The Law Ministry has endorsed a proposal of the Women and Child Development Ministry to remove the time limit for reporting child sexual abuse, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said Tuesday.

Maneka Gandhi had, on October 3, written to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asking him to remove the time limit for reporting child sexual abuse and allow people to complain even "10-15 years later".

She told reporters that the Law Ministry has agreed to their proposal and endorses removal of time limit for reporting such crimes.

The further course would be soon decided, a senior WCD official said.

Under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), any offence, including child abuse, which can lead to a prison term of three years has to be reported within three years of the incident.

According to Section 473 of the CrPC, a court may take cognisance of an older case if it is in the "interest of justice" or if the "delay has been properly explained". However, victims of child sexual abuse often face problems in registering an FIR once they are 18 years of age or more.

In her letter, Maneka Gandhi had urged the Law Minister that people should be allowed to lodge their complaint even "10-15 years later".

"It doesn't matter how much later. If you're going to complain, the avenue is open," she had earlier said.

"We are of the view that cases of child sexual abuse can be reported by the victim at any time and law enforcement agencies would be required to take appropriate actions on the complaint of such victim," she said in the letter.

Many children, the minister said, are unable to report such crimes as the perpetrator in most cases is either a family member, a relative or a closely known person.

"Studies have also shown that the child continues to carry the trauma of sexual abuse till very late in life," Maneka Gandhi wrote to Mr Prasad.

She had earlier proposed that child sexual abuse victims be allowed to register complaints until they are 30.

The Law Ministry has endorsed a proposal of the Women and Child Development Ministry to remove the time limit for reporting child sexual abuse, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said Tuesday.

The Law Ministry has endorsed a proposal of the Women and Child Development Ministry to remove the time limit for reporting child sexual abuse, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi said Tuesday. Maneka Gandhi had, on October 3, written to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asking him to remove the time limit for reporting child sexual abuse and allow people to complain even "10-15 years later". She told reporters that the Law Ministry has agreed to their proposal and endorses removal of time limit for reporting such crimes. The further course would be soon decided, a senior WCD official said. Under Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), any offence, including child abuse, which can lead to a prison term of three years has to be reported within three years of the incident. According to Section 473 of the CrPC, a court may take cognisance of an older case if it is in the "interest of justice" or if the "delay has been properly explained". However, victims of child sexual abuse often face problems in registering an FIR once they are 18 years of age or more. In her letter, Maneka Gandhi had urged the Law Minister that people should be allowed to lodge their complaint even "10-15 years later". "It doesn't matter how much later. If you're going to complain, the avenue is open," she had earlier said. "We are of the view that cases of child sexual abuse can be reported by the victim at any time and law enforcement agencies would be required to take appropriate actions on the complaint of such victim," she said in the letter. Many children, the minister said, are unable to report such crimes as the perpetrator in most cases is either a family member, a relative or a closely known person. "Studies have also shown that the child continues to carry the trauma of sexual abuse till very late in life," Maneka Gandhi wrote to Mr Prasad. She had earlier proposed that child sexual abuse victims be allowed to register complaints until they are 30.

Law Ministry endorses removal of time limit to report child sexual abuse: Maneka Gandhi

Shortly after returning to India, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Sunday released a detailed statement over sexual harassment allegations against him describing them as "false and fabricated." According to reports, the minister is set to take legal action against accusations made against him.

In his statement, Akbar asked why such allegations were levelled against him just before the general elections?

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Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051416803317026816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill," he told the media.&nbsp;

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The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a> (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/dRE0qXMiCW">pic.twitter.com/dRE0qXMiCW</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051415837289123840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He further added that he could not respond to the "false and fabricated" allegations as he was "on an official tour abroad."

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a> to take legal action against accusations made against him of sexual assault, releases detailed statement. <a href="https://t.co/HZcJJubNIM">pic.twitter.com/HZcJJubNIM</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051415981728440320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action," Akbar noted.&nbsp;

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Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a> (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/AVrkfSVA87">pic.twitter.com/AVrkfSVA87</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051416327431344128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action," he stated.&nbsp;

Here is what Akbar stated further:

Priya Ramani began this campaign a year ago with a magazine article. She did not, however, name me as she knew it was an incorrect story. When asked recently why she had not named me, she replied, in a tweet, “Never named him because he didn't 'do' anything."

If I didn't do anything, where and what is the story? There's no story. But a sea of innuendo, speculation and abusive diatribe has been built around something that never happened. Some are total, unsubstantiated hearsay; others confirm, on the record, that I didn’t do anything

Shutapa Paul states, “The man never laid a hand on me.” Shuma Raha says, “I must clarify, however, that he didn’t actually ‘do’ anything”. One woman, Anju Bharti, went to the absurd extent of claiming I was partying in a swimming pool. I do not know how to swim

Another accusation was made repeatedly by Ms Ghazala Wahab, in an effort to damage my reputation. She claimed that she had been molested in office, 21 years ago. This &nbsp;is 16 years before I entered public life, and when I was in media

The only office where I worked with Ghazala Wahab was that of The Asian Age. A part of the editorial team then worked out of a small hall. At the time concerned, I had a very tiny cubicle, patched together by plywood and glass. Others had tables and chairs two feet away

It is utterly bizarre to believe that anything could have happened in that tiny space, and, moreover, that no one else in the vicinity would come to know, in the midst of a working day. These allegations are false, motivated and baseless.

Pertinent to remember Ms Ramani and Ms Wahab kept working with me even after these alleged incidents; clearly establishes they had no apprehension and discomfort. The reason why they remained silent for decades is very apparent, as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything.

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Pertinent to remember Ms Ramani&amp;Ms Wahab kept working with me even after these alleged incidents; clearly establishes they had no apprehension&amp;discomfort. Reason why they remained silent for decades is very apparent,as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051420314662592514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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There has been a growing clamour for his sacking after at least eight women have accused him of sexual assault and harassment from when he was a newspaper editor.&nbsp;

The latest charge came on Friday from the US-based journalist Majlie de Puy Kamp who said Akbar forcibly kissed her — she had he put his tongue into her mouth — on her last day in office when she was interning with the Asian Age.

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Shutapa Paul states, “The man never laid a hand on me.”Shuma Raha says, “I must clarify, however, that he didn’t actually ‘do’ anything”.One woman, Anju Bharti, went to the absurd extent of claiming I was partying in a swimming pool. I do not know how to swim: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MJAkbar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MJAkbar</a> (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/Cl0etymt6P">pic.twitter.com/Cl0etymt6P</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1051419418008391680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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PTI quoted party sources earlier as saying <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/minister-mj-akbar-to-return-today-pm-modi-to-take-final-call-on-his-continuance-sources-171362">Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take the final call on Akbar's continuance</a> as junior foreign minister.

Shortly after returning to India, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Sunday released a detailed statement over sexual harassment allegations against him describing them as "false and fabricated.

Shortly after returning to India, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Sunday released a detailed statement over sexual harassment allegations against him describing them as "false and fabricated." According to reports, the minister is set to take legal action against accusations made against him. In his statement, Akbar asked why such allegations were levelled against him just before the general elections? Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action: #MJAkbar — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × "Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill," he told the media. The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad: #MJAkbar (file pic) pic.twitter.com/dRE0qXMiCW — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × He further added that he could not respond to the "false and fabricated" allegations as he was "on an official tour abroad." #MJAkbar to take legal action against accusations made against him of sexual assault, releases detailed statement. pic.twitter.com/HZcJJubNIM — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × "Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action," Akbar noted. Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action: #MJAkbar (file pic) pic.twitter.com/AVrkfSVA87 — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × "Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action," he stated. Here is what Akbar stated further: Priya Ramani began this campaign a year ago with a magazine article. She did not, however, name me as she knew it was an incorrect story. When asked recently why she had not named me, she replied, in a tweet, “Never named him because he didn't 'do' anything." If I didn't do anything, where and what is the story? There's no story. But a sea of innuendo, speculation and abusive diatribe has been built around something that never happened. Some are total, unsubstantiated hearsay; others confirm, on the record, that I didn’t do anything Shutapa Paul states, “The man never laid a hand on me.” Shuma Raha says, “I must clarify, however, that he didn’t actually ‘do’ anything”. One woman, Anju Bharti, went to the absurd extent of claiming I was partying in a swimming pool. I do not know how to swim Another accusation was made repeatedly by Ms Ghazala Wahab, in an effort to damage my reputation. She claimed that she had been molested in office, 21 years ago. This is 16 years before I entered public life, and when I was in media The only office where I worked with Ghazala Wahab was that of The Asian Age. A part of the editorial team then worked out of a small hall. At the time concerned, I had a very tiny cubicle, patched together by plywood and glass. Others had tables and chairs two feet away It is utterly bizarre to believe that anything could have happened in that tiny space, and, moreover, that no one else in the vicinity would come to know, in the midst of a working day. These allegations are false, motivated and baseless. Pertinent to remember Ms Ramani and Ms Wahab kept working with me even after these alleged incidents; clearly establishes they had no apprehension and discomfort. The reason why they remained silent for decades is very apparent, as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything. Pertinent to remember Ms Ramani&Ms Wahab kept working with me even after these alleged incidents; clearly establishes they had no apprehension&discomfort. Reason why they remained silent for decades is very apparent,as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything: #MJAkbar — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × There has been a growing clamour for his sacking after at least eight women have accused him of sexual assault and harassment from when he was a newspaper editor. The latest charge came on Friday from the US-based journalist Majlie de Puy Kamp who said Akbar forcibly kissed her — she had he put his tongue into her mouth — on her last day in office when she was interning with the Asian Age. Shutapa Paul states, “The man never laid a hand on me.”Shuma Raha says, “I must clarify, however, that he didn’t actually ‘do’ anything”.One woman, Anju Bharti, went to the absurd extent of claiming I was partying in a swimming pool. I do not know how to swim: #MJAkbar (file pic) pic.twitter.com/Cl0etymt6P — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × PTI quoted party sources earlier as saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take the final call on Akbar's continuance as junior foreign minister.

'Why this storm just before general elections?' MJ Akbar issues statement, moves for legal action

There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment and exploitation against journalists and other members of the media, a spokesperson for President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa said.&nbsp;

The remarks came in response to a question on the explosion of the MeToo movement in India, where several women from the field of media, entertainment and journalism have come forward and shared personal stories of being sexually harassed and assaulted by their male bosses, colleagues and even prominent political leaders and artists.&nbsp;

"The President of the General Assembly has made very clear that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual violence and since we are talking about members of the press and journalists, there is also zero tolerance for journalists to be harassed when they are doing their job," Espinosa's spokesperson Monica Grayley said at her daily press briefing here Thursday.&nbsp;

Women from a wide spectrum of fields are taking to social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to name and shame those who abused or harmed them and demanding justice and stern action.&nbsp;

Grayley said while she cannot comment on specific cases as she was not aware of them, she said the General Assembly President is "very firm" on her stance on zero tolerance for sexual abuse.&nbsp;

"When you take a stance against sexual violence, sexual harassment of any kind and harassment to members of the press, one is not talking about only a specific area of the world. You are talking about universal terms. It is zero tolerance, zero is zero, it is not zero minus one or zero plus one. It is not acceptable," she said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment and exploitation against journalists and other members of the media, a spokesperson for President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa said.

