Two of the four Indigenous children who managed to survive for an astonishing 40 days in the Amazon jungle after a plane crash have seen their lives marred by further tragedy. The father of these children has now been charged with sexually abusing his stepdaughter, according to media reports quoting Colombian prosecutors.

In the early hours of May 1, a Cessna 206 aircraft, carrying seven people from Araracuara in Amazonas province to San Jose del Guaviare in Guaviare province, sent out a distress signal due to engine problems. Although three adults, including the pilot and a mother, sadly lost their lives, the children were left to manage on their own.

In a legal development following the incredible survival story, Colombian authorities have accused Manuel Ranoque, the father of two of the young survivors, of committing sexual abuse against his stepdaughter, Lesly.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fresh-cases-of-bubonic-plague-detected-in-china-625031">Fresh cases of bubonic plague detected in China</a>

Prosecutors stated that the abuse had reportedly been ongoing since Lesly was 10 years old. Ranoque, who denies the charges, was arrested on Friday and is currently in custody pending further proceedings, reports said.&nbsp;

The journey of survival for the children has been remarkable. The siblings, members of the Huitoto Indigenous group, demonstrated exceptional resilience. The 13-year-old Lesly played a pivotal role in their survival, using her extensive knowledge of the jungle to navigate its perils, including snakes, predators, and criminal groups.

The children's ability to endure was sustained by their discovery of a cache of cassava flour from the crashed plane and wild fruits.

<h2>Custody dispute&nbsp;</h2>

In a large-scale search operation, led by the military, over a hundred Colombian special forces personnel and 70 indigenous scouts conducted an extensive search throughout the dense forest.

After several days, four Colombian children&nbsp;were rescued.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maui-wildfires-death-toll-climbs-to-93-hundreds-still-missing-top-points-625038">Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 93, hundreds still missing | Top points</a>

Following their miraculous rescue, a custody dispute ensued between their maternal grandparents and Ranoque, the biological father of the two younger siblings.

After being found just five kilometres away from the crash site, the children went through a month of recovery in a hospital.

Subsequently, the Colombian Family Welfare Institute took custody of the children. It was during this time that signs of possible sexual abuse were detected, leading the institute to inform the authorities.

WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistani senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is Pak's transitionary PM

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The four-year-old Tien Noriel Ranoque Mucutuy's first words were after the rescue was, "My mother is dead." Meanwhile, the eldest of the group, Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, said, "I'm feeling hungry."

Lesly had told her family from the hospital that her mother Magdalena Mucutuy, was alive after the plane crash and that she fought hard to survive for four days before eventually telling her children to leave her behind and asking Lesly to take care of her younger siblings.&nbsp;

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Two of the four Indigenous children who managed to survive for an astonishing 40 days in the Amazon jungle after a plane crash have seen their lives marred by further tragedy.

Two of the four Indigenous children who managed to survive for an astonishing 40 days in the Amazon jungle after a plane crash have seen their lives marred by further tragedy. The father of these children has now been charged with sexually abusing his stepdaughter, according to media reports quoting Colombian prosecutors. In the early hours of May 1, a Cessna 206 aircraft, carrying seven people from Araracuara in Amazonas province to San Jose del Guaviare in Guaviare province, sent out a distress signal due to engine problems. Although three adults, including the pilot and a mother, sadly lost their lives, the children were left to manage on their own. In a legal development following the incredible survival story, Colombian authorities have accused Manuel Ranoque, the father of two of the young survivors, of committing sexual abuse against his stepdaughter, Lesly. Also Read | Fresh cases of bubonic plague detected in China Prosecutors stated that the abuse had reportedly been ongoing since Lesly was 10 years old. Ranoque, who denies the charges, was arrested on Friday and is currently in custody pending further proceedings, reports said. The journey of survival for the children has been remarkable. The siblings, members of the Huitoto Indigenous group, demonstrated exceptional resilience. The 13-year-old Lesly played a pivotal role in their survival, using her extensive knowledge of the jungle to navigate its perils, including snakes, predators, and criminal groups. The children's ability to endure was sustained by their discovery of a cache of cassava flour from the crashed plane and wild fruits. Custody dispute In a large-scale search operation, led by the military, over a hundred Colombian special forces personnel and 70 indigenous scouts conducted an extensive search throughout the dense forest. After several days, four Colombian children were rescued. Also Read | Maui wildfires: Death toll climbs to 93, hundreds still missing | Top points Following their miraculous rescue, a custody dispute ensued between their maternal grandparents and Ranoque, the biological father of the two younger siblings. After being found just five kilometres away from the crash site, the children went through a month of recovery in a hospital. Subsequently, the Colombian Family Welfare Institute took custody of the children. It was during this time that signs of possible sexual abuse were detected, leading the institute to inform the authorities. WATCH | Pakistani senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is Pak's transitionary PM × The four-year-old Tien Noriel Ranoque Mucutuy's first words were after the rescue was, "My mother is dead." Meanwhile, the eldest of the group, Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, said, "I'm feeling hungry." Lesly had told her family from the hospital that her mother Magdalena Mucutuy, was alive after the plane crash and that she fought hard to survive for four days before eventually telling her children to leave her behind and asking Lesly to take care of her younger siblings. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Dark turn for Colombian siblings who survived plane crash: Father charged with sexual abuse

In what is being described as the worst cases of sex crimes against children in Australian history, a former childcare worker, on Tuesday (August 1) was charged with over 1,600 child sexual abuse offences, including rape, of 91 young girls. The 45-year-old man worked at nearly a dozen childcare centres in Brisbane, Sydney and overseas over a 15-year period.

<h2>About the case</h2>

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said that the 45-year-old, childcare worker, who was employed at a dozen childcare centres between 2007 and 2022, was arrested in August last year after they discovered electronic devices with child abuse material of young girls while executing warrants at his home and other addresses.&nbsp;

Queensland police first located the alleged child abuse images and videos on the dark web in 2014. This led to a years-long joint investigation by the AFP, Queensland Police Service (QPS) and New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF).&nbsp;

Initially, the material found in 2014 was posted on an international victim identification database by the AFP but the officials received no leads.

It was not until 2022, that investigators were able to trace identifiable features in the background of a video to a Brisbane childcare centre, which was followed by inquiries at the centre in question.

During the search of the man’s Gold Coast home, the police also found devices supposedly containing nearly 4,000 images and videos allegedly shot by the man. The AFP executed a search warrant and arrested the man in Brisbane’s south-western suburbs.&nbsp;

<h2>Where and when?</h2>

According to the Australian police, the alleged offences took place in 10 childcare centres in Brisbane between 2007 to 2013, and 2018 to 2022; an overseas location in 2013 and 2014; and one centre in Sydney between 2014 and 2017.&nbsp;

While the accused, a Gold Coast native, has worked in other childcare centres, AFP could not immediately confirm the allegations at those locations.

<h2>Allegations against the man 
&nbsp;</h2>

Speaking about the case, AFP assistant commissioner Justine Gough called the alleged offences “deeply distressing” and “unfathomable”. The charges, on Tuesday, were brought by law enforcement officials after a decades-long investigation.&nbsp;

The 45-year-old man – who police said passed background checks required for his job at all the centres and has childcare qualifications – committed sex crime offences against 91 girls, some&nbsp;as young as one year old.&nbsp;

The police also believe that he recorded himself with phones and cameras abusing all his victims. After the material was discovered, much of the subsequent investigation focused on identifying the alleged victims, said the AFP.&nbsp;

The law enforcement officials have been able to identify all 87 Australian children of the 91 victims, all of whom are from New South Wales (NSW) or Queensland, and have informed their parents.&nbsp;

QPS acting assistant commissioner Col Briggs, during the press conference, said an “extensive examination was launched to identify the children in the pictures” as soon as police were made aware of them.

However, four children remain unidentified and they are working with the international authorities on the alleged abuse by the man overseas.&nbsp;

“This is one of the most horrific child abuse cases that I’ve seen in nearly 40 years of policing,” said NSW state police assistant commissioner Michael Fitzgerald.&nbsp;

He added, “It’s beyond the realms of anyone’s imagination what this person did to these children.”

<h2>Charges against the accused</h2>

The 45-year-old has been charged with 1,623 child abuse charges, including 136 counts of rape and 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, alleged to have taken place in Brisbane, Sydney and overseas between 2007 and 2022.&nbsp;

<h2>Operation Tenterfield&nbsp;</h2>

Operation Tenterfield, in part focussed on identifying the children in the alleged child abuse material recorded at childcare centres began in August 2022 with 35 members, said Gough, adding that it had been “complex” and required “highly skilled victim identification specialists”.&nbsp;

In September, last year, AFP coordinated a joint agency task force with the QPS at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation to review nearly 4,000 images and videos the man had allegedly created.&nbsp; 
 
“Given there were so many alleged images and videos of children recorded over 15 years on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and determination,” said Gough.&nbsp;

He added, “While I am extremely proud of law enforcement’s persistence and their unwavering dedication to identify this alleged offender, and stop further abuse, this is chilling news.”

<h2>What now?</h2>

Some of the alleged victims are now over 18. The man, who has not been named, is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 21.&nbsp;

Fitzgerald said the man would also face&nbsp;180&nbsp;child sex abuse charges against 23 victims aged one to five&nbsp;in NSW.&nbsp;“Once this man faces the AFP charges in Queensland, we will be seeking to extradite him to Sydney to face the full force of the law in NSW,” said state police assistant commissioner.&nbsp;

He also said that the NSW police has decided that it would not call a single victim witness to prosecute the case to save them from being re-traumatised.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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In what is being described as the worst cases of sex crimes against children in Australian history, a former childcare worker, on Tuesday (August 1) was charged with over 1,600 child sexual abuse offences, including rape, of 91 young girls.

In what is being described as the worst cases of sex crimes against children in Australian history, a former childcare worker, on Tuesday (August 1) was charged with over 1,600 child sexual abuse offences, including rape, of 91 young girls. The 45-year-old man worked at nearly a dozen childcare centres in Brisbane, Sydney and overseas over a 15-year period. About the case The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said that the 45-year-old, childcare worker, who was employed at a dozen childcare centres between 2007 and 2022, was arrested in August last year after they discovered electronic devices with child abuse material of young girls while executing warrants at his home and other addresses. Queensland police first located the alleged child abuse images and videos on the dark web in 2014. This led to a years-long joint investigation by the AFP, Queensland Police Service (QPS) and New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF). Initially, the material found in 2014 was posted on an international victim identification database by the AFP but the officials received no leads. It was not until 2022, that investigators were able to trace identifiable features in the background of a video to a Brisbane childcare centre, which was followed by inquiries at the centre in question. During the search of the man’s Gold Coast home, the police also found devices supposedly containing nearly 4,000 images and videos allegedly shot by the man. The AFP executed a search warrant and arrested the man in Brisbane’s south-western suburbs. Where and when? According to the Australian police, the alleged offences took place in 10 childcare centres in Brisbane between 2007 to 2013, and 2018 to 2022; an overseas location in 2013 and 2014; and one centre in Sydney between 2014 and 2017. While the accused, a Gold Coast native, has worked in other childcare centres, AFP could not immediately confirm the allegations at those locations. Allegations against the man Speaking about the case, AFP assistant commissioner Justine Gough called the alleged offences “deeply distressing” and “unfathomable”. The charges, on Tuesday, were brought by law enforcement officials after a decades-long investigation. The 45-year-old man – who police said passed background checks required for his job at all the centres and has childcare qualifications – committed sex crime offences against 91 girls, some as young as one year old. The police also believe that he recorded himself with phones and cameras abusing all his victims. After the material was discovered, much of the subsequent investigation focused on identifying the alleged victims, said the AFP. The law enforcement officials have been able to identify all 87 Australian children of the 91 victims, all of whom are from New South Wales (NSW) or Queensland, and have informed their parents. QPS acting assistant commissioner Col Briggs, during the press conference, said an “extensive examination was launched to identify the children in the pictures” as soon as police were made aware of them. However, four children remain unidentified and they are working with the international authorities on the alleged abuse by the man overseas. “This is one of the most horrific child abuse cases that I’ve seen in nearly 40 years of policing,” said NSW state police assistant commissioner Michael Fitzgerald. He added, “It’s beyond the realms of anyone’s imagination what this person did to these children.” Charges against the accused The 45-year-old has been charged with 1,623 child abuse charges, including 136 counts of rape and 110 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, alleged to have taken place in Brisbane, Sydney and overseas between 2007 and 2022. Operation Tenterfield Operation Tenterfield, in part focussed on identifying the children in the alleged child abuse material recorded at childcare centres began in August 2022 with 35 members, said Gough, adding that it had been “complex” and required “highly skilled victim identification specialists”. In September, last year, AFP coordinated a joint agency task force with the QPS at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation to review nearly 4,000 images and videos the man had allegedly created. “Given there were so many alleged images and videos of children recorded over 15 years on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and determination,” said Gough. He added, “While I am extremely proud of law enforcement’s persistence and their unwavering dedication to identify this alleged offender, and stop further abuse, this is chilling news.” What now? Some of the alleged victims are now over 18. The man, who has not been named, is scheduled to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 21. Fitzgerald said the man would also face 180 child sex abuse charges against 23 victims aged one to five in NSW. “Once this man faces the AFP charges in Queensland, we will be seeking to extradite him to Sydney to face the full force of the law in NSW,” said state police assistant commissioner. He also said that the NSW police has decided that it would not call a single victim witness to prosecute the case to save them from being re-traumatised. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Australian man charged with 1,623 sexual abuse offences: Here's what happened

As a #MeToo wave sweeps Taiwan, the nation has amended three laws governing sexual harassment in a special session of the legislature.

