WAR) said the most family members are involved in the rapes of the girls. 
 
Gulzar is a politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018.

During the TV debate Shandana said that “the girls who get pregnant after being sexually assaulted by their family members do not approach the police, but rather go to the gynecologists for abortion. The mothers of these girls do not go to the police as they say that they cannot leave their husbands.”

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Really hope that the holier than thou who hate when feminists take to the streets can listen to a PTI representative saying this. This is the society women live in Pakistan. 
 
<a href="https://t.co/dnbFXfNA2D">pic.twitter.com/dnbFXfNA2D</a>
— Tooba Syed 🍞🌹 (@Tooba_Sd) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tooba_Sd/status/1305669045845360641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The lawmaker said that no one is ready to talk about this issue in the Pakistani society and that is a dangerous sign.

Earlier in this month, a Pakistani woman was raped at gunpoint on overnight by two men before the eyes of her children after her vehicle ran out of fuel. The two men are also said to have stolen money and jewelry before fleeing the scene.

The incident had sparked a countrywide outcry. A number of protests have been held in Lahore, Islamabad and other parts of the country, demanding the government arrest the culprits and give them exemplary punishment.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Pakistani lawmaker has claimed that 82% of rape perpetrators in Pakistan are family members of the victims, such as that include fathers, brothers, grandfathers, and uncles, of the rape survivors.

A Pakistani lawmaker has claimed that 82% of rape perpetrators in Pakistan are family members of the victims, such as that include fathers, brothers, grandfathers, and uncles, of the rape survivors. Speaking on a TV show Shandana Gulzar Khan quoted figures by the rights group War on Rape (WAR) said the most family members are involved in the rapes of the girls. Gulzar is a politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018. During the TV debate Shandana said that “the girls who get pregnant after being sexually assaulted by their family members do not approach the police, but rather go to the gynecologists for abortion. The mothers of these girls do not go to the police as they say that they cannot leave their husbands.” Really hope that the holier than thou who hate when feminists take to the streets can listen to a PTI representative saying this. This is the society women live in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/dnbFXfNA2D — Tooba Syed 🍞🌹 (@Tooba_Sd) September 15, 2020 × The lawmaker said that no one is ready to talk about this issue in the Pakistani society and that is a dangerous sign. Earlier in this month, a Pakistani woman was raped at gunpoint on overnight by two men before the eyes of her children after her vehicle ran out of fuel. The two men are also said to have stolen money and jewelry before fleeing the scene. The incident had sparked a countrywide outcry. A number of protests have been held in Lahore, Islamabad and other parts of the country, demanding the government arrest the culprits and give them exemplary punishment. (With inputs from agencies)

More than 82% of rapists are fathers or brothers of victims in Pakistan: Lawmaker

Cries of shock and rage struck out across Pakistan over the alleged gang-rape of a woman by two ‘robbers’ in front of her children on the main highway. The social media users and television pundits are calling for the suspects to be publicly hanged.

Mother gang-raped in front of her kids in Pakistan: Lahore cop's victim-blaming sparks anger

Iran has been one of the rare countries where the #MeToo movement was not a success. The regressive policies and thought process in the country regarding women rights played a huge role in the low response for the movement.

However, the situation seems to be changing now as #MeTooIran took over Twitter when several women came forward and shared their stories of sexual assault by&nbsp;a&nbsp;well-known musician Mohsen Namjoo. The singer has been accused of raping women.&nbsp;

Some women have also accused Keyvan Emamverdi, a former bookshop owner who studied archaeology, of sexually assaulting women.

Some of the women have said the accused raped them after making them unconscious by spiking their drinks.

Numerous allegations poured in from various twitter accounts, with some of them wanting to remain anonymous. A lot of anonymous offline reports have also been reported.

A lot of victims have also said that they were still young, and some were minor, when the assaults happened.

The police have called on the accusers to file a complaint against the alleged, and have also given them the option of staying anonymous, if they wish to. The police have also assured that the women will not be charged for&nbsp;drinking alcohol or having extramarital affairs, both of which are illegal in Iran.

The women have also held society as responsible for these assaults as they feel the society and families of the victims have helped cover-up the assaults by thinking of "family honour" first.

Some sociologists have appreciated the movement and have urged them to come forward and use&nbsp;disclosure as a weapon to obtain justice, as Iran lacks the judicial structure&nbsp;to systematically prosecute rapes, said&nbsp;said Azar Tashakor, a sociologist.

Iranian women have supported others who have come ahead to take this step, and some have expressed that this movement should have started much earlier. However, some have also expressed concern over fake reporting of cases for the purpose of revenge or bad-mouthing.

One of Iran's vice presidents on Friday praised women for speaking out and called on the judiciary to "confront" sex offenders.

Iran has been one of the rare countries where the #MeToo movement was not a success. The regressive policies and thought process in the country regarding women rights played a huge role in the low response for the movement.

Iran has been one of the rare countries where the #MeToo movement was not a success. The regressive policies and thought process in the country regarding women rights played a huge role in the low response for the movement. However, the situation seems to be changing now as #MeTooIran took over Twitter when several women came forward and shared their stories of sexual assault by a well-known musician Mohsen Namjoo. The singer has been accused of raping women. Some women have also accused Keyvan Emamverdi, a former bookshop owner who studied archaeology, of sexually assaulting women. Some of the women have said the accused raped them after making them unconscious by spiking their drinks. Numerous allegations poured in from various twitter accounts, with some of them wanting to remain anonymous. A lot of anonymous offline reports have also been reported. A lot of victims have also said that they were still young, and some were minor, when the assaults happened. The police have called on the accusers to file a complaint against the alleged, and have also given them the option of staying anonymous, if they wish to. The police have also assured that the women will not be charged for drinking alcohol or having extramarital affairs, both of which are illegal in Iran. The women have also held society as responsible for these assaults as they feel the society and families of the victims have helped cover-up the assaults by thinking of "family honour" first. Some sociologists have appreciated the movement and have urged them to come forward and use disclosure as a weapon to obtain justice, as Iran lacks the judicial structure to systematically prosecute rapes, said said Azar Tashakor, a sociologist. Iranian women have supported others who have come ahead to take this step, and some have expressed that this movement should have started much earlier. However, some have also expressed concern over fake reporting of cases for the purpose of revenge or bad-mouthing. One of Iran's vice presidents on Friday praised women for speaking out and called on the judiciary to "confront" sex offenders.

#MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter

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