The poor treatment of women in the Australian parliament has recently been highlighted after a woman accused a government official of raping her, which was followed by a few other accusations from different women.

Following the accusations against the man, three police agencies have been informed of a letter sent to the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, about an allegation against a federal cabinet minister's inappropriate behaviour against his female colleagues.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-allegation-made-against-man-accused-of-rape-in-australia-parliament-365316">Another allegation made against man accused of rape in Australia Parliament</a>

In the letter, the author has urged Morrison to take urgent action to investigate the alleged rape, which took place in 1988 — before the accused entered the Australian parliament.

The matter has also been brought to the notice of the Australian Federal Police.

"This morning I received information regarding a disturbing and a very serious allegation of a criminal nature against a senior member of the government," Greens Senator Hanson-Young, who was also a recipient of the letter, told Four Corners in a statement.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-raped-in-australian-parliament-pm-apologises-363974">Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises</a>

"Following the advice given to the Prime Minister by the AFP Commissioner this week, I have spoken with the Police Commissioner today, who is now taking steps in relation to this information," Hanson-Young added.

The letter urged the Prime Minister to set up an independent parliamentary investigation into this matter, similar to one formed against former Justice, Dyson Heydon.

"When news of [the complainant's alleged] rape becomes widely known to the public (as it most likely will), legitimate questions will be asked as to who knew what, when they knew and what they did," the correspondent wrote.

This has come after Brittany Higgins, had accused a &nbsp;government official of sexually assaulting her in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-apologises-to-women-who-alleged-rape-in-parliament-364056">WATCH|</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-apologises-to-women-who-alleged-rape-in-parliament-364056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Higgins' accusations were followed by at least two more women coming ahead with similar accusations against the same man.

These cases were not officially reported to the Australian police, fearing they might have to choose between justice and their "dream job".

"There will be considerable damage to community perceptions of justice... and the parliament when this story becomes public if it is simultaneously revealed that senior people (like yourselves) were aware of the accusation but had done nothing...," it read.

"Failing to take parliamentary action because the NSW Police cannot take criminal action [due to the complainant's death] would seem like wilful blindness."

Following Higgins' case, the Australian police and government officials had urged women to come forward and report such cases to the police by filing an official complaint, so that the officers can follow protocols and serve justice.

"As per the AFP Commissioner's instruction, any complaints or allegations of this nature made to anybody — whether they're parliamentarians or journalists — should be referred to the AFP," a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

The poor treatment of women in the Australian parliament has recently been highlighted after a woman accused a government official of raping her, which was followed by a few other accusations from different women.

The poor treatment of women in the Australian parliament has recently been highlighted after a woman accused a government official of raping her, which was followed by a few other accusations from different women. Following the accusations against the man, three police agencies have been informed of a letter sent to the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, about an allegation against a federal cabinet minister's inappropriate behaviour against his female colleagues. Also read| Another allegation made against man accused of rape in Australia Parliament In the letter, the author has urged Morrison to take urgent action to investigate the alleged rape, which took place in 1988 — before the accused entered the Australian parliament. The matter has also been brought to the notice of the Australian Federal Police. "This morning I received information regarding a disturbing and a very serious allegation of a criminal nature against a senior member of the government," Greens Senator Hanson-Young, who was also a recipient of the letter, told Four Corners in a statement. Also read| Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises "Following the advice given to the Prime Minister by the AFP Commissioner this week, I have spoken with the Police Commissioner today, who is now taking steps in relation to this information," Hanson-Young added. The letter urged the Prime Minister to set up an independent parliamentary investigation into this matter, similar to one formed against former Justice, Dyson Heydon. "When news of [the complainant's alleged] rape becomes widely known to the public (as it most likely will), legitimate questions will be asked as to who knew what, when they knew and what they did," the correspondent wrote. This has come after Brittany Higgins, had accused a government official of sexually assaulting her in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019. WATCH| Higgins' accusations were followed by at least two more women coming ahead with similar accusations against the same man. These cases were not officially reported to the Australian police, fearing they might have to choose between justice and their "dream job". "There will be considerable damage to community perceptions of justice... and the parliament when this story becomes public if it is simultaneously revealed that senior people (like yourselves) were aware of the accusation but had done nothing...," it read. "Failing to take parliamentary action because the NSW Police cannot take criminal action [due to the complainant's death] would seem like wilful blindness." Following Higgins' case, the Australian police and government officials had urged women to come forward and report such cases to the police by filing an official complaint, so that the officers can follow protocols and serve justice. "As per the AFP Commissioner's instruction, any complaints or allegations of this nature made to anybody — whether they're parliamentarians or journalists — should be referred to the AFP," a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office said in a statement.

Australian PM Scott Morrison informed about historical rape allegation against cabinet minister

After an explosive revelation about a sexual assault accusation in the Australian Parliament, another victim has come forward with allegations against the same staff member.

A few days ago an Australian citizen, Brittany Higgins, came forward and accused a government employee of raping her in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019.

Higgins had alleged that after a night out drinking with conservative Liberal Party colleagues, she was sexually assaulted by one of her male colleagues in Reyonolds' office.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-raped-in-australian-parliament-pm-apologises-363974">Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises</a>

She also accused her seniors of not taking any appropriate action against this allegation when they were informed in 2019. On the contrary, Higgins claims, she was asked to attend a formal employment meeting in that very room.

This had prompted an apology from the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. "That should not have happened. And I do apologise," he told local reporters. "There should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation. That is not OK."

Now, after almost a week of this accusation, another victim has come forward and has accused the same man of sexually assaulting her — making this third allegation against the staffer.

These series of allegations have prompted a concerned response from the country's finance minister, Simon Birmingham who says he has spoken to the sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins, about setting up an independent inquiry into the parliamentary culture.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-apologises-to-women-who-alleged-rape-in-parliament-364056">WATCH|</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-apologises-to-women-who-alleged-rape-in-parliament-364056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Expressing that these allegations have weighed on him "very, very heavily", he said the lesson from these allegations is clear: that the work environment inside the parliament needs to change.

"Any workplace should be a safe workplace and the parliament should lead by example in terms of providing that safety," he told a local news channel.

He also raised concern about how "distressing" it was that Higgins was made to feel that she had to choose between her filing a police complaint and her "dream job" at the age of 24.

Birmingham is hoping to raise awareness about such instances and how to deal with different scenarios. "This is one of the significant tension points as to at what point the rights of individuals in making their decisions are respected versus the responsibility of others to try to pursue actions if they are not being pursued or undertaken by the individual," he said.

While Higgins has appreciated the apology from Morrison, she is still doubtful about the implementation of the said and desired change.

"The Prime Minister's announcement of an investigation into the culture in Parliament House is a welcomed first-step, though it is long overdue," she said.

After an explosive revelation about a sexual assault accusation in the Australian Parliament, another victim has come forward with allegations against the same staff member.

After an explosive revelation about a sexual assault accusation in the Australian Parliament, another victim has come forward with allegations against the same staff member. A few days ago an Australian citizen, Brittany Higgins, came forward and accused a government employee of raping her in the office of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019. Higgins had alleged that after a night out drinking with conservative Liberal Party colleagues, she was sexually assaulted by one of her male colleagues in Reyonolds' office. Also read| Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises She also accused her seniors of not taking any appropriate action against this allegation when they were informed in 2019. On the contrary, Higgins claims, she was asked to attend a formal employment meeting in that very room. This had prompted an apology from the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. "That should not have happened. And I do apologise," he told local reporters. "There should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation. That is not OK." Now, after almost a week of this accusation, another victim has come forward and has accused the same man of sexually assaulting her — making this third allegation against the staffer. These series of allegations have prompted a concerned response from the country's finance minister, Simon Birmingham who says he has spoken to the sex discrimination commissioner, Kate Jenkins, about setting up an independent inquiry into the parliamentary culture. WATCH| Expressing that these allegations have weighed on him "very, very heavily", he said the lesson from these allegations is clear: that the work environment inside the parliament needs to change. "Any workplace should be a safe workplace and the parliament should lead by example in terms of providing that safety," he told a local news channel. He also raised concern about how "distressing" it was that Higgins was made to feel that she had to choose between her filing a police complaint and her "dream job" at the age of 24. Birmingham is hoping to raise awareness about such instances and how to deal with different scenarios. "This is one of the significant tension points as to at what point the rights of individuals in making their decisions are respected versus the responsibility of others to try to pursue actions if they are not being pursued or undertaken by the individual," he said. While Higgins has appreciated the apology from Morrison, she is still doubtful about the implementation of the said and desired change. "The Prime Minister's announcement of an investigation into the culture in Parliament House is a welcomed first-step, though it is long overdue," she said.

Another allegation made against man accused of rape in Australia Parliament

The family of a 10-year-old Christian boy, who was sexually abused and sodomised by some locals in the Nankana Sahib area, is facing threats to either leave the area or embrace Islam.&nbsp;

While condemning the threats to the family of the victim, Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) president Naveed Walter said, "Child abuse is a serious issue in Pakistan. Often the accused are known to the victims".&nbsp;

He further said that on an average about eight to 10 children are subjected to sexual abuse every day. Walter pointed out that social taboos, lack of awareness, culprit's easy access, absence of interaction between the guardians and their children and religious or personal conflicts are among several reasons for such incidents not being reported.&nbsp;

Last year, the Christian boy was reported to have been sexually abused and sodomised by some locals due to some religious conflict among the elders.&nbsp;

On September 26 last year, an FIR was filed but till now, no action has been taken by authorities. The family has informed the HRFP that since the incident, they are being pressurised to either leave the area or embrace Islam.&nbsp;

The family of a 10-year-old Christian boy, who was sexually abused and sodomised by some locals in the Nankana Sahib area, is facing threats to either leave the area or embrace Islam.

The family of a 10-year-old Christian boy, who was sexually abused and sodomised by some locals in the Nankana Sahib area, is facing threats to either leave the area or embrace Islam. While condemning the threats to the family of the victim, Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) president Naveed Walter said, "Child abuse is a serious issue in Pakistan. Often the accused are known to the victims". He further said that on an average about eight to 10 children are subjected to sexual abuse every day. Walter pointed out that social taboos, lack of awareness, culprit's easy access, absence of interaction between the guardians and their children and religious or personal conflicts are among several reasons for such incidents not being reported. Last year, the Christian boy was reported to have been sexually abused and sodomised by some locals due to some religious conflict among the elders. On September 26 last year, an FIR was filed but till now, no action has been taken by authorities. The family has informed the HRFP that since the incident, they are being pressurised to either leave the area or embrace Islam.

Rights group condemn threats to sexually abused Pak Christian minor boy

Australia has yet another problem at hand, a rape scandal, and the Prime Minister has had to issue an apology.

The apology came after a former Australian government staffer has said she was raped in a government minister's office in the parliament. She also accused that she was not helped by her bosses even after coming forward.

This has prompted an apology from the Prime Minister. "That should not have happened. And I do apologise," he told local reporters. "There should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation. That is not OK."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-is-wrong-new-zealand-australia-clash-over-responsibility-of-terrorist-with-dual-nationality-363934">NZ-Australia clash over responsibility of terrorist with dual nationality</a>

Brittany Higgins had alleged that after a night out drinking with conservative Liberal Party colleagues, she was sexually assaulted by one of her male colleagues in the now-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office. The incident which happened in 2019 was, as per Higgings, reported to her superior. However, she was then asked to attend a formal employment meeting in that very room.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-pm-scott-morrison-apologises-to-woman-who-was-raped-in-parliament-363982">WATCH|</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australia-pm-scott-morrison-apologises-to-woman-who-was-raped-in-parliament-363982/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

She says she was forced to choose between filing a police complaint and her "dream job" at the age of 24.

Higgins' accusation has highlighted the mistreatment of women in the country's political environment, which is believed to be on an alarming rise. Women in politics are also increasingly being subjected to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-and-facebook-close-to-deals-with-australian-media-363691" hreflang="en">Google and Facebook 'close' to deals with Australian media</a>

While the government, at first, tried to claim they had provided full support to the victim, an official later admitted that the choice of room for the meeting was a huge mistake. Higgins, on the other hand, claims she felt like a "political problem" that needed to be solved and claimed her bosses were highly "uncomfortable" if she brought up the tragedy.

Along with an apology, the Prime Minister also ordered an investigation into such inhumane treatment of women in Parliament in the country.&nbsp;

This was appreciated by Higgins. "The Prime Minister's announcement of an investigation into the culture in Parliament House is a welcomed first-step, though it is long overdue," she said.

Australia has yet another problem at hand, a rape scandal, and the Prime Minister has had to issue an apology. The apology came after a former Australian government staffer has said she was raped in a government minister's office in the parliament.

Australia has yet another problem at hand, a rape scandal, and the Prime Minister has had to issue an apology. The apology came after a former Australian government staffer has said she was raped in a government minister's office in the parliament. She also accused that she was not helped by her bosses even after coming forward. This has prompted an apology from the Prime Minister. "That should not have happened. And I do apologise," he told local reporters. "There should not be an environment where a young woman can find herself in such a vulnerable situation. That is not OK." Also read| NZ-Australia clash over responsibility of terrorist with dual nationality Brittany Higgins had alleged that after a night out drinking with conservative Liberal Party colleagues, she was sexually assaulted by one of her male colleagues in the now-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds' office. The incident which happened in 2019 was, as per Higgings, reported to her superior. However, she was then asked to attend a formal employment meeting in that very room. WATCH| She says she was forced to choose between filing a police complaint and her "dream job" at the age of 24. Higgins' accusation has highlighted the mistreatment of women in the country's political environment, which is believed to be on an alarming rise. Women in politics are also increasingly being subjected to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. Also read| Google and Facebook 'close' to deals with Australian media While the government, at first, tried to claim they had provided full support to the victim, an official later admitted that the choice of room for the meeting was a huge mistake. Higgins, on the other hand, claims she felt like a "political problem" that needed to be solved and claimed her bosses were highly "uncomfortable" if she brought up the tragedy. Along with an apology, the Prime Minister also ordered an investigation into such inhumane treatment of women in Parliament in the country. This was appreciated by Higgins. "The Prime Minister's announcement of an investigation into the culture in Parliament House is a welcomed first-step, though it is long overdue," she said.

Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises

Salma Hayek is still dealing with the trauma that Harvey Weinstein gave her. Salma was one of several women in Hollywood who accused the producer of sexual misconduct back in 2017. 
 