The changes which were approved on Monday, include tougher penalties and also grant victims a longer time to come forward and report the incidents. These changes, as per the news agency AP, are an attempt to address the issues raised by recent accusations of sexual violence on the island.

<h2>Taiwan's sexual harassment laws</h2>

The island nation has three laws governing sexual harassment, one each for workplaces, schools, and a third one that covers spheres outside the other two domains.

<h2>Sexual harassment at workplace</h2>

Amending the first one, lawmakers have made it so that employers can be fined up to a million New Taiwan Dollars (around $31,680) for failure to address&nbsp;sexual harassment complaints in workplaces.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netflix-show-wave-makers-creates-waves-in-taiwan-triggers-flood-of-metoo-complaints-604651">Netflix show 'Wave Makers' creates waves in Taiwan, triggers flood of #MeToo complaints</a>

Employers are also required to report cases to the local division of their labour department.&nbsp;

Additionally, plugging loopholes, lawmakers have mandated that small businesses with less than 30 but more than 10 employees must set up mechanisms for reporting sexual harassment. Earlier, small businesses were exempt from the requirement and given that more than 90 per cent of businesses in the nation have 30 people or fewer, this was a significant omission.

<h2>Sexual harassment in schools</h2>

The law for educational institutions was amended on Friday and it explicitly makes romantic relationships between educators and students under the age of 18 years illegal.

Further, principals and teachers who fail to report sexual harassment to the Ministry of Education within 24 hours can be fined under the amended law.

Overall, the penalty for sexual harassment under Taiwan's Sexual Harassment Prevention Act has&nbsp;been raised to three years in jail, which can come with the heaviest fine of 600,000 New Taiwan dollars ($19,000).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-study-shows-why-sexual-assault-victims-hesitate-to-come-forward-immediately-603065">Study shows why sexual assault victims hesitate to come forward immediately</a>

The nation's #MeToo movement was reignited in May. As per AP, back then, Chen Chien-jou, a young woman working for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, had accused film director Hsueh Chao-hui of groping her and making unwanted sexual advances.

In the first two weeks of June, the island nation saw more than 90 people come forward, accusing individuals across Taiwan.&nbsp;

Spreading throughout Taiwanese society, these complaints, as per a BBC report, targeted doctors, professors, sporting umpires, YouTubers, and high-profile men like Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, and exiled poet Bei Ling.

As a #MeToo wave sweeps Taiwan, the nation has amended three laws governing sexual harassment in a special session of the legislature. The changes which were approved on Monday, include tougher penalties and also grant victims a longer time to come forward and report the incidents.

As a #MeToo wave sweeps Taiwan, the nation has amended three laws governing sexual harassment in a special session of the legislature. The changes which were approved on Monday, include tougher penalties and also grant victims a longer time to come forward and report the incidents. These changes, as per the news agency AP, are an attempt to address the issues raised by recent accusations of sexual violence on the island. Taiwan's sexual harassment laws The island nation has three laws governing sexual harassment, one each for workplaces, schools, and a third one that covers spheres outside the other two domains. Sexual harassment at workplace Amending the first one, lawmakers have made it so that employers can be fined up to a million New Taiwan Dollars (around $31,680) for failure to address sexual harassment complaints in workplaces. Also read | Netflix show 'Wave Makers' creates waves in Taiwan, triggers flood of #MeToo complaints Employers are also required to report cases to the local division of their labour department. Additionally, plugging loopholes, lawmakers have mandated that small businesses with less than 30 but more than 10 employees must set up mechanisms for reporting sexual harassment. Earlier, small businesses were exempt from the requirement and given that more than 90 per cent of businesses in the nation have 30 people or fewer, this was a significant omission. Sexual harassment in schools The law for educational institutions was amended on Friday and it explicitly makes romantic relationships between educators and students under the age of 18 years illegal. Further, principals and teachers who fail to report sexual harassment to the Ministry of Education within 24 hours can be fined under the amended law. Overall, the penalty for sexual harassment under Taiwan's Sexual Harassment Prevention Act has been raised to three years in jail, which can come with the heaviest fine of 600,000 New Taiwan dollars ($19,000). Also read | Study shows why sexual assault victims hesitate to come forward immediately The nation's #MeToo movement was reignited in May. As per AP, back then, Chen Chien-jou, a young woman working for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, had accused film director Hsueh Chao-hui of groping her and making unwanted sexual advances. In the first two weeks of June, the island nation saw more than 90 people come forward, accusing individuals across Taiwan. Spreading throughout Taiwanese society, these complaints, as per a BBC report, targeted doctors, professors, sporting umpires, YouTubers, and high-profile men like Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, and exiled poet Bei Ling.

Hit with wave of #MeToo allegations, Taiwan toughens sexual harassment laws

A former childcare worker in Australia has been charged with more than 1,600 child abuse offences, including the rape&nbsp;of 91 young girls. The man committed the abuses at a dozen early learning centres, spread across Brisbane, Sydney and overseas over a 15-year period.&nbsp;

Not only did the man rape the kids, but he also filmed them&nbsp;and later distributed the content online, especially over the dark net. The police became aware of&nbsp;the 45-year-old Gold Coast childcare worker’s alleged offences after identifying a video discovered on the dark web in 2014.&nbsp;

He was arrested last year in August while executing warrants at his home and other addresses, and the police discovered a hard drive filled with child abuse material of young girls.&nbsp;

According to Australian media reports, the man is facing a cumulative 1,623 child abuse charges, including 246 counts of rape, and 637 counts of&nbsp;indecent assault,&nbsp;alleged to have taken place from 2007 to 2022.

Authorities investigating the case have described&nbsp;it as one of the most "horrific" cases they have ever seen.

"It's beyond the realms of anyone's imagination, what this person did to these children. You try not to be shocked after a long period of time in the police... but this is a horrific case," Australian Federal Police (AFP)&nbsp;Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough was quoted as saying by BBC.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/france-husband-accused-of-drugging-her-wife-and-inviting-51-strangers-to-rape-her-over-a-decade-607275">Also read |&nbsp;France: Husband accused of 'drugging' wife, inviting 51 strangers to rape her over a decade</a>

<h2>Operation&nbsp;Tenterfield</h2>

Gough said all 87 Australian girls recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been identified, and their parents&nbsp;informed about horrific events. The AFP is now working with international authorities to identify the four children who were molested in the recordings created overseas.&nbsp;

“Given there were so many alleged images and videos of children recorded over 15 years on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and determination,” Gough said, informing that the kids had been identified under Operation Tenterfield.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-serial-killer-severs-a-crocodiles-head-604520">WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Serial killer severs a crocodile's head</a>

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“While I am extremely proud of law enforcement’s persistence, and their unwavering dedication to identify this alleged offender and stop further abuse, this is chilling news.”

Notably, the man had been reported to the Queensland police in 2021 and 2022 as well. However, the investigators found insufficient evidence to act against him. He is now scheduled to appear in the&nbsp;Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 21 to face further music for his crimes.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A former childcare worker in Australia has been charged with more than 1,600 child abuse offences, including the rape of 91 young girls. The man committed the abuses at a dozen early learning centres, spread across Brisbane, Sydney and overseas over a 15-year period.

A former childcare worker in Australia has been charged with more than 1,600 child abuse offences, including the rape of 91 young girls. The man committed the abuses at a dozen early learning centres, spread across Brisbane, Sydney and overseas over a 15-year period. Not only did the man rape the kids, but he also filmed them and later distributed the content online, especially over the dark net. The police became aware of the 45-year-old Gold Coast childcare worker’s alleged offences after identifying a video discovered on the dark web in 2014. He was arrested last year in August while executing warrants at his home and other addresses, and the police discovered a hard drive filled with child abuse material of young girls. According to Australian media reports, the man is facing a cumulative 1,623 child abuse charges, including 246 counts of rape, and 637 counts of indecent assault, alleged to have taken place from 2007 to 2022. Authorities investigating the case have described it as one of the most "horrific" cases they have ever seen. "It's beyond the realms of anyone's imagination, what this person did to these children. You try not to be shocked after a long period of time in the police... but this is a horrific case," Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough was quoted as saying by BBC. Also read | France: Husband accused of 'drugging' wife, inviting 51 strangers to rape her over a decade Operation Tenterfield Gough said all 87 Australian girls recorded in the alleged child abuse material have been identified, and their parents informed about horrific events. The AFP is now working with international authorities to identify the four children who were molested in the recordings created overseas. “Given there were so many alleged images and videos of children recorded over 15 years on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and determination,” Gough said, informing that the kids had been identified under Operation Tenterfield. WATCH | Gravitas: Serial killer severs a crocodile's head × “While I am extremely proud of law enforcement’s persistence, and their unwavering dedication to identify this alleged offender and stop further abuse, this is chilling news.” Notably, the man had been reported to the Queensland police in 2021 and 2022 as well. However, the investigators found insufficient evidence to act against him. He is now scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 21 to face further music for his crimes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Beyond anyone's imaginations...': Australian childcare worker charged with 1,623 child abuse offences

A damning report coming from the Punjab province of Pakistan has revealed that more boys are subjected to sexual abuse than girls. The 'confidential' report accessed by Dawn newspaper has been compiled by the home department which presents a terrifying ordeal for the authorities as well as the victims.&nbsp;

In the first five and a half months of 2023, a total of 1,390 incidents of child abuse were reported in Punjab, out of which 959 (69 per cent) were against boys while 431 (31 per cent) were against girls.

The child abuse data was collected region-wise using the field staff. The most number of child abuse incidents (220) were reported in&nbsp;Gujranwala region/division followed by DG Khan (199). Other regions such as&nbsp;Faisalabad (186), Multan (140), Bahawalpur (129), Sheikhupura (128), Sahiwal (127) and Sargodha (103) did not fare any better.

The findings unveiled that Rawalpindi region (69) and Lahore City (89)&nbsp;reported the lowest crime against children than other divisions of the province.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Of the total registered FIRs, challans were submitted in 799 cases, 441 were currently under investigation and 149 had been closed/dismissed. Disturbingly enough, out of the total sexual abusers facing trial, 55 per cent were the neighbours of the victim, 32 per cent were strangers and 13 per cent were relatives.&nbsp;

“The child sexual abuse is influenced by a range of social factors in Pakistan, and patriarchal norms, power imbalances, poverty, illiteracy and social inequalities contribute to the vulnerability of the children,"&nbsp;the report reads.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-lookback-at-shehbaz-sharifs-year-as-prime-minister-581400">WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan: Lookback at Shehbaz Sharif's year as Prime Minister</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Majority of cases remain unreported</h2>

Although, these were not the absolute numbers as most cases did not see the light of day.&nbsp;The report mentioned that the unwillingness of the parents to subject their children to legal and medical hassle was one of the reasons why sexual abuse cases remained underreported.&nbsp;

“It is also a matter of concern that a number of cases remain unreported. In our society, fear and cultural taboos make it difficult to report the crime," read the report.&nbsp;

“Besides other factors responsible for the child abuse are socio-economic stresses, unemployment, low self-confidence and feelings of incompetence, loneliness and psychological unrest," it added.&nbsp;

An Associated Press report in 2020 noted that the majority of sexual abuse crimes against children in Pakistan took place in religious schools. There are more than 22,000 registered madrassas in Pakistan, teaching more than two million children. But many more religious schools are unregistered.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/child-sex-abuse-in-pakistans-religious-schools-is-endemic-293291">Also read |&nbsp;Child sex abuse in Pakistan's religious schools is endemic</a>

Police say the problem of sexual abuse of children by clerics is pervasive and the scores of police reports they have received are just the tip of the iceberg. 
Families in Pakistan are often coerced into "forgiving" clerics, leading to an increase in such cases.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A damning report coming from the Punjab province of Pakistan has revealed that more boys are subjected to sexual abuse than girls. The 'confidential' report accessed by Dawn newspaper has been compiled by the home department which presents a terrifying ordeal for the authorities as well as the victims.