There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment and exploitation against journalists and other members of the media, a spokesperson for President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa said. The remarks came in response to a question on the explosion of the MeToo movement in India, where several women from the field of media, entertainment and journalism have come forward and shared personal stories of being sexually harassed and assaulted by their male bosses, colleagues and even prominent political leaders and artists. "The President of the General Assembly has made very clear that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual violence and since we are talking about members of the press and journalists, there is also zero tolerance for journalists to be harassed when they are doing their job," Espinosa's spokesperson Monica Grayley said at her daily press briefing here Thursday. Women from a wide spectrum of fields are taking to social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to name and shame those who abused or harmed them and demanding justice and stern action. Grayley said while she cannot comment on specific cases as she was not aware of them, she said the General Assembly President is "very firm" on her stance on zero tolerance for sexual abuse. "When you take a stance against sexual violence, sexual harassment of any kind and harassment to members of the press, one is not talking about only a specific area of the world. You are talking about universal terms. It is zero tolerance, zero is zero, it is not zero minus one or zero plus one. It is not acceptable," she said.

There should be zero tolerance for sexual harassment: Spokesperson for UNGA President on #MeToo in India

Bollywood’s #MeToo movement grows stronger by the day as more women come out to speak about their stories of abuse and harassment at the hands of some men in power. In a turn of events now, ‘Queen’ director Vikas Bahl who was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/two-more-women-accuse-queen-director-vikas-bahl-of-sexually-harassing-them-170271">accused of sexual harassment</a> by at least three women and called out by industry colleagues, especially former partners at Phantom, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane has sued them both.&nbsp;

Vikas has issued legal notices to both Anurag and Vikramaditya separately. He seeks withdrawal of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/anurag-kashyap-knew-about-vikas-bahls-sexual-abuse-allegations-says-named-shamed-him-privately-170074"> “contradictory” statements</a> made by them both on social media regarding the victim of alleged 2015 assault.

Vikas accused Anurag and Vikramaditya of being “opportunists” for using the allegations to defame him.

In two separate notices issued by Vikas on email, he accused them of orchestrating the whole campaign against him. He also wrote that they used this opportunity to disband Phantom Films, making him look responsible for the production house’s failure.&nbsp;

The notice was issued by his advocate Shamsher Garud of Jayakar and Partners that alleges that Anurag bribed another employee of the production house to make similar allegations against Vikas. The notice states: “This makes us wonder whether the alleged incident [of sexual assault] also has any authenticity, given that the alleged victim was, in fact, working as your own employee.”

It adds: “You are neither a witness nor the alleged victim, but instead an opportunist seeking to derive benefit based on unsubstantiated information. The alleged incident has not been established in any court of law and that you have exploited the media to propagate your own personal vendetta.”

Vikas states in the notice that the trio had been discussing to disband Phantom Films owing to creative and professional differences. The notice says, “However, putting [the blame of the production house shutting down] solely on Bahl is in bad taste.”

The director in its notice to both threatens to not stop at this but file civil and/or criminal defamation against Anurag and Vikramaditya if the two do not withdraw their “messages [on social media] and tender an unconditional apology to Bahl.”

Bollywood’s #MeToo movement grows stronger by the day as more women come out to speak about their stories of abuse and harassment at the hands of some men in power.

Bollywood’s #MeToo movement grows stronger by the day as more women come out to speak about their stories of abuse and harassment at the hands of some men in power. In a turn of events now, ‘Queen’ director Vikas Bahl who was accused of sexual harassment by at least three women and called out by industry colleagues, especially former partners at Phantom, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane has sued them both. Vikas has issued legal notices to both Anurag and Vikramaditya separately. He seeks withdrawal of “contradictory” statements made by them both on social media regarding the victim of alleged 2015 assault. Vikas accused Anurag and Vikramaditya of being “opportunists” for using the allegations to defame him. In two separate notices issued by Vikas on email, he accused them of orchestrating the whole campaign against him. He also wrote that they used this opportunity to disband Phantom Films, making him look responsible for the production house’s failure. The notice was issued by his advocate Shamsher Garud of Jayakar and Partners that alleges that Anurag bribed another employee of the production house to make similar allegations against Vikas. The notice states: “This makes us wonder whether the alleged incident [of sexual assault] also has any authenticity, given that the alleged victim was, in fact, working as your own employee.” It adds: “You are neither a witness nor the alleged victim, but instead an opportunist seeking to derive benefit based on unsubstantiated information. The alleged incident has not been established in any court of law and that you have exploited the media to propagate your own personal vendetta.” Vikas states in the notice that the trio had been discussing to disband Phantom Films owing to creative and professional differences. The notice says, “However, putting [the blame of the production house shutting down] solely on Bahl is in bad taste.” The director in its notice to both threatens to not stop at this but file civil and/or criminal defamation against Anurag and Vikramaditya if the two do not withdraw their “messages [on social media] and tender an unconditional apology to Bahl.”

#MeToo: Vikas Bahl sues Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane; calls them 'opportunists'

Me Too movement gathers pace in India

The president of a top California university resigned Friday in the wake of a growing scandal over a former campus gynaecologist who stands accused of sexually abusing thousands of students over a period of decades.

CL&nbspMax Nikias' departure was announced in a letter by the board of trustees at the University of Southern California was facing multiple new lawsuits Friday over its alleged failure to act against the physician despite repeated complaints.

The women allege that George Tyndall, who left the university last year, used his position to abuse them repeatedly, conducting improper examinations and groping their breasts.

Rick J. Caruso, the board's chairman, wrote that it had "agreed to begin an orderly transition and commence the process of selecting a new president."

"We have heard the message that something is broken and that urgent and profound actions are needed," he said.

"We will rebuild our culture to reflect an environment in which safety and transparency are of paramount importance, and to institute systemic change that will prevent this from occurring in the future."

The decision followed a call by two hundred professors demanding Nikias' resignation.

Two class actions meanwhile were submitted at the Los Angeles Superior Court Friday "on behalf of thousands of female students" who attended the school in Los Angeles and were allegedly sexually abused and illicitly photographed by Tyndall.

The complaints were filed by a team including Howard Janet, the lawyer who spearheaded a $190-million suit in 2014 against Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital and its physician Nikita Levy.

That settlement was reached on behalf of approximately 8,500 women whom Levy, who subsequently committed suicide, recorded using a camera hidden in a pen.

"As with the Hopkins case, this case centers on allegations of grossly improper pelvic exams that involved improper probing, at times without gloves, sexually charged remarks and illicit photographing of genitalia," said Janet.

"It appears that Dr. Tyndall, like Dr. Levy at Hopkins, violated the sacred trust between physicians and patients -– specifically the trust between male OB/GYNs and patients –- in a methodical and disturbing fashion by preying on young, unsuspecting women."

The case exploded last week after the Los Angeles Times published accounts from several current and former employees regarding Tyndall's behavior toward his mostly adolescent patients.

Widening scandal

The lawsuits allege that USC received repeated complaints from students and co-workers, but failed to take appropriate action.

Meanwhile, six former students were added to an existing lawsuit alleging that the university received complaints dating back to the early 1990s, but deliberately concealed Tyndall's abuse.

The group, described as "Jane Does 5-10," accuses USC of paying the doctor a substantial financial settlement to resign in an attempted cover-up following an internal investigation in 2016.

He eventually left in 2017 after USC concluded that he had violated anti-harassment policy by making repeated racially discriminatory and sexually inappropriate remarks to patients.

Since last week, more than 300 students have contacted a university hotline established to receive complaints and information about Tyndall.

"Sadly, the university and its board of trustees have not taken the necessary steps to determine who was responsible and hold them accountable," said John Manly, a lawyer for Jane Does 5-10.

Manly compared the Tyndall case to that against disgraced Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, who was accused of molesting more than 300 women and girls and sentenced in January to up to 175 years.

Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly accuse Nassar, reminded her Twitter followers of her impact statement, which asked: "This is what it looks like when leaders don't do their job?"

"Well, this is what it looks like, again," tweeted Denhollander. "Standing with the survivors of USC. Professors, students, leaders, do what is RIGHT, IMMEDIATELY. Don't be the next MSU."

Friday's legal action follows the launch of four lawsuits submitted on May 21 over Tyndall's conduct.

The president of a top California university resigned Friday in the wake of a growing scandal over a former campus gynaecologist who stands accused of sexually abusing thousands of students over a period of decades

The president of a top California university resigned Friday in the wake of a growing scandal over a former campus gynaecologist who stands accused of sexually abusing thousands of students over a period of decades. CL&nbspMax Nikias' departure was announced in a letter by the board of trustees at the University of Southern California was facing multiple new lawsuits Friday over its alleged failure to act against the physician despite repeated complaints. The women allege that George Tyndall, who left the university last year, used his position to abuse them repeatedly, conducting improper examinations and groping their breasts. Rick J. Caruso, the board's chairman, wrote that it had "agreed to begin an orderly transition and commence the process of selecting a new president." "We have heard the message that something is broken and that urgent and profound actions are needed," he said. "We will rebuild our culture to reflect an environment in which safety and transparency are of paramount importance, and to institute systemic change that will prevent this from occurring in the future." The decision followed a call by two hundred professors demanding Nikias' resignation. Two class actions meanwhile were submitted at the Los Angeles Superior Court Friday "on behalf of thousands of female students" who attended the school in Los Angeles and were allegedly sexually abused and illicitly photographed by Tyndall. The complaints were filed by a team including Howard Janet, the lawyer who spearheaded a $190-million suit in 2014 against Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital and its physician Nikita Levy. That settlement was reached on behalf of approximately 8,500 women whom Levy, who subsequently committed suicide, recorded using a camera hidden in a pen. "As with the Hopkins case, this case centers on allegations of grossly improper pelvic exams that involved improper probing, at times without gloves, sexually charged remarks and illicit photographing of genitalia," said Janet. "It appears that Dr. Tyndall, like Dr. Levy at Hopkins, violated the sacred trust between physicians and patients -– specifically the trust between male OB/GYNs and patients –- in a methodical and disturbing fashion by preying on young, unsuspecting women." The case exploded last week after the Los Angeles Times published accounts from several current and former employees regarding Tyndall's behavior toward his mostly adolescent patients. Widening scandal The lawsuits allege that USC received repeated complaints from students and co-workers, but failed to take appropriate action. Meanwhile, six former students were added to an existing lawsuit alleging that the university received complaints dating back to the early 1990s, but deliberately concealed Tyndall's abuse. The group, described as "Jane Does 5-10," accuses USC of paying the doctor a substantial financial settlement to resign in an attempted cover-up following an internal investigation in 2016. He eventually left in 2017 after USC concluded that he had violated anti-harassment policy by making repeated racially discriminatory and sexually inappropriate remarks to patients. Since last week, more than 300 students have contacted a university hotline established to receive complaints and information about Tyndall. "Sadly, the university and its board of trustees have not taken the necessary steps to determine who was responsible and hold them accountable," said John Manly, a lawyer for Jane Does 5-10. Manly compared the Tyndall case to that against disgraced Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, who was accused of molesting more than 300 women and girls and sentenced in January to up to 175 years. Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly accuse Nassar, reminded her Twitter followers of her impact statement, which asked: "This is what it looks like when leaders don't do their job?" "Well, this is what it looks like, again," tweeted Denhollander. "Standing with the survivors of USC. Professors, students, leaders, do what is RIGHT, IMMEDIATELY. Don't be the next MSU." Friday's legal action follows the launch of four lawsuits submitted on May 21 over Tyndall's conduct.

California university president resigns as abuse scandal widens

In a shocking update from the world of entertainment, Hollywood star Morgan Freeman who is known for giving stellar performances in every movie he does -- has been accused of inappropriate behaviour and harassment by multiple women who have worked with him.&nbsp;

In a report published by CNN, one woman claimed that Freeman while they were filming for the movie “Going In Style”, physically molested her as he "kept trying to lift up [my] skirt and asking if [I] was wearing underwear." She claimed that "Alan [Arkin] made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn't know what to say."

Another woman detailed her embarrassing moment in the report while working with Morgan as he leered at her top to down in the presence of many people. She said, "If I ever passed him he would stare at me in an awkward way, would look me up and down, sometimes stopping and just staring. "One time he stopped, looked me up and down as I walked into a room of people, and everyone burst out laughing. And I literally froze, feeling very uncomfortable, and one of the people in the office said 'Don't worry, that's just Morgan.'"