In the recent interview with the Evening Standard, she shared her feelings and said, "The amazing thing is that I thought I had healed," she told the outlet.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/harvey-weinsteins-victims-to-be-given-17-million-payout-court-359386" hreflang="en">Harvey Weinstein’s victims to be given $17 million payout: Court</a>

"And then everything came out again and I realised I didn’t heal, I repressed and I coped, I adjusted, I went on, so there was a layer of healing because it didn’t stop me from growing. But it was very painful for a long time. I didn’t know there were so many other women affected and that it went so deep. It was very shocking. But the fact that we [took action] together made it really healing... I lived with that for long enough and I detach myself from it now."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/photos/gwyneth-paltrow-to-uma-thurman-harvey-weinstein-and-his-bygone-glamorous-hollywood-life-282677" hreflang="en">Gwyneth Paltrow to Uma Thurman: Harvey Weinstein and his bygone glamorous Hollywood life</a> 
 
The actress, who got her Oscar nomination for the Weinstein-produced 'Frida' in 2003, alleging he sexually harassed her on the set of the biopic. Hayek said she first ran into issues with Weinstein during the 2002 production of the film.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/photos/movie-producer-harvey-weinstein-surrenders-on-sex-assault-charges-139769" hreflang="en">Harvey Weinstein Timeline: Downfall of Hollywood producer from #MeToo to 23 years jail term</a> 
 
Hayek added: ''The fact that we [took action] together made it really healing. I lived with that for long enough and I detach myself from it now''.&nbsp; 
 
More than 80 women, including stars Judd, Rose McGowan and Gwyneth Paltrow, accused Weinstein of sexual assault.&nbsp; 
Meanwhile, Harvey Weinstein&nbsp;is currently serving a 23-year prison for&nbsp;his conviction on third-degree rape and forcible sexual assault of two women.

Salma Hayek is still dealing with the trauma that Harvey Weinstein gave her. Salma was one of several women in Hollywood who accused the producer of sexual misconduct back in 2017.

Salma Hayek is still dealing with the trauma that Harvey Weinstein gave her. Salma was one of several women in Hollywood who accused the producer of sexual misconduct back in 2017. In the recent interview with the Evening Standard, she shared her feelings and said, "The amazing thing is that I thought I had healed," she told the outlet. Also read: Harvey Weinstein’s victims to be given $17 million payout: Court "And then everything came out again and I realised I didn’t heal, I repressed and I coped, I adjusted, I went on, so there was a layer of healing because it didn’t stop me from growing. But it was very painful for a long time. I didn’t know there were so many other women affected and that it went so deep. It was very shocking. But the fact that we [took action] together made it really healing... I lived with that for long enough and I detach myself from it now." Also read: Gwyneth Paltrow to Uma Thurman: Harvey Weinstein and his bygone glamorous Hollywood life The actress, who got her Oscar nomination for the Weinstein-produced 'Frida' in 2003, alleging he sexually harassed her on the set of the biopic. Hayek said she first ran into issues with Weinstein during the 2002 production of the film. Also read: Harvey Weinstein Timeline: Downfall of Hollywood producer from #MeToo to 23 years jail term Hayek added: ''The fact that we [took action] together made it really healing. I lived with that for long enough and I detach myself from it now''. More than 80 women, including stars Judd, Rose McGowan and Gwyneth Paltrow, accused Weinstein of sexual assault. Meanwhile, Harvey Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year prison for his conviction on third-degree rape and forcible sexual assault of two women.

Salma Hayek reveals she is still suffering from trauma caused by Harvey Weinstein

Domestic abuse has increased at an alarming rate all over the world in the lockdown during the pandemic year. The government of the UK has taken it upon themselves to provide help to victims of abuse by launching a special campaign.

As the country entered another lockdown, the UK ministers have launched a national scheme where abuse victims can visit any local pharmacy and ask for "Ani". Once the customer uses the code word, the staff present at the pharmacies will be alerted.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-rise-in-domestic-violence-cases-as-covid-19-lockdown-turns-into-captivity-for-many-women-290213">Global rise in domestic violence cases as Covid-19 lockdown turns into captivity for many women</a>

As soon as the customer/victim asks for "Ani", he/she will be given a chance to go to a private space to talk on an urgent basis and will then be given opportunities to reach out for help to the police and other&nbsp;domestic abuse helplines.

The code word "Ani" stands for "action needed immediately". As of now, the scheme has been brought into effect with immediate effect in&nbsp;2,300 Boots stores and in 255 independent pharmacies. More local pharmacies have been urged to sign up for this nation-wide run scheme.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-to-use-gps-tags-to-track-domestic-violence-abusers-experts-unsure-about-effectiveness-338495">&nbsp;France to use GPS tags to track domestic violence abusers. Experts unsure about effectiveness</a>

While this is a government-run scheme, British ministers are individually, too, urging local businesses and employers to provide better safeguarding and support to employees they suspect are being subjected to domestic or sexual abuse at home amid another lockdown.

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No one should have to suffer domestic abuse in silence. From experience, I know that bosses &amp; colleagues can play a crucial role helping survivors access support. 
 
I've written to employers across the UK setting out simple steps they can take to do more👇<a href="https://t.co/U5gPqQ4N5a">https://t.co/U5gPqQ4N5a</a>
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Paul Scully, a Conservative MP, has written an open letter to employers urging the same. "As you may be aware, the first lockdown in March last year precipitated a surge in calls for domestic abuse services, with Refuge reporting an 80% increase in calls to their domestic abuse hotline," his letter read. "Troubling recent reports seem to indicate that this trend has continued in the current lockdown. In light of this, I would like to urge you to look at what more your organisation can do to help survivors of domestic abuse."

Scully also listed out various points for employers through which they can help their employees. The points included steps such as raising awareness about domestic abuse, promoting inclusiveness, extending support and free support etc.

Domestic abuse has increased at an alarming rate all over the world in the lockdown during the pandemic year. The government of the UK has taken it upon themselves to provide help to victims of abuse by launching a special campaign.

Domestic abuse has increased at an alarming rate all over the world in the lockdown during the pandemic year. The government of the UK has taken it upon themselves to provide help to victims of abuse by launching a special campaign. As the country entered another lockdown, the UK ministers have launched a national scheme where abuse victims can visit any local pharmacy and ask for "Ani". Once the customer uses the code word, the staff present at the pharmacies will be alerted. Also read| Global rise in domestic violence cases as Covid-19 lockdown turns into captivity for many women As soon as the customer/victim asks for "Ani", he/she will be given a chance to go to a private space to talk on an urgent basis and will then be given opportunities to reach out for help to the police and other domestic abuse helplines. The code word "Ani" stands for "action needed immediately". As of now, the scheme has been brought into effect with immediate effect in 2,300 Boots stores and in 255 independent pharmacies. More local pharmacies have been urged to sign up for this nation-wide run scheme. Also read| France to use GPS tags to track domestic violence abusers. Experts unsure about effectiveness While this is a government-run scheme, British ministers are individually, too, urging local businesses and employers to provide better safeguarding and support to employees they suspect are being subjected to domestic or sexual abuse at home amid another lockdown. No one should have to suffer domestic abuse in silence. From experience, I know that bosses & colleagues can play a crucial role helping survivors access support. I've written to employers across the UK setting out simple steps they can take to do more👇https://t.co/U5gPqQ4N5a — Paul Scully MP (@scullyp) January 14, 2021 × Paul Scully, a Conservative MP, has written an open letter to employers urging the same. "As you may be aware, the first lockdown in March last year precipitated a surge in calls for domestic abuse services, with Refuge reporting an 80% increase in calls to their domestic abuse hotline," his letter read. "Troubling recent reports seem to indicate that this trend has continued in the current lockdown. In light of this, I would like to urge you to look at what more your organisation can do to help survivors of domestic abuse." Scully also listed out various points for employers through which they can help their employees. The points included steps such as raising awareness about domestic abuse, promoting inclusiveness, extending support and free support etc.

Ask for Ani: UK provides code word for domestic abuse survivors

A Court in Istanbul on Monday slapped cult leader Adnan Oktar with over 1,000 years in prison for 10 separate crimes, according to a judicial source.&nbsp;

Adnan Oktar is the head of a cult that is considered a criminal organization by prosecutors. The 64-year-old Oktar and dozens of his followers were arrested in simultaneous nationwide raids in 2018.&nbsp;

Oktar preached conservative views while women he called his "kittens" -- many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery -- danced around him in the TV studio.

He was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse of minors, fraud and attempted political and military espionage, the private NTV broadcaster reported.&nbsp;

Some 236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest, according to the official Anadolu news agency.

The hearings have featured lurid details and harrowing sex crime allegations.

Oktar told the presiding judge in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends.&nbsp;

"There is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is a quality of a Muslim," he said in another hearing in October.

He added on another occasion: "I am extraordinarily potent."

Oktar first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect that was caught up in multiple sex scandals.

His online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, drawing denunciations from Turkey's religious leaders.

One of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had repeatedly sexually abused her and other women.

Some of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the court.

Asked about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities.

He also dismissed any link to a group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.

Oktar is a creationist who rejects the Darwinian theory of evolution and has written a 770-page book called "The Atlas of Creation" under the pen name, Harun Yahya.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Court in Istanbul on Monday slapped cult leader Adnan Oktar with over 1,000 years in prison for 10 separate crimes, according to a judicial source. Adnan Oktar is the head of a cult that is considered a criminal organization by prosecutors.

A Court in Istanbul on Monday slapped cult leader Adnan Oktar with over 1,000 years in prison for 10 separate crimes, according to a judicial source. Adnan Oktar is the head of a cult that is considered a criminal organization by prosecutors. The 64-year-old Oktar and dozens of his followers were arrested in simultaneous nationwide raids in 2018. Oktar preached conservative views while women he called his "kittens" -- many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery -- danced around him in the TV studio. He was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse of minors, fraud and attempted political and military espionage, the private NTV broadcaster reported. Some 236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest, according to the official Anadolu news agency. The hearings have featured lurid details and harrowing sex crime allegations. Oktar told the presiding judge in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends. "There is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is a quality of a Muslim," he said in another hearing in October. He added on another occasion: "I am extraordinarily potent." Oktar first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect that was caught up in multiple sex scandals. His online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, drawing denunciations from Turkey's religious leaders. One of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had repeatedly sexually abused her and other women. Some of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the court. Asked about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities. He also dismissed any link to a group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016. Oktar is a creationist who rejects the Darwinian theory of evolution and has written a 770-page book called "The Atlas of Creation" under the pen name, Harun Yahya. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkish religious cult leader Adnan Oktar jailed for 1,075 years  for sex crimes

One of France's most prominent political commentators is facing a criminal investigation after being accused of the sexual abuse of his stepson, in the latest taboo-breaking scandal to rock the French intellectual elite.

Olivier Duhamel, 70, who has described the incest allegations as "personal attacks", is accused in a new book, written by his stepdaughter Camille Kouchner, of abusing her twin brother when they were aged 14.

Paris prosecutors said Tuesday they were opening an investigation into Duhamel over suspected rape and sexual abuse of a minor by a person in authority. He has stepped down from all his media and academic posts amid the furore.

The book "La Familia grande", which is due to be published on Thursday, has shocked French intellectual circles given Duhamel's prominence and close connections to the elite.

While many commentators have cast France as being slow to break longstanding taboos over the abuse of minors, this is not the first such controversy to make headlines over the last year.

Publisher Vanessa Springora, in a book published in January 2020, accused prize-winning writer Gabriel Matzneff of abusing her while she was a minor. Film star Adele Haenel in November 2019 accused director Christophe Ruggia of sexually harassing her when she was in her early teens.

Haenel and other French actresses also in February last year walked out of France's Cesar awards after filmmaker Roman Polanski -- wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977 –- won best director.

'I knew and said nothing'

Duhamel said on Twitter that he was resigning from all his posts following the allegations, including as head of the National Foundation of Political Sciences (FNSP), a body that oversees the hugely prestigious Sciences Po university.

"I am stepping down from my posts after being the target of personal attacks as I want to preserve the institutions in which I work," said Duhamel, who also until now presented a show on Europe 1 radio and is an analyst on LCI TV.

Camille Kouchner, now 45 and a lecturer, and her twin brother are the children of France's former foreign minister and co-founder of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical charity Bernard Kouchner and academic Evelyne Pisier, who died in 2017.

Kouchner and Pisier separated and she went on to marry Duhamel.

"I was 14 years old and let it go ahead. I was 14, I knew and said nothing," Camille Kouchner wrote in the book.

In the book, she names her brother only as "Victor" in order to protect his privacy. But Le Monde daily said he had read the text twice and was happy for his sister to speak on his behalf.

"I confirm that what my sister has written concerning the actions of Olivier Duhamel towards me is correct," "Victor" told Le Monde, without commenting further.

'Heavy secret'

In an interview with L'Obs magazine, Kouchner said the book revealed to what extent Duhamel's and Pisier's group of leftist intellectual friends, some of them household names in France, knew what was going on.

"Of course, I thought my book might seem obscene because of my family's fame. Then I thought to myself, this is exactly what needs to be done," she said.

In the book, she alleges a de-facto omerta had protected her stepfather from the truth being widely known.

"Very quickly, the people in power, Saint-Germain-des-Pres (the traditional hub in Paris for leftist thinkers) were aware. Many knew and most acted as if nothing had happened."

The book says that after his mother's death, "Victor" told his father Bernard Kouchner about what had happened. He pledged to confront Duhamel but was persuaded against doing so by Camille herself, on the grounds "Victor" wanted the family to move on.

In a statement released by his lawyer, Bernard Kouchner said that a "heavy secret that has been weighing on us for too long has happily been lifted. I applaud the courage of my daughter Camille".

One of France's most prominent political commentators is facing a criminal investigation after being accused of the sexual abuse of his stepson, in the latest taboo-breaking scandal to rock the French intellectual elite.

One of France's most prominent political commentators is facing a criminal investigation after being accused of the sexual abuse of his stepson, in the latest taboo-breaking scandal to rock the French intellectual elite. Olivier Duhamel, 70, who has described the incest allegations as "personal attacks", is accused in a new book, written by his stepdaughter Camille Kouchner, of abusing her twin brother when they were aged 14. Paris prosecutors said Tuesday they were opening an investigation into Duhamel over suspected rape and sexual abuse of a minor by a person in authority. He has stepped down from all his media and academic posts amid the furore. The book "La Familia grande", which is due to be published on Thursday, has shocked French intellectual circles given Duhamel's prominence and close connections to the elite. While many commentators have cast France as being slow to break longstanding taboos over the abuse of minors, this is not the first such controversy to make headlines over the last year. Publisher Vanessa Springora, in a book published in January 2020, accused prize-winning writer Gabriel Matzneff of abusing her while she was a minor. Film star Adele Haenel in November 2019 accused director Christophe Ruggia of sexually harassing her when she was in her early teens. Haenel and other French actresses also in February last year walked out of France's Cesar awards after filmmaker Roman Polanski -- wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977 –- won best director. 'I knew and said nothing' Duhamel said on Twitter that he was resigning from all his posts following the allegations, including as head of the National Foundation of Political Sciences (FNSP), a body that oversees the hugely prestigious Sciences Po university. "I am stepping down from my posts after being the target of personal attacks as I want to preserve the institutions in which I work," said Duhamel, who also until now presented a show on Europe 1 radio and is an analyst on LCI TV. Camille Kouchner, now 45 and a lecturer, and her twin brother are the children of France's former foreign minister and co-founder of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical charity Bernard Kouchner and academic Evelyne Pisier, who died in 2017. Kouchner and Pisier separated and she went on to marry Duhamel. "I was 14 years old and let it go ahead. I was 14, I knew and said nothing," Camille Kouchner wrote in the book. In the book, she names her brother only as "Victor" in order to protect his privacy. But Le Monde daily said he had read the text twice and was happy for his sister to speak on his behalf. "I confirm that what my sister has written concerning the actions of Olivier Duhamel towards me is correct," "Victor" told Le Monde, without commenting further. 'Heavy secret' In an interview with L'Obs magazine, Kouchner said the book revealed to what extent Duhamel's and Pisier's group of leftist intellectual friends, some of them household names in France, knew what was going on. "Of course, I thought my book might seem obscene because of my family's fame. Then I thought to myself, this is exactly what needs to be done," she said. In the book, she alleges a de-facto omerta had protected her stepfather from the truth being widely known. "Very quickly, the people in power, Saint-Germain-des-Pres (the traditional hub in Paris for leftist thinkers) were aware. Many knew and most acted as if nothing had happened." The book says that after his mother's death, "Victor" told his father Bernard Kouchner about what had happened. He pledged to confront Duhamel but was persuaded against doing so by Camille herself, on the grounds "Victor" wanted the family to move on. In a statement released by his lawyer, Bernard Kouchner said that a "heavy secret that has been weighing on us for too long has happily been lifted. I applaud the courage of my daughter Camille".