A damning report coming from the Punjab province of Pakistan has revealed that more boys are subjected to sexual abuse than girls. The 'confidential' report accessed by Dawn newspaper has been compiled by the home department which presents a terrifying ordeal for the authorities as well as the victims. In the first five and a half months of 2023, a total of 1,390 incidents of child abuse were reported in Punjab, out of which 959 (69 per cent) were against boys while 431 (31 per cent) were against girls. The child abuse data was collected region-wise using the field staff. The most number of child abuse incidents (220) were reported in Gujranwala region/division followed by DG Khan (199). Other regions such as Faisalabad (186), Multan (140), Bahawalpur (129), Sheikhupura (128), Sahiwal (127) and Sargodha (103) did not fare any better. The findings unveiled that Rawalpindi region (69) and Lahore City (89) reported the lowest crime against children than other divisions of the province. Of the total registered FIRs, challans were submitted in 799 cases, 441 were currently under investigation and 149 had been closed/dismissed. Disturbingly enough, out of the total sexual abusers facing trial, 55 per cent were the neighbours of the victim, 32 per cent were strangers and 13 per cent were relatives. “The child sexual abuse is influenced by a range of social factors in Pakistan, and patriarchal norms, power imbalances, poverty, illiteracy and social inequalities contribute to the vulnerability of the children," the report reads. WATCH | Pakistan: Lookback at Shehbaz Sharif's year as Prime Minister × Majority of cases remain unreported Although, these were not the absolute numbers as most cases did not see the light of day. The report mentioned that the unwillingness of the parents to subject their children to legal and medical hassle was one of the reasons why sexual abuse cases remained underreported. “It is also a matter of concern that a number of cases remain unreported. In our society, fear and cultural taboos make it difficult to report the crime," read the report. “Besides other factors responsible for the child abuse are socio-economic stresses, unemployment, low self-confidence and feelings of incompetence, loneliness and psychological unrest," it added. An Associated Press report in 2020 noted that the majority of sexual abuse crimes against children in Pakistan took place in religious schools. There are more than 22,000 registered madrassas in Pakistan, teaching more than two million children. But many more religious schools are unregistered. Also read | Child sex abuse in Pakistan's religious schools is endemic Police say the problem of sexual abuse of children by clerics is pervasive and the scores of police reports they have received are just the tip of the iceberg. Families in Pakistan are often coerced into "forgiving" clerics, leading to an increase in such cases. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Shocking report reveals more boys are sexually abused than girls in Pakistan's Punjab

Sixteen children, aged between 10 and 18, have been rescued in the Philippines after Australian police discovered sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney. A joint global cooperation between the&nbsp;Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led to the amazing rescue.&nbsp;

As per CNN, the PNP executed warrants at multiple locations in the Metro Manila area and a province in Northern Philippines, leading to the recovery of the abused children. The joint effort was aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse.

<h2>How the rescue unfolded</h2>

The investigation, as per CNN, began in January when the Australian Border Force intercepted a 56-year-old man from Queensland upon his return to Sydney from the Philippines.&nbsp;

An examination of the man's phone revealed child abuse material and messages outlining his intentions to engage in the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.&nbsp;

The man was subsequently charged with grooming and possession of child abuse material, offences that carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on May 30, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/massive-phosphate-deposit-found-in-norway-could-meet-global-battery-demand-for-100-years-612193">A paradigm shift? Massive phosphate deposit found in Norway, could meet global battery demand for 100 years</a>

<h2>Importance of international efforts in combating child abuse</h2>

"This case highlights how vital it is for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources globally because predators are not confined by borders," said Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins, the AFP's senior officer in Manila.

"However, these children’s lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk," added the officer.

Efforts are ongoing to locate additional suspected victims, and the children rescued have been placed under the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-approval-rating-plummets-to-new-low-as-trump-gains-momentum-612215">Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum</a>

Police Colonel Portia Manalad, chief of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, emphasised the necessity of international cooperation in combating such crimes and said that the PNP could not tackle this crime alone.&nbsp;

She highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners like the AFP to apprehend offenders and rescue child victims.&nbsp;"We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims."&nbsp;

The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), established in 2019 through a joint effort involving the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, as per CNN, has played a pivotal role in combating child abuse.&nbsp;Since its inception, it has rescued 611 victims&nbsp;and apprehended 127 facilitators.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Sixteen children, aged between 10 and 18, have been rescued in the Philippines after Australian police discovered sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney.

Sixteen children, aged between 10 and 18, have been rescued in the Philippines after Australian police discovered sexually explicit material on the phone of a man arrested in Sydney. A joint global cooperation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) led to the amazing rescue. As per CNN, the PNP executed warrants at multiple locations in the Metro Manila area and a province in Northern Philippines, leading to the recovery of the abused children. The joint effort was aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse. How the rescue unfolded The investigation, as per CNN, began in January when the Australian Border Force intercepted a 56-year-old man from Queensland upon his return to Sydney from the Philippines. An examination of the man's phone revealed child abuse material and messages outlining his intentions to engage in the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines. The man was subsequently charged with grooming and possession of child abuse material, offences that carry a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. However, he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on May 30, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued. Also read | A paradigm shift? Massive phosphate deposit found in Norway, could meet global battery demand for 100 years Importance of international efforts in combating child abuse "This case highlights how vital it is for law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources globally because predators are not confined by borders," said Detective Superintendent Andrew Perkins, the AFP's senior officer in Manila. "However, these children’s lives have been irrecoverably damaged and we know there are too many other children still at risk," added the officer. Efforts are ongoing to locate additional suspected victims, and the children rescued have been placed under the care of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development. Also read | Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum Police Colonel Portia Manalad, chief of the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center, emphasised the necessity of international cooperation in combating such crimes and said that the PNP could not tackle this crime alone. She highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners like the AFP to apprehend offenders and rescue child victims. "We must collaborate with our international partners, such as the AFP, to arrest offenders and rescue child victims." The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC), established in 2019 through a joint effort involving the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, as per CNN, has played a pivotal role in combating child abuse. Since its inception, it has rescued 611 victims and apprehended 127 facilitators. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How discovery of explicit material on a phone in Sydney led to rescue  of 16 abused children in Philippines

Art is a reflection of the society. Paintings, movies, music, and even TV shows can help be a mirror. Proving this, a Netflix show has sparked a local MeToo movement in Taiwan. The country is experiencing a surge of sexual harassment and assault allegations, triggered by the show called ' Wave Makers'.&nbsp;

<h2>The outpouring of sexual harassment cases</h2>

Over the past two weeks, more than 90 people have come forward, accusing individuals across the island nation.&nbsp;

Initially, the allegations focused on politics and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), leading to the resignation of several senior officials.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-study-shows-why-sexual-assault-victims-hesitate-to-come-forward-immediately-603065">Study shows why sexual assault victims hesitate to come forward immediately</a>

However, now the accusations have spread throughout Taiwanese society, targeting doctors, professors, sporting umpires, and YouTubers.

<h2>Better late than never!</h2>

As per a BBC report, the MeToo moment is long overdue for many women across Taiwanese society, which is otherwise commended globally for its progressive politics and commitment to gender equality.&nbsp;

President Tsai Ing-wen, the country's first female leader, has apologised and pledged to implement reforms.&nbsp;

According to social commentator Dr Liu Wen, the magnitude of these revelations and the exposure of underlying issues across various industries is unprecedented.

"Previously we had single cases around sexual harassment, but never in such magnitude."

"It's the first time a lot of the underlying issues in different industries are being revealed all at the same time," added Wen.

<h2>'Wave Makers' makes waves</h2>

The screen inspiration behind this important local moment as mentioned is a Netflix show called Wave Makers. The show about Taiwanese political staffers working on an election debuted on Netflix in late April.

A scene from the show has been credited as the clarion call for the MeToo moment now sweeping Taiwan.

In it, a young female aide finds herself alone with her mentor — a party spokeswoman and the show's main character.&nbsp;

On-screen, she is seen debating whether to confide in her senior the harassment she had endured from a male colleague "knowing that a public report would harm the party's standing and likely her own career", writes the BBC.

However, she finally decides to tell her and her confession is met with an offer of help.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-black-panther-actor-tenoch-huerta-denies-sexual-harassment-allegations-need-to-contest-claims-that-are-false-604471">Black Panther actor Tenoch Huerta denies sexual harassment allegations: Need to contest claims that are false</a>

"Let's not just let this go, ok," says the woman's senior, brushing away her staffer's concerns.&nbsp;

"We can't let things go this easily. Otherwise, we'll wither away and die."

Echoing the now iconic dialogue, on May 31, an ex-DPP staffer wrote an essay on Facebook.

"Let's not just let this go," wrote Chen Chiemn-jou. She went on to describe her experience of being sexually harassed at a work event. She alleges that when she had reported the harassment earlier, a female supervisor in charge of the party's women's affairs - had asked her "Why didn't you say anything?", before advising her to bury the claim.

<h2>Taiwan's #MeToo movement</h2>

Chen's post electrified Taiwan. The post which has been shared thousands of times, as per BBC, appears to have motivated others in politics and beyond to report their experiences of harassment and how authorities responded.

Another ex-DPP female staffer later alleged her male supervisor had verbally abused her and stymied her complaint about another male colleague's harassment.

Several senior DPP officials, including Hsu Chia-tien, the supervisor in Chen's case, who was suspended by the party, and Yen Chih-fa, an adviser to the president who has denied accusations of sexual harassment by a campaigner have resigned.

In addition to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan has also faced allegations of sexual harassment.&nbsp;

A journalist accused KMT lawmaker Fu Kun-chi of forcibly kissing her at a press event in 2014, which Fu has denied.&nbsp;

Another KMT councillor alleged harassment by a well-known media personality, who apologised for his behaviour, citing being drunk and having no recollection of the events.

More than 90 cases of sexual harassment and assault have been documented in an online database.&nbsp;

Among the high-profile men accused are Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, who has denied sexual assault allegations from two younger men, and exiled poet Bei Ling, who has been accused by a writer of the Wave Makers show of sexual assault, which he denies.&nbsp;

Polish diplomat Bartosz Ryś is another high-profile name. He has been accused of sexual assault by a Taiwanese think tank researcher, but prosecutors investigated the incident and decided not to charge him. Ryś has denied the allegations.

While this moment signifies a reckoning and an opportunity to address gender and sexual abuse in Taiwan, survivors find themselves thrust into a traumatic public conversation.&nbsp;Many remain sceptical of lasting change.

The MeToo movement in Taiwan has emerged at a significant time in the country's political landscape as it prepares for a presidential election next January.&nbsp;

The TV show's screenwriters, who sparked the initial wave of allegations, expressed their surprise at the public response. Talking to BBC, they explained that "through idealised depictions of addressing workplace harassment in drama, people can find a shared language to express their expectations of how such issues should be handled."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Art is a reflection of the society. Paintings, movies, music, and even TV shows can help be a mirror. Proving this, a Netflix show has sparked a local MeToo movement in Taiwan.