At least eight women went on to detail their sexual harassment experiences in the report as all of them worked with Morgan in one film or another.&nbsp;

As the news picked up momentum, Morgan issued a statement responding to the accusations. He said, "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy. I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected — that was never my intent."

Morgan is one of America's best-known actors, starring in 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy"&nbsp;and 1994's "The Shawshank Redemption". He portrayed Nelson Mandela in "Invictus", the president of the United States in "Deep Impact"&nbsp;and God in "Bruce Almighty"&nbsp;-- in all three he set a benchmark for acting.&nbsp;

We are as shocked as you are, guys!

It was reported on Thursday that eight women accused Morgan Freeman of inappropriate behaviour and harassment.

In a shocking update from the world of entertainment, Hollywood star Morgan Freeman who is known for giving stellar performances in every movie he does -- has been accused of inappropriate behaviour and harassment by multiple women who have worked with him. In a report published by CNN, one woman claimed that Freeman while they were filming for the movie “Going In Style”, physically molested her as he "kept trying to lift up [my] skirt and asking if [I] was wearing underwear." She claimed that "Alan [Arkin] made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn't know what to say." Another woman detailed her embarrassing moment in the report while working with Morgan as he leered at her top to down in the presence of many people. She said, "If I ever passed him he would stare at me in an awkward way, would look me up and down, sometimes stopping and just staring. "One time he stopped, looked me up and down as I walked into a room of people, and everyone burst out laughing. And I literally froze, feeling very uncomfortable, and one of the people in the office said 'Don't worry, that's just Morgan.'" At least eight women went on to detail their sexual harassment experiences in the report as all of them worked with Morgan in one film or another. As the news picked up momentum, Morgan issued a statement responding to the accusations. He said, "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy. I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected — that was never my intent." Morgan is one of America's best-known actors, starring in 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy" and 1994's "The Shawshank Redemption". He portrayed Nelson Mandela in "Invictus", the president of the United States in "Deep Impact" and God in "Bruce Almighty" -- in all three he set a benchmark for acting. We are as shocked as you are, guys!

Morgan Freeman apologises as multiple women accuse him of sexual harassment

Sexual abuse victims of disgraced gymnastics Dr&nbspLarry Nassar and Michigan State University have reached a tentative settlement in which the university will pay the victims $500 million, attorneys for both sides said on Wednesday.

The deal calls for the school to pay $425 million to the 332 victims represented in current litigation, with another $75 million set aside in a trust fund which could go to future plaintiffs who allege they were abused by Nassar, the attorneys said in a joint statement.

Nassar, who had worked as a doctor for the USA Gymnastics federation and also served as an on-campus clinic at Michigan State, earlier this year received two prison sentences of up to 125 years and up to 175 years after hundreds of young women testified about decades of sexual abuse at his hands.&nbsp

"This historic settlement came about through the bravery of more than 300 women and girls who had the courage to stand up and refuse to be silenced," plaintiffs' attorney John Manly said.

"Michigan State is pleased that we have been able to agree in principle on a settlement that is fair to the survivors of Nassar's crimes," said Robert Young, special counsel to the university.

The attorneys stressed that the settlement, which was agreed to by the university's board of trustees in a conference call on Tuesday night, is still not final.

It applies only to plaintiffs who have sued the university, and not those who have filed claims against the US&nbspOlympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi or any other parties, the attorneys said.

Sexual abuse victims of disgraced gymnastics Dr Larry Nassar and Michigan State University have reached a tentative settlement in which the university will pay the victims $500 million, attorneys for both sides said on Wednesday

Sexual abuse victims of disgraced gymnastics Dr&nbspLarry Nassar and Michigan State University have reached a tentative settlement in which the university will pay the victims $500 million, attorneys for both sides said on Wednesday. The deal calls for the school to pay $425 million to the 332 victims represented in current litigation, with another $75 million set aside in a trust fund which could go to future plaintiffs who allege they were abused by Nassar, the attorneys said in a joint statement. Nassar, who had worked as a doctor for the USA Gymnastics federation and also served as an on-campus clinic at Michigan State, earlier this year received two prison sentences of up to 125 years and up to 175 years after hundreds of young women testified about decades of sexual abuse at his hands. "This historic settlement came about through the bravery of more than 300 women and girls who had the courage to stand up and refuse to be silenced," plaintiffs' attorney John Manly said. "Michigan State is pleased that we have been able to agree in principle on a settlement that is fair to the survivors of Nassar's crimes," said Robert Young, special counsel to the university. The attorneys stressed that the settlement, which was agreed to by the university's board of trustees in a conference call on Tuesday night, is still not final. It applies only to plaintiffs who have sued the university, and not those who have filed claims against the US&nbspOlympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi or any other parties, the attorneys said.

$500 million settlement reached in Nassar sex abuse scandal

New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned on Monday after allegations of physical abuse by four women were reported in an article in the New Yorker magazine.

Governor Andrew Cuomo had called for Schneiderman's resignation within hours of the article's publication, and only slightly more than an hour later Schneiderman, a Democrat who was running for re-election, said he was stepping down.

“In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me," Schneiderman said in a statement. "While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time. I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018.”

In the article published late on Monday, the New Yorker reported that four women who said they had had romantic relationships or encounters with Schneiderman said they had been subjected to nonconsensual physical violence.

Reuters has not independently confirmed the accusations.

“In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity," Schneiderman said in a statement issued by Stu Loeser & Co before he announced his resignation. "I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in non-consensual sex, which is a line I would not cross."

Cuomo, in his statement calling for Schneiderman's resignation, referred to "the damning pattern of facts and corroboration laid out in the article," and said he did not believe it was possible for Schneiderman to continue to serve as attorney general.

The New Yorker reported that two of the women who spoke to the magazine "alleged that he repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, frequently in bed and never with their consent."

The two women who were named in the article both called the abuse by Schneiderman "assault," the magazine reported. One of the women said Schneiderman slapped her across the face after she rejected his advances and that when she told him she wanted to leave, he said, "A lot of women like it. They don't always think they like it, but then they do, and they ask for more," according to the article.

A spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said the office is opening an investigation.

Schneiderman is not the first top-ranking New York politician who was forced to resign following media reports about his personal life.

Eliot Spitzer resigned as New York's governor in 2008 after a New York Times report revealed that he was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute in a Washington hotel room.

Spitzer, a Democrat who as the state's attorney general before becoming governor once broke up prostitution rings, was married at the time. He faced intense pressure to resign and impeachment threats from Republicans.

Schneiderman, a Harvard-educated lawyer, has been New York state's attorney general since late 2010. He has been a high-profile proponent of the #MeToo movement, which has seen accusations of sexual misconduct leveled against prominent men in politics, media, entertainment and business. They include Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

In February, Schneiderman sued the Weinstein Company and Weinstein himself, alleging years of sexual harassment and misconduct by the movie producer.

Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women, including rape. He denies having non-consensual sex with anyone.

And in March, Cuomo ordered Schneiderman's office to review an investigation by Vance, the Manhattan district attorney, of a 2015 sexual assault case involving Harvey Weinstein, a case that Vance had decided not to try and prosecute.

The front page of Schneiderman's re-election campaign website on Monday night displayed his statement denying the accusations reported by the New Yorker, along with copies of news stories about his fight for abortion rights and a battle with the Trump administration. His statement of resignation was not posted.

New York state's constitution calls for the legislature to fill a vacancy in the office of the attorney general. But with the office up for election in November, any candidate chosen would serve only for a matter of months.

The primary election is scheduled for September, followed by the November general election.

Schneiderman is not the first top-ranking New York politician who was forced to resign following media reports about his personal life

New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned on Monday after allegations of physical abuse by four women were reported in an article in the New Yorker magazine. Governor Andrew Cuomo had called for Schneiderman's resignation within hours of the article's publication, and only slightly more than an hour later Schneiderman, a Democrat who was running for re-election, said he was stepping down. “In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me," Schneiderman said in a statement. "While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office’s work at this critical time. I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018.” In the article published late on Monday, the New Yorker reported that four women who said they had had romantic relationships or encounters with Schneiderman said they had been subjected to nonconsensual physical violence. Reuters has not independently confirmed the accusations. “In the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role-playing and other consensual sexual activity," Schneiderman said in a statement issued by Stu Loeser & Co before he announced his resignation. "I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in non-consensual sex, which is a line I would not cross." Cuomo, in his statement calling for Schneiderman's resignation, referred to "the damning pattern of facts and corroboration laid out in the article," and said he did not believe it was possible for Schneiderman to continue to serve as attorney general. The New Yorker reported that two of the women who spoke to the magazine "alleged that he repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, frequently in bed and never with their consent." The two women who were named in the article both called the abuse by Schneiderman "assault," the magazine reported. One of the women said Schneiderman slapped her across the face after she rejected his advances and that when she told him she wanted to leave, he said, "A lot of women like it. They don't always think they like it, but then they do, and they ask for more," according to the article. A spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said the office is opening an investigation. Schneiderman is not the first top-ranking New York politician who was forced to resign following media reports about his personal life. Eliot Spitzer resigned as New York's governor in 2008 after a New York Times report revealed that he was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute in a Washington hotel room. Spitzer, a Democrat who as the state's attorney general before becoming governor once broke up prostitution rings, was married at the time. He faced intense pressure to resign and impeachment threats from Republicans. Schneiderman, a Harvard-educated lawyer, has been New York state's attorney general since late 2010. He has been a high-profile proponent of the #MeToo movement, which has seen accusations of sexual misconduct leveled against prominent men in politics, media, entertainment and business. They include Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. In February, Schneiderman sued the Weinstein Company and Weinstein himself, alleging years of sexual harassment and misconduct by the movie producer. Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women, including rape. He denies having non-consensual sex with anyone. And in March, Cuomo ordered Schneiderman's office to review an investigation by Vance, the Manhattan district attorney, of a 2015 sexual assault case involving Harvey Weinstein, a case that Vance had decided not to try and prosecute. The front page of Schneiderman's re-election campaign website on Monday night displayed his statement denying the accusations reported by the New Yorker, along with copies of news stories about his fight for abortion rights and a battle with the Trump administration. His statement of resignation was not posted. New York state's constitution calls for the legislature to fill a vacancy in the office of the attorney general. But with the office up for election in November, any candidate chosen would serve only for a matter of months. The primary election is scheduled for September, followed by the November general election.

New York state attorney general resigns after report he abused women

Thousands of people of conitnued protests for the third consecutive day in Pamplona, Spain against the gang rape accused sentence by the court.

According to reports at least 35,000 people marched in streets as they raised slogans like "it's not sexual abuse, it's rape''. The police informed media that the protests remain peaceful.

In 2016 during the Spain's famous bull running festival&nbspfive men allegedly gang-raped an 18 year-old woman. However the court has setenced them for sexual abuse which is a lesser offence under Spanish law than the gang rape.&nbsp

They also shot a video of the incident and posted on their whatsapp group name&nbsp'La manda' an english translation is "the wolf pack".

On Thursday the court of Navarre region in Spain setenced all five accused to nine years in prison for ''a continued crime of sexual abuse'' promoting massive protests across the country including&nbspBarcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Pamplona and Alicante.

According to a report&nbspby the Spain's daily prosecutors had sought 22 years of sentence for each accused with more serious charges.

The public outcry has also led spain's&nbspgovernment to consider changes in their rape law.

The sexual abuse laws of Spain are much lighter in nature as they do not inlcude violence or intimidation.

For a person to be accused of rape, an evidence of violence or intimdation must exist for the offence to be proved prompting a painful debate of how much victim should fight with out getting killed and still get recognised as victim.