French political expert accused of incest in new taboo-breaking scandal

In a historic decision, the Lahore High Court has declared virginity tests on&nbsp;sexual assault survivors to be illegal and announced that the practice has "no medical basis" and "offends the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity."

Till now, all sexual assault survivors are put through a virginity test, which is conducted by&nbsp;inspecting the hymen or inserting two fingers into the vagina. This practice, apparently, determines whether or not a woman is a virgin.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/start-reconstruction-of-vandalised-hindu-temple-within-two-weeks-pakistan-supreme-court-354580" hreflang="en">Start reconstruction of vandalised Hindu temple within two weeks: Pakistan Supreme Court</a>

This test is a common practice in a few countries around the globe, especially Pakistan where the test is conducted to assess a girl's "honor or virtue", according to World Health Organization.

However, in&nbsp;a landmark ruling, the Lahore High Court declared this practice to be illegal. The concern&nbsp;was raised in two petitions in June 2020 by&nbsp;a group of women's rights activists, academics, journalists, advocates and a member of the National Assembly who requested a ban on this test claiming it to be 'unscientific, intrusive, demeaning and a source of retraumatization'.

Declaring it to be discriminatory against women, Justice Ayesha Malik said there was "no forensic value in cases of sexual violence" and asked the concerned government officials to issue directives to ensure a written an oral guideline is passed immediately to put a permanent ban on these virginity tests.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-hazara-families-refuse-to-bury-mach-massacre-victims-354545" hreflang="en">Pakistani Hazara families refuse to bury Mach massacre victims</a>

"Virginity testing is highly invasive, having no scientific or medical requirement, yet carried out in the name of medical protocols in sexual violence cases. It is a humiliating practice, which is used to cast suspicion on the victim, as opposed to focusing on the accused and the incident of sexual violence," Malik said in the official court documents.

Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari took to Twitter to thank Justice malik for her decision and said the decision "is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors."

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Justice Ayesha Malik's decision today is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors.
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The petitioners and women rights groups applauded the decision by the Lahore High Court and emphasised the impact this decision would have on women's rights in general too. "This is so important because so much emphasis has been placed in our culture as the hymen being signifier of the purity of a woman," said Sahar Bandial, an advocate of the Lahore High Court and one of the lawyers who filed the petition. "There is an inference that the woman is of easy virtue and likely to have consented to sexual activity."

In a historic decision, the Lahore High Court has declared virginity tests on sexual assault survivors to be illegal and announced that the practice has "no medical basis" and "offends the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity.

In a historic decision, the Lahore High Court has declared virginity tests on sexual assault survivors to be illegal and announced that the practice has "no medical basis" and "offends the personal dignity of the female victim and therefore is against the right to life and right to dignity." Till now, all sexual assault survivors are put through a virginity test, which is conducted by inspecting the hymen or inserting two fingers into the vagina. This practice, apparently, determines whether or not a woman is a virgin. Also read| Start reconstruction of vandalised Hindu temple within two weeks: Pakistan Supreme Court This test is a common practice in a few countries around the globe, especially Pakistan where the test is conducted to assess a girl's "honor or virtue", according to World Health Organization. However, in a landmark ruling, the Lahore High Court declared this practice to be illegal. The concern was raised in two petitions in June 2020 by a group of women's rights activists, academics, journalists, advocates and a member of the National Assembly who requested a ban on this test claiming it to be 'unscientific, intrusive, demeaning and a source of retraumatization'. Declaring it to be discriminatory against women, Justice Ayesha Malik said there was "no forensic value in cases of sexual violence" and asked the concerned government officials to issue directives to ensure a written an oral guideline is passed immediately to put a permanent ban on these virginity tests. Also read| Pakistani Hazara families refuse to bury Mach massacre victims "Virginity testing is highly invasive, having no scientific or medical requirement, yet carried out in the name of medical protocols in sexual violence cases. It is a humiliating practice, which is used to cast suspicion on the victim, as opposed to focusing on the accused and the incident of sexual violence," Malik said in the official court documents. Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari took to Twitter to thank Justice malik for her decision and said the decision "is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors." Justice Ayesha Malik's decision today is a bold and clear judgement against the demeaning and absurd "two-finger test". A landmark judgement indeed. It also strengthens the ban placed on this test in the anti-rape ordinance against the detractors. — Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) January 4, 2021 × The petitioners and women rights groups applauded the decision by the Lahore High Court and emphasised the impact this decision would have on women's rights in general too. "This is so important because so much emphasis has been placed in our culture as the hymen being signifier of the purity of a woman," said Sahar Bandial, an advocate of the Lahore High Court and one of the lawyers who filed the petition. "There is an inference that the woman is of easy virtue and likely to have consented to sexual activity."

Pakistan bans infamous 'virginity test' on sexual assault survivors

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

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

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

Pakistan: Religious leader arrested for abusing, blackmailing minor girl

The Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from the age of 12 to 16. Once the bill is approved, the legal age for sexual consent in the Catholic-majority country would go up.

The country has one of the world’s lowest ages of consent in the world. The Philippines allows adults to legally engage in sexual intercourse with children as young as 12.

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Child rights activists have been demanding this change for years. The legal age has been enshrined in the country’s penal code since 1930. But to much resistance, change was not brought in earlier.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/south-china-sea-us-vows-support-to-philippines-and-vietnam-over-row-with-china-344931" hreflang="en">South China Sea: US vows support to Philippines and Vietnam over row with China</a>

The country has also banned abortion and divorce, with the Congress set to increase the age of sexual consent to 16. Activists feel that this move would help protect youngsters across the country, where online child sex abuse is rampant, and more than 500 teenagers get impregnated and give birth everyday.

“This is a victory for Filipino children”, announced Patrizia Benvenuti, UNICEF's chief of child protection in the Philippines. Currently, the legislation is inching closer to a final vote, and many believe that keeping 12 as the age of consent for kids is inconsistent with studies on brain development.

Data paints a grim picture of the state of child rights in the Philippines, where child rape and sexual abuse are rampant.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/american-nsas-visit-to-vietnam-philippines-represents-cold-war-mentality-chinese-embassies-345190" hreflang="en">American NSA's visit to Vietnam, Philippines represents 'Cold War mentality': Chinese embassies</a>

A woman or child is raped every hour in the country, as claimed by a senator - Risa Hontiveros, in a document citing numbers from the Center for Women’s Resources. The data also revealed that seven out of 10 victims of abuse are children, with the majority being girls.

The legislation could pave way for stronger calls for the protection of girls in the country. A government supported study from 2015 showed that one in five children aged 13-17 experienced sexual violence, while one in 25 experienced rape in the country.

The Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from the age of 12 to 16. Once the bill is approved, the legal age for sexual consent in the Catholic-majority country would go up.

The Philippines is set to raise the age of sexual consent from the age of 12 to 16. Once the bill is approved, the legal age for sexual consent in the Catholic-majority country would go up. The country has one of the world’s lowest ages of consent in the world. The Philippines allows adults to legally engage in sexual intercourse with children as young as 12. Child rights activists have been demanding this change for years. The legal age has been enshrined in the country’s penal code since 1930. But to much resistance, change was not brought in earlier. Also read: South China Sea: US vows support to Philippines and Vietnam over row with China The country has also banned abortion and divorce, with the Congress set to increase the age of sexual consent to 16. Activists feel that this move would help protect youngsters across the country, where online child sex abuse is rampant, and more than 500 teenagers get impregnated and give birth everyday. “This is a victory for Filipino children”, announced Patrizia Benvenuti, UNICEF's chief of child protection in the Philippines. Currently, the legislation is inching closer to a final vote, and many believe that keeping 12 as the age of consent for kids is inconsistent with studies on brain development. Data paints a grim picture of the state of child rights in the Philippines, where child rape and sexual abuse are rampant. Also read: American NSA's visit to Vietnam, Philippines represents 'Cold War mentality': Chinese embassies A woman or child is raped every hour in the country, as claimed by a senator - Risa Hontiveros, in a document citing numbers from the Center for Women’s Resources. The data also revealed that seven out of 10 victims of abuse are children, with the majority being girls. The legislation could pave way for stronger calls for the protection of girls in the country. A government supported study from 2015 showed that one in five children aged 13-17 experienced sexual violence, while one in 25 experienced rape in the country.

Philippines to raise age of sexual consent from 12 to 16

In a historic decision, Lebanon's parliament has passed a bill&nbsp;criminalising sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, and has also brought a positive change in the infamous&nbsp;domestic violence law.

The new law "criminalises sexual harassment, especially in the workplace", the official National News Agency reported.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pm-imran-khan-in-spotlight-as-pakistan-passes-new-rape-law-350282">PM Imran Khan in spotlight as Pakistan passes new rape law</a>

As per the new law, all perpetrators, if proven guilty, can be sentenced to up to two years of prison time and will be fined 20 times the value of the minimum wage of the country — which amounts up to&nbsp;$450 (675,000 Lebanese pounds).

In addition to this, the parliament also decided that the&nbsp;maximum penalties will be reserved especially for harassment faced by women and others in workplaces and all public and educational institutions.

The Parliament has also expanded the definition of domestic violence — a moe which has been waited for since the legislation's establishment in 2014. Earlier, several activists had criticised the legislation for having a narrow definition of 'domestic violence' and for&nbsp;failing to specifically criminalise marital rape. However, now, the parliament said it "penalises economic and psychological violence".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-bid-to-affirm-dignity-of-lgbtq-over-370-religious-leaders-demand-end-to-conversion-therapy-350475">In a bid to affirm dignity of LGBTQ, over 370 religious leaders demand end to conversion therapy</a>

UN Women Lebanon praised the law's endorsement of "important protection-related measures that strengthen the legal framework to end violence against women" in the country.

While the decision has been welcomed by masses, several activists still feel the ruling fails to give full protection and justice to women.

The legislation allows victims to use criminal justice system, instead of civil courts, due to which the victims will have to be named and the cases will be made public. "This is a major obstacle for victims and does not give them the incentive to file complaints," said&nbsp;Karim Nammour, a lawyer.

Another obstacle is that the Parliament has failed to lay down penalties for marital rape. "Marriage to the victim should not exempt a sexual offender from punishment," explained&nbsp;Aya Majzoub, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch in an interview to AFP.

In a historic decision, Lebanon's parliament has passed a bill criminalising sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, and has also brought a positive change in the infamous domestic violence law.

In a historic decision, Lebanon's parliament has passed a bill criminalising sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, and has also brought a positive change in the infamous domestic violence law. The new law "criminalises sexual harassment, especially in the workplace", the official National News Agency reported. Also read| PM Imran Khan in spotlight as Pakistan passes new rape law As per the new law, all perpetrators, if proven guilty, can be sentenced to up to two years of prison time and will be fined 20 times the value of the minimum wage of the country — which amounts up to $450 (675,000 Lebanese pounds). In addition to this, the parliament also decided that the maximum penalties will be reserved especially for harassment faced by women and others in workplaces and all public and educational institutions. The Parliament has also expanded the definition of domestic violence — a moe which has been waited for since the legislation's establishment in 2014. Earlier, several activists had criticised the legislation for having a narrow definition of 'domestic violence' and for failing to specifically criminalise marital rape. However, now, the parliament said it "penalises economic and psychological violence". Also read| In a bid to affirm dignity of LGBTQ, over 370 religious leaders demand end to conversion therapy UN Women Lebanon praised the law's endorsement of "important protection-related measures that strengthen the legal framework to end violence against women" in the country. While the decision has been welcomed by masses, several activists still feel the ruling fails to give full protection and justice to women. The legislation allows victims to use criminal justice system, instead of civil courts, due to which the victims will have to be named and the cases will be made public. "This is a major obstacle for victims and does not give them the incentive to file complaints," said Karim Nammour, a lawyer. Another obstacle is that the Parliament has failed to lay down penalties for marital rape. "Marriage to the victim should not exempt a sexual offender from punishment," explained Aya Majzoub, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch in an interview to AFP.

Historic ruling: Lebanon's parliament criminalises sexual harassment

Up to a quarter of a million children, young people and vulnerable adults were abused in New Zealand's faith-based and state care institutions in the past several decades, a public inquiry revealed on Wednesday.

An interim report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the historic abuse of children in state care estimated that up to 256,000 people were abused between 1950 and 2019. This accounts for almost 40% of the 655,000 people in care during that period.

"The hurt and anguish that has been caused in New Zealand’s history are inexcusable,” said Minister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins, who described the report as a "difficult rad".

"All children in the care of the state should be safe from harm, but as the testimony sets out all too often the opposite was true."

The report said most abuse survivors were aged between 5 and 17, but some were as young as 9 months and as old as 20. Most were abused over a five to 10 year period.

The abuse included physical assault and sexual abuse, with staff in some psychiatric institutions forcing male patients to rape female patients. It also included the improper use of medical procedures including electric shocks on genitals and legs, improper strip searches and vaginal examinations, and verbal abuse and racial slurs.

"Sometimes I'd have shock treatment twice a day," said Anne, who at 17 was placed in a psychiatric institution in 1979.

"The records (said) I went blind, then they gave me shock treatment again that night," she told the inquiry.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Royal Commission in 2018 saying the country needed to confront "a dark chapter" in its history, and later expanded it to include churches and other faith-based institutions.

The report said the likelihood of children and young people abused in faith-based or religious homes ranges from 21% to 42%.

It found the number of people passing through care institutions was six times higher than previously estimated.

"On any assessment, this is a serious and long-standing social problem that needs to be addressed," the report said, adding there was evidence that abuse continued today.

The report comes after private and public redress hearings where survivors bravely narrated harrowing accounts of physical and sexual abuse.

One Maori survivor, Peter, told the inquiry he drove a car off a cliff in an attempt to suicide to escape the abuse.

"I didn't wanna live anymore. I went over a cliff and smashed head-on into a bank. Again, if anybody just stopped and looked at why, they would have figured something out, but they didn't," he said.

The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand said it would study the report to learn how to deal with complaints and prevent abuse.

The report acknowledged that indigenous Maori children probably suffered the most, as 81% of children abused in care are Māori, while 69% of the children in care are Māori.