Art is a reflection of the society. Paintings, movies, music, and even TV shows can help be a mirror. Proving this, a Netflix show has sparked a local MeToo movement in Taiwan. The country is experiencing a surge of sexual harassment and assault allegations, triggered by the show called ' Wave Makers'. The outpouring of sexual harassment cases Over the past two weeks, more than 90 people have come forward, accusing individuals across the island nation. Initially, the allegations focused on politics and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), leading to the resignation of several senior officials. Also read | Study shows why sexual assault victims hesitate to come forward immediately However, now the accusations have spread throughout Taiwanese society, targeting doctors, professors, sporting umpires, and YouTubers. Better late than never! As per a BBC report, the MeToo moment is long overdue for many women across Taiwanese society, which is otherwise commended globally for its progressive politics and commitment to gender equality. President Tsai Ing-wen, the country's first female leader, has apologised and pledged to implement reforms. According to social commentator Dr Liu Wen, the magnitude of these revelations and the exposure of underlying issues across various industries is unprecedented. "Previously we had single cases around sexual harassment, but never in such magnitude." "It's the first time a lot of the underlying issues in different industries are being revealed all at the same time," added Wen. 'Wave Makers' makes waves The screen inspiration behind this important local moment as mentioned is a Netflix show called Wave Makers. The show about Taiwanese political staffers working on an election debuted on Netflix in late April. A scene from the show has been credited as the clarion call for the MeToo moment now sweeping Taiwan. In it, a young female aide finds herself alone with her mentor — a party spokeswoman and the show's main character. On-screen, she is seen debating whether to confide in her senior the harassment she had endured from a male colleague "knowing that a public report would harm the party's standing and likely her own career", writes the BBC. However, she finally decides to tell her and her confession is met with an offer of help. Also read | Black Panther actor Tenoch Huerta denies sexual harassment allegations: Need to contest claims that are false "Let's not just let this go, ok," says the woman's senior, brushing away her staffer's concerns. "We can't let things go this easily. Otherwise, we'll wither away and die." Echoing the now iconic dialogue, on May 31, an ex-DPP staffer wrote an essay on Facebook. "Let's not just let this go," wrote Chen Chiemn-jou. She went on to describe her experience of being sexually harassed at a work event. She alleges that when she had reported the harassment earlier, a female supervisor in charge of the party's women's affairs - had asked her "Why didn't you say anything?", before advising her to bury the claim. Taiwan's #MeToo movement Chen's post electrified Taiwan. The post which has been shared thousands of times, as per BBC, appears to have motivated others in politics and beyond to report their experiences of harassment and how authorities responded. Another ex-DPP female staffer later alleged her male supervisor had verbally abused her and stymied her complaint about another male colleague's harassment. Several senior DPP officials, including Hsu Chia-tien, the supervisor in Chen's case, who was suspended by the party, and Yen Chih-fa, an adviser to the president who has denied accusations of sexual harassment by a campaigner have resigned. In addition to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party in Taiwan has also faced allegations of sexual harassment. A journalist accused KMT lawmaker Fu Kun-chi of forcibly kissing her at a press event in 2014, which Fu has denied. Another KMT councillor alleged harassment by a well-known media personality, who apologised for his behaviour, citing being drunk and having no recollection of the events. More than 90 cases of sexual harassment and assault have been documented in an online database. Among the high-profile men accused are Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, who has denied sexual assault allegations from two younger men, and exiled poet Bei Ling, who has been accused by a writer of the Wave Makers show of sexual assault, which he denies. Polish diplomat Bartosz Ryś is another high-profile name. He has been accused of sexual assault by a Taiwanese think tank researcher, but prosecutors investigated the incident and decided not to charge him. Ryś has denied the allegations. While this moment signifies a reckoning and an opportunity to address gender and sexual abuse in Taiwan, survivors find themselves thrust into a traumatic public conversation. Many remain sceptical of lasting change. The MeToo movement in Taiwan has emerged at a significant time in the country's political landscape as it prepares for a presidential election next January. The TV show's screenwriters, who sparked the initial wave of allegations, expressed their surprise at the public response. Talking to BBC, they explained that "through idealised depictions of addressing workplace harassment in drama, people can find a shared language to express their expectations of how such issues should be handled." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Netflix show 'Wave Makers' creates waves in Taiwan, triggers flood of #MeToo complaints

JPMorgan Chase has hit back at the US Virgin Islands government after the latter brought in a lawsuit accusing the banking giant of empowering disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of teenage girls.&nbsp;

Lawyers representing the bank in the Manhattan federal court said the Virgin Islands was complicit in Epstein's act and that high-ranking officials of the country were bought off by him.

“He gave them money, advice, influence, and favours. In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him,” providing lucrative tax breaks worth millions of dollars, they wrote.

“For two decades, and for long after JPMC exited Epstein as a client, the entity that most directly failed to protect public safety and most actively facilitated and benefited from Epstein’s continued criminal activity was the plaintiff in this case — the USVI government itself," the lawyers added.&nbsp;

Reflecting on the statements from the defence,&nbsp;the&nbsp;US Virgin Islands attorney general’s office said it was an attempt to deflect the blame.&nbsp;

“This is an obvious attempt to shift blame away from JPMorgan Chase, which had a legal responsibility to report the evidence in its possession of Epstein’s human trafficking, and failed to do so," read the statement.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/epsteins-private-islands-sold-to-billionaire-investor-for-60-million-588757">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein’s private islands sold to billionaire investor for $60 million&nbsp;</a>

<h2>The lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase</h2>

The Virgin Islands government sued the bank&nbsp;in December last year, alleging that it knew about Epstein's predatory behaviour. It added that the bank turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for over a decade as Epstein's account and the clients he brought to the bank made him extremely valuable.&nbsp;

Earlier, US Virgin Islands subpoenaed documents from billionaire Elon Musk&nbsp;as part of its lawsuit against the bank.&nbsp;Google co-founder Larry Page was also to be served the same legal document but the government failed to locate him.

The government said it had been unable to locate Page, who co-founded and co-owns Alphabet Inc, despite good faith attempts, which included hiring an investigative firm to search public record databases.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/private-islands-owned-by-jeffrey-epstein-588779">WATCH |&nbsp;Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/private-islands-owned-by-jeffrey-epstein-588779/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Jeffrey Epstein - a monster</h2>

Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005.

However, the majority of his sexual exploits took place on the&nbsp;72-acre Little St. James Island which he purchased&nbsp;in 1998 for $7.95 million. He later bought the 160-acre Great St. James Island for $20 million in 2016.&nbsp;

Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 of paying young girls for massages but served just 13 months in jail under a secret plea deal. He died under mysterious circumstances at&nbsp;the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York in 2019, with the authorities terming it a 'suicide'.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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JPMorgan Chase has hit back at the US Virgin Islands government after the latter brought in a lawsuit accusing the banking giant of empowering disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of teenage girls.

JPMorgan Chase has hit back at the US Virgin Islands government after the latter brought in a lawsuit accusing the banking giant of empowering disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of teenage girls. Lawyers representing the bank in the Manhattan federal court said the Virgin Islands was complicit in Epstein's act and that high-ranking officials of the country were bought off by him. “He gave them money, advice, influence, and favours. In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him,” providing lucrative tax breaks worth millions of dollars, they wrote. “For two decades, and for long after JPMC exited Epstein as a client, the entity that most directly failed to protect public safety and most actively facilitated and benefited from Epstein’s continued criminal activity was the plaintiff in this case — the USVI government itself," the lawyers added. Reflecting on the statements from the defence, the US Virgin Islands attorney general’s office said it was an attempt to deflect the blame. “This is an obvious attempt to shift blame away from JPMorgan Chase, which had a legal responsibility to report the evidence in its possession of Epstein’s human trafficking, and failed to do so," read the statement. ALSO READ | Jeffrey Epstein’s private islands sold to billionaire investor for $60 million The lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase The Virgin Islands government sued the bank in December last year, alleging that it knew about Epstein's predatory behaviour. It added that the bank turned a blind eye to evidence of human trafficking for over a decade as Epstein's account and the clients he brought to the bank made him extremely valuable. Earlier, US Virgin Islands subpoenaed documents from billionaire Elon Musk as part of its lawsuit against the bank. Google co-founder Larry Page was also to be served the same legal document but the government failed to locate him. The government said it had been unable to locate Page, who co-founded and co-owns Alphabet Inc, despite good faith attempts, which included hiring an investigative firm to search public record databases. WATCH | Private Islands owned by Jeffrey Epstein Jeffrey Epstein - a monster Epstein was accused of sexually exploiting dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida between 2002 and 2005. However, the majority of his sexual exploits took place on the 72-acre Little St. James Island which he purchased in 1998 for $7.95 million. He later bought the 160-acre Great St. James Island for $20 million in 2016. Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 of paying young girls for massages but served just 13 months in jail under a secret plea deal. He died under mysterious circumstances at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York in 2019, with the authorities terming it a 'suicide'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

JPMorgan Chase hits back at US Virgin Islands after being blamed for Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes

Journalist E. Jean Carroll has requested a US court judge to amend her initial defamation case in which she received $5 million in damages, to include Donald Trump's recent statements at a CNN town hall.

Journalist E. Jean Carroll has requested a US court judge to amend her initial defamation case in which she received $5 million in damages, to include Donald Trump's recent statements at a CNN town hall. The former president repeated his claims at the interview which Carroll believes was another attempt at defaming her. According to Carroll's attorney, Trump's statements directly go to the issue of punitive damages which are intended to punish the person found liable. Notably, a day after a nine-member jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming the Elle magazine writer, he called her a 'whack job' on CNN. He added that Carroll was telling a "made-up story" and that he didn't know her, which according to Carroll's lawyers, comes under the category of further "defamatory statements". "Trump’s defamatory statements post-verdict show the depth of his malice toward Carroll since it is hard to imagine defamatory conduct that could possibly be more motivated by hatred, ill will, or spite," the complaint reads. "This conduct supports a very substantial punitive damages award in Carroll’s favor both to punish Trump, to deter him from engaging in further defamation, and to deter others from doing the same," it added. The Manhattan Federal Court earlier this month announced the verdict and awarded $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to Carroll. The nine-member jury, comprising six men and three women, reached a unanimous verdict in less than three hours but did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her. WATCH | Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules × What did Carroll claim? The 79-year-old former columnist at Elle Magazine has claimed that Trump raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996. During her testimony, Carroll said Trump's actions shattered her and she had been trying to get her life back. “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and I’m here to try to get my life back,” Carroll testified. A victory for all women: Carroll After receiving the verdict in her favour, Carroll termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault. “The old view of the perfect victim was a woman who always screamed. A woman who immediately reported. A woman whose life was supposed to fold up and she’s never supposed to experience happiness again,” said Carroll. ALSO READ | 'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her “That was just shut down with this verdict, the death of the perfect victim has happened. Now this verdict is for all women," she added. Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

E. Jean Carroll seeks new damages after Trump's CNN town hall tirade

After the testimony of a whistleblower who was raped on a base and forced to leave the forces was published by the parliament’s Defence sub-committee, MPs of UK renewed calls for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to move rape cases out of the court martial system.

The testimony of the servicewoman was published on Thursday, May 18. Her story is one of the eight cases revealing continuing rape and sexual abuse in the UK military. Other reported cases include charges of sexual assault and abuse in the past two years and senior officers dismissing complaints.&nbsp;

<h2>Fear for recriminations</h2>

The servicewoman, who was raped on a base by someone she had been in a casual relationship with, was at first hesitant to report the incident “for fear of recriminations”. She was then advised by her military GP to “choose her partners more carefully in future”.

<h2>Institutional misogyny&nbsp;</h2>

As reported in the Guardian, a second doctor persuaded her to report the incident to her chain of command, even after which no action was taken against her abuser. It was decided by the senior officers, in consultation with the second doctor that it was necessary “for the career of the rapist and the elite unit he served in” to keep him in place.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/major-japanese-talent-agency-apologises-over-sexual-assault-claims-592596">Major Japanese talent agency apologises over sexual assault claims</a>

Meanwhile, the woman was “moved across country, out of that elite unit, against her will”, while she waited for mental health treatment. A year later, she was medically discharged but told to leave the armed forces “against her will”.

Another incident of a servicewoman being “groped, forcibly kissed” during a Christmas unit party was not taken seriously by her seniors. Rather she was told that “it was Christmas, and a party” and “she should understand that things get a little out of hand”.

Commenting on the issue, the committee’s chair MP Sarah Atherton said that the British military exhibits “a wider culture of institutional misogyny” despite repeated promises of reform.&nbsp;

<h2>Two-thirds of serving women suffer bullying and sexual harassment</h2>

An inquiry into women in the armed forces based on testimonies submitted to MPs on the defence select committee conducted by Atherton in 2021, concluded that nearly two-thirds of women serving in the armed forces are victims of bullying, sexual harassment and face discrimination during their career.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: UK police officers face sexual assault charges

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Atherton further commented on the issue by stating that the testimonies reinforce the group’s view that cases of rape and sexual assault within the service should be handled by civilian courts.

The move, which was first proposed in a 2021 parliamentary report into the experiences of servicewomen, was rejected upon the recommendation from the MoD.&nbsp;

However, MoD has unveiled a few reforms such as the removal of the chain of command from the complaints process and the termination of officials found guilty on accounts of sexual harassment.&nbsp; 
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After the testimony of a whistleblower who was raped on a base and forced to leave the forces was published by the parliament’s Defence sub-committee, MPs of UK renewed calls for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to move rape cases out of the court martial system.