However, media reports say that the video which was found in accused phone the victim is seen protesting mildly as she felt trapped and was afraid.

The demonstrators has called the court's verdict a stepback for women's security.

A petition seeking disqualification of the judges who ruled the decision is also circulating online and has gathered 102 million signatures so far.

The victim is said to&nbspappeal further in the&nbspcase.

 
&nbsp

According to reports at least 35,000 people marched in streets as they raised slogans like 'it's not sexual abuse, it's rape'. The police informed media that the protests remain peaceful

Thousands of people of conitnued protests for the third consecutive day in Pamplona, Spain against the gang rape accused sentence by the court. According to reports at least 35,000 people marched in streets as they raised slogans like "it's not sexual abuse, it's rape''. The police informed media that the protests remain peaceful. In 2016 during the Spain's famous bull running festival&nbspfive men allegedly gang-raped an 18 year-old woman. However the court has setenced them for sexual abuse which is a lesser offence under Spanish law than the gang rape. They also shot a video of the incident and posted on their whatsapp group name 'La manda' an english translation is "the wolf pack". On Thursday the court of Navarre region in Spain setenced all five accused to nine years in prison for ''a continued crime of sexual abuse'' promoting massive protests across the country including&nbspBarcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Pamplona and Alicante. According to a report&nbspby the Spain's daily prosecutors had sought 22 years of sentence for each accused with more serious charges. The public outcry has also led spain's&nbspgovernment to consider changes in their rape law. The sexual abuse laws of Spain are much lighter in nature as they do not inlcude violence or intimidation. For a person to be accused of rape, an evidence of violence or intimdation must exist for the offence to be proved prompting a painful debate of how much victim should fight with out getting killed and still get recognised as victim. However, media reports say that the video which was found in accused phone the victim is seen protesting mildly as she felt trapped and was afraid. The demonstrators has called the court's verdict a stepback for women's security. A petition seeking disqualification of the judges who ruled the decision is also circulating online and has gathered 102 million signatures so far. The victim is said to&nbspappeal further in the&nbspcase.

Spain: More than 30,000 people protest against Pamplona gang rape

Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar who faced social media backlash after his colleague Meesha Shafi <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-pakistani-singer-meesha-shafi-accuses-ali-zafar-of-sexual-harassment-says-she-feels-betrayed-by-his-behaviour-131428">accused</a> him of sexual harassment has now sent the female singer a defamation notice of Rs 100 crore. Meesha alleged that Ali Zafar had on several occasions in the past, harassed her physically and that she could no longer keep silent.&nbsp;

To this, Ali Zafar’s legal counsel sent a legal notice that has demanded Meesha to delete the tweet that contains her allegations against him and to issue an apology on Twitter, failing which he will file a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against her. Soon after the allegations were made, Ali issued a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-pakistani-singer-ali-zafar-denies-sexual-harassment-allegations-says-have-nothing-to-hide-131574">statement </a>that read: "I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi." <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-after-meesha-shafi-more-women-accuse-ali-zafar-of-sexual-harassment-131673">Also </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-after-meesha-shafi-more-women-accuse-ali-zafar-of-sexual-harassment-131673">Read:</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-after-meesha-shafi-more-women-accuse-ali-zafar-of-sexual-harassment-131673">&nbsp;#MeToo in Pak: After Meesha Shafi, more women accuse Ali Zafar of sexual harassment</a>

This is what Meesha had written on Twitter while accusing Ali: “I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar [...] It has been an extremely traumatic experience for me and my family [...] I feel betrayed by his behaviour and attitude and I know that I'm not alone.”

As reported by a Pakistani website, Meesha’s lawyer Barrister Muhammad Ahmad Pansota on the legal notice said: "We have received the notice and are examining its contents. The contents of Meesha's statements with regard to Ali Zafar are based in truth, and therefore we dispel this notice."

Ali Zafar was last seen in Dear Zindagi with Alia Bhatt.&nbsp;

Meesha had accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment in a long post on Twitter

Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar who faced social media backlash after his colleague Meesha Shafi accused him of sexual harassment has now sent the female singer a defamation notice of Rs 100 crore. Meesha alleged that Ali Zafar had on several occasions in the past, harassed her physically and that she could no longer keep silent. To this, Ali Zafar’s legal counsel sent a legal notice that has demanded Meesha to delete the tweet that contains her allegations against him and to issue an apology on Twitter, failing which he will file a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against her. Soon after the allegations were made, Ali issued a statement that read: "I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi." Also Read: #MeToo in Pak: After Meesha Shafi, more women accuse Ali Zafar of sexual harassment This is what Meesha had written on Twitter while accusing Ali: “I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar [...] It has been an extremely traumatic experience for me and my family [...] I feel betrayed by his behaviour and attitude and I know that I'm not alone.” As reported by a Pakistani website, Meesha’s lawyer Barrister Muhammad Ahmad Pansota on the legal notice said: "We have received the notice and are examining its contents. The contents of Meesha's statements with regard to Ali Zafar are based in truth, and therefore we dispel this notice." Ali Zafar was last seen in Dear Zindagi with Alia Bhatt.

Ali Zafar sends Rs 100 crore legal notice to Meesha Shafi over sexual harassment claims, she responds

Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar was in news yesterday as his colleague from the Pakistani music industry, Meesha Shafi <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/entertainment-pakistani-singer-meesha-shafi-accuses-ali-zafar-of-sexual-harassment-says-she-feels-betrayed-by-his-behaviour-131428">accused</a> him of sexual harassment. Ali Zafar has now responded to these allegations and denied all of them.

In his reply to the accusations, Zafar wrote, “I am deeply aware and in support of the global #Metoo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and son to a mother. I am a man that has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today. I have nothing to hide, silence is not an option.”

He added, “I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi. I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendetta on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and fans. Ultimately, I am a strong believer that the truth, always prevails.”

His full post:&nbsp;

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<a href="https://t.co/j1C34onEXC">pic.twitter.com/j1C34onEXC</a>
— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) <a href="https://twitter.com/AliZafarsays/status/986969628869046272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Shafi, had on Thursday, claimed that Zafar had harassed her on several occasions. She wrote a long post on Twitter explaining how difficult it was for her to open up and speak about this. She mentioned that she did not believe it when it happened to her as they have both shared the stage on several occasions.

She wrote: “Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo.”

She said, “I have been subjected to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young or just entering the industry. This happened to be despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.”

This comes at a time when the entire Hollywood industry came together to support <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/golden-globes-2018-updates-dressed-in-black-hollywood-stars-have-a-message-28820">#MeToo</a> and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-times-up-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-anniston-meryl-streep-and-others-join-hands-to-fight-against-sexual-harassment-28305">Time's Up</a> campaign that started to aid victims of abuse, sexual harassment and rape. Last year opened a can of worms for many producers, actors and other staff of Hollywood who was accused by their peers and subordinates of sexual assault and harassment. The biggest case was that of Harvey Weinstein who was accused by more than 80 women of harassing them over a period of time.&nbsp;

Meesha Shafi, a Pakistani singer accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment in a tweet on Thursday

Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar was in news yesterday as his colleague from the Pakistani music industry, Meesha Shafi accused him of sexual harassment. Ali Zafar has now responded to these allegations and denied all of them. In his reply to the accusations, Zafar wrote, “I am deeply aware and in support of the global #Metoo movement and what it stands for. I am the father of a young girl and a young boy, a husband to a wife and son to a mother. I am a man that has stood up for myself, my family, my colleagues and friends countless times in the face of slander, defamation and general unkindness. I will do the same today. I have nothing to hide, silence is not an option.” He added, “I categorically deny any and all claims of harassment lodged against me by Ms Shafi. I intend to take this through the courts of law and to address this professionally and seriously rather than to lodge any allegations here, contesting personal vendetta on social media and in turn disrespecting the movement, my family, the industry and fans. Ultimately, I am a strong believer that the truth, always prevails.” His full post: pic.twitter.com/j1C34onEXC — Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) April 19, 2018 × Shafi, had on Thursday, claimed that Zafar had harassed her on several occasions. She wrote a long post on Twitter explaining how difficult it was for her to open up and speak about this. She mentioned that she did not believe it when it happened to her as they have both shared the stage on several occasions. She wrote: “Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo.” She said, “I have been subjected to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry: Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young or just entering the industry. This happened to be despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.” This comes at a time when the entire Hollywood industry came together to support #MeToo and Time's Up campaign that started to aid victims of abuse, sexual harassment and rape. Last year opened a can of worms for many producers, actors and other staff of Hollywood who was accused by their peers and subordinates of sexual assault and harassment. The biggest case was that of Harvey Weinstein who was accused by more than 80 women of harassing them over a period of time.

Pakistani singer Ali Zafar denies sexual harassment allegations, says 'have nothing to hide'

An Indian yoga instructor has been convicted by a court in Singapore for molesting a woman during class, according to a media report today.

Rakesh Kumar Prasad was sentenced to a nine-month jail term along with a fine of 1,000 Singapore dollar by the court yesterday but granted a bail of 16,000 Singapore dollar pending appeal.

Prasad's lawyer said that he would be appealing against the court decision, the Straits Times reported.

According to the report, Prasad committed the offences against the woman in April 2015 at a yoga studio in Tampines housing estate. The woman was then aged 25.

Following a 12-day trial, which began in 2016, District Judge Luke Tan found Prasad guilty earlier this year on one count each of outraging the woman's modesty and using criminal force on her.

Prasad repeatedly molested her when she was alone, it said.

In his submission, Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew said, "The victim... Did not leave the class or seek help immediately because she was in a state of shock and disbelief. She felt helpless in that environment and did not know what to do."

"She had felt violated and embarrassed by the accused's actions, and was in disbelief that this could happen to her in a yoga class," the report quoting Chew as saying.

Chew urged Judge Tan to sentence Prasad to at least a year's jail with three strokes of the cane.

He said, "The accused had abused his position as a yoga instructor in repeatedly violating the victim in the midst of the yoga class."

Defence lawyer Steven Lam pleaded for a nine-month jail term and stressed that the touches were "fleeting".

He also told the court that Prasad will be appealing against his conviction. Judge Tan offered him bail of 16,000 Singapore dollar.&nbsp;

Rakesh Kumar Prasad was sentenced to a nine-month jail term along with a fine of 1,000 Singapore dollar by the court yesterday but granted a bail

An Indian yoga instructor has been convicted by a court in Singapore for molesting a woman during class, according to a media report today. Rakesh Kumar Prasad was sentenced to a nine-month jail term along with a fine of 1,000 Singapore dollar by the court yesterday but granted a bail of 16,000 Singapore dollar pending appeal. Prasad's lawyer said that he would be appealing against the court decision, the Straits Times reported. According to the report, Prasad committed the offences against the woman in April 2015 at a yoga studio in Tampines housing estate. The woman was then aged 25. Following a 12-day trial, which began in 2016, District Judge Luke Tan found Prasad guilty earlier this year on one count each of outraging the woman's modesty and using criminal force on her. Prasad repeatedly molested her when she was alone, it said. In his submission, Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew said, "The victim... Did not leave the class or seek help immediately because she was in a state of shock and disbelief. She felt helpless in that environment and did not know what to do." "She had felt violated and embarrassed by the accused's actions, and was in disbelief that this could happen to her in a yoga class," the report quoting Chew as saying. Chew urged Judge Tan to sentence Prasad to at least a year's jail with three strokes of the cane. He said, "The accused had abused his position as a yoga instructor in repeatedly violating the victim in the midst of the yoga class." Defence lawyer Steven Lam pleaded for a nine-month jail term and stressed that the touches were "fleeting". He also told the court that Prasad will be appealing against his conviction. Judge Tan offered him bail of 16,000 Singapore dollar.