It said some faith-based institutions sought to "cleanse", through sexual and physical abuse, the cultural identity from Maori people in care.

Thousands of Maori people protested across New Zealand last year calling for an end to the practice of taking at-risk children away from families and placing them in state care.

Critics of the practice have said the process is racially skewed against the Maori and is a legacy of colonisation.

Neighbouring Australia delivered a national apology in 2017 after a five-year inquiry into child sexual abuse revealed thousands of cases of sexual misconduct largely committed at religious and state-run institutions.

Up to a quarter of a million children, young people and vulnerable adults were abused in New Zealand's faith-based and state care institutions in the past several decades, a public inquiry revealed on Wednesday.

Up to a quarter of a million children, young people and vulnerable adults were abused in New Zealand's faith-based and state care institutions in the past several decades, a public inquiry revealed on Wednesday. An interim report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the historic abuse of children in state care estimated that up to 256,000 people were abused between 1950 and 2019. This accounts for almost 40% of the 655,000 people in care during that period. "The hurt and anguish that has been caused in New Zealand’s history are inexcusable,” said Minister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins, who described the report as a "difficult rad". "All children in the care of the state should be safe from harm, but as the testimony sets out all too often the opposite was true." The report said most abuse survivors were aged between 5 and 17, but some were as young as 9 months and as old as 20. Most were abused over a five to 10 year period. The abuse included physical assault and sexual abuse, with staff in some psychiatric institutions forcing male patients to rape female patients. It also included the improper use of medical procedures including electric shocks on genitals and legs, improper strip searches and vaginal examinations, and verbal abuse and racial slurs. "Sometimes I'd have shock treatment twice a day," said Anne, who at 17 was placed in a psychiatric institution in 1979. "The records (said) I went blind, then they gave me shock treatment again that night," she told the inquiry. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Royal Commission in 2018 saying the country needed to confront "a dark chapter" in its history, and later expanded it to include churches and other faith-based institutions. The report said the likelihood of children and young people abused in faith-based or religious homes ranges from 21% to 42%. It found the number of people passing through care institutions was six times higher than previously estimated. "On any assessment, this is a serious and long-standing social problem that needs to be addressed," the report said, adding there was evidence that abuse continued today. The report comes after private and public redress hearings where survivors bravely narrated harrowing accounts of physical and sexual abuse. One Maori survivor, Peter, told the inquiry he drove a car off a cliff in an attempt to suicide to escape the abuse. "I didn't wanna live anymore. I went over a cliff and smashed head-on into a bank. Again, if anybody just stopped and looked at why, they would have figured something out, but they didn't," he said. The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand said it would study the report to learn how to deal with complaints and prevent abuse. The report acknowledged that indigenous Maori children probably suffered the most, as 81% of children abused in care are Māori, while 69% of the children in care are Māori. It said some faith-based institutions sought to "cleanse", through sexual and physical abuse, the cultural identity from Maori people in care. Thousands of Maori people protested across New Zealand last year calling for an end to the practice of taking at-risk children away from families and placing them in state care. Critics of the practice have said the process is racially skewed against the Maori and is a legacy of colonisation. Neighbouring Australia delivered a national apology in 2017 after a five-year inquiry into child sexual abuse revealed thousands of cases of sexual misconduct largely committed at religious and state-run institutions.

Over 250,000 abused in New Zealand’s state and faith-based care

Social media and other internet companies face big fines in Britain if they don’t limit the amount of harmful material such as child sexual abuse or terrorist content on their platforms

UK plans big fines for online companies over harmful content

A female counsellor of a Japanese town has been voted out of office after she accused the mayor of the town,&nbsp;Nobutada Kuroiwa, of sexual assault in the past.

Shoko Arai is the only female counsellor of&nbsp;Kusatsu. She claimed the Mayor had "forced (her) into sexual relations" while she was in his office a few years back. The Mayor, however, denied these accusations.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/court-hearing-begins-in-sexual-harassment-case-marking-chinas-metoo-movement-346839">Court hearing begins in sexual harassment case marking China's MeToo movement</a>

However, a few colleagues of her have now hit back at her claiming she has ruined the reputation of their town by making such accusations against the Mayor. They also questioned as to why did she not report the incident earlier. Arai, however, said she had been too afraid to go to the police immediately after the incident.

Arai claimed the 73-year-old Mayor "suddenly pulled me closer, kissed me and pushed (me) down on the floor" so hard that she&nbsp;"couldn't push him back."

The Mayor, however, has denied these accusations claiming the doors and curtains to his office were open on the day Arai has claimed the incident took place. He has also filed a defamation case against the politician now.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-22-year-old-force-behind-egypts-growing-metoo-movement-332193">The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement</a>

The female counsellor was also removed from office by her colleagues who have accused her of passing "scandalous" remarks against the leadership of the town which has negatively affected "the dignity" of the council. While locals tried to overturn the decision, the politicians were able to collect enough signatures from voters to recall the vote. "2,542 out of 2,835 residents who voted supported the recall," town spokesman said.

Arai has slammed this decision as unjust and has vowed&nbsp;she "will not be terrorised by pressure from people with power".

"There is no reason for dismissing me,” she said. “A recall spearheaded by influential figures in the town, such as the mayor and assembly members, runs counter to the philosophy of the recall system."

The lawmakers of the town feel this will be a backward move in their continuous effort of wanting to restore "restoring the damaged reputation of the town".

A female counsellor of a Japanese town has been voted out of office after she accused the mayor of the town, Nobutada Kuroiwa, of sexual assault in the past. Shoko Arai is the only female counsellor of Kusatsu.

A female counsellor of a Japanese town has been voted out of office after she accused the mayor of the town, Nobutada Kuroiwa, of sexual assault in the past. Shoko Arai is the only female counsellor of Kusatsu. She claimed the Mayor had "forced (her) into sexual relations" while she was in his office a few years back. The Mayor, however, denied these accusations. Also read| Court hearing begins in sexual harassment case marking China's MeToo movement However, a few colleagues of her have now hit back at her claiming she has ruined the reputation of their town by making such accusations against the Mayor. They also questioned as to why did she not report the incident earlier. Arai, however, said she had been too afraid to go to the police immediately after the incident. Arai claimed the 73-year-old Mayor "suddenly pulled me closer, kissed me and pushed (me) down on the floor" so hard that she "couldn't push him back." The Mayor, however, has denied these accusations claiming the doors and curtains to his office were open on the day Arai has claimed the incident took place. He has also filed a defamation case against the politician now. Also read| The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement The female counsellor was also removed from office by her colleagues who have accused her of passing "scandalous" remarks against the leadership of the town which has negatively affected "the dignity" of the council. While locals tried to overturn the decision, the politicians were able to collect enough signatures from voters to recall the vote. "2,542 out of 2,835 residents who voted supported the recall," town spokesman said. Arai has slammed this decision as unjust and has vowed she "will not be terrorised by pressure from people with power". "There is no reason for dismissing me,” she said. “A recall spearheaded by influential figures in the town, such as the mayor and assembly members, runs counter to the philosophy of the recall system." The lawmakers of the town feel this will be a backward move in their continuous effort of wanting to restore "restoring the damaged reputation of the town".

Japan female politician removed from office after accusing mayor of sexual assault

Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam has been accused of sexually abusing a woman. According to the woman, Azam exploited her for 10 years and gave her false promises of marriage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nz-vs-pak-seventh-player-of-pakistan-cricket-team-tests-positive-for-covid-19-346055" hreflang="en">NZ vs PAK: Seventh player of Pakistan cricket team tests positive for COVID-19</a>

The woman, in a press conference, revealed that they are school friends. She said that she backed the player mentally and financially during his tough times. According to the woman, Babar proposed her for marriage in 2010 and they eloped for a court wedding next year. However, Babar Azam changed his mind after he rose to fame when he led Pakistan in 2012 U-19 World Cup and then was selected in the national team.&nbsp;

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So this lady has made accusations against Babar Azam "he promised to marry me, he got me pregnant, he beat me up, he threatened me and he used me" 
Video courtesy 24NewsHD <a href="https://t.co/PTkvdM4WW2">pic.twitter.com/PTkvdM4WW2</a>
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1332715984076083200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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As per the woman, Babar threatened to kill her before she went to the police. She also revealed that Babar Azam used to physically assault her.&nbsp;

Recently, Babar Azam became Pakistan's captain in all formats and is currently touring in New Zealand for the T20I and Test series against the Black Caps.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to take any actions against the player. However, these accusations have sent shockwaves across the cricketing world.&nbsp;

Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam has been accused of sexually abusing a woman. According to the woman, Azam exploited her for 10 years and gave her false promises of marriage.

Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam has been accused of sexually abusing a woman. According to the woman, Azam exploited her for 10 years and gave her false promises of marriage. Also read: NZ vs PAK: Seventh player of Pakistan cricket team tests positive for COVID-19 The woman, in a press conference, revealed that they are school friends. She said that she backed the player mentally and financially during his tough times. According to the woman, Babar proposed her for marriage in 2010 and they eloped for a court wedding next year. However, Babar Azam changed his mind after he rose to fame when he led Pakistan in 2012 U-19 World Cup and then was selected in the national team. So this lady has made accusations against Babar Azam "he promised to marry me, he got me pregnant, he beat me up, he threatened me and he used me" Video courtesy 24NewsHD pic.twitter.com/PTkvdM4WW2 — Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 28, 2020 × As per the woman, Babar threatened to kill her before she went to the police. She also revealed that Babar Azam used to physically assault her. Recently, Babar Azam became Pakistan's captain in all formats and is currently touring in New Zealand for the T20I and Test series against the Black Caps. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to take any actions against the player. However, these accusations have sent shockwaves across the cricketing world.

'Exploited me for 10 years': Woman accuses Pakistan skipper Babar Azam of sexual abuse

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will face almost 100,000 claims of sexual abuse as former scouts submit filings against the bankruptcy-bound organisation.

Monday evening was the deadline to receive compensation from the organization, a lawyer for the victims told AFP. &nbsp;

Attorney Michael Pfau said that there had been "88,000 claims filed to date. It will probably be 100,000 by day's end."

The figure is in total contrast with the rough 11,000 -- complaints that were earlier believed to have been filed against the Catholic Church.

"We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward," the scouting organisation said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We intentionally developed an open, accessible process to reach survivors and help them take an essential step toward receiving compensation. The response we have seen from survivors has been gut wrenching. We are deeply sorry," the BSA added.

The group, founded in 1910, has 2.2 million members between the ages of five and 21.&nbsp;

Revelations of misconduct in US scouting circles came to widespread attention in 2012 when the Los Angeles Times published internal documents spelling out details of decades of sexual abuse.&nbsp;&nbsp;Some 5,000 "perversion files" were uncovered, identifying about as many alleged culprits among scout leadership, including scout masters and troop leaders.&nbsp;

Most incidents were never reported to authorities, and the BSA took it upon themselves to remove the accused offenders.

The BSA filed for bankruptcy in February in an effort to block settlement claims from hitting the organisation directly and instead funneled them to a compensation fund.&nbsp;The group, which is valued at more than $1 billion, has not said how much they intend to spend via this fund.

Negotiations will now begin between victims, the BSA and their insurers to determine the amounts to be paid.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will face almost 100,000 claims of sexual abuse as former scouts submit filings against the bankruptcy-bound organisation. Monday evening was the deadline to receive compensation from the organization, a lawyer for the victims told AFP.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) will face almost 100,000 claims of sexual abuse as former scouts submit filings against the bankruptcy-bound organisation. Monday evening was the deadline to receive compensation from the organization, a lawyer for the victims told AFP. Attorney Michael Pfau said that there had been "88,000 claims filed to date. It will probably be 100,000 by day's end." The figure is in total contrast with the rough 11,000 -- complaints that were earlier believed to have been filed against the Catholic Church. "We are devastated by the number of lives impacted by past abuse in scouting and moved by the bravery of those who have come forward," the scouting organisation said in a statement. "We intentionally developed an open, accessible process to reach survivors and help them take an essential step toward receiving compensation. The response we have seen from survivors has been gut wrenching. We are deeply sorry," the BSA added. The group, founded in 1910, has 2.2 million members between the ages of five and 21. Revelations of misconduct in US scouting circles came to widespread attention in 2012 when the Los Angeles Times published internal documents spelling out details of decades of sexual abuse. Some 5,000 "perversion files" were uncovered, identifying about as many alleged culprits among scout leadership, including scout masters and troop leaders. Most incidents were never reported to authorities, and the BSA took it upon themselves to remove the accused offenders. The BSA filed for bankruptcy in February in an effort to block settlement claims from hitting the organisation directly and instead funneled them to a compensation fund. The group, which is valued at more than $1 billion, has not said how much they intend to spend via this fund. Negotiations will now begin between victims, the BSA and their insurers to determine the amounts to be paid.

Almost 90,000 sex abuse claims filed against US Boy Scouts, legal team says

Online frauds and abuse have increased since the pandemic and lockdowns began all over the world. In one such case of online menace, an unidentified online service is letting people create fake nude images of women.

The service was revealed in a report by an agency tracking deepfakes that uncovered a large network of growing ecosystem that has targeted at least 100,000 women.

Through deepfakes, which is an AI technology created years ago,&nbsp;people can create fake images of strangers and mould it as per their own needs.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-hackers-targeting-biden-and-trump-are-faking-mcafee-software-google-336251">Also read|&nbsp;Chinese hackers targeting Biden and Trump are faking McAfee software: Google</a>

The agency has identified an unidentified bot that has created more than 100,000 fake images of women and those images have been shared on public platforms. While this service has been active for the past few years, and has been used to tarnish the images of celebrities, the amount of images generated has increased massively in the last few months.&nbsp;As per the reports, majority of the victims are from Russia.

“Our investigation of this bot and its affiliated channels revealed several key findings. Approximately 104,852 women have been targeted and had their personal “stripped” images shared publicly as of the end of July, 2020. The number of these images grew by 198% in the last 3 months,” said the report.

The tool is available online for free, but to remove watermark the users are asked to&nbsp;$1.5, the agency reported. There were also dedicated groups for this service on social media platform called Telegram.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-takes-down-global-criminal-botnet-that-could-have-affected-us-election-334896">Also read|&nbsp;Microsoft takes down global criminal botnet that could have affected US election</a>

“The activity on the bot’s affiliated Telegram channels makes for bleak viewing. On the image sharing galleries, thousands of synthetically stripped images of young women taken from social media and private correspondence are constantly being uploaded,” said Henry Ajder, an expert on deepfakes and the lead author of the report who has since left Sensity.

While the original version was licensed to&nbsp;DeepNudes, the investigation agency found out that the license has since bene sold to an&nbsp;anonymous buyer for $30,000.

“We can state confidently that the individuals involved in the bot creation are very likely to be Russian native speakers, given the presence of this language among the users and the fact that a large part of the victim are Russian nationals," said Giorgio Patrini, CEO and chief scientist at Sensity.

Online frauds and abuse have increased since the pandemic and lockdowns began all over the world. In one such case of online menace, an unidentified online service is letting people create fake nude images of women.