After the testimony of a whistleblower who was raped on a base and forced to leave the forces was published by the parliament’s Defence sub-committee, MPs of UK renewed calls for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to move rape cases out of the court martial system. The testimony of the servicewoman was published on Thursday, May 18. Her story is one of the eight cases revealing continuing rape and sexual abuse in the UK military. Other reported cases include charges of sexual assault and abuse in the past two years and senior officers dismissing complaints. Fear for recriminations The servicewoman, who was raped on a base by someone she had been in a casual relationship with, was at first hesitant to report the incident “for fear of recriminations”. She was then advised by her military GP to “choose her partners more carefully in future”. Institutional misogyny As reported in the Guardian, a second doctor persuaded her to report the incident to her chain of command, even after which no action was taken against her abuser. It was decided by the senior officers, in consultation with the second doctor that it was necessary “for the career of the rapist and the elite unit he served in” to keep him in place. ALSO READ | Major Japanese talent agency apologises over sexual assault claims Meanwhile, the woman was “moved across country, out of that elite unit, against her will”, while she waited for mental health treatment. A year later, she was medically discharged but told to leave the armed forces “against her will”. Another incident of a servicewoman being “groped, forcibly kissed” during a Christmas unit party was not taken seriously by her seniors. Rather she was told that “it was Christmas, and a party” and “she should understand that things get a little out of hand”. Commenting on the issue, the committee’s chair MP Sarah Atherton said that the British military exhibits “a wider culture of institutional misogyny” despite repeated promises of reform. Two-thirds of serving women suffer bullying and sexual harassment An inquiry into women in the armed forces based on testimonies submitted to MPs on the defence select committee conducted by Atherton in 2021, concluded that nearly two-thirds of women serving in the armed forces are victims of bullying, sexual harassment and face discrimination during their career. WATCH | Gravitas: UK police officers face sexual assault charges × Atherton further commented on the issue by stating that the testimonies reinforce the group’s view that cases of rape and sexual assault within the service should be handled by civilian courts. The move, which was first proposed in a 2021 parliamentary report into the experiences of servicewomen, was rejected upon the recommendation from the MoD. However, MoD has unveiled a few reforms such as the removal of the chain of command from the complaints process and the termination of officials found guilty on accounts of sexual harassment. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Whistleblower reveals continuing sexual abuse of women in UK military

After a nine-member jury found former US president Donald Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, the latter has termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault, in an interview with CNN.

After a nine-member jury found former US president Donald Trump guilty of sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, the latter has termed it a 'victory' for all women who are victims of sexual assault, in an interview with CNN. The Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday announced the verdict and awarded $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to Carroll. “The old view of the perfect victim was a woman who always screamed. A woman who immediately reported. A woman whose life was supposed to fold up and she’s never supposed to experience happiness again,” said Carroll in the interview. “That was just shut down with this verdict, the death of the perfect victim has happened. Now this verdict is for all women," she added. Quizzed about what was going through her mind when the jury said they were not convinced that Trump raped her, Carroll said, “Well, I just immediately (said) in my own head, ‘Oh, yes, he did. Oh yes, he did.’” Carroll added that when she shook hands with Trump's attorney Joe Tacopina, she told him, “He did it. And you know it.” Notably, the nine-member jury, comprising six men and three women, reached a unanimous verdict in less than three hours but did not agree with Carroll’s allegation that the former president raped her. “I’m really sort of taking in the moment and the overwhelming flood of a lot of hate that’s part of it. There’s a sort of a feeling of victory that, at last, somebody has held him accountable in a courtroom,” she added. WATCH | Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules × What did Carroll claim? The 79-year-old former columnist at Elle Magazine has claimed that Trump raped her at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996. During her testimony, Carroll said Trump's actions shattered her and she had been trying to get her life back. “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and I’m here to try to get my life back,” Carroll testified. Trump's testimony Days before the verdict, video footage of Trump testifying in front of the court in October last year was released. In the video, Trump looked rather nonchalant and denied the allegations brought against him. “It’s a disgrace. Frankly, it’s a disgrace that something like this can be brought,” Trump said in the video, referring to Carroll’s claim that he raped her in a luxury Manhattan department store. Trump repeated his previous comment saying he was engaging in 'locker room talk' and justified his remarks about famous people being able to have their way with women. “Historically, that’s true with stars…If you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately," said Trump. When attorney Roberta Kaplan asked if he considered himself a star, Trump responded, "I think you can say that, yeah." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'This verdict is for all women': E. Jean Carroll after jury holds Trump guilty of sexually abusing her

Donald Trump on Tuesday found liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E Jean Carroll in the 1990s, with the jury awarding her $5 million. The jury also held Trump accused of defaming Carroll by branding her a liar.

Donald Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll, US jury rules

Brazilian soccer player&nbsp;Dani&nbsp;Alves&nbsp;will testify before a Spanish judge on Monday (April 17) over an alleged sexual assault in a Barcelona night club. Alves&nbsp;has been in jail on remand without bail since late January while the investigation continues after a local woman filed a complaint about an event at the exclusive Sutton nightclub in the city centre.

Alves&nbsp;is testifying on his own request and denies wrongdoing. The court in February rejected a request by the soccer star to be released from jail on remand as the investigation over the alleged sexual assault takes place.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelona-have-never-done-anything-to-obtain-some-type-of-sporting-advantage-confirms-joan-laporta-583312">Barcelona have never 'done anything to 'obtain some type of sporting advantage, confirms Joan Laporta</a>

Alves&nbsp;has played for the Brazil national team since 2006, making 126 appearances and scoring eight goals.

Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves will testify before a Spanish judge on Monday (April 17) over an alleged sexual assault in a Barcelona night club. Alves has been in jail on remand without bail since late January while the investigation continues after a local woman filed a complaint about an event at the exclusive Sutton nightclub in the city centre.

Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves will testify before a Spanish judge on Monday (April 17) over an alleged sexual assault in a Barcelona night club. Alves has been in jail on remand without bail since late January while the investigation continues after a local woman filed a complaint about an event at the exclusive Sutton nightclub in the city centre. Alves is testifying on his own request and denies wrongdoing. The court in February rejected a request by the soccer star to be released from jail on remand as the investigation over the alleged sexual assault takes place. Also Read: Barcelona have never 'done anything to 'obtain some type of sporting advantage, confirms Joan Laporta Alves has played for the Brazil national team since 2006, making 126 appearances and scoring eight goals.

Brazilian soccer star Dani Alves to arrive in court over alleged sexual assault claim

A survey done in the United Kingdom (UK) over school students' attitudes to pornography revealed that a significant number of young people between the ages of 14 and 18 are watching porn frequently, with some of them becoming addicted to sexually explicit content. A report by The Guardian on Friday (March 10) said that the study done by Dignify (a charity that researches sexual abuse), spoke to 4,000 students in the above age group in Hertfordshire.&nbsp;

Dignify found that 22% of these students viewed porn on multiple occasions.&nbsp;Of those, one in five students said that they had a porn habit and one in 10 said they felt addicted.

In the survey, young people were asked what age they were when they first saw pornography.&nbsp;The average age was 12 but the youngest age was three. The survey also said that a third of young people received a nude video or photo, and of these well over half had received a nude from a stranger, The Guardian reported.

Dignify's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Helen Roberts said that it was impossible to tackle the embedded behaviours of sexual harassment in schools without talking about the harmful impact pornography is having on children and young people. Roberts said the charity was particularly concerned by&nbsp;many children telling that they are addicted to porn.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, teaching unions said that schools across the UK have been struggling to meet demands in educating students about online harm, in particular pornography. This week, a decision by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to order a review of the way sex education is taught in schools was labelled politically motivated by the unions. They said they saw no evidence of claims by Conservative MPs that children were being shown age-inappropriate materials in classrooms.

Speaking to the publication, the headteacher of one of the schools that have worked closely with Dignify, said there was a rise in the number of students reporting sexual assaults in recent years.&nbsp;

"We saw the number of students reporting sexual assault start to increase seven to eight years ago and at first we didn’t know why. And then working with Dignify I began to learn about the impact porn was having on our students," the headteacher, who wished to remain anonymous said.&nbsp;

“The correlation between sexual abuse and watching porn is very high. The majority of what they see is violent,” the headteacher added. 
 
 
 
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A survey done in the United Kingdom (UK) over school students' attitudes to pornography revealed that a significant number of young people between the ages of 14 and 18 are watching porn frequently, with some of them becoming addicted to sexually explicit content.

A survey done in the United Kingdom (UK) over school students' attitudes to pornography revealed that a significant number of young people between the ages of 14 and 18 are watching porn frequently, with some of them becoming addicted to sexually explicit content. A report by The Guardian on Friday (March 10) said that the study done by Dignify (a charity that researches sexual abuse), spoke to 4,000 students in the above age group in Hertfordshire. Dignify found that 22% of these students viewed porn on multiple occasions. Of those, one in five students said that they had a porn habit and one in 10 said they felt addicted. In the survey, young people were asked what age they were when they first saw pornography. The average age was 12 but the youngest age was three. The survey also said that a third of young people received a nude video or photo, and of these well over half had received a nude from a stranger, The Guardian reported. Dignify's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Helen Roberts said that it was impossible to tackle the embedded behaviours of sexual harassment in schools without talking about the harmful impact pornography is having on children and young people. Roberts said the charity was particularly concerned by many children telling that they are addicted to porn. Meanwhile, teaching unions said that schools across the UK have been struggling to meet demands in educating students about online harm, in particular pornography. This week, a decision by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to order a review of the way sex education is taught in schools was labelled politically motivated by the unions. They said they saw no evidence of claims by Conservative MPs that children were being shown age-inappropriate materials in classrooms. Speaking to the publication, the headteacher of one of the schools that have worked closely with Dignify, said there was a rise in the number of students reporting sexual assaults in recent years. "We saw the number of students reporting sexual assault start to increase seven to eight years ago and at first we didn’t know why. And then working with Dignify I began to learn about the impact porn was having on our students," the headteacher, who wished to remain anonymous said. “The correlation between sexual abuse and watching porn is very high. The majority of what they see is violent,” the headteacher added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Significant number of young aged 14-18 watch porn frequently, get addicted, shows survey

A 15-year-old, who was allegedly sexually abused, gave birth to a girl at her home in Nagpur in the western Indian state of Maharashtra,&nbsp;after watching several YouTube tutorials&nbsp;on childbirth. She&nbsp;killed the newborn after birth, according to a report from news agency PTI.

The teenager, who lives in the Ambazari neighbourhood, came up with the concept of home birth and began watching YouTube tutorials in order to discreetly deliver the baby at home.&nbsp;

"She hid her baby bump from her mother by telling her that she was having some health issues," officials said.

"On March 2, she gave birth to a girl at her home and immediately strangled the newborn to death. She hid the body in a box in her home," they added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/give-plastic-take-gold-a-unique-idea-makes-jammu-and-kashmir-village-plastic-free-568669">Give plastic, take gold: A unique idea makes Jammu and Kashmir village plastic-free</a>

The minor allegedly strangled the crying baby with a belt until she stopped crying since neighbours would have been alerted by her cries. The infant was then placed in a bag and kept on the terrace, as per Times of India newspaper.

When the girl's mother returned home, she questioned her about her health condition.&nbsp;"The girl narrated her ordeal to her mother, following which she was taken to a hospital. The body of the newborn was sent for postmortem," officials said.

The minor allegedly befriended a man she met online. She had once been taken to a friend's house by the man, where he had forced himself on her after making her drink alcohol, as per TOI.&nbsp;

Police are still trying to trace the man, according to senior inspector Gajanan Kalyankar of the Ambazari police station.

“Police are still unsure about many questions in the case. We have a preliminary version of the minor and her mother, but a detailed inquiry is required,” said Kalyankar.

The police have reported a rape offence and a case of accidental death of the newborn. They are awaiting the results of the post-mortem to determine if the child was stillborn or killed after delivery.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A 15-year-old, who was allegedly sexually abused, gave birth to a girl at her home in Nagpur in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, after watching several YouTube tutorials on childbirth.

A 15-year-old, who was allegedly sexually abused, gave birth to a girl at her home in Nagpur in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, after watching several YouTube tutorials on childbirth. She killed the newborn after birth, according to a report from news agency PTI. The teenager, who lives in the Ambazari neighbourhood, came up with the concept of home birth and began watching YouTube tutorials in order to discreetly deliver the baby at home. "She hid her baby bump from her mother by telling her that she was having some health issues," officials said. "On March 2, she gave birth to a girl at her home and immediately strangled the newborn to death. She hid the body in a box in her home," they added. ALSO READ | Give plastic, take gold: A unique idea makes Jammu and Kashmir village plastic-free The minor allegedly strangled the crying baby with a belt until she stopped crying since neighbours would have been alerted by her cries. The infant was then placed in a bag and kept on the terrace, as per Times of India newspaper. When the girl's mother returned home, she questioned her about her health condition. "The girl narrated her ordeal to her mother, following which she was taken to a hospital. The body of the newborn was sent for postmortem," officials said. The minor allegedly befriended a man she met online. She had once been taken to a friend's house by the man, where he had forced himself on her after making her drink alcohol, as per TOI. Police are still trying to trace the man, according to senior inspector Gajanan Kalyankar of the Ambazari police station. “Police are still unsure about many questions in the case. We have a preliminary version of the minor and her mother, but a detailed inquiry is required,” said Kalyankar. The police have reported a rape offence and a case of accidental death of the newborn. They are awaiting the results of the post-mortem to determine if the child was stillborn or killed after delivery. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Nagpur teen delivers baby after watching YouTube tutorials, kills newborn

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7)&nbsp;and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape.