Indian yoga instructor convicted for molesting woman in Singapore

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month&#39;s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, Seoul&#39;s ski association said Thursday.

Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon are accused of &quot;physically and sexually abusing female athletes&quot; at a competition in Japan this month, a Korea Ski Association (KSA) spokesman told AFP.&nbsp;

After an investigation, he said, &quot;we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently&quot;, adding the two would be barred from registering as skiers at the KSA -- a first step to taking part in competitions at home and abroad.

The move comes as a #MeToo campaign spreads across South Korea, which remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, and where women have long been reluctant to come forward with accusations against powerful men.

The KSA spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita.

They asked female athletes in the next room to join them, and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused.

The women asked South Korean police to investigate the two for assault after returning to Seoul, the KSA said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Choi is currently ranked sixth in the moguls FIS World Cup and is one of the best-known skiers in South Korea.

He reached the men&#39;s moguls final in the Pyeongchang Winter Games but did not finish his second run. Kim was eliminated in qualifying.&nbsp;

Choi said then he was seeking to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- a goal that would be impossible under the ban.&nbsp;

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates

Two South Korean freestyle skiers who competed at last month's Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have been banned for life for allegedly assaulting female teammates, Seoul's ski association said Thursday. Choi Jae-woo and Kim Ji-hyon are accused of "physically and sexually abusing female athletes" at a competition in Japan this month, a Korea Ski Association (KSA) spokesman told AFP. After an investigation, he said, "we decided to ban Choi and Kim permanently", adding the two would be barred from registering as skiers at the KSA -- a first step to taking part in competitions at home and abroad. The move comes as a #MeToo campaign spreads across South Korea, which remains socially patriarchal despite its economic and technological advances, and where women have long been reluctant to come forward with accusations against powerful men. The KSA spokesman said that Choi, 24, and Kim, 23, drank together in their hotel room during the Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Akita. They asked female athletes in the next room to join them, and multiple media reports say they assaulted them when the offer was refused. The women asked South Korean police to investigate the two for assault after returning to Seoul, the KSA said. Choi is currently ranked sixth in the moguls FIS World Cup and is one of the best-known skiers in South Korea. He reached the men's moguls final in the Pyeongchang Winter Games but did not finish his second run. Kim was eliminated in qualifying. Choi said then he was seeking to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics -- a goal that would be impossible under the ban.

Two South Korean skiers banned for life for sexual abuse

By Christa Stewart*&nbsp;

It has now been six months since the Myanmar military resumed its ruthless crackdown against the Rohingya minority. Many women and girls fleeing brutal state-sponsored persecution have reported horrific accounts of rape, sexual assault, torture and murder at the hands of government forces. When state institutions orchestrate such human rights violations and allow perpetrators to act with impunity, the international community must unite in taking a strong stance in order to hold those responsible to account.

Violent oppression of Myanmar&rsquo;s various ethnic groups has been happening for decades, but targeted assaults against the Rohingya community have spiraled since August 2017, when Myanmar&rsquo;s authorities launched what they euphemistically describe as &ldquo;clearance operations&rdquo; against Rohingya &ldquo;terrorists.&rdquo; According to most recent estimates, over 680,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, a country ill-equipped to deal with the mounting crisis. Although conditions in the refugee camps are dire given the vast and rapid influx of people, it is estimated that around 200 people are still making the dangerous border crossing to escape continuing state hostilities each day.

Evidence is mounting to back allegations that Myanmar&rsquo;s autonomous military, known as the Tamadaw, is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. A UN investigation conducted among refugees in Bangladesh found that 52% of women reported being raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence. The majority was gang-raped, and most identified military officers or police officers as the perpetrators.

In a refugee center, one survivor told Human Rights Watch in October 2017: &ldquo;I was held down by six men and raped by five of them. First, they [shot and] killed my brother &hellip; then they threw me to the side and one man tore my lungi [sarong], grabbed me by the mouth and held me still. He stuck a knife into my side and kept it there while the men were raping me. That was how they kept me in place. I was trying to move and [the wound] was bleeding more. They were threatening to shoot me.&rdquo;

Another story came from a 17-year-old, identified simply as N, who told Associated Press that she was at home with her family when 10 soldiers burst in. Half of the men held her pleading family back while the rest took turns raping her. Forced to watch, her parents were beaten if they screamed.&nbsp;

Directed Attacks&nbsp;

Directed attacks against women and girls by security forces are not a new phenomenon. For 20 years, there have been reports of the military using rape and sexual assault in its armed conflict against ethnic minorities in states including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen and Shan. Human rights groups have documented incidents, but despite extensive evidence, perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

A largely Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, the Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights and face extensive discrimination. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, effectively leaving them stateless and especially vulnerable to human rights abuses as they are not entitled to any legal government protection. This makes the Rohingya prime targets for criminal networks who exploit impoverished populations, and displaced women and girls are at greater risk of human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution, as well as forced and child marriage.

The Rakhine Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released a report in August 2017 stating that the Rohingya are the single largest &ldquo;stateless&rdquo; community in the world, with around 10% of the world&rsquo;s stateless people residing in Myanmar.&nbsp;

Both Myanmar&rsquo;s military and the civilian government have denied most allegations of mistreatment, and the true scale is not yet known because state authorities have prohibited human rights organizations and international media from independently accessing conflict areas or investigating charges. Not only has Myanmar authorities blocked enquiries, they have refused to acknowledge the need for review at all. Myanmar&rsquo;s civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for failing to denounce violations, instead dismissing reports on social media as &ldquo;fake rapes.&rdquo; Meanwhile, when Rakhine State&rsquo;s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint, was asked by a journalist about rape allegations, he replied: &ldquo;These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances &mdash; do you think they are that attractive to be raped?&rdquo;

In December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the crisis, with numerous countries condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by the military. However, Russia and China have refused to effectively address the situation and their silence remains deafening. Both countries sit on the UNSC, and without their votes, a resolution cannot be passed condemning the human rights violations. Nor can any of the ongoing crimes against humanity be referred to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution.&nbsp;

Safety, Security, Dignity&nbsp;

Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to begin repatriation in &ldquo;safety, security and dignity.&rdquo; However, the process and timeline remain unclear and there are serious concerns about the treatment returnees could face.

Human Rights Watch has reported that new satellite imagery shows at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine State have recently been leveled by authorities, and these demolitions may have erased evidence of atrocities committed by security forces, constituting a potential cover up of crimes against humanity. The government claims the work is being carried out to make way for refugee resettlement.

As new plans are drafted to establish repatriation, UN agencies are still being denied entry to the region. The international community cannot delay in uniting to demand that the UN fact finding mission be given full access.

Furthermore, Myanmar must be deemed by the international community to be a place of safe return &mdash; including one where justice can be obtained. A now established principle in international law is that rape committed in such a wholesale manner is a crime against humanity &mdash; a weapon against certain populations. All necessary steps must be taken to preserve evidence, investigate crimes effectively and protect victims and witnesses.

Six months into the crisis, the world must do more to ensure that victims of state-sanctioned sexual violence receive the justice they deserve. Holding perpetrators legally accountable and ensuring that no one &mdash; including military officials who are meant to protect civilians &mdash; is above criminal prosecution is a vital step toward guaranteeing Myanmar becomes a safe place for all women and girls, regardless of ethnicity.&nbsp;

 
*Christa Stewart manages the End Sexual Violence program at the international women&rsquo;s rights organization, Equality Now. She is a human rights lawyer

This <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#starred/1619d70efeff25b7">article</a> was originally published in<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/"> Fair Observer</a>.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

The evidence is mounting that Myanmar’s military is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya minority.

By Christa Stewart* It has now been six months since the Myanmar military resumed its ruthless crackdown against the Rohingya minority. Many women and girls fleeing brutal state-sponsored persecution have reported horrific accounts of rape, sexual assault, torture and murder at the hands of government forces. When state institutions orchestrate such human rights violations and allow perpetrators to act with impunity, the international community must unite in taking a strong stance in order to hold those responsible to account. Violent oppression of Myanmar’s various ethnic groups has been happening for decades, but targeted assaults against the Rohingya community have spiraled since August 2017, when Myanmar’s authorities launched what they euphemistically describe as “clearance operations” against Rohingya “terrorists.” According to most recent estimates, over 680,000 Rohingya have fled to neighboring Bangladesh, a country ill-equipped to deal with the mounting crisis. Although conditions in the refugee camps are dire given the vast and rapid influx of people, it is estimated that around 200 people are still making the dangerous border crossing to escape continuing state hostilities each day. Evidence is mounting to back allegations that Myanmar’s autonomous military, known as the Tamadaw, is engaging in the systematic use of sexual violence as part of a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. A UN investigation conducted among refugees in Bangladesh found that 52% of women reported being raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence. The majority was gang-raped, and most identified military officers or police officers as the perpetrators. In a refugee center, one survivor told Human Rights Watch in October 2017: “I was held down by six men and raped by five of them. First, they [shot and] killed my brother … then they threw me to the side and one man tore my lungi [sarong], grabbed me by the mouth and held me still. He stuck a knife into my side and kept it there while the men were raping me. That was how they kept me in place. I was trying to move and [the wound] was bleeding more. They were threatening to shoot me.” Another story came from a 17-year-old, identified simply as N, who told Associated Press that she was at home with her family when 10 soldiers burst in. Half of the men held her pleading family back while the rest took turns raping her. Forced to watch, her parents were beaten if they screamed. Directed Attacks Directed attacks against women and girls by security forces are not a new phenomenon. For 20 years, there have been reports of the military using rape and sexual assault in its armed conflict against ethnic minorities in states including Rakhine, Kachin, Karen and Shan. Human rights groups have documented incidents, but despite extensive evidence, perpetrators have not been brought to justice. A largely Muslim minority in a predominantly Buddhist country, the Rohingya have been systematically stripped of their legal rights and face extensive discrimination. They have been denied citizenship in Myanmar since 1982, effectively leaving them stateless and especially vulnerable to human rights abuses as they are not entitled to any legal government protection. This makes the Rohingya prime targets for criminal networks who exploit impoverished populations, and displaced women and girls are at greater risk of human trafficking, exploitation and prostitution, as well as forced and child marriage. The Rakhine Advisory Commission, chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, released a report in August 2017 stating that the Rohingya are the single largest “stateless” community in the world, with around 10% of the world’s stateless people residing in Myanmar. Both Myanmar’s military and the civilian government have denied most allegations of mistreatment, and the true scale is not yet known because state authorities have prohibited human rights organizations and international media from independently accessing conflict areas or investigating charges. Not only has Myanmar authorities blocked enquiries, they have refused to acknowledge the need for review at all. Myanmar’s civilian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has been widely criticized for failing to denounce violations, instead dismissing reports on social media as “fake rapes.” Meanwhile, when Rakhine State’s minister for border affairs, Phone Tint, was asked by a journalist about rape allegations, he replied: “These women were claiming they were raped, but look at their appearances — do you think they are that attractive to be raped?” In December, the UN Security Council (UNSC) met to discuss the crisis, with numerous countries condemning the sexual violence perpetrated by the military. However, Russia and China have refused to effectively address the situation and their silence remains deafening. Both countries sit on the UNSC, and without their votes, a resolution cannot be passed condemning the human rights violations. Nor can any of the ongoing crimes against humanity be referred to the International Criminal Court for possible prosecution. Safety, Security, Dignity Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to begin repatriation in “safety, security and dignity.” However, the process and timeline remain unclear and there are serious concerns about the treatment returnees could face. Human Rights Watch has reported that new satellite imagery shows at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine State have recently been leveled by authorities, and these demolitions may have erased evidence of atrocities committed by security forces, constituting a potential cover up of crimes against humanity. The government claims the work is being carried out to make way for refugee resettlement. As new plans are drafted to establish repatriation, UN agencies are still being denied entry to the region. The international community cannot delay in uniting to demand that the UN fact finding mission be given full access. Furthermore, Myanmar must be deemed by the international community to be a place of safe return — including one where justice can be obtained. A now established principle in international law is that rape committed in such a wholesale manner is a crime against humanity — a weapon against certain populations. All necessary steps must be taken to preserve evidence, investigate crimes effectively and protect victims and witnesses. Six months into the crisis, the world must do more to ensure that victims of state-sanctioned sexual violence receive the justice they deserve. Holding perpetrators legally accountable and ensuring that no one — including military officials who are meant to protect civilians — is above criminal prosecution is a vital step toward guaranteeing Myanmar becomes a safe place for all women and girls, regardless of ethnicity. *Christa Stewart manages the End Sexual Violence program at the international women’s rights organization, Equality Now. She is a human rights lawyer This article was originally published in Fair Observer. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: With rape and violence rife, where is justice for Rohingya women

The disgraced former national team doctor, Larry Nassar was sentenced to a total of 175 years in prison in a Michigan courtroom for sexually abusing young female gymnasts.