Online frauds and abuse have increased since the pandemic and lockdowns began all over the world. In one such case of online menace, an unidentified online service is letting people create fake nude images of women. The service was revealed in a report by an agency tracking deepfakes that uncovered a large network of growing ecosystem that has targeted at least 100,000 women. Through deepfakes, which is an AI technology created years ago, people can create fake images of strangers and mould it as per their own needs. Also read| Chinese hackers targeting Biden and Trump are faking McAfee software: Google The agency has identified an unidentified bot that has created more than 100,000 fake images of women and those images have been shared on public platforms. While this service has been active for the past few years, and has been used to tarnish the images of celebrities, the amount of images generated has increased massively in the last few months. As per the reports, majority of the victims are from Russia. “Our investigation of this bot and its affiliated channels revealed several key findings. Approximately 104,852 women have been targeted and had their personal “stripped” images shared publicly as of the end of July, 2020. The number of these images grew by 198% in the last 3 months,” said the report. The tool is available online for free, but to remove watermark the users are asked to $1.5, the agency reported. There were also dedicated groups for this service on social media platform called Telegram. Also read| Microsoft takes down global criminal botnet that could have affected US election “The activity on the bot’s affiliated Telegram channels makes for bleak viewing. On the image sharing galleries, thousands of synthetically stripped images of young women taken from social media and private correspondence are constantly being uploaded,” said Henry Ajder, an expert on deepfakes and the lead author of the report who has since left Sensity. While the original version was licensed to DeepNudes, the investigation agency found out that the license has since bene sold to an anonymous buyer for $30,000. “We can state confidently that the individuals involved in the bot creation are very likely to be Russian native speakers, given the presence of this language among the users and the fact that a large part of the victim are Russian nationals," said Giorgio Patrini, CEO and chief scientist at Sensity.

Deepfake tool helped create more than 100,000 fake nude images of women: Report

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen resigned on Monday over growing sexual harassment allegations against him, the latest political casualty in a belated #MeToo wave sweeping Denmark in recent weeks. 
 
Jensen, 59, had in recent days admitted to and apologised for having harassed women over the course of his 30-year career, after two women accused him of touching them inappropriately in 2012 and 2017. 
 
On Sunday, the head of the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party told daily Jyllands-Posten that she had been informed of eight other people who had either been harassed by Jensen or who had witnessed harassments. 
 
Jensen, who has served as mayor for 11 years, received the support of his Social Democratic Party on Sunday to continue as mayor, but threw in the towel nonetheless.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/the-22-year-old-force-behind-egypts-growing-metoo-movement-332193" hreflang="en">The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement</a> 
 
"Now I have slept on it. This is going to overshadow all the political work I want to do. That is why I have decided to resign as mayor," he told reporters on Monday. 
 
He also stepped down as deputy head of the Social Democrats, a post he had held since 2015. 
 
Thousands of women have come forward in recent weeks with accounts of sexism and harassment in the Nordic country, which is often viewed as a bastion of gender equality. 
 
Earlier this month, the leader of the Social Liberal party, Morten Ostergaard, resigned after it emerged he had placed his hand on the thigh of a female colleague 10 years earlier. 
 
In 2017 a public discussion arose in Denmark as the #MeToo movement emboldened women across the world to speak out about their experiences of discrimination and sexual assault. 
 
However, a widespread change in Danish attitudes did not materialise.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/metoo-iranian-women-break-silence-about-sexual-abuse-through-twitter-324450" hreflang="en">#MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter</a> 
 
The issue became a national talking point in late August when presenter Sofie Linde, a household name, stunned viewers of a live TV gala by recounting how a senior television executive offered to advance her career in exchange for oral sex, 12 years earlier. 
 
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday called for a change in cultural attitudes.&nbsp; 
 
"Harassment and violations can not be defended. Together we must create a culture where it is not okay. Neither in words nor actions," she wrote in a statement.

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen resigned on Monday over growing sexual harassment allegations against him, the latest political casualty in a belated #MeToo wave sweeping Denmark in recent weeks.

Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen resigned on Monday over growing sexual harassment allegations against him, the latest political casualty in a belated #MeToo wave sweeping Denmark in recent weeks. Jensen, 59, had in recent days admitted to and apologised for having harassed women over the course of his 30-year career, after two women accused him of touching them inappropriately in 2012 and 2017. On Sunday, the head of the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party told daily Jyllands-Posten that she had been informed of eight other people who had either been harassed by Jensen or who had witnessed harassments. Jensen, who has served as mayor for 11 years, received the support of his Social Democratic Party on Sunday to continue as mayor, but threw in the towel nonetheless. Also read: The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement "Now I have slept on it. This is going to overshadow all the political work I want to do. That is why I have decided to resign as mayor," he told reporters on Monday. He also stepped down as deputy head of the Social Democrats, a post he had held since 2015. Thousands of women have come forward in recent weeks with accounts of sexism and harassment in the Nordic country, which is often viewed as a bastion of gender equality. Earlier this month, the leader of the Social Liberal party, Morten Ostergaard, resigned after it emerged he had placed his hand on the thigh of a female colleague 10 years earlier. In 2017 a public discussion arose in Denmark as the #MeToo movement emboldened women across the world to speak out about their experiences of discrimination and sexual assault. However, a widespread change in Danish attitudes did not materialise. Also read: #MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter The issue became a national talking point in late August when presenter Sofie Linde, a household name, stunned viewers of a live TV gala by recounting how a senior television executive offered to advance her career in exchange for oral sex, 12 years earlier. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday called for a change in cultural attitudes. "Harassment and violations can not be defended. Together we must create a culture where it is not okay. Neither in words nor actions," she wrote in a statement.

Copenhagen mayor resigns as #MeToo wave swells

The Vatican has put two priests on trial over alleged sexual abuse. Reverend Gabriele Martinelli and Enrico Radice, One priest accused of molesting an altar boy in the Vatican’s youth seminary and another priest accused of covering it up.

This is the first such trial within the Vatican's walls, the case dates back to 2007.

According to the charges read in the court-room, the priests forced a 16-year-old boy to submit to cardinal relations acts of sodomy and forced masturbation.

Kamil Jarzembowski, whistleblower and witness for the prosecution in the trial, former student at seminary said that "I saw violence, made through blackmail and abuse of power by (Gabriele) Martinelli, and it was terrifying seeing these things because at the time I was 15. I had never even seen two people having sex and yet I was forced to watch these things inside the Vatican. Psychologically it was pretty tough to take because I came to the Vatican to serve the church. I was a strong believer."

Thousands of more such crimes are getting shrouded in the church's culture of secrecy. Thousands of young lives are being destroyed by predatory Priests. The Vatican urgently needs to reform its internal policies.

It needs to open itself to human rights scrutiny and allow victims to access justice. It must to do so for the sake of its followers and its own diminishing credibility.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Vatican has put two priests on trial over alleged sexual abuse. Reverend Gabriele Martinelli and Enrico Radice, One priest accused of molesting an altar boy in the Vatican’s youth seminary and another priest accused of covering it up.

The Vatican has put two priests on trial over alleged sexual abuse. Reverend Gabriele Martinelli and Enrico Radice, One priest accused of molesting an altar boy in the Vatican’s youth seminary and another priest accused of covering it up. This is the first such trial within the Vatican's walls, the case dates back to 2007. According to the charges read in the court-room, the priests forced a 16-year-old boy to submit to cardinal relations acts of sodomy and forced masturbation. Kamil Jarzembowski, whistleblower and witness for the prosecution in the trial, former student at seminary said that "I saw violence, made through blackmail and abuse of power by (Gabriele) Martinelli, and it was terrifying seeing these things because at the time I was 15. I had never even seen two people having sex and yet I was forced to watch these things inside the Vatican. Psychologically it was pretty tough to take because I came to the Vatican to serve the church. I was a strong believer." Thousands of more such crimes are getting shrouded in the church's culture of secrecy. Thousands of young lives are being destroyed by predatory Priests. The Vatican urgently needs to reform its internal policies. It needs to open itself to human rights scrutiny and allow victims to access justice. It must to do so for the sake of its followers and its own diminishing credibility. (With inputs from agencies)

Vatican needs to open itself to human rights scrutiny and allows victims to access justice

Wrestling stars from WWE and AEW have been accused of sexual and physical abuse after #SpeakingOut emerged. #SpeakingOut is a #MeToo movement but for&nbsp;the wrestling industry.&nbsp;

One of the wrestles to come forward was Millie McKenzie. She accused her former trainer and New Zealand-born wrestler Travis Banks of emotional abuse during their relationship. McKenzie was 17 when she entered into a relationship with her then 30-year-old Banks.

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Their public platform needs to be removed. They are not positive role models, regardless of their talent. 
 
Thanks again for supporting me and so many others in making a safer working environment <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/speakingout?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#speakingout</a>
— Millie Mckenzie ミリー・マッケンジー (@MillieMcKenzie0) <a href="https://twitter.com/MillieMcKenzie0/status/1275374427929223169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In an interview with BBC, she said: "I hated wrestling. I hated everyone. I didn't talk to anyone".&nbsp;

&nbsp;"I just didn't want to be there because I'd had to have been around him and all his friends."

Banks on the other hand was also released by the WWE's NXT UK promotion. He spoke to BBC and issued a statement. He said: "I apologise again for the pain that was caused. This was an entirely consensual relationship but I recognise that what happened should not have happened.

"I support the efforts being made by the Speaking Out movement to enable everyone in wrestling, and other sports also, to feel safe and never have to face a similar situation."

Many women wrestlers have come forward for the #SpeakingOut movement. But some wrestlers like Ring of Honor star Kelly Klein who said she was raped, have chosen not to comment on this movement.

Male performers like David Starr and Impact Wrestling's Joey Ryan issued pacifying statements in response to a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct and then disappeared from social media.

Impact wrestling has fired Joey Ryan. According to WWE, it had released 205 Live and NXT star Jack Gallagher after he was accused of a sexual assault dating back to 2014, though the company did not give details of the reason for that decision. Gallagher is yet to respond to these allegations.&nbsp;

The WWE released a statement on the allegations against the performers in the wrestling company. It said: "Individuals are responsible for their own personal actions. WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault.

"Upon arrest for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately suspended. Upon conviction for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately terminated."

"WWE's ability to fine, suspend or terminate a WWE talent will not be, however, limited or compromised in any manner in the event incontrovertible evidence of such illegal misconduct is presented to WWE."&nbsp;

Wrestling stars from WWE and AEW have been accused of sexual and physical abuse after #SpeakingOut emerged. #SpeakingOut is a #MeToo movement but for the wrestling industry.

Wrestling stars from WWE and AEW have been accused of sexual and physical abuse after #SpeakingOut emerged. #SpeakingOut is a #MeToo movement but for the wrestling industry. One of the wrestles to come forward was Millie McKenzie. She accused her former trainer and New Zealand-born wrestler Travis Banks of emotional abuse during their relationship. McKenzie was 17 when she entered into a relationship with her then 30-year-old Banks. Their public platform needs to be removed. They are not positive role models, regardless of their talent. Thanks again for supporting me and so many others in making a safer working environment #speakingout — Millie Mckenzie ミリー・マッケンジー (@MillieMcKenzie0) June 23, 2020 × In an interview with BBC, she said: "I hated wrestling. I hated everyone. I didn't talk to anyone". "I just didn't want to be there because I'd had to have been around him and all his friends." Banks on the other hand was also released by the WWE's NXT UK promotion. He spoke to BBC and issued a statement. He said: "I apologise again for the pain that was caused. This was an entirely consensual relationship but I recognise that what happened should not have happened. "I support the efforts being made by the Speaking Out movement to enable everyone in wrestling, and other sports also, to feel safe and never have to face a similar situation." Many women wrestlers have come forward for the #SpeakingOut movement. But some wrestlers like Ring of Honor star Kelly Klein who said she was raped, have chosen not to comment on this movement. Male performers like David Starr and Impact Wrestling's Joey Ryan issued pacifying statements in response to a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct and then disappeared from social media. Impact wrestling has fired Joey Ryan. According to WWE, it had released 205 Live and NXT star Jack Gallagher after he was accused of a sexual assault dating back to 2014, though the company did not give details of the reason for that decision. Gallagher is yet to respond to these allegations. The WWE released a statement on the allegations against the performers in the wrestling company. It said: "Individuals are responsible for their own personal actions. WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. "Upon arrest for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately suspended. Upon conviction for such misconduct, a WWE talent will be immediately terminated." "WWE's ability to fine, suspend or terminate a WWE talent will not be, however, limited or compromised in any manner in the event incontrovertible evidence of such illegal misconduct is presented to WWE."

#SpeakingOut: Female wrestling stars speak out on sexual and physical abuse

Aldo Gucci's grand daughter,&nbsp;Alexandra Zarini, has accused her stepfather of sexually assaulting her over a period of 16 years.

The heiress of the global fashion world filed a case in&nbsp;the California superior court in Los Angeles. She has accused her former stepfather&nbsp;Joseph Ruffalo of sexually abusing her.&nbsp;

She has also filed a case against Patricia Gucci, her mother, and Bruna Palombo, her grandmother, on the charges of complicity and a cover-up.

In the lawsuit, she alleged the producer of sexually abusing her from the age of six to 22. She explained that Ruffalo used to get&nbsp;into bed naked with her, and penetrate her with his hands. She also accused him of rubbing his&nbsp;own genitals against her.

Hinting towards Ruffalo's alcohol problem, she said she knew she&nbsp;was about to be subjected to abuse whenever she heard ice and alcohol being poured into Ruffalo's. She also accused him of encouraging her to use&nbsp;cocaine and crystal meth.

She said her mother and grandmother&nbsp;“tried to avoid, at all costs, what they perceived would be a scandal that could tarnish the Gucci name and potentially cost them millions.”

Patricia has also been accused of hitting Zarini when she was a child.&nbsp;

“If you think this doesn’t happen here in Beverly Hills, then you should know that my perpetrator still lives in California, spends time at the Bel-Air country club and volunteers in your children’s hospitals,” Zarini said in a video released by her lawyers.

“This is not something that only happens to other families, other neighborhoods or other countries. It is everywhere.”

Zarini has also launched her own&nbsp;anti-child abuse non-profit, the Alexandra Gucci Children’s Foundation.

“What he did to her is inexcusable and I was devastated when she disclosed everything to me at our family doctor’s office in London in September 2007. I immediately initiated divorce proceedings against Mr Ruffalo and set about healing my family through counseling,” Patricia&nbsp;Gucci said in a statament.

Aldo Gucci's grand daughter, Alexandra Zarini, has accused her stepfather of sexually assaulting her over a period of 16 years. The heiress of the global fashion world filed a case in the California superior court in Los Angeles.