What is the age of consent?

The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse&nbsp;on their rights and development, as per the United Nations.&nbsp;

If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent.&nbsp;

What are the current laws?

As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as&nbsp;13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also&nbsp;means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws.

In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP.&nbsp;

The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that&nbsp;the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”.&nbsp;

Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction.

In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator&nbsp;used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”.&nbsp;

However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP.&nbsp;

What is the proposed reform?

Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13.&nbsp;

However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase&nbsp;from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as&nbsp;intercourse and&nbsp;providing such images to other people, a punishable offence.&nbsp;

What prompted this change?

The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current&nbsp;laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests.&nbsp;

At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who&nbsp;was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed.&nbsp;

Previous amendments&nbsp;

The recent proposal comes months after a&nbsp;draft was&nbsp;released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make&nbsp;sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse.&nbsp;

In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. &nbsp;

What’s the age of consent across different countries?

Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights.

Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16.&nbsp;In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but&nbsp;was raised by the&nbsp;Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act&nbsp;to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
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A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago.

A Japanese justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in the country from 13 to 16. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. This comes as the panel proposed a package of reforms which would clarify rape prosecution requirements as well as criminalise voyeurism. Furthermore, it would also criminalise the grooming of minors and expand the definition of rape. What is the age of consent? The age of consent is the legal age at which an individual is deemed capable enough of consenting to sexual activity. The aim is to protect adolescents and young adults from sexual abuse and the consequences of engaging in early sexual intercourse on their rights and development, as per the United Nations. If an adult engages in any type of sexual activity with someone below the determined age of consent by the state they are committing a crime. Furthermore, when sexual intercourse is agreed to by both parties, it would be considered statutory rape, since the individual is still a minor and too young to consent. What are the current laws? As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent in developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent which also means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. However, sexual intercourse with a person under 13 is illegal regardless of consent while intercourse with a person aged 13 to 15 will be punished if the perpetrator is five or more years older, as per Japanese laws. In practice, there are several regions in the country which have banned “lewd” acts with minors which is the closest thing to the age of consent being 18 in Japan. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children “unethical” conduct as opposed to a crime, said Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation, to AFP. The head of the Tokyo-based group PAPS also said that the current laws leave room for perpetrators to “shift blame to the victims, and argue that sex was initiated or enjoyed by the children”. Additionally, since the age of consent is low it has also meant that teen rape survivors are held at the same level for prosecuting perpetrators as adults do. According to the current Japanese criminal law, the victim needs to meet two conditions, in order to secure a conviction. In what is often referred to as one of the most controversial provisions, the sex must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”. However, critics have argued that this condition effectively blames victims for not resisting enough and said that during an assault survivors can freeze or in some cases even submit to avoid further injury, reported AFP. What is the proposed reform? Earlier this month, a panel of the Japanese Justice Ministry proposed a number of reforms which included raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, in part, to a wider overhaul of Japan’s sex crime legislation. One of the provisions also said that teenagers who are not more than five years apart in age would be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13. However, there is no clarity on whether the wording of the proposal addresses drugging, catching victims off-guard and psychologically controlling them. According to a justice ministry official, Yusuke Asanuma, the clarification is not “make it easier or harder” to secure rape convictions but they hope that the verdicts in such cases will become “more consistent”, reported AFP. Additionally, they have also called for the statute of limitations for reporting rape to increase from 10 years to 15 years for sexual violence against minors, to allow them more time to come forward. The council which advises the justice minister has also sought to make the act of secretly photographing an individual’s sexual body parts as well as intercourse and providing such images to other people, a punishable offence. What prompted this change? The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism and backlash which say that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. Notably, the age of consent in Japan has not changed since 1907. However, it was after several acquittals, in 2019, which led to widespread protests. At the time, thousands had taken to the streets of Japan across multiple cities and urged reform of the country’s sex crime laws. One of the cases included a father accused of repeatedly raping his 19-year-old daughter who was acquitted. According to reports, this was after the court had concluded that the intercourse was non-consensual, but since there was no definitive proof that the daughter had been unable to resist, the perpetrator was freed. This also sparked anger and renewed calls for “the crime of rape as all non-consensual sexual intercourse”. However, he was later sent to prison after prosecutors appealed. Previous amendments The recent proposal comes months after a draft was released called for merging constructive forcible sexual intercourse with forcible sexual intercourse and constructive indecent assault with indecent assault, reported the Japan Times. The proposal also sought to make sexual activity by making it difficult for the individual to refuse through any one of the eight acts by the perpetrator a punishable offence. The acts in question included assault or threat, causing mental or physical disorder and denying the victim the opportunity to refuse. In October, when it was being amended, some members of the subcommittee noted that this could be perceived as victims being obligated “to express refusal.” Therefore, it was later changed to “making it difficult for the victim to form, express or fulfil the intention not to consent,” or taking advantage of such a situation, as per media reports. What’s the age of consent across different countries? Most developed countries have set the age of consent between 14 to 16. According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy. The age of consent in the United States varies depending on the state but in a majority of them, it is 16 years of age and 17 or 18 in others. Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. In Europe, the lowest minimum age is 14 years, set in seven European Union (EU) member nations which include Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Portugal. On the other hand, the highest is set at 18 years in Malta, as per the EU agency for fundamental rights. Notably, it was not until 2015 that Spain raised its age of consent from 13 to 16. In India, the age of consent was 16 from 1940 until 2012 but was raised by the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to 18 years, which is among the highest across the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?

Barry Cable faces sexual assault charges:&nbsp;Australian Rules legend Barry Cable is grappling with child sexual abuse allegations. A Perth teenager accused Barry Cable of sexual abuse when he touched the peak of his career. Since then, the case has not been resolved because, until now, the District Court of Western Australia suppressed Barry Cable's identity.

The 79-year-old Australian football legend has denied the accusations. Moreover, the cops did not arrest him even once after the Perth teenager filed the allegations.&nbsp;

The woman, who remains anonymous, started the proceedings in 2019. She claimed that Barry Cable sexually assaulted her between 1968 and 1973. She was 12 years old in 1968. She has accused Barry Cable of psychiatric harm. The woman says she was subject to sexual harassment between 1974 and 1991.&nbsp;

However, Barry Cable's lawyers told the court that he was bankrupt. Thus, there were no funds if the judgement cost anything. In response, Australia's District Court Judge Mark Herron informed that Barry Cable won't participate in the upcoming five-day trial.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, February 7, Judge Herron lifted a series of suppression orders in the Barry Cable case. The civil trials will begin on Wednesday, February 8.

"In my view, the reasons and justification for making the orders anonymising the name of the defendant and suppressing the public reporting of the proceedings in a way which might tend to identify him, and the further order preventing a non-party from having access to court documents in the proceedings, are no longer relevant or necessary," Judge Herron said in a decision taken on Tuesday.

<h2>Barry Cable Family, Career &amp; Net Worth</h2>

Barry Cable has a wife named Helen. However, not much is known about her. From his marriage with Helen, he has two children. However, Barry Cable has not opened up much about his personal life and family.&nbsp;

Barry Cable, considered one of the greatest ever rovers, won two VFL premierships. He also has four WAFL titles in a 17-year career. Barry Cable took retirement in 1979.&nbsp;

Barry Cable has played 379 games across Perth and North Melbourne. He has a legendary status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.&nbsp;

Barry Cable faces sexual assault charges: Australian Rules legend Barry Cable is grappling with child sexual abuse allegations. A Perth teenager accused Barry Cable of sexual abuse when he touched the peak of his career.

Barry Cable faces sexual assault charges: Australian Rules legend Barry Cable is grappling with child sexual abuse allegations. A Perth teenager accused Barry Cable of sexual abuse when he touched the peak of his career. Since then, the case has not been resolved because, until now, the District Court of Western Australia suppressed Barry Cable's identity. The 79-year-old Australian football legend has denied the accusations. Moreover, the cops did not arrest him even once after the Perth teenager filed the allegations. The woman, who remains anonymous, started the proceedings in 2019. She claimed that Barry Cable sexually assaulted her between 1968 and 1973. She was 12 years old in 1968. She has accused Barry Cable of psychiatric harm. The woman says she was subject to sexual harassment between 1974 and 1991. However, Barry Cable's lawyers told the court that he was bankrupt. Thus, there were no funds if the judgement cost anything. In response, Australia's District Court Judge Mark Herron informed that Barry Cable won't participate in the upcoming five-day trial. On Tuesday, February 7, Judge Herron lifted a series of suppression orders in the Barry Cable case. The civil trials will begin on Wednesday, February 8. "In my view, the reasons and justification for making the orders anonymising the name of the defendant and suppressing the public reporting of the proceedings in a way which might tend to identify him, and the further order preventing a non-party from having access to court documents in the proceedings, are no longer relevant or necessary," Judge Herron said in a decision taken on Tuesday. Barry Cable Family, Career & Net Worth Barry Cable has a wife named Helen. However, not much is known about her. From his marriage with Helen, he has two children. However, Barry Cable has not opened up much about his personal life and family. Barry Cable, considered one of the greatest ever rovers, won two VFL premierships. He also has four WAFL titles in a 17-year career. Barry Cable took retirement in 1979. Barry Cable has played 379 games across Perth and North Melbourne. He has a legendary status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Australian Football legend Barry Cable sued over historical child sexual abuse claims

The Catholic Jesuit order, of which Pope Francis is a member, has been rocked by claims a prominent priest abused several women, a case raising questions about how the Church sanctions offenders.

Catholic Jesuit order hit by priest abuse scandal

In pics | World marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 

Women’s world number one Tennis player, Poland’s Iga Swiatek has asked the higher authorities to probe into the sexual charges against Poland's tennis federation president Miroslaw Skrzypczynski recently. On Monday, Polish parliamentarian Katarzyna Kotula accused Skrzypczynski of sexual harassment during her teenage days, when Skrzypczynski was her coach.

Taking the matter to social media (Twitter), the reigning US Open and French Open champion asked for action to be taken on this matter. The 21-year-old further wrote that this matter should be considered serious by everyone and that everyone needs to think about the victims as well.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/novak-djokovics-wife-reacts-strongly-over-serbians-mystery-drink-in-paris-masters-2022-533158">Novak Djokovic's wife reacts strongly over Serbian's mystery drink in Paris Masters 2022</a>

"As the current leader of women's tennis I can't remain silent," Iga Swiatek wrote on Twitter. "I consider the reports involving the Polish Tennis Association's president as something serious. We need to think about them (the victims) first of all," she said while listing helpline numbers for those seeking help or advice.

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I feel that as a current leader of women's tennis I can’t be silent about particular matters: <a href="https://t.co/cfyHa3Lbeg">pic.twitter.com/cfyHa3Lbeg</a>
— Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) <a href="https://twitter.com/iga_swiatek/status/1595077207130787840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

She further urged the federation to find out more details about this, saying, ‘It's not my job to do the work of the association's directors or reporters as the case is too serious involving the lives and wellbeing of others.’

Iga also thanked her father for taking care of her while she was growing up, adding that she had never been a victim of abuse.

Meanwhile, Katarzyna Kotula, in her interaction with the media on Monday, had described Poland's tennis federation president as a "sexual predator". According to Kotula, Skrzypczynski had molested her "at least a dozen times in three years" when she was connected to a club in the northeast of Poland during the 1990s.

Speaking further Kotula said that she was not the only one who suffered sexual harassment from him.

Women’s world number one Tennis player, Poland’s Iga Swiatek has asked the higher authorities to probe into the sexual charges against Poland's tennis federation president Miroslaw Skrzypczynski recently.