Now, a male gymnast, Jacob Moore has accused Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, he became the first male to file charges against Larry Nassar.

Jacob Moore is a gymnast at the University of Michigan, he also said other potential male victim&#39;s to know, they are not alone. His sister was one of more than 100 women to read a victim impact statement against Nassar.

Moore told in a press conference that he went to Larry to get his shoulder injury treated two years ago when he was 16.

Nassar treated the injury with acupuncture to not just the shoulder but his pubic area as well. At one point he pulled down Moore&#39;s pants and showed an underaged female gymnast his genitals.

Moore is joining the lawsuit against not just Nassar but Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics.

Jacob Moore is the first man to accuse Larry Nassar of sexual abuse and said he wants other potential male victim's to know, they are not alone

The disgraced former national team doctor, Larry Nassar was sentenced to a total of 175 years in prison in a Michigan courtroom for sexually abusing young female gymnasts. Now, a male gymnast, Jacob Moore has accused Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, he became the first male to file charges against Larry Nassar. Jacob Moore is a gymnast at the University of Michigan, he also said other potential male victim's to know, they are not alone. His sister was one of more than 100 women to read a victim impact statement against Nassar. Moore told in a press conference that he went to Larry to get his shoulder injury treated two years ago when he was 16. Nassar treated the injury with acupuncture to not just the shoulder but his pubic area as well. At one point he pulled down Moore's pants and showed an underaged female gymnast his genitals. Moore is joining the lawsuit against not just Nassar but Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics.

Watch: Jacob Moore accuses Larry Nassar of sexual abuse

Haiti on Thursday suspended the operations of British charity Oxfam pending the outcome of its investigation into allegations that its staff sexually exploited Haitians after a devastating 2010 earthquake. 
 
The country&#39;s ministry of planning and foreign aid said Oxfam GB had made a &quot;serious error&quot; by failing to inform Haitian authorities of the actions by their staff at the time they occurred. 
 
&quot;These reprehensible acts, alleged crimes, acknowledged by the perpetrators as well as the NGO, are a serious violation of the dignity of the Haitian people,&quot; a government statement said. 
 
It said the charity was suspended for two months pending an internal Haitian investigation into the matter. 
 
Aviol Fleurant, the minister for planning and foreign aid, said that if Haiti&#39;s own investigations found &quot;a link between the crimes committed and the money that Oxfam received to help the Haitian people I will see to it that the foreign ministry declares, in the name of the government, Oxfam-GB persona non-grata and will have to leave the country.&quot; 
 
&quot;Haiti is no longer an NGO republic,&quot; he said after meeting with Oxfam&#39;s director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Ticehurst. &quot;We are not joking: the dignity of the Haitian people has no price.&quot;

An investigation conducted by Oxfam a year after the earthquake had found that seven staff were accused of using prostitutes at an Oxfam-funded residence. 
 
The 2011 report, disclosed on Monday, also found that three staff members had physically threatened a witness. 
 
One official has acknowledged paying for prostitutes and the others were accused of harassment and intimidation. 
 
A young Haitian woman told The Times newspaper she had had relations with the former Oxfam country director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, when she was 16 and he was 61. 
 
Van Hauwermeiren denied to Belgian media last week, however, that he had organized orgies with young prostitutes in Haiti, and said he had &quot;intimate relations&quot; with &quot;an honorable, mature woman&quot; whom he did not pay. 
 
Four staff were fired for gross misconduct and three others, including Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to quit.

Greater scrutiny 
 
Oxfam formally apologized to the Haitian government on Monday for its handling of the scandal and for failing to report it promptly to local authorities. 
 
&quot;It was not for Oxfam to decide whether a crime had been committed... that was the wrong decision,&quot; Oxfam GB&#39;s chief executive Mark Goldring said Tuesday at a hearing before a British parliamentary committee. 
 
Fleurant, the planning minister, said he had not ruled out demanding the extradition of Van Hauwermeiren and others to face charges in Haiti. 
 
&quot;There could be an extradition: we could call for them to be brought back to Haiti,&quot; he said, adding that if that did not succeed &quot;we could bring a civil action, or help the victims do so.&quot; 
 
The strong line taken by the government was met with approval by Haitian human rights groups.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a good decision and it also sends the right message to other NGO&#39;s operating in the mess of Haiti,&quot; said Haitian lawyer Mario Joseph, while warning that such talk &quot;could be much ado about nothing if all the means to carry out an inquiry are not deployed to bring these people to justice.&quot;

The Haiti scandal has opened the charity to greater scrutiny, leading to 26 new cases of sexual misconduct, most involving its international operations.

Haiti's ministry of planning and foreign aid said Oxfam GB had made a "serious error" by failing to inform Haitian authorities of the actions by their staff at the time they occurred

Haiti on Thursday suspended the operations of British charity Oxfam pending the outcome of its investigation into allegations that its staff sexually exploited Haitians after a devastating 2010 earthquake. The country's ministry of planning and foreign aid said Oxfam GB had made a "serious error" by failing to inform Haitian authorities of the actions by their staff at the time they occurred. "These reprehensible acts, alleged crimes, acknowledged by the perpetrators as well as the NGO, are a serious violation of the dignity of the Haitian people," a government statement said. It said the charity was suspended for two months pending an internal Haitian investigation into the matter. Aviol Fleurant, the minister for planning and foreign aid, said that if Haiti's own investigations found "a link between the crimes committed and the money that Oxfam received to help the Haitian people I will see to it that the foreign ministry declares, in the name of the government, Oxfam-GB persona non-grata and will have to leave the country." "Haiti is no longer an NGO republic," he said after meeting with Oxfam's director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Ticehurst. "We are not joking: the dignity of the Haitian people has no price." An investigation conducted by Oxfam a year after the earthquake had found that seven staff were accused of using prostitutes at an Oxfam-funded residence. The 2011 report, disclosed on Monday, also found that three staff members had physically threatened a witness. One official has acknowledged paying for prostitutes and the others were accused of harassment and intimidation. A young Haitian woman told The Times newspaper she had had relations with the former Oxfam country director in Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, when she was 16 and he was 61. Van Hauwermeiren denied to Belgian media last week, however, that he had organized orgies with young prostitutes in Haiti, and said he had "intimate relations" with "an honorable, mature woman" whom he did not pay. Four staff were fired for gross misconduct and three others, including Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to quit. Greater scrutiny Oxfam formally apologized to the Haitian government on Monday for its handling of the scandal and for failing to report it promptly to local authorities. "It was not for Oxfam to decide whether a crime had been committed... that was the wrong decision," Oxfam GB's chief executive Mark Goldring said Tuesday at a hearing before a British parliamentary committee. Fleurant, the planning minister, said he had not ruled out demanding the extradition of Van Hauwermeiren and others to face charges in Haiti. "There could be an extradition: we could call for them to be brought back to Haiti," he said, adding that if that did not succeed "we could bring a civil action, or help the victims do so." The strong line taken by the government was met with approval by Haitian human rights groups. "It's a good decision and it also sends the right message to other NGO's operating in the mess of Haiti," said Haitian lawyer Mario Joseph, while warning that such talk "could be much ado about nothing if all the means to carry out an inquiry are not deployed to bring these people to justice." The Haiti scandal has opened the charity to greater scrutiny, leading to 26 new cases of sexual misconduct, most involving its international operations.

Haiti suspends Oxfam operations pending investigation into sexual abuse

Pope Francis renewed a commission on clergy sexual abuse on Saturday, confirming a U.S. cardinal as its head, as the Vatican promised to give victims a greater say in its work.

The renewal of the commission and the confirmation of Cardinal Sean O`Malley of Boston as its head comes as the pope is dealing with an abuse scandal in Chile that has created one of the greatest image crises of his papacy, which marks its fifth anniversary next month.[L8N1Q56UY].

The first, three-year mandate of the commission ended in December and its future had been uncertain.

Its first term was marred by two high-profile resignations, that of Marie Collins of Ireland and Peter Saunders of Britain. Both were victims of clergy sexual abuse when they were young and both stepped down in what they said was frustration over lack of change and insufficient cooperation by top Vatican officials.

A Vatican statement said victims of sexual abuse were among the members but that it was up to them to decide to disclose this outside the 16-member international commission, made up of nine new members and seven returning ones.

It said plans were at an advanced stage to create a group made up of victims of sexual abuse known as the International Survivor Advisory Panel (ISAP) to offer consultation on &quot;abuse prevention from the survivor`s perspective&quot;.

Protect minors

The mandate of the commission, which includes lay academics and psychologists, priests and nuns, is to promote best practice initiatives and educational programmes to protect minors and vulnerable adults in local Catholic institutions around the world.

Its experts come from the United States, Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, India, Italy, Tonga, Germany, Brazil, Poland, South Africa, the Philippines, and Zambia. Ten are non-clerics and eight are women, including three nuns.

Francis has been under fire for remarks he made last month in Chile.

He initially said accusations against a Chilean bishop were &quot;slander&quot; and told reporters the Vatican had received no concrete evidence against him.

But days later, he appointed the Church`s most experienced sexual abuse investigator to look into the accusations that Bishop Juan Barros had covered up crimes against minors.

The investigator, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, starts his work in New York on Saturday when he is due to meet Juan Carlos Cruz, who says he was sexually abused when he was a teenager in Chile by a priest called Fernando Karadima.

Karadima was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing teenage boys over many years. Karadima denies the allegations and Barros denied accusations that he witnessed Karadima carrying out the abuse.

&nbsp;

Pope Francis has been under fire for remarks he made last month in Chile

Pope Francis renewed a commission on clergy sexual abuse on Saturday, confirming a U.S. cardinal as its head, as the Vatican promised to give victims a greater say in its work. The renewal of the commission and the confirmation of Cardinal Sean O`Malley of Boston as its head comes as the pope is dealing with an abuse scandal in Chile that has created one of the greatest image crises of his papacy, which marks its fifth anniversary next month.[L8N1Q56UY]. The first, three-year mandate of the commission ended in December and its future had been uncertain. Its first term was marred by two high-profile resignations, that of Marie Collins of Ireland and Peter Saunders of Britain. Both were victims of clergy sexual abuse when they were young and both stepped down in what they said was frustration over lack of change and insufficient cooperation by top Vatican officials. A Vatican statement said victims of sexual abuse were among the members but that it was up to them to decide to disclose this outside the 16-member international commission, made up of nine new members and seven returning ones. It said plans were at an advanced stage to create a group made up of victims of sexual abuse known as the International Survivor Advisory Panel (ISAP) to offer consultation on "abuse prevention from the survivor`s perspective". Protect minors The mandate of the commission, which includes lay academics and psychologists, priests and nuns, is to promote best practice initiatives and educational programmes to protect minors and vulnerable adults in local Catholic institutions around the world. Its experts come from the United States, Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, India, Italy, Tonga, Germany, Brazil, Poland, South Africa, the Philippines, and Zambia. Ten are non-clerics and eight are women, including three nuns. Francis has been under fire for remarks he made last month in Chile. He initially said accusations against a Chilean bishop were "slander" and told reporters the Vatican had received no concrete evidence against him. But days later, he appointed the Church`s most experienced sexual abuse investigator to look into the accusations that Bishop Juan Barros had covered up crimes against minors. The investigator, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, starts his work in New York on Saturday when he is due to meet Juan Carlos Cruz, who says he was sexually abused when he was a teenager in Chile by a priest called Fernando Karadima. Karadima was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing teenage boys over many years. Karadima denies the allegations and Barros denied accusations that he witnessed Karadima carrying out the abuse.