Aldo Gucci's grand daughter, Alexandra Zarini, has accused her stepfather of sexually assaulting her over a period of 16 years. The heiress of the global fashion world filed a case in the California superior court in Los Angeles. She has accused her former stepfather Joseph Ruffalo of sexually abusing her. She has also filed a case against Patricia Gucci, her mother, and Bruna Palombo, her grandmother, on the charges of complicity and a cover-up. In the lawsuit, she alleged the producer of sexually abusing her from the age of six to 22. She explained that Ruffalo used to get into bed naked with her, and penetrate her with his hands. She also accused him of rubbing his own genitals against her. Hinting towards Ruffalo's alcohol problem, she said she knew she was about to be subjected to abuse whenever she heard ice and alcohol being poured into Ruffalo's. She also accused him of encouraging her to use cocaine and crystal meth. She said her mother and grandmother “tried to avoid, at all costs, what they perceived would be a scandal that could tarnish the Gucci name and potentially cost them millions.” Patricia has also been accused of hitting Zarini when she was a child. “If you think this doesn’t happen here in Beverly Hills, then you should know that my perpetrator still lives in California, spends time at the Bel-Air country club and volunteers in your children’s hospitals,” Zarini said in a video released by her lawyers. “This is not something that only happens to other families, other neighborhoods or other countries. It is everywhere.” Zarini has also launched her own anti-child abuse non-profit, the Alexandra Gucci Children’s Foundation. “What he did to her is inexcusable and I was devastated when she disclosed everything to me at our family doctor’s office in London in September 2007. I immediately initiated divorce proceedings against Mr Ruffalo and set about healing my family through counseling,” Patricia Gucci said in a statament.

Gucci heiress, Alexandra Zarini, accuses stepfather and mother of sexual abuse

Almost a year later, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams is now speaking up on all sexual misconduct allegations. He was accused of demanding sex from female musicians he mentored and when rejected, retaliating with verbal and emotional abuse and harassment.&nbsp;

In a high-profile case that broke out after ex-wife Mandy Moore voiced her horror story, seven women in total have detailed allegations of emotional and verbal abuse. Also, ex-fiancee Megan Butterworth was among the seven women who spoke against him.&nbsp;

In her revelation, Mandy Moore who was married from 2009 to 2016, said that during her relationship with Ryan Adams, he offered help with professional advancement but ended up ruining her confidence in her music with verbal harassment. At the time, she said, "His controlling behavior essentially did block my ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time — my entire mid-to-late 20s.”

Ryan is now apologising for it all. In a letter published by The Daily Mail, he wrote, "There are no words to express how bad I feel about the ways I've mistreated people throughout my life and career. All I can say is that I'm sorry. It's that simple. This period of isolation and reflection made me realize that I needed to make significant changes in my life.”

"I've gotten past the point where I would be apologizing just for the sake of being let off the hook and I know full well that any apology from me probably won't be accepted by those I've hurt. I get that and I also understand that there's no going back.To a lot of people this will just seem like the same empty bull***t apology that I've always used when I was called out, and all I can say is, this time it is different."&nbsp;

He went on to explain that after realizing the harm he's caused, it "wrecked" him. "I'm still reeling from the ripples of devastating effects that my actions triggered," he said. Though aware that he cannot convince anyone that "this time is truly different," Adams said it's the "albatross that I deserve to carry with me as a result of my actions." Adams said that during his time away from the spotlight he has taken a "hard look inwards and sought to find the truth behind them" including deciphering what pain he was carrying "that was so poorly and wrongly being projected onto others."&nbsp;

"I made a promise to myself that no matter what it took, I would get to the root of these issues and finally start to fix myself so I could be a better friend, a better partner, and a better man overall. That being said, no amount of growth will ever take away the suffering I had caused. I will never be off the hook and I am fully accountable for my harmful behavior, and will be for my actions moving forward."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/nick-cordero-broadway-star-dies-at-41-after-battling-with-covid-19-for-months-310985" hreflang="en">Nick Cordero, Broadway star, dies at 41 after battling with COVID-19 for months</a>

Adams also revealed that he has since sought professional help to get sober and take care of his mental health. He has also spent time writing "enough music to fill half a dozen albums" which consists of songs centered on "the lessons I've learned over the last few years." &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-crew-to-skip-quarantine-in-england-to-resume-work-on-missionimpossible-7-310976" hreflang="en">Tom Cruise, crew to skip quarantine in England to resume work on 'Mission:Impossible 7'</a>

"I hope that the people I've hurt will heal. And I hope that they will find a way to forgive me."

Almost a year later, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams is now speaking up on all sexual misconduct allegations. He was accused of demanding sex from female musicians he mentored and when rejected, retaliating with verbal and emotional abuse and harassment.

Almost a year later, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams is now speaking up on all sexual misconduct allegations. He was accused of demanding sex from female musicians he mentored and when rejected, retaliating with verbal and emotional abuse and harassment. In a high-profile case that broke out after ex-wife Mandy Moore voiced her horror story, seven women in total have detailed allegations of emotional and verbal abuse. Also, ex-fiancee Megan Butterworth was among the seven women who spoke against him. In her revelation, Mandy Moore who was married from 2009 to 2016, said that during her relationship with Ryan Adams, he offered help with professional advancement but ended up ruining her confidence in her music with verbal harassment. At the time, she said, "His controlling behavior essentially did block my ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time — my entire mid-to-late 20s.” Ryan is now apologising for it all. In a letter published by The Daily Mail, he wrote, "There are no words to express how bad I feel about the ways I've mistreated people throughout my life and career. All I can say is that I'm sorry. It's that simple. This period of isolation and reflection made me realize that I needed to make significant changes in my life.” "I've gotten past the point where I would be apologizing just for the sake of being let off the hook and I know full well that any apology from me probably won't be accepted by those I've hurt. I get that and I also understand that there's no going back.To a lot of people this will just seem like the same empty bull***t apology that I've always used when I was called out, and all I can say is, this time it is different." He went on to explain that after realizing the harm he's caused, it "wrecked" him. "I'm still reeling from the ripples of devastating effects that my actions triggered," he said. Though aware that he cannot convince anyone that "this time is truly different," Adams said it's the "albatross that I deserve to carry with me as a result of my actions." Adams said that during his time away from the spotlight he has taken a "hard look inwards and sought to find the truth behind them" including deciphering what pain he was carrying "that was so poorly and wrongly being projected onto others." "I made a promise to myself that no matter what it took, I would get to the root of these issues and finally start to fix myself so I could be a better friend, a better partner, and a better man overall. That being said, no amount of growth will ever take away the suffering I had caused. I will never be off the hook and I am fully accountable for my harmful behavior, and will be for my actions moving forward." Nick Cordero, Broadway star, dies at 41 after battling with COVID-19 for months Adams also revealed that he has since sought professional help to get sober and take care of his mental health. He has also spent time writing "enough music to fill half a dozen albums" which consists of songs centered on "the lessons I've learned over the last few years." Tom Cruise, crew to skip quarantine in England to resume work on 'Mission:Impossible 7' "I hope that the people I've hurt will heal. And I hope that they will find a way to forgive me."

Ryan Adams issues apology for 'harmful behaviour' post sexual abuse allegations

Pope Francis has asked the Polish Bishop to step down after&nbsp;Church leaders in Poland announced that they were referring Bishop Edward Janiak to the Vatican for eventual judgement.

Janiak was accused of protecting the priests who allegedly&nbsp;sexually abused children.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-thanks-angelic-doctors-in-his-first-post-lockdown-audience-307296">Also read:&nbsp;Pope Francis thanks 'angelic' doctors in his first post-lockdown audience</a>

Pope Francis has now appointed an administrator on Thursday to run the Polish diocese of Kalisz. However, Janiak will remain the Bishop of Kalisz till the accusations are proved.

The Pope has appointed Archbishop Grzegorz Rys of the city of Lodz as apostolic administrator, a temporary post.

The incident came to light&nbsp;when a film 'Playing Hide and Seek'&nbsp;by brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski showed how Janiak did not take any action against the priests who had sexually abused children. The movie, that gathered 23 million views on YouTube, focused on the different ways the Bishop shielded the paedophiles.

Pope Francis has asked the Polish Bishop to step down after Church leaders in Poland announced that they were referring Bishop Edward Janiak to the Vatican for eventual judgement.

Pope Francis has asked the Polish Bishop to step down after Church leaders in Poland announced that they were referring Bishop Edward Janiak to the Vatican for eventual judgement. Janiak was accused of protecting the priests who allegedly sexually abused children. Also read: Pope Francis thanks 'angelic' doctors in his first post-lockdown audience Pope Francis has now appointed an administrator on Thursday to run the Polish diocese of Kalisz. However, Janiak will remain the Bishop of Kalisz till the accusations are proved. The Pope has appointed Archbishop Grzegorz Rys of the city of Lodz as apostolic administrator, a temporary post. The incident came to light when a film 'Playing Hide and Seek' by brothers Tomasz and Marek Sekielski showed how Janiak did not take any action against the priests who had sexually abused children. The movie, that gathered 23 million views on YouTube, focused on the different ways the Bishop shielded the paedophiles.

Pope Francis replaces Polish Bishop who is accused of hiding sexual predators

Something felt really weird, when my good friend J, who was 11 years old, told me that he and his grandfather were in love since 2 years, and they both kissed and had sex every night.

Though same age as him, I just knew sex was something that happened between an aspirant father and a mother, also husband and a wife, provided former had a penis and latter a vagina. Turned out, I knew so little - my knowledgeable friend that day, passionately explained to me much more, straight out of his experience. And gave me my first - sex education.

The old man died after a few months. And J was sad. Like really sad. But he was mourning two people - his grandfather and a lover.

Talkative J no longer spoke much, his grades tumbled down. He had changed.&nbsp;

Years went by, life took us to different places, our paths only crossed during holidays. The last time we met, I saw fresh cut marks all over his arms – like he was inflicting upon himself - when I asked him about it, he lightly replied “Kind of a tattoo I like.” Concerned, I suggested him to get a tetanus shot, but wish I knew what depression was.

&nbsp;There were also rumours that he had started taking drugs. Exactly one month before his 17th birthday, 10 years ago, J died of an overdose. Many say it was suicide.

A painful lump suffocates my throat each time I realise that my first lesson on sex, was a very disturbing, first-hand testimony of an innocent juvenile, who was tricked and raped for two years inside his own home.

Perhaps this story would have been something different today, had our super conservative Indian society taught us the difference between a good touch and a bad touch. Meaningful movies, to explain that sexual violence not only happens to females but any human in general, but most importantly – sexual assaults need not necessarily have to look violent.

Much later did I get to know that even if a victim doesn’t contract deadly STDs like HIV or Hepatitis B, sexual assaults of any kind is life-threatening, the mental trauma can trigger a lot of clinical conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and most survivors suffer from low self-esteem, shock and confusion, their entire lives.

Yet, every single day, tens of thousands of people around the world are sexually assaulted, irrespective of their gender, age, nationality or physical strength – and even though we bluntly categorise each sexual assault as “sexual” – experts claim, the perpetrator’s motive isn’t necessarily always about sex.

Activists and educators amongst us are really worried right now, and we should because the numbers of sexual violence have been climbing drastically during this pandemic, and with financial distress that’s following and will continue, it’s only going to get worse.

Hence now is the best time to discuss our next steps. But first, it’s important to discard outdated stigmas and look into this matter fresh, like a modern generation from the 21st century.

Solution is simple.

Lesser the number of perpetrators less will be the number of assaults. But what turns a normal looking human into a sexual predator?

I summarize three common reasons;

Intoxicants – we don’t need explanations or examples to associate intoxication with sexual or any other type of violence in general. Intoxicants, especially alcohol has the tendency to bring out the worst in humans hence responsible consumption in a secure environment is really important.

Ignorance &amp; Social Conditioning - Something we Indians understand at its core because, while first-world nations talk about gender pay, women employment, consent, etc. – rural India (Sometimes urban) still struggles with 20th-century problems like female education, female infanticide and child marriages to name a few – hence sociologists are correct when they blame various socio-economic factors like patriarchy, illiteracy, low income, Etc. as the significant contributors behind high rates of violence, particularly on females.

Deliberation – This category is what worries me the most - Paedophiles, repeat offenders, educated rapists who seem to be much more than just a weak product of a struggling society. Perfect shapeshifters, we can come in any form – from grandfather to Oscar-winning film producer, husband, boss, cousin, family doctor, teacher – anyone and everyone can be a sex predator in disguise.

Yet, little J makes me ask a challenging question;

Can we commit ourselves to lower global sexual violence rates as compared to numbers from the last decade? The phrase “Global Pandemic” tells me – we actually can!

Since nations everywhere are struggling with high rates of sexual violence&nbsp;- ordeal is the same no matter which country a victim belongs to - sex and sexuality still remains the greatest taboo of our times. It’s only rational to highlight this matter as a global crisis&nbsp;immediately.

I am confident, a new light of awareness will brighten our world, the moment the UN includes Sexual Violence on its official list of global issues alongside climate change, gender equality, migration, etc. and to ensure sexual violence is correctly perceived as a threat against any human, alert nations, and encourage victims of all genders to speak up and file complaints.

When combating sexual violence is prioritised by deeming it gender-neutral, certain governments may finally understand why biased laws like “marry your rapist” are embarrassingly irrational and a total injustice against females.

While officially uniting the world against sexual violence may catalyze change by altering geographical and gender-biased perceptions, it’s still not enough to tackle perpetrators who deliberately commit sex crimes.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
And hence, I plead more victims to speak up and report so that the world can devise ways to completely contain this ancient disease once and for all. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Something felt really weird, when my good friend J, who was 11 years old, told me that he and his grandfather were in love since 2 years, and they both kissed and had sex every night.