Women’s world number one Tennis player, Poland’s Iga Swiatek has asked the higher authorities to probe into the sexual charges against Poland's tennis federation president Miroslaw Skrzypczynski recently. On Monday, Polish parliamentarian Katarzyna Kotula accused Skrzypczynski of sexual harassment during her teenage days, when Skrzypczynski was her coach. Taking the matter to social media (Twitter), the reigning US Open and French Open champion asked for action to be taken on this matter. The 21-year-old further wrote that this matter should be considered serious by everyone and that everyone needs to think about the victims as well. ALSO READ: Novak Djokovic's wife reacts strongly over Serbian's mystery drink in Paris Masters 2022 "As the current leader of women's tennis I can't remain silent," Iga Swiatek wrote on Twitter. "I consider the reports involving the Polish Tennis Association's president as something serious. We need to think about them (the victims) first of all," she said while listing helpline numbers for those seeking help or advice. I feel that as a current leader of women's tennis I can’t be silent about particular matters: pic.twitter.com/cfyHa3Lbeg — Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) November 22, 2022 × She further urged the federation to find out more details about this, saying, ‘It's not my job to do the work of the association's directors or reporters as the case is too serious involving the lives and wellbeing of others.’ Iga also thanked her father for taking care of her while she was growing up, adding that she had never been a victim of abuse. Meanwhile, Katarzyna Kotula, in her interaction with the media on Monday, had described Poland's tennis federation president as a "sexual predator". According to Kotula, Skrzypczynski had molested her "at least a dozen times in three years" when she was connected to a club in the northeast of Poland during the 1990s. Speaking further Kotula said that she was not the only one who suffered sexual harassment from him.

World no. 1 Iga Swiatek wants action against Polish Tennis chief over sexual charges

A Turkish court has given 8,658 years in prison to an Islamic&nbsp;televangelist and sex cult leader who surrounded himself with women wearing minimal clothes, whom he called "kittens."

Adnan Oktar,66, led television programmes of him surrounded by women wearing lots of makeup and little clothes to promote creationism and conservative rules, the Anadolu news agency reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/at-least-7-killed-18-injured-after-bus-crash-in-eastern-turkey-532030">Also read |&nbsp;At least 7 killed, 18 injured after bus crash in eastern Turkey</a>

On Wednesday, the Istanbul court&nbsp;sentenced him to 891 years in prison for running a criminal organisation, sexual abuse, denial of education rights and illegal storage of personal data. In total, the sentence brings Oktar's punishment to 8,658 years. The court also gave similar years in prison to 10 other suspects, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The first verdict against Oktar and his mates was filed in January 2021 but was&nbsp;overruled by an upper court citing legal proof&nbsp;and ordering a retrial.&nbsp;This&nbsp;indictment against Oktar and his mates was presented in the court in September, accusing him of also running an armed organisation and exploiting the religious sentiments of many.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/century-of-turkey-vision-turkish-president-erdogan-wants-a-new-constitution-to-strengthen-law-and-equality-529772">Also read |&nbsp;'Century of Turkey Vision': Turkish President Erdogan wants a new constitution to strengthen law and equality&nbsp;</a>

Turkey's religious leaders and critics have been denouncing the leader of a cult, who gained&nbsp;popularity for his programmes on the online A9 television channels.&nbsp;

Oktar&nbsp;is also accused of collecting private data of high-profile names, from politicians, and actors to journalists.&nbsp;

The current sentence does not exceed the longest months prison sentence terms which was 9,803 years and six months, but still is one of the longest in the country and also in the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Turkish court has given 8,658 years in prison to an Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader who surrounded himself with women wearing minimal clothes, whom he called "kittens.

A Turkish court has given 8,658 years in prison to an Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader who surrounded himself with women wearing minimal clothes, whom he called "kittens." Adnan Oktar,66, led television programmes of him surrounded by women wearing lots of makeup and little clothes to promote creationism and conservative rules, the Anadolu news agency reported. Also read | At least 7 killed, 18 injured after bus crash in eastern Turkey On Wednesday, the Istanbul court sentenced him to 891 years in prison for running a criminal organisation, sexual abuse, denial of education rights and illegal storage of personal data. In total, the sentence brings Oktar's punishment to 8,658 years. The court also gave similar years in prison to 10 other suspects, AFP reported. The first verdict against Oktar and his mates was filed in January 2021 but was overruled by an upper court citing legal proof and ordering a retrial. This indictment against Oktar and his mates was presented in the court in September, accusing him of also running an armed organisation and exploiting the religious sentiments of many. Also read | 'Century of Turkey Vision': Turkish President Erdogan wants a new constitution to strengthen law and equality Turkey's religious leaders and critics have been denouncing the leader of a cult, who gained popularity for his programmes on the online A9 television channels. Oktar is also accused of collecting private data of high-profile names, from politicians, and actors to journalists. The current sentence does not exceed the longest months prison sentence terms which was 9,803 years and six months, but still is one of the longest in the country and also in the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader sentenced to 8,658 years in prison by Turkish court

Eleven former French bishops have been accused of sexual abuse, the French bishops’ conference said Monday. Watch full video to know more.

11 French bishops accused of sexual abuse

Now Kevin Spacey came out victorious in a sexual abuse case. This comes after his accuser Anthony Rapp failed to prove his claim before the jury members in New York.

Kevin Spacey Sexual Abuse Case: New York court dismisses $40 million lawsuit

Former US president Donald Trump has given sworn testimony on Wednesday in response to a defamation lawsuit by magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who claims that he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

Carroll's attorneys had the opportunity to question Trump during the deposition over the alleged assault as well as remarks he made in 2019 when she first shared her account in public.

The deposition's outcome was not immediately made public. It's also not clear if Trump appeared physically or via video link.

“We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today. We are not able to comment further,” the law firm representing her, Kaplan Hecker &amp; Fink, said in a statement.

Trump has said Carroll’s rape allegation is “a hoax and a lie.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/igor-danchenko-us-acquits-russian-on-charges-he-lied-to-fbi-over-steele-dossier-526653">Igor Danchenko: US jury acquits Russian on charges he lied to FBI over 'Steele dossier'</a>

His legal team fought for years to put off his deposition in the lawsuit, which was brought when the Republican was still in office. Last week, a federal court denied Trump's plea for a further delay, stating that he couldn't&nbsp;“run the clock out on plaintiff’s attempt to gain a remedy for what allegedly was a serious wrong.”

Any statements made by Trump in his deposition could possibly be used as proof in a future civil trial. Carroll's allegations have not been the subject of any criminal charges against him, and they are unlikely to be. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-found-guilty-of-killing-california-student-kristin-smart-in-1996-526614">Criminal prosecution</a> for suspected sexual assaults from the 1990s is no longer possible.

Civil cases alleging sexual assault were also subject to same legal deadlines.

However, New York lawmakers recently granted individuals a one-year opportunity to file civil court lawsuits for historical sexual assault accusations.

Carroll ultimately decided to file a defamation lawsuit against Trump over remarks he made in 2019 in which he denied any wrongdoing. She claims that his denials and criticisms of her integrity and credibility hurt her reputation. 
(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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Former US president Donald Trump has given sworn testimony on Wednesday in response to a defamation lawsuit by magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who claims that he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.

Former US president Donald Trump has given sworn testimony on Wednesday in response to a defamation lawsuit by magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, who claims that he sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. Carroll's attorneys had the opportunity to question Trump during the deposition over the alleged assault as well as remarks he made in 2019 when she first shared her account in public. The deposition's outcome was not immediately made public. It's also not clear if Trump appeared physically or via video link. “We’re pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump’s deposition today. We are not able to comment further,” the law firm representing her, Kaplan Hecker & Fink, said in a statement. Trump has said Carroll’s rape allegation is “a hoax and a lie.” Also read | Igor Danchenko: US jury acquits Russian on charges he lied to FBI over 'Steele dossier' His legal team fought for years to put off his deposition in the lawsuit, which was brought when the Republican was still in office. Last week, a federal court denied Trump's plea for a further delay, stating that he couldn't “run the clock out on plaintiff’s attempt to gain a remedy for what allegedly was a serious wrong.” Any statements made by Trump in his deposition could possibly be used as proof in a future civil trial. Carroll's allegations have not been the subject of any criminal charges against him, and they are unlikely to be. Criminal prosecution for suspected sexual assaults from the 1990s is no longer possible. Civil cases alleging sexual assault were also subject to same legal deadlines. However, New York lawmakers recently granted individuals a one-year opportunity to file civil court lawsuits for historical sexual assault accusations. Carroll ultimately decided to file a defamation lawsuit against Trump over remarks he made in 2019 in which he denied any wrongdoing. She claims that his denials and criticisms of her integrity and credibility hurt her reputation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trump deposed in E. Jean Carroll defamation case linked to rape accusation

Five years after sexual abuse accusations, Kevin Spacey's trial begins in New York. The trial is expected to last less than two weeks. The actor was seen heading to court on October 6 to defend himself in a lawsuit filed by Anthony Rapp, the actor who in 2017 made the first in a string of sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Actor Kevin Spacey facing trial in New York over sex abuse claim, accused by Anthony Rapp

A year-long independent investigation released on Monday said that sexual misconduct and abuse has become “systemic” in top-flight National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.

“Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct-verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct-had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims.”

“Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players.”

The controversy started in 2021 when former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley faced allegations of sexual abuse after a report by The Athletic. The report carried first-hand accounts from a number of players who played under him since 2010. In the aftermath of the controversy, former Commissioner Lisa Baird lost her job and Sally Q. Yates launched this investigation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-ruled-out-of-the-t20-world-cup-2022-confirms-bcci-522117" hreflang="en">Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2022, confirms BCCI</a>

According to the report, there were multiple instances of sexual abuse in the league and Yates warned the US Football authorities that a number of cases are still unreported.

“This investigation’s findings are heart-breaking and deeply troubling,” said Cindy Parlow, US Soccer’s president and a former player on the US women’s national team told Reuters. “The abuse described is inexcusable and has no place on any playing field, in any training facility or workplace.

“As the national governing body for our sport, US Soccer is fully committed to doing everything in its power to ensure that all players – at all levels – have a safe and respectful place to learn, grow and compete. We are taking the immediate action that we can today and will convene leaders in soccer at all levels across the country to collaborate on the recommendations so we can create meaningful, long-lasting change throughout the soccer ecosystem,” she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/node/522090" hreflang="en">Indonesia stampede: What do FIFA rules state about use of tear gas?</a>

While most clubs were quite supportive, the report said that three teams – the Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville FC and the Chicago Stars – did not cooperate with their investigators.

“The Portland Thorns interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents,” the report read. “Racing Louisville FC refused to produce documents concerning [former coach] Christy Holly and would not permit witnesses (even former employees) to answer relevant questions regarding Holly’s tenure, citing non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements it signed with Holly. The Chicago Red Stars unnecessarily delayed the production of relevant documents over the course of nearly nine months.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A year-long independent investigation released on Monday said that sexual misconduct and abuse has become “systemic” in top-flight National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.

A year-long independent investigation released on Monday said that sexual misconduct and abuse has become “systemic” in top-flight National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States. “Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct-verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct-had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims.” “Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players.” The controversy started in 2021 when former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley faced allegations of sexual abuse after a report by The Athletic. The report carried first-hand accounts from a number of players who played under him since 2010. In the aftermath of the controversy, former Commissioner Lisa Baird lost her job and Sally Q. Yates launched this investigation. Also read | Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2022, confirms BCCI According to the report, there were multiple instances of sexual abuse in the league and Yates warned the US Football authorities that a number of cases are still unreported. “This investigation’s findings are heart-breaking and deeply troubling,” said Cindy Parlow, US Soccer’s president and a former player on the US women’s national team told Reuters. “The abuse described is inexcusable and has no place on any playing field, in any training facility or workplace. “As the national governing body for our sport, US Soccer is fully committed to doing everything in its power to ensure that all players – at all levels – have a safe and respectful place to learn, grow and compete. We are taking the immediate action that we can today and will convene leaders in soccer at all levels across the country to collaborate on the recommendations so we can create meaningful, long-lasting change throughout the soccer ecosystem,” she added. Also read | Indonesia stampede: What do FIFA rules state about use of tear gas? While most clubs were quite supportive, the report said that three teams – the Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville FC and the Chicago Stars – did not cooperate with their investigators. “The Portland Thorns interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents,” the report read. “Racing Louisville FC refused to produce documents concerning [former coach] Christy Holly and would not permit witnesses (even former employees) to answer relevant questions regarding Holly’s tenure, citing non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements it signed with Holly. The Chicago Red Stars unnecessarily delayed the production of relevant documents over the course of nearly nine months.” (With inputs from agencies)

Sexual misconduct and abuse ‘systemic’ in US women’s football, says report

A college student who had allegedly been sexually assaulted while disembarking from an Uber auto (tuk-tuk) has expressed dissatisfaction with the ride aggregator and the company's response. The incident took place in the southern Indian city of Chennai when the woman and her friend reached their destination via an Uber ride. According to the complainant, she was stepping out of the auto and her friend was making the payment, when the driver allegedly sexually assaulted her and then managed to escape.

Based on the complaint, the police are said to have arrested the driver and seized his vehicle and also got the related CCTV footage.