Pope renews commission on sexual abuse, Vatican promises victims more say

Enzo Amore has &quot;unequivocally denied&quot; the rape allegations placed against him. 
 
The 31-year-old professional wrestler - whose real name is Eric Arndt - was accused earlier this week of having sexually abused a woman by the name of Philomena Sheahan in October last year, and after the allegations saw him dropped by WWE, he has now released a statement denying the claims made against him. 
 
The statement, which was released by his attorney to TMZ.com, reads: &quot;Over the last two days, Philomena Sheahan has made multiple public accusations against Eric Arndt (also known as Enzo Amore with the WWE), including allegations of sexual misconduct concerning an October 2017 incident in Phoenix. 
 
&quot;Mr Arndt fully and unequivocally denies those accusations. 
 
&quot;He is cooperating with the authorities in this matter and looks forward to having it resolved in a timely manner. Neither Mr Arndt nor his counsel will be making any further public comments on this matter.&quot; 
 
Earlier this week, Philomena took to Twitter to allege that Enzo had raped whilst two of his friends let the crime happen on October 19. 
 
She wrote on Twitter: &quot;OKAY..it&#39;s been long enough &amp; I have been so so scared to share this. I was raped in mid-October by the WWE Enzo Amore (also known as Eric Arden) &amp; Tyler Grosso &amp; TOOPOOR let it happen as accomplices. I was in a mental hospital for 45 days after it. They ARE NOT good people. (sic)&quot; 
 
Philomena also shared screenshots of messages she sent to another Twitter user, in which she claimed the trio, including Enzo, got her &quot;f***ed up&quot; on a cocktail of drugs before assaulting her. 
 
At the time of the woman&#39;s allegations, WWE claimed they were suspending the wrestler indefinitely, with a statement which read: &quot;WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving sexual harassment or sexual assault. Until this matter is resolved, Eric Arndt has been suspended.&quot; 
 
However, on Tuesday (23.01.18), the wrestling company revealed they had sacked the star. 
 
They said in a short statement: &quot;WWE has come to terms with the release of Eric Arndt (Enzo Amore).&quot; 
 
Phoenix Police Department is currently investigating the alleged crime, which was reported by Philomena on October 23.

Credit: BANG Showbiz

He was accused earlier this week of sexually abusing a woman because of which the wrestler was sacked from WWE

Enzo Amore has "unequivocally denied" the rape allegations placed against him. The 31-year-old professional wrestler - whose real name is Eric Arndt - was accused earlier this week of having sexually abused a woman by the name of Philomena Sheahan in October last year, and after the allegations saw him dropped by WWE, he has now released a statement denying the claims made against him. The statement, which was released by his attorney to TMZ.com, reads: "Over the last two days, Philomena Sheahan has made multiple public accusations against Eric Arndt (also known as Enzo Amore with the WWE), including allegations of sexual misconduct concerning an October 2017 incident in Phoenix. "Mr Arndt fully and unequivocally denies those accusations. "He is cooperating with the authorities in this matter and looks forward to having it resolved in a timely manner. Neither Mr Arndt nor his counsel will be making any further public comments on this matter." Earlier this week, Philomena took to Twitter to allege that Enzo had raped whilst two of his friends let the crime happen on October 19. She wrote on Twitter: "OKAY..it's been long enough & I have been so so scared to share this. I was raped in mid-October by the WWE Enzo Amore (also known as Eric Arden) & Tyler Grosso & TOOPOOR let it happen as accomplices. I was in a mental hospital for 45 days after it. They ARE NOT good people. (sic)" Philomena also shared screenshots of messages she sent to another Twitter user, in which she claimed the trio, including Enzo, got her "f***ed up" on a cocktail of drugs before assaulting her. At the time of the woman's allegations, WWE claimed they were suspending the wrestler indefinitely, with a statement which read: "WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving sexual harassment or sexual assault. Until this matter is resolved, Eric Arndt has been suspended." However, on Tuesday (23.01.18), the wrestling company revealed they had sacked the star. They said in a short statement: "WWE has come to terms with the release of Eric Arndt (Enzo Amore)." Phoenix Police Department is currently investigating the alleged crime, which was reported by Philomena on October 23. Credit: BANG Showbiz

Enzo Amore denies rape allegations

Casey Affleck has pulled out of presenting the Best Actress award at this year&#39;s Oscars ceremony.

The 42-year-old actor was due to present the award at the upcoming awards ceremony to keep up the longstanding tradition of the previous year&#39;s Best Actor recipient - which Casey picked up for his work on &#39;Manchester By The Sea&#39; - handing out the gong to the following year&#39;s Best Actress.

However, the star has informed the Academy that he will not be attending this year&#39;s ceremony, the Academy have confirmed in a short statement.

They said: &quot;We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this year.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/entertainment-james-francos-new-york-event-cancelled-in-wake-of-sexual-misconduct-allegations-29091" target="_blank">Also Read:&nbsp;James Franco&#39;s New York event cancelled in wake of &#39;sexual misconduct&#39; allegations</a>

Whilst Casey&#39;s reason for backing out of the ceremony has not yet been revealed, it is thought the decision could centre around the rise of the #MeToo movement - which aims to allow women to speak out against sexual harassment - as Casey infamously had two <a href="http://www.wionews.com/life-fun/best-actor-oscar-winner-casey-affleck-addresses-sexual-harassment-allegations-on-him-12961" target="_blank">lawsuits filed against him</a> by women claiming he sexually harassed them in 2010.

Both women alleged that Casey harassed them after working with them on 2010 movie &#39;I&#39;m Still Here&#39;, and whilst the star has denied the claims made against him, it has been reported he has opted not to attend the Oscars in order to keep the focus away from is alleged actions.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/golden-globes-2018-updates-dressed-in-black-hollywood-stars-have-a-message-28820" target="_blank">Also Read:&nbsp;Golden Globes 2018: Dressed in black, Hollywood stars have a message</a>

The lawsuits were settled outside of court for undisclosed amounts, and in the settlement, the actor did not admit any guilt. He and his accusers are barred from discussing details of the case.

As of the time of writing, it is not known who will replace Casey at the ceremony, which is due to take place at Dolby Theatre at Hollywood &amp; Highland Center on March 4.

Credit: BANG Showbiz

Although the actual reason has not been revealed, it is speculated that two sexual harassment claims against him have prompted Afflect to pull out

Casey Affleck has pulled out of presenting the Best Actress award at this year's Oscars ceremony. The 42-year-old actor was due to present the award at the upcoming awards ceremony to keep up the longstanding tradition of the previous year's Best Actor recipient - which Casey picked up for his work on 'Manchester By The Sea' - handing out the gong to the following year's Best Actress. However, the star has informed the Academy that he will not be attending this year's ceremony, the Academy have confirmed in a short statement. They said: "We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this year." Also Read: James Franco's New York event cancelled in wake of 'sexual misconduct' allegations Whilst Casey's reason for backing out of the ceremony has not yet been revealed, it is thought the decision could centre around the rise of the #MeToo movement - which aims to allow women to speak out against sexual harassment - as Casey infamously had two lawsuits filed against him by women claiming he sexually harassed them in 2010. Both women alleged that Casey harassed them after working with them on 2010 movie 'I'm Still Here', and whilst the star has denied the claims made against him, it has been reported he has opted not to attend the Oscars in order to keep the focus away from is alleged actions. Also Read: Golden Globes 2018: Dressed in black, Hollywood stars have a message The lawsuits were settled outside of court for undisclosed amounts, and in the settlement, the actor did not admit any guilt. He and his accusers are barred from discussing details of the case. As of the time of writing, it is not known who will replace Casey at the ceremony, which is due to take place at Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4. Credit: BANG Showbiz

Casey Affleck pulls out of Oscars, will not present Best Actress award

Harvey Weinstein&#39;s former assistant is seeking legal action against the producer, claiming she was forced to clean up after his &quot;sexual encounters&quot;.

The 65-year-old disgraced producer has faced several allegations of historic sexual harassment over the past few months, and now his former assistant Sandeep Rehal is suing Weinstein for allegedly being &quot;forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment.&quot;

According to documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Sandeep is seeking action against Weinstein, his brother Bob, The Weinstein Company and the company&#39;s head of human resources Frank Gil.

Sandeep started working for Weinstein in 2013 when she was 26, and according to the documents, she quit two years later in 2015 when she reached &quot;an emotional breaking point.&quot;

The documents claim that Sandeep was involved in &quot;catering to Harvey Weinstein&#39;s sexual appetites and activities&quot;, including being involved in both the &quot;preparations&quot; and the &quot;clean up&quot; of Weinstein&#39;s &quot;extremely prolific sexual encounters.&quot;

Sandeep also alleges that part of her duties included cleaning up &quot;the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein&#39;s office,&quot; which she claimed, &quot;happened on a regular basis, three or so times a week when Harvey Weinstein was in New York.&quot;

The assistant also alleges that Weinstein &quot;used sexist and sexual language&quot; when speaking to her, as well as claiming the producer made advances on her as he would allegedly &quot;touch her thighs&quot; when she took car rides with him.

Weinstein has already responded to the claims made against him by Sandeep, saying he &quot;categorically denies&quot; the allegations.

A spokesperson for the producer said in a statement: &quot; Mr Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue, a spokesperson.&quot;

Credit: BANG Showbiz

The former assistant claims that she was forced to clean up after his 'sexual encounters'

Harvey Weinstein's former assistant is seeking legal action against the producer, claiming she was forced to clean up after his "sexual encounters". The 65-year-old disgraced producer has faced several allegations of historic sexual harassment over the past few months, and now his former assistant Sandeep Rehal is suing Weinstein for allegedly being "forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment." According to documents obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Sandeep is seeking action against Weinstein, his brother Bob, The Weinstein Company and the company's head of human resources Frank Gil. Sandeep started working for Weinstein in 2013 when she was 26, and according to the documents, she quit two years later in 2015 when she reached "an emotional breaking point." The documents claim that Sandeep was involved in "catering to Harvey Weinstein's sexual appetites and activities", including being involved in both the "preparations" and the "clean up" of Weinstein's "extremely prolific sexual encounters." Sandeep also alleges that part of her duties included cleaning up "the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein's office," which she claimed, "happened on a regular basis, three or so times a week when Harvey Weinstein was in New York." The assistant also alleges that Weinstein "used sexist and sexual language" when speaking to her, as well as claiming the producer made advances on her as he would allegedly "touch her thighs" when she took car rides with him. Weinstein has already responded to the claims made against him by Sandeep, saying he "categorically denies" the allegations. A spokesperson for the producer said in a statement: " Mr Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue, a spokesperson." Credit: BANG Showbiz

Former assistant sues Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein

The Kolkata police arrested a teacher of a private school on Friday for allegedly molesting a class 2 student for the past six months.&nbsp;

Massive protests are being carried out by the parents who gathered outside the school, demanding suspension and punishment for the accused. A police personnel was also hurt during the protest.&nbsp;

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West Bengal: Parents staged protest in front of Carmel Primary School after a teacher allegedly molested a student of Class 2, accused teacher detained by police. <a href="https://t.co/9gSxJ0bhwN">pic.twitter.com/9gSxJ0bhwN</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/961873119391531008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The police said that the child was being sexually abused by her dance teacher when she came to her parents with the complaint on Thursday. Also, one of the agitating parents alleged that the school authorities tried to downplay the matter when they were informed about it.