Something felt really weird, when my good friend J, who was 11 years old, told me that he and his grandfather were in love since 2 years, and they both kissed and had sex every night. Though same age as him, I just knew sex was something that happened between an aspirant father and a mother, also husband and a wife, provided former had a penis and latter a vagina. Turned out, I knew so little - my knowledgeable friend that day, passionately explained to me much more, straight out of his experience. And gave me my first - sex education. The old man died after a few months. And J was sad. Like really sad. But he was mourning two people - his grandfather and a lover. Talkative J no longer spoke much, his grades tumbled down. He had changed. Years went by, life took us to different places, our paths only crossed during holidays. The last time we met, I saw fresh cut marks all over his arms – like he was inflicting upon himself - when I asked him about it, he lightly replied “Kind of a tattoo I like.” Concerned, I suggested him to get a tetanus shot, but wish I knew what depression was. There were also rumours that he had started taking drugs. Exactly one month before his 17th birthday, 10 years ago, J died of an overdose. Many say it was suicide. A painful lump suffocates my throat each time I realise that my first lesson on sex, was a very disturbing, first-hand testimony of an innocent juvenile, who was tricked and raped for two years inside his own home. Perhaps this story would have been something different today, had our super conservative Indian society taught us the difference between a good touch and a bad touch. Meaningful movies, to explain that sexual violence not only happens to females but any human in general, but most importantly – sexual assaults need not necessarily have to look violent. Much later did I get to know that even if a victim doesn’t contract deadly STDs like HIV or Hepatitis B, sexual assaults of any kind is life-threatening, the mental trauma can trigger a lot of clinical conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and most survivors suffer from low self-esteem, shock and confusion, their entire lives. Yet, every single day, tens of thousands of people around the world are sexually assaulted, irrespective of their gender, age, nationality or physical strength – and even though we bluntly categorise each sexual assault as “sexual” – experts claim, the perpetrator’s motive isn’t necessarily always about sex. Activists and educators amongst us are really worried right now, and we should because the numbers of sexual violence have been climbing drastically during this pandemic, and with financial distress that’s following and will continue, it’s only going to get worse. Hence now is the best time to discuss our next steps. But first, it’s important to discard outdated stigmas and look into this matter fresh, like a modern generation from the 21st century. Solution is simple. Lesser the number of perpetrators less will be the number of assaults. But what turns a normal looking human into a sexual predator? I summarize three common reasons; Intoxicants – we don’t need explanations or examples to associate intoxication with sexual or any other type of violence in general. Intoxicants, especially alcohol has the tendency to bring out the worst in humans hence responsible consumption in a secure environment is really important. Ignorance & Social Conditioning - Something we Indians understand at its core because, while first-world nations talk about gender pay, women employment, consent, etc. – rural India (Sometimes urban) still struggles with 20th-century problems like female education, female infanticide and child marriages to name a few – hence sociologists are correct when they blame various socio-economic factors like patriarchy, illiteracy, low income, Etc. as the significant contributors behind high rates of violence, particularly on females. Deliberation – This category is what worries me the most - Paedophiles, repeat offenders, educated rapists who seem to be much more than just a weak product of a struggling society. Perfect shapeshifters, we can come in any form – from grandfather to Oscar-winning film producer, husband, boss, cousin, family doctor, teacher – anyone and everyone can be a sex predator in disguise. Yet, little J makes me ask a challenging question; Can we commit ourselves to lower global sexual violence rates as compared to numbers from the last decade? The phrase “Global Pandemic” tells me – we actually can! Since nations everywhere are struggling with high rates of sexual violence - ordeal is the same no matter which country a victim belongs to - sex and sexuality still remains the greatest taboo of our times. It’s only rational to highlight this matter as a global crisis immediately. I am confident, a new light of awareness will brighten our world, the moment the UN includes Sexual Violence on its official list of global issues alongside climate change, gender equality, migration, etc. and to ensure sexual violence is correctly perceived as a threat against any human, alert nations, and encourage victims of all genders to speak up and file complaints. When combating sexual violence is prioritised by deeming it gender-neutral, certain governments may finally understand why biased laws like “marry your rapist” are embarrassingly irrational and a total injustice against females. While officially uniting the world against sexual violence may catalyze change by altering geographical and gender-biased perceptions, it’s still not enough to tackle perpetrators who deliberately commit sex crimes. And hence, I plead more victims to speak up and report so that the world can devise ways to completely contain this ancient disease once and for all. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Combating sexual violence as a global concern

With an alarming increase in the traffic for child pornorgraphy from India, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)&nbsp;has issued a notice to social media platforms like Google, Twitter and WhatsApp highlighting its concern.

NCPCR started an independent investigation on&nbsp;Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and based on the evidence procured from the investigation, the online platforms have been given till the end of April to respond back to the notice issued to them.

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The increase in traffic has taken place during the lockdown period, according to the report.

The report by India Child Protection Fund (ICPF) titled 'Child Sexual Abuse Material in India'. The research revealed demand of obscene content in over 100 cities in India, mainly&nbsp;New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Indore' New Delhi topped the list. The overall demand for child pornography was an average of 5 million per month in 100 cities on the public web during December 2019, which has now alarmingly spiked.

"ICPF has warned that this indicates millions of paedophiles, child rapists and child pornography addicts have migrated online, making the Internet extremely unsafe for children. Without stringent action, this could result in a drastic rise in sexual crimes against children," said&nbsp;ICPF.

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In the notice sent to Twitter India, NCPCR said, "It is seen that as per your standard terms and conditions, a person of 13 years and above is eligible to open an account on Twitter. If you are allowing children at the age of 13 to open an account, the commission is of the view that you can't allow the other users to publish, propagate pornographic material, links etc. on Twitter. Another concern of the commission is that the accessibility of the pornographic material to the children through these links on Twitter."

In a similar notice to Google India, NCPCR wrote, "It is noticed during inquiry that pornographic material is accessible through the apps available on Google Play Store. By mere downloading these apps from the platform the user can access such material. This is enabling accessibility of the children to such material. There is also possibility that the CSAM is also available on these apps making it much grave issue."

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During the investigation, it was noticed that&nbsp;certain links are&nbsp;available to join 'encrypted WhatsApp groups' and the CSAM and pornographic material is easily present in these groups. These links were available on the internet, and anyone could join these encrypted WhatsApp groups and access CSAM content.

"The links to these groups were found to be propagated by various handles on Twitter. The commission is of the view that propagating links of these WhatsApp groups on Twitter handles is a serious matter,' NCPCR informed WhatsApp India in its notice.

According to the ICPF, there has been an increase in demand for phrases like 'child porn', 'sexy child', and 'teen sex videos', as noticed by online data monitoring websites.

Data from Pornhub also revealed&nbsp;that traffic from India has increased by 95 per cent between March 24 and March 26 2020, as compared to their average traffic, the ICPF claimed.

Addressing the media,&nbsp;Nivedita Ahuja, spokesperson for the ICPF said,&nbsp;"This is a blatant violation of the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court, and a violation of national policy. Pornographic websites are playing hide-and-seek with Indian law and judiciary by simply changing their website URLs."

NCPCR expressed its concern over the safety of minors in this lockdown period after the investigation revealed the chilling reality of CSAM content in the country.

With an alarming increase in the traffic for child pornorgraphy from India, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to social media platforms like Google, Twitter and WhatsApp highlighting its concern.

With an alarming increase in the traffic for child pornorgraphy from India, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to social media platforms like Google, Twitter and WhatsApp highlighting its concern. NCPCR started an independent investigation on Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), and based on the evidence procured from the investigation, the online platforms have been given till the end of April to respond back to the notice issued to them. Also read: With 1,990 new cases, India witnesses highest coronavirus cases in 24-hour period The increase in traffic has taken place during the lockdown period, according to the report. The report by India Child Protection Fund (ICPF) titled 'Child Sexual Abuse Material in India'. The research revealed demand of obscene content in over 100 cities in India, mainly New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Indore' New Delhi topped the list. The overall demand for child pornography was an average of 5 million per month in 100 cities on the public web during December 2019, which has now alarmingly spiked. "ICPF has warned that this indicates millions of paedophiles, child rapists and child pornography addicts have migrated online, making the Internet extremely unsafe for children. Without stringent action, this could result in a drastic rise in sexual crimes against children," said ICPF. Also read: Shoes replace protesters as Swiss climate activists obey virus restrictions In the notice sent to Twitter India, NCPCR said, "It is seen that as per your standard terms and conditions, a person of 13 years and above is eligible to open an account on Twitter. If you are allowing children at the age of 13 to open an account, the commission is of the view that you can't allow the other users to publish, propagate pornographic material, links etc. on Twitter. Another concern of the commission is that the accessibility of the pornographic material to the children through these links on Twitter." In a similar notice to Google India, NCPCR wrote, "It is noticed during inquiry that pornographic material is accessible through the apps available on Google Play Store. By mere downloading these apps from the platform the user can access such material. This is enabling accessibility of the children to such material. There is also possibility that the CSAM is also available on these apps making it much grave issue." Also read: India's coronavirus fight is people-driven, says PM Narendra Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat' During the investigation, it was noticed that certain links are available to join 'encrypted WhatsApp groups' and the CSAM and pornographic material is easily present in these groups. These links were available on the internet, and anyone could join these encrypted WhatsApp groups and access CSAM content. "The links to these groups were found to be propagated by various handles on Twitter. The commission is of the view that propagating links of these WhatsApp groups on Twitter handles is a serious matter,' NCPCR informed WhatsApp India in its notice. According to the ICPF, there has been an increase in demand for phrases like 'child porn', 'sexy child', and 'teen sex videos', as noticed by online data monitoring websites. Data from Pornhub also revealed that traffic from India has increased by 95 per cent between March 24 and March 26 2020, as compared to their average traffic, the ICPF claimed. Addressing the media, Nivedita Ahuja, spokesperson for the ICPF said, "This is a blatant violation of the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court, and a violation of national policy. Pornographic websites are playing hide-and-seek with Indian law and judiciary by simply changing their website URLs." NCPCR expressed its concern over the safety of minors in this lockdown period after the investigation revealed the chilling reality of CSAM content in the country.

95% increase in online traffic of child sexual abuse content in India; NCPCR issues notice

Muhimman proudly writes his name slowly, carefully, one letter at a time, grinning broadly as he finishes. He's just 11 years old and was a good student who had dreams of being a doctor.

School frightens him now. Earlier this year, a cleric at the religious school he faithfully attended in the southern Punjab town of Pakpattan took him into a washroom and tried to rape him.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tablighi-jamaats-faisalabad-head-dies-of-coronavirus-over-1100-infected-in-punjab-29324">Pakistan: Tablighi Jamaat's Faisalabad head dies of coronavirus; over 1,100 infected in Punjab</a>

Muhimman's aunt, Shazia, who wanted only her first name used, said she believes the abuse of young children is endemic in Pakistan's religious schools. She said she has known the cleric, Moeed Shah since she was a little girl and describes him as a habitual abuser who used to ask little girls to pull up their shirts.

He has done wrong with boys and also with two or three girls,&nbsp;Shazia said, recalling one girl the cleric brutalized so badly he broke her back.

An investigation by The Associated Press found dozens of police reports, known here as First Information Reports, alleging sexual harassment, rape and physical abuse by Islamic clerics teaching in madrassas or religious schools throughout Pakistan, where many of the country's poorest study.

There are more than 22,000 registered madrassas in Pakistan, teaching more than 2 million children. But there are many more religious schools that are unregistered.

They are typically started by a local cleric in a poor neighborhood, attracting students with a promise of a meal and free lodging. There is no central body of clerics that governs madrassas. Nor is there a central authority that can investigate or respond to allegations of abuse by clerics, unlike the Catholic Church, which has a clear hierarchy topped by the Vatican.

The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has promised to modernize the curriculum and make the madrassas more accountable, but there is little oversight.

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. Yet despite the dozens of reports, none have resulted in the conviction of a cleric. Religious clerics are a powerful group in Pakistan and they close ranks when allegations of abuse are brought against one of them. They have been able to hide the widespread abuse by accusing victims of blasphemy or defamation of Islam.

Families in Pakistan are often coerced into "forgiving"&nbsp;clerics, said Deputy Police Superintendent Sadiq Baloch, speaking in his office in the country's northwest, toward the border with Afghanistan.

Overcome by shame and fear that the stigma of being sexually abused will follow a child into adulthood, families choose instead to drop the charges, he said. Most often, when a family forgives the cleric the investigation ends because the charges are dropped.

"It is the hypocrisy of some of these mullahs, who wear the long beard and take on the cloak of piety only to do these horrible acts behind closed doors, while openly they criticize those who are clean shaven, who are liberal and open minded,"&nbsp;Baloch said. "In our society so many of these men, who say they are religious, are involved in these immoral activities."

Police officials say they have no idea how many children are abused by religious clerics in Pakistan. The officials said clerics often target young boys who have not yet reached puberty in part because of the restrictive nature of Pakistan's still mostly conservative society, where male interaction with girls and women is unacceptable. The clerics, for the most part, had access to and trust with boys, who are less likely to report a sexual assault.

Eight-year-old Yaous from Pakistan's remote northern Kohistan region is one of those boys.

Yaous is small for his eight years. His features are slight. In an interview with the AP, with his uncle interpreting, Yaous' tiny body shivered as he told of his ordeal.

"It was so cold. I didn't understand why he was taking my warm clothes off,"&nbsp;Yaous said, his voice was barely a whisper.

As Yaous remembered what happened, he buried his head deeper into his jacket. The cleric grabbed a stick, he said. It was small, maybe about 12 inches. The first few sharp slaps stung.

"The pain made me scream and cry, but he wouldn't stop,"&nbsp;Yaous said. The boy was held prisoner for two days, raped repeatedly until he was so sick the cleric feared he would die and took him to the hospital.

At the hospital, Dr. Faisal Manan Salarzai said Yaous screamed each time he tried to approach him. Yaous was so small and frail looking, Salarzai called him the "baby".&nbsp;"The baby was having a lot of bruises on his body"&nbsp;on his head, on his chest, on his legs, so many bruises on other parts of his body,"&nbsp;Salarzai said.

Suspicious, Salarzai ordered Yaous moved to the isolation ward where he examined him, suspecting he had been sexually assaulted. The examination revealed brutal and repetitive assaults.

The cleric was arrested and is now in jail. Police have matched his DNA samples to those found on Yaous. But despite the arrest, fellow clerics and worshippers at the Madrassah-e-Taleem-ul-Quran mosque located in a remote region of northwest Pakistan dispute the charges. They say Shamsuddin is innocent, the victim of anti-Islamic elements in the country.

Yaous' father, Abdul Qayyum, said he was ashamed he had not spoken to his son in more than three months before the attack happened.

"I want this mullah hanged. Nothing else will do," Qayyum said. 
&nbsp;

Muhimman proudly writes his name slowly, carefully, one letter at a time, grinning broadly as he finishes. He's just 11 years old and was a good student who had dreams of being a doctor.