However, the complainant is extremely unhappy with the way the ride aggregator has dealt with the situation and their lack of proper responses.

Speaking to WION, the student (complainant) said that an Uber representative had initially assured legal action and also mentioned that the driver would possibly be suspended. However, despite requests, Uber did not share the mobile number of the said driver. She had been seeking the mobile number of the said driver, as she wanted to share the same with the Police.

As Uber customers only have access to the common landline number that drivers use to call customers and vice versa, she doesn't have the&nbsp;auto driver’s personal contact number, which was one of the prime information that was missing on the FIR. This ultimately is said to have led to a delay in Police’s investigation. She said that Uber representatives who called her later, were clueless about the particular incident, as there was no communication within their team.

Note: (Name of the complainant and any information that can be used to identify her have been withheld on her specific request)

A college student who had allegedly been sexually assaulted while disembarking from an Uber auto (tuk-tuk) has expressed dissatisfaction with the ride aggregator and the company's response.

A college student who had allegedly been sexually assaulted while disembarking from an Uber auto (tuk-tuk) has expressed dissatisfaction with the ride aggregator and the company's response. The incident took place in the southern Indian city of Chennai when the woman and her friend reached their destination via an Uber ride. According to the complainant, she was stepping out of the auto and her friend was making the payment, when the driver allegedly sexually assaulted her and then managed to escape. Based on the complaint, the police are said to have arrested the driver and seized his vehicle and also got the related CCTV footage. However, the complainant is extremely unhappy with the way the ride aggregator has dealt with the situation and their lack of proper responses. Speaking to WION, the student (complainant) said that an Uber representative had initially assured legal action and also mentioned that the driver would possibly be suspended. However, despite requests, Uber did not share the mobile number of the said driver. She had been seeking the mobile number of the said driver, as she wanted to share the same with the Police. As Uber customers only have access to the common landline number that drivers use to call customers and vice versa, she doesn't have the auto driver’s personal contact number, which was one of the prime information that was missing on the FIR. This ultimately is said to have led to a delay in Police’s investigation. She said that Uber representatives who called her later, were clueless about the particular incident, as there was no communication within their team. Note: (Name of the complainant and any information that can be used to identify her have been withheld on her specific request)

India: 'Dissatisfied with company's response', says woman who faced sexual assault on Uber ride

A young female parliamentary researcher has claimed that she was sexually assaulted by a serving Cabinet minister, Daily Mail has reported.

The woman, who worked at No 10 when the incident happened, alleged that she was groped by a Tory MP who has since been promoted to the Cabinet rank.

In an interview to the Sky News's ‘The Open Secret’ podcast, the woman, who has not been identified, said, “I was sexually assaulted by someone who's now a Cabinet minister, and I was in my early 20s and didn't really know how to deal with it.”

“I was super drunk. He's feeding me more wine and I'm already quite obviously tanked. After a while, I was like, ‘you know, what? Would you mind if I just went to bed?’ So, I went to bed,” she said.

“But obviously he didn't leave me alone. And then I woke up the next morning and I realised what had happened,” she added.

According to reports, the former House of Commons staff member later informed her colleagues and the MP she was working for at the time, who encouraged her to report it to the police. But she didn’t choose to press the matter further and also did not lodge a formal complaint to the Conservative Party.

“I was too scared to kickstart that process and risk it spiralling out of control,” she was quoted as saying.

But after the MP was elevated to the Cabinet rank, the woman decided to file a formal complaint.

“I heard that he was going to get a job in Downing Street. I raised it with a number of people. Nothing happened. So I then formally complained to the Cabinet Office. I just felt the responsibility to do it again, partly because the office he's going to be working in is full of women. And I just thought he'd do it again.”

However, she claimed that one of Boris Johnson's aides dismissed her complaint.

The Conservative party is said to have probed the matter, but it was not upheld as there was no footage or witnesses.

Meanwhile, a government spokesman told Daily Mail, “We take allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and there are robust procedures in place to raise concerns. All ministerial appointments also follow established processes.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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A young female parliamentary researcher has claimed that she was sexually assaulted by a serving Cabinet minister, Daily Mail has reported. The woman, who worked at No 10 when the incident happened, alleged that she was groped by a Tory MP who has since been promoted to the Cabinet rank.

A young female parliamentary researcher has claimed that she was sexually assaulted by a serving Cabinet minister, Daily Mail has reported. The woman, who worked at No 10 when the incident happened, alleged that she was groped by a Tory MP who has since been promoted to the Cabinet rank. In an interview to the Sky News's ‘The Open Secret’ podcast, the woman, who has not been identified, said, “I was sexually assaulted by someone who's now a Cabinet minister, and I was in my early 20s and didn't really know how to deal with it.” “I was super drunk. He's feeding me more wine and I'm already quite obviously tanked. After a while, I was like, ‘you know, what? Would you mind if I just went to bed?’ So, I went to bed,” she said. “But obviously he didn't leave me alone. And then I woke up the next morning and I realised what had happened,” she added. According to reports, the former House of Commons staff member later informed her colleagues and the MP she was working for at the time, who encouraged her to report it to the police. But she didn’t choose to press the matter further and also did not lodge a formal complaint to the Conservative Party. “I was too scared to kickstart that process and risk it spiralling out of control,” she was quoted as saying. But after the MP was elevated to the Cabinet rank, the woman decided to file a formal complaint. “I heard that he was going to get a job in Downing Street. I raised it with a number of people. Nothing happened. So I then formally complained to the Cabinet Office. I just felt the responsibility to do it again, partly because the office he's going to be working in is full of women. And I just thought he'd do it again.” However, she claimed that one of Boris Johnson's aides dismissed her complaint. The Conservative party is said to have probed the matter, but it was not upheld as there was no footage or witnesses. Meanwhile, a government spokesman told Daily Mail, “We take allegations of misconduct extremely seriously and there are robust procedures in place to raise concerns. All ministerial appointments also follow established processes.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

House of Commons ex-staff member accuses Tory MP, now Cabinet minister, of sexual assault

Pope Francis, who returned on Saturday from a six-day trip to Canada, has said that listening to tales of abuse at Catholic-run schools from Indigenous victims&nbsp;felt like "slaps". Speaking at the weekly general address at the Vatican on Wednesday, the pontiff said, "I assure you that in these meetings, particularly the last one, I&nbsp;felt those people's pain like slaps."

He further said that the church needs to&nbsp;face up to its responsibility for such institutions that abused children.

During his Canada visit, the pope met representatives of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and apologised to them for what he termed "evil" committed at Catholic-run residential schools,&nbsp;AFP reported.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-unmarked-indigenous-graves-found-at-yet-another-canadian-school-more-that-1300-graves-since-may-2021-453607">More unmarked indigenous graves found at yet another Canadian school; 1300 graves since May 2021</a>

 
From late 1800s to 1996, around 150,000 Native children in Canada attended residential schools run by the church. Most of these students were subjected to physical and sexual abuse and reportedly died of disease, malnutrition and neglect.

 
The matter made headlines after hundreds of unmarked graves were found on the sites of these schools.&nbsp;Over 1,300 such graves were discovered at these sites till last year.

 
The 85 year old, who termed the horrific incident a “genocide,” said, listening to elderly people who lost their children and don't know where they ended up because of the assimilation policy, was "a painful moment".

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/canada-south-asian-communities-may-have-suffered-most-during-pandemic-says-study-495404">Canada: South Asian communities may have suffered most during pandemic, says study</a>

 
During his trip, Pope Francis had also apologized for Catholic Church’s role in forcing Native people to attend Indigenous residential schools to assimilate into the Christian society.

Ottawa has also admitted that Indigenous students were beaten for speaking their own language at these schools, and&nbsp;sexually abused.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Pope Francis, who returned on Saturday from a six-day trip to Canada, has said that listening to tales of abuse at Catholic-run schools from Indigenous victims felt like "slaps".

Pope Francis, who returned on Saturday from a six-day trip to Canada, has said that listening to tales of abuse at Catholic-run schools from Indigenous victims felt like "slaps". Speaking at the weekly general address at the Vatican on Wednesday, the pontiff said, "I assure you that in these meetings, particularly the last one, I felt those people's pain like slaps." He further said that the church needs to face up to its responsibility for such institutions that abused children. During his Canada visit, the pope met representatives of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and apologised to them for what he termed "evil" committed at Catholic-run residential schools, AFP reported. Also Read | More unmarked indigenous graves found at yet another Canadian school; 1300 graves since May 2021 From late 1800s to 1996, around 150,000 Native children in Canada attended residential schools run by the church. Most of these students were subjected to physical and sexual abuse and reportedly died of disease, malnutrition and neglect. The matter made headlines after hundreds of unmarked graves were found on the sites of these schools. Over 1,300 such graves were discovered at these sites till last year. The 85 year old, who termed the horrific incident a “genocide,” said, listening to elderly people who lost their children and don't know where they ended up because of the assimilation policy, was "a painful moment". Also Read | Canada: South Asian communities may have suffered most during pandemic, says study During his trip, Pope Francis had also apologized for Catholic Church’s role in forcing Native people to attend Indigenous residential schools to assimilate into the Christian society. Ottawa has also admitted that Indigenous students were beaten for speaking their own language at these schools, and sexually abused. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Listening to 'evil' committed at Catholic-run schools in Canada felt like slaps: Pope

Pope Francis addressed a serious wound that many survivors wanted him to address during his apology trip to Canada on Thursday by pleading for forgiveness for sexual abuse at Catholic-run schools for indigenous children in Canada. The pope declared that the Church in Canada was on a new path after being "devastated by the evil perpetrated by some of its sons and daughters" during a nighttime vespers service with priests and nuns in the Quebec City cathedral.

As reported by Reuters, the pope said on the penultimate day of his six-day visit to Canada, "I think in particular of the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people, scandals that require firm action and an irreversible commitment. Together with you, I would like once more to ask forgiveness of all the victims. The pain and the shame we feel must become an occasion for conversion: never again!"

More than 150,000 indigenous children were taken away from their families and enrolled in schools between 1870 and 1996. It was the first time the pope had publicly addressed the issue of sexual abuse at schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada dubbed the practice "cultural genocide" because it resulted in the starvation or beating of the kids for speaking their native tongues, as well as the sexual assault of many of them.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-kentucky-floods-8-killed-people-stranded-on-rooftops-and-trees-501712">In pics| Kentucky floods: 8 killed, people stranded on rooftops and trees</a>

The remarks follow the pope's historic apology on Monday at Maskwacis, the location of two former schools, in which he branded the Church's involvement in the schools and the forced cultural assimilation they tried a "deplorable evil" and "disastrous error." However, despite provoking strong feelings and being praised as the first step in reconciliation, that apology was also criticised by survivors for falling short of their expectations. One of their complaints was that sexual abuse wasn't mentioned.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Pope Francis addressed a serious wound that many survivors wanted him to address during his apology trip to Canada on Thursday by pleading for forgiveness for sexual abuse at Catholic-run schools for indigenous children in Canada.

Pope Francis addressed a serious wound that many survivors wanted him to address during his apology trip to Canada on Thursday by pleading for forgiveness for sexual abuse at Catholic-run schools for indigenous children in Canada. The pope declared that the Church in Canada was on a new path after being "devastated by the evil perpetrated by some of its sons and daughters" during a nighttime vespers service with priests and nuns in the Quebec City cathedral. As reported by Reuters, the pope said on the penultimate day of his six-day visit to Canada, "I think in particular of the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people, scandals that require firm action and an irreversible commitment. Together with you, I would like once more to ask forgiveness of all the victims. The pain and the shame we feel must become an occasion for conversion: never again!" More than 150,000 indigenous children were taken away from their families and enrolled in schools between 1870 and 1996. It was the first time the pope had publicly addressed the issue of sexual abuse at schools. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada dubbed the practice "cultural genocide" because it resulted in the starvation or beating of the kids for speaking their native tongues, as well as the sexual assault of many of them. Also Read: In pics| Kentucky floods: 8 killed, people stranded on rooftops and trees The remarks follow the pope's historic apology on Monday at Maskwacis, the location of two former schools, in which he branded the Church's involvement in the schools and the forced cultural assimilation they tried a "deplorable evil" and "disastrous error." However, despite provoking strong feelings and being praised as the first step in reconciliation, that apology was also criticised by survivors for falling short of their expectations. One of their complaints was that sexual abuse wasn't mentioned. (with inputs from agencies)

Pope seeks forgiveness for 'sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people' at residential schools in Canada

R&B Singer R Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexual abuse. He faced numerous allegations of sexually exploiting teenage girls, but evaded the law for 3 decades. How did he get away for so long? Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: R&B Singer R. Kelly convicted for sexual abuse

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