&quot;It was then we decided to stage a protest outside the school,&quot; he said.

&quot;We have taken the teacher with us to the police station,&quot; the police said, adding the parents assaulted the accused when he was being taken away.

School authorities did not issue any statement till Friday afternoon but Sudeshna Ray, a member of West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said they did not deny the allegation and were &ldquo;sympathetic to the victim and her family,&rdquo; reports said.&nbsp;

The accused was charged under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act after the girl&rsquo;s mother lodged a complaint with the police. 
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The accused was charged under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint with the police

The Kolkata police arrested a teacher of a private school on Friday for allegedly molesting a class 2 student for the past six months. Massive protests are being carried out by the parents who gathered outside the school, demanding suspension and punishment for the accused. A police personnel was also hurt during the protest. West Bengal: Parents staged protest in front of Carmel Primary School after a teacher allegedly molested a student of Class 2, accused teacher detained by police. pic.twitter.com/9gSxJ0bhwN — ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2018 × The police said that the child was being sexually abused by her dance teacher when she came to her parents with the complaint on Thursday. Also, one of the agitating parents alleged that the school authorities tried to downplay the matter when they were informed about it. "It was then we decided to stage a protest outside the school," he said. "We have taken the teacher with us to the police station," the police said, adding the parents assaulted the accused when he was being taken away. School authorities did not issue any statement till Friday afternoon but Sudeshna Ray, a member of West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said they did not deny the allegation and were “sympathetic to the victim and her family,” reports said. The accused was charged under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act after the girl’s mother lodged a complaint with the police.

Kolkata: Teacher molested class 2 student for 6 months, arrested

Pop singer Kesha delivered a powerful statement on behalf of women`s equality at the Grammys on Sunday as she led a fierce performance of &quot;Praying,&quot; her own account of abuse, with A-list back-up from a chorus of stars.

Her face intense and her voice building in ferocity, Kesha brought the crowd at Madison Square Garden to its feet and at times to tears at a time of growing public consciousness about sexual harassment and misconduct.

&quot;Praying&quot; is an autobiographical song clearly directed at Dr. Luke, the producer whom Kesha accuses of raping and psychologically tormenting her.&nbsp;

Even before the rise of the #MeToo movement in response to revelations about Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, Kesha rattled the industry by demanding the end of her contract to work with Dr. Luke, who has denied the assault charges.&nbsp;

&quot;After everything you`ve done / I can thank you for how strong I have become,&quot; Kesha sings.

Kesha performed at the Grammys surrounded by fellow stars including Cyndi Lauper, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello and Andra Day, who offered symbolic and literal support.&nbsp;Kesha embraced them in a bear hug as she finished.

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Kesha tearfully embracing her other singers has me weeping <a href="https://t.co/ZaVFvQelEq">pic.twitter.com/ZaVFvQelEq</a>
&mdash; David Mack (@davidmackau) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmackau/status/957807694777405440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Singer Janelle Monae, introducing Kesha, said that the music industry needed to address its own abuse problems.

&quot;To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time`s Up!&quot; she said, using a slogan for the movement launched on New Year`s Day by hundreds of prominent women in the entertainment industry.&nbsp;&quot;We say time`s up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power,&quot; she said. 
 
Despite the rousing reception, Kesha was passed over for the awards. She was not nominated in major categories and came up short for the two pop prizes for which she was in the running. 
 
Before the Grammys, Kesha tweeted that &quot;I needed this song in a very real way&quot; and that she was nervous to perform.&nbsp;&quot;If you need it, I hope this song finds you,&quot; she wrote.

 
 
 
 
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Pop singer Kesha delivered a powerful statement on behalf of women`s equality at the Grammys on Sunday

Pop singer Kesha delivered a powerful statement on behalf of women`s equality at the Grammys on Sunday as she led a fierce performance of "Praying," her own account of abuse, with A-list back-up from a chorus of stars. Her face intense and her voice building in ferocity, Kesha brought the crowd at Madison Square Garden to its feet and at times to tears at a time of growing public consciousness about sexual harassment and misconduct. "Praying" is an autobiographical song clearly directed at Dr. Luke, the producer whom Kesha accuses of raping and psychologically tormenting her. Even before the rise of the #MeToo movement in response to revelations about Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, Kesha rattled the industry by demanding the end of her contract to work with Dr. Luke, who has denied the assault charges. "After everything you`ve done / I can thank you for how strong I have become," Kesha sings. Kesha performed at the Grammys surrounded by fellow stars including Cyndi Lauper, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello and Andra Day, who offered symbolic and literal support. Kesha embraced them in a bear hug as she finished. Kesha tearfully embracing her other singers has me weeping pic.twitter.com/ZaVFvQelEq — David Mack (@davidmackau) January 29, 2018 × Singer Janelle Monae, introducing Kesha, said that the music industry needed to address its own abuse problems. "To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time`s Up!" she said, using a slogan for the movement launched on New Year`s Day by hundreds of prominent women in the entertainment industry. "We say time`s up for pay inequality, discrimination or harassment of any kind, and the abuse of power," she said. Despite the rousing reception, Kesha was passed over for the awards. She was not nominated in major categories and came up short for the two pop prizes for which she was in the running. Before the Grammys, Kesha tweeted that "I needed this song in a very real way" and that she was nervous to perform. "If you need it, I hope this song finds you," she wrote.

Grammys 2018: Kesha sings powerful song on sexual harassment with A-list singers as her backup chorus

According to a survey, more than 53 per cent children in India faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.

The Upper House of Parliament was informed about the same earlier today.&nbsp;

A 2007 study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development included close to 13,000 children and covered 13 states to gauge child abuse trends across the country, Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir, told Rajya Sabha today.&nbsp;

Children on street, at work and in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault, he said. 
&nbsp; 
Assam, Mizoram, Goa, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala were the states covered by the study.&nbsp;

According to the study, more than half (53%) of the total number of children interviewed for the study reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.

Close to 21 per cent child respondents reported facing severe forms of sexual abuse while 50.76 per cent reported other forms of sexual abuse, the minister noted.&nbsp;

Ahir also revealed that 50 per cent abusers were persons known to the victim and most children did not report the matter to anyone.

(With inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

Children on street, at work and in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault, he said

According to a survey, more than 53 per cent children in India faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. The Upper House of Parliament was informed about the same earlier today. A 2007 study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development included close to 13,000 children and covered 13 states to gauge child abuse trends across the country, Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir, told Rajya Sabha today. Children on street, at work and in institutional care reported the highest incidence of sexual assault, he said. Assam, Mizoram, Goa, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala were the states covered by the study. According to the study, more than half (53%) of the total number of children interviewed for the study reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse. Close to 21 per cent child respondents reported facing severe forms of sexual abuse while 50.76 per cent reported other forms of sexual abuse, the minister noted. Ahir also revealed that 50 per cent abusers were persons known to the victim and most children did not report the matter to anyone. (With inputs from PTI)

'53 per cent children face one or more forms of sexual abuse,' says Minister of State for Home

Thousands of people are expected to march in Los Angeles on Sunday to support victims of sexual assault and harassment, inspired by a social media campaign that has portrayed such abuse as a pervasive feature of American life.

The #MeToo march, which will culminate in a rally at a Hollywood Boulevard intersection, follows a relentless series of accusations by men and women who say they were victimized by high-powered figures in the entertainment industry.

Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Louis C.K. are among the most prominent names to have been accused.

&quot;The conversation around harassment in Hollywood will broaden to include other industries if we force it to! It&rsquo;s not going to do it on its own,&quot; organizers said on a Facebook page for the event.

The events are scheduled to include a march to CNN&#39;s headquarters in Los Angeles and a rally at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland Avenue in the heart of Hollywood.

Five women detailed sexual misconduct accusations against Emmy-winning comedian Louis C.K. in The New York Times on Thursday. He admitted to the misconduct alleged against him in a statement on Friday and apologized for his actions.

The New York Times reported in October that Weinstein, 65, had reached eight previously undisclosed settlements with women who accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact.

The New Yorker magazine reported that 13 women had claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them.

Weinstein has denied all of the accusations against him.

Earlier this month, Spacey apologized to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Spacey&#39;s representatives later said he was seeking treatment.

The allegations have inspired an online campaign, tagged #MeToo, that has encouraged men and women in all walks of life to reveal their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault, often years after they occurred.

The #MeToo march, which will culminate in a rally at a Hollywood Boulevard intersection, follows a relentless series of accusations by men and women who say they were victimized by high-powered figures in the entertainment industry.

Thousands of people are expected to march in Los Angeles on Sunday to support victims of sexual assault and harassment, inspired by a social media campaign that has portrayed such abuse as a pervasive feature of American life. The #MeToo march, which will culminate in a rally at a Hollywood Boulevard intersection, follows a relentless series of accusations by men and women who say they were victimized by high-powered figures in the entertainment industry. Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Louis C.K. are among the most prominent names to have been accused. "The conversation around harassment in Hollywood will broaden to include other industries if we force it to! It’s not going to do it on its own," organizers said on a Facebook page for the event. The events are scheduled to include a march to CNN's headquarters in Los Angeles and a rally at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland Avenue in the heart of Hollywood. Five women detailed sexual misconduct accusations against Emmy-winning comedian Louis C.K. in The New York Times on Thursday. He admitted to the misconduct alleged against him in a statement on Friday and apologized for his actions. The New York Times reported in October that Weinstein, 65, had reached eight previously undisclosed settlements with women who accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact. The New Yorker magazine reported that 13 women had claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them. Weinstein has denied all of the accusations against him. Earlier this month, Spacey apologized to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when Rapp was 14. Spacey's representatives later said he was seeking treatment. The allegations have inspired an online campaign, tagged #MeToo, that has encouraged men and women in all walks of life to reveal their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault, often years after they occurred.

Thousands to join Hollywood #MeToo march against sexual abuse

The recent murder of a boy in a prominent international school has once again reignited focus on the issue of the safety of our children. Good spirited citizens and stalwarts of the child rights movement in India have declared war against the rape of children. This will hopefully raise much-needed awareness and make our population conscious of their role in ensuring our children&rsquo;s safety. However, call me a sceptic, but somehow the efficacy of these campaigns remain debatable (notwithstanding the good intentions behind them) considering how infrequent they are and how little effort is being made to tackle the grassroots&nbsp;problems around child sexual abuse. &nbsp;

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<h5>A more recent study by World Vision revealed that 1 in 2 children are sexually abused.</h5>
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A 2007 Government of India study on the magnitude of child abuse in India revealed that 53 per cent of boys and 47 per cent of girls who were part of the study revealed one or the other form of child sexual abuse. A more recent study by World Vision revealed that 1 in 2 children are sexually abused. In other words, from 2007 to 2017, we haven&rsquo;t had much luck in reducing the number of children who are sexually victimised.&nbsp;

Law enforcement statistics don&rsquo;t inspire much confidence either. A study by the Centre for Child and Law, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru on the functioning of special courts across the country revealed poor conviction rates and poorer compliance with the beneficial procedures for trial under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Poor quality investigations and prosecutions, lack of means to achieve expeditious administration of