Muhimman proudly writes his name slowly, carefully, one letter at a time, grinning broadly as he finishes. He's just 11 years old and was a good student who had dreams of being a doctor. School frightens him now. Earlier this year, a cleric at the religious school he faithfully attended in the southern Punjab town of Pakpattan took him into a washroom and tried to rape him. Also read | Pakistan: Tablighi Jamaat's Faisalabad head dies of coronavirus; over 1,100 infected in Punjab Muhimman's aunt, Shazia, who wanted only her first name used, said she believes the abuse of young children is endemic in Pakistan's religious schools. She said she has known the cleric, Moeed Shah since she was a little girl and describes him as a habitual abuser who used to ask little girls to pull up their shirts. He has done wrong with boys and also with two or three girls, Shazia said, recalling one girl the cleric brutalized so badly he broke her back. An investigation by The Associated Press found dozens of police reports, known here as First Information Reports, alleging sexual harassment, rape and physical abuse by Islamic clerics teaching in madrassas or religious schools throughout Pakistan, where many of the country's poorest study. There are more than 22,000 registered madrassas in Pakistan, teaching more than 2 million children. But there are many more religious schools that are unregistered. They are typically started by a local cleric in a poor neighborhood, attracting students with a promise of a meal and free lodging. There is no central body of clerics that governs madrassas. Nor is there a central authority that can investigate or respond to allegations of abuse by clerics, unlike the Catholic Church, which has a clear hierarchy topped by the Vatican. The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has promised to modernize the curriculum and make the madrassas more accountable, but there is little oversight. 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. Yet despite the dozens of reports, none have resulted in the conviction of a cleric. Religious clerics are a powerful group in Pakistan and they close ranks when allegations of abuse are brought against one of them. They have been able to hide the widespread abuse by accusing victims of blasphemy or defamation of Islam. Families in Pakistan are often coerced into "forgiving" clerics, said Deputy Police Superintendent Sadiq Baloch, speaking in his office in the country's northwest, toward the border with Afghanistan. Overcome by shame and fear that the stigma of being sexually abused will follow a child into adulthood, families choose instead to drop the charges, he said. Most often, when a family forgives the cleric the investigation ends because the charges are dropped. "It is the hypocrisy of some of these mullahs, who wear the long beard and take on the cloak of piety only to do these horrible acts behind closed doors, while openly they criticize those who are clean shaven, who are liberal and open minded," Baloch said. "In our society so many of these men, who say they are religious, are involved in these immoral activities." Police officials say they have no idea how many children are abused by religious clerics in Pakistan. The officials said clerics often target young boys who have not yet reached puberty in part because of the restrictive nature of Pakistan's still mostly conservative society, where male interaction with girls and women is unacceptable. The clerics, for the most part, had access to and trust with boys, who are less likely to report a sexual assault. Eight-year-old Yaous from Pakistan's remote northern Kohistan region is one of those boys. Yaous is small for his eight years. His features are slight. In an interview with the AP, with his uncle interpreting, Yaous' tiny body shivered as he told of his ordeal. "It was so cold. I didn't understand why he was taking my warm clothes off," Yaous said, his voice was barely a whisper. As Yaous remembered what happened, he buried his head deeper into his jacket. The cleric grabbed a stick, he said. It was small, maybe about 12 inches. The first few sharp slaps stung. "The pain made me scream and cry, but he wouldn't stop," Yaous said. The boy was held prisoner for two days, raped repeatedly until he was so sick the cleric feared he would die and took him to the hospital. At the hospital, Dr. Faisal Manan Salarzai said Yaous screamed each time he tried to approach him. Yaous was so small and frail looking, Salarzai called him the "baby". "The baby was having a lot of bruises on his body" on his head, on his chest, on his legs, so many bruises on other parts of his body," Salarzai said. Suspicious, Salarzai ordered Yaous moved to the isolation ward where he examined him, suspecting he had been sexually assaulted. The examination revealed brutal and repetitive assaults. The cleric was arrested and is now in jail. Police have matched his DNA samples to those found on Yaous. But despite the arrest, fellow clerics and worshippers at the Madrassah-e-Taleem-ul-Quran mosque located in a remote region of northwest Pakistan dispute the charges. They say Shamsuddin is innocent, the victim of anti-Islamic elements in the country. Yaous' father, Abdul Qayyum, said he was ashamed he had not spoken to his son in more than three months before the attack happened. "I want this mullah hanged. Nothing else will do," Qayyum said.

Child sex abuse in Pakistan's religious schools is endemic

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal challenging the Allahabad High Court order granting bail to former union minister Swami Chinmayanand in a sexual exploitation case lodged by a law student.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Naveen Sinha rejected the plea saying that the Allahabad High Court has given reasons in its order granting bail to Chinmayanand and it requires no interference.

However, the bench issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and others on a separate plea seeking transfer of the case against Chinmayanand to a court in Delhi.

The high court had on February 3 granted bail to Chinmayanand who was arrested in a case of sexual exploitation of a woman studying law at a college run by his trust at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

&nbsp;

"Both parties crossed their limits and at this stage, it is very difficult to adjudicate as to who exploited whom. In fact, both of them used each other," the high court had observed while granting bail to Chinmayanand.

Chinmayanand, whose trust runs the Shahjahanpur law college where the woman studied, was arrested on September 20 last year under section 376-C of the IPC, a charge short of rape.

The section is applied when someone in authority takes advantage of his official position to "induce or seduce" a woman to have sex with him.

In a parallel case, the woman was charged with allegedly trying to extort money from Chinmayanand. The high court had granted her bail on December 4 last year.

The Supreme Court had stepped in after the 23-year-old law student went missing for a few days in August last year after posting a video clip on social media, alleging sexual abuse.

A special investigation team of Uttar Pradesh Police, formed on the directions of the apex court, arrested Chinmayanand about a month later.

The SIT also arrested the student after a complaint that she and her friends had tried to extort Rs five crore from Chinmayanand, threatening to make public videos showing her giving massages to him.

&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal challenging the Allahabad High Court order granting bail to former union minister Swami Chinmayanand in a sexual exploitation case lodged by a law student.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal challenging the Allahabad High Court order granting bail to former union minister Swami Chinmayanand in a sexual exploitation case lodged by a law student. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Naveen Sinha rejected the plea saying that the Allahabad High Court has given reasons in its order granting bail to Chinmayanand and it requires no interference. However, the bench issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and others on a separate plea seeking transfer of the case against Chinmayanand to a court in Delhi. The high court had on February 3 granted bail to Chinmayanand who was arrested in a case of sexual exploitation of a woman studying law at a college run by his trust at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. "Both parties crossed their limits and at this stage, it is very difficult to adjudicate as to who exploited whom. In fact, both of them used each other," the high court had observed while granting bail to Chinmayanand. Chinmayanand, whose trust runs the Shahjahanpur law college where the woman studied, was arrested on September 20 last year under section 376-C of the IPC, a charge short of rape. The section is applied when someone in authority takes advantage of his official position to "induce or seduce" a woman to have sex with him. In a parallel case, the woman was charged with allegedly trying to extort money from Chinmayanand. The high court had granted her bail on December 4 last year. The Supreme Court had stepped in after the 23-year-old law student went missing for a few days in August last year after posting a video clip on social media, alleging sexual abuse. A special investigation team of Uttar Pradesh Police, formed on the directions of the apex court, arrested Chinmayanand about a month later. The SIT also arrested the student after a complaint that she and her friends had tried to extort Rs five crore from Chinmayanand, threatening to make public videos showing her giving massages to him.

SC dismisses plea challenging bail to Swami Chinmayanand in sexual exploitation case

Mumbai Police on Wednesday allegedly booked choreographer and director Ganesh Acharya on charges of sexually harassing a 33-year-old woman choreographer. 
 
Earlier last week the woman filed a complaint in regard to the Maharashtra State Women's Commission (MHSWC) and Amboli Police Station.MHSWC later took cognisance of the complaint and appointed a councillor to look into the case. 
 
The complainant alleged that Acharya, who is also the General Secretary of Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association (IFTCA), forced her to watch adult videos and also deprived her of work. 
 
The complainant who was a choreographer at the IFTCA also alleged that since she did not agree to Acharya's terms, he sought revenge from her and got her IFTCA membership suspended and further issued a letter to choreographers instructing them not to work with her. 
 
The woman further claimed that she was attacked by Acharya's teammates on his instructions when she reached a meeting of IFTCA to put forward her points following her suspension.&nbsp;

Mumbai Police on Wednesday allegedly booked choreographer and director Ganesh Acharya on charges of sexually harassing a 33-year-old woman choreographer. Earlier last week the woman filed a complaint in regard to the Maharashtra State Women's Commission (MHSWC) and Amboli Police Station.

Mumbai Police on Wednesday allegedly booked choreographer and director Ganesh Acharya on charges of sexually harassing a 33-year-old woman choreographer. Earlier last week the woman filed a complaint in regard to the Maharashtra State Women's Commission (MHSWC) and Amboli Police Station.MHSWC later took cognisance of the complaint and appointed a councillor to look into the case. The complainant alleged that Acharya, who is also the General Secretary of Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association (IFTCA), forced her to watch adult videos and also deprived her of work. The complainant who was a choreographer at the IFTCA also alleged that since she did not agree to Acharya's terms, he sought revenge from her and got her IFTCA membership suspended and further issued a letter to choreographers instructing them not to work with her. The woman further claimed that she was attacked by Acharya's teammates on his instructions when she reached a meeting of IFTCA to put forward her points following her suspension.

Ganesh Acharya booked by Mumbai Police on sexual harassment charges

Lenin Moreno, the President of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ecuador-resumes-oil-exports-curbed-by-protests-257143">Ecuador</a> recently apologised for his earlier comments about victims of sexual assault.

He had said that women complain about harassment only when the perpetrators are ''ugly''.

During a speech on Friday in the port city of Guayaquil, Moreno claimed that men faced denouncement for harassment, and claimed that ''at times, with harassment, they torment ugly people''.

"That is to say, that the harassment is when it comes from an ugly person," he added. "But if the person looks good according to the standards, they tend not to think necessarily that it is harassment."

The words of the president infuriated people on social media and invited scorn from women's right activists.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-to-probe-rights-abuses-in-ecuador-after-deadly-protests-256780">UN to probe rights abuses in Ecuador after deadly protests</a>

"We, men, at permanently risk of the danger of being accused of harassment. Harassment. And I see that women, many times, denounce harassment, that's true, and it's good that they do so. But at times, with harassment, they torment ugly people. That is to say, that the harassment is when it comes from an ugly person. But if the person looks good according to the standards, they tend not to think necessarily that it is harassment. And at my age, it would not be harassment, but sexual harassment", the president said.

The congresswoman of the ruling party, Soleda Buendía alluded to the comment on Twitter and said that ''Moreno justifies and reproduces violence against women. You can't joke about harassment, rape, femicide, trafficking, sexual exploitation.... Nothing justifies expressions that revictimise us!

The Women for Change, an equal rights organisation added to the conversation. ''It is not that everything now looks to women like harassment, it is that to machos like you it has never seemed bad to harass!'', they tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
En mi comentario sobre el acoso, no pretendí minimizar un asunto tan grave como la violencia o los abusos. Me disculpo si se entendió así. ¡Rechazo la violencia contra la mujer en todas sus formas!
— Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lenin/status/1223419716926046209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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After facing backlash online, Moreno seeked an apology on Twitter and wrote, ''In my comment about harassment, I did not intend to minimize such a grave topic as violence or abuses. I apologise if it was understood that way. I reject violence against women in all forms!''

(With inputs from Reuters)

Lenin Moreno, the President of Ecuador recently apologised for his earlier comments about victims of sexual assault. He had said that women complain about harassment only when the perpetrators are ''ugly''.

Lenin Moreno, the President of Ecuador recently apologised for his earlier comments about victims of sexual assault. He had said that women complain about harassment only when the perpetrators are ''ugly''. During a speech on Friday in the port city of Guayaquil, Moreno claimed that men faced denouncement for harassment, and claimed that ''at times, with harassment, they torment ugly people''. "That is to say, that the harassment is when it comes from an ugly person," he added. "But if the person looks good according to the standards, they tend not to think necessarily that it is harassment." The words of the president infuriated people on social media and invited scorn from women's right activists. Also read: UN to probe rights abuses in Ecuador after deadly protests "We, men, at permanently risk of the danger of being accused of harassment. Harassment. And I see that women, many times, denounce harassment, that's true, and it's good that they do so. But at times, with harassment, they torment ugly people. That is to say, that the harassment is when it comes from an ugly person. But if the person looks good according to the standards, they tend not to think necessarily that it is harassment. And at my age, it would not be harassment, but sexual harassment", the president said. The congresswoman of the ruling party, Soleda Buendía alluded to the comment on Twitter and said that ''Moreno justifies and reproduces violence against women. You can't joke about harassment, rape, femicide, trafficking, sexual exploitation.... Nothing justifies expressions that revictimise us! The Women for Change, an equal rights organisation added to the conversation. ''It is not that everything now looks to women like harassment, it is that to machos like you it has never seemed bad to harass!'', they tweeted. En mi comentario sobre el acoso, no pretendí minimizar un asunto tan grave como la violencia o los abusos. Me disculpo si se entendió así. ¡Rechazo la violencia contra la mujer en todas sus formas! — Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) February 1, 2020 × After facing backlash online, Moreno seeked an apology on Twitter and wrote, ''In my comment about harassment, I did not intend to minimize such a grave topic as violence or abuses. I apologise if it was understood that way. I reject violence against women in all forms!'' (With inputs from Reuters)

Ecuador president suggests women report abuse only from 'ugly' men; apologises after backlash

USA Gymnastics has offered to $215 million to the athletes who claim to have been sexually abused by their national team doctor Lawrence G. Nasser also known as Larry Nasser.&nbsp;

The national gymnastics team's governing body has been sued by more than 300 plaintiffs, which also incudes Olympics gymnasts as they failed to protect the athletes from Dr Nasser.&nbsp;

Larry Nasser was sentenced to imprisonment between 40 to 125 years in 2018 for abusing girls in the gymnastics facility under the guise of medical treatment and for the possession of child pornography in Michigan.&nbsp;

USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018. At that time they were facing 100 lawsuits which represented more than 350 athletes in various courts across the country.&nbsp;

Bankruptcy law requires businesses to provide an exit plan within 18 months, and the exit plan is another hurdle in this lengthy process. USA Gymnastics president Li Li Leung who joined several months after filing bankruptcy, in March 2019, told the press that the organization wants to work toward a true consensual settlement with survivors.

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According to Leung, the insurance carriers have allowed $215 million at this point. US Olympic and Paralympic committee have not contributed anything for the proposed settlement.&nbsp;

Nasser worked at Michigan State University for a long time. In 2018, the university decided to pay $500 million to more than 300 women/girls who said that they were assaulted by Nasser.&nbsp;

The organization hopes to devise an exit plan before commencement of the Tokyo Olympics which is scheduled to take place in July this year.&nbsp;

There is a two-step voting process for claimants to determine whether to accept the offer. At least half the claimants who vote have to approve the agreement, and the majority needs to represent at least two-thirds of the monetary value of the settlement. The claimants could also vote down the measure and continue to pursue their lawsuits to collect any judgments from insurance policies available to USA Gymnastics or they could not vote on it at all and discuss how to go forward.

USA Gymnastics has offered to $215 million to the athletes who claim to have been sexually abused by their national team doctor Lawrence G. Nasser also known as Larry Nasser.

USA Gymnastics has offered to $215 million to the athletes who claim to have been sexually abused by their national team doctor Lawrence G. Nasser also known as Larry Nasser. The national gymnastics team's governing body has been sued by more than 300 plaintiffs, which also incudes Olympics gymnasts as they failed to protect the athletes from Dr Nasser. Larry Nasser was sentenced to imprisonment between 40 to 125 years in 2018 for abusing girls in the gymnastics facility under the guise of medical treatment and for the possession of child pornography in Michigan. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018. At that time they were facing 100 lawsuits which represented more than 350 athletes in various courts across the country. Bankruptcy law requires businesses to provide an exit plan within 18 months, and the exit plan is another hurdle in this lengthy process. USA Gymnastics president Li Li Leung who joined several months after filing bankruptcy, in March 2019, told the press that the organization wants to work toward a true consensual settlement with survivors. × According to Leung, the insurance carriers have allowed $215 million at this point. US Olympic and Paralympic committee have not contributed anything for the proposed settlement. Nasser worked at Michigan State University for a long time. In 2018, the university decided to pay $500 million to more than 300 women/girls who said that they were assaulted by Nasser. The organization hopes to devise an exit plan before commencement of the Tokyo Olympics which is scheduled to take place in July this year. There is a two-step voting process for claimants to determine whether to accept the offer. At least half the claimants who vote have to approve the agreement, and the majority needs to represent at least two-thirds of the monetary value of the settlement. The claimants could also vote down the measure and continue to pursue their lawsuits to collect any judgments from insurance policies available to USA Gymnastics or they could not vote on it at all and discuss how to go forward.

USA Gymnastics offers $215 million to Larry Nasser's survivors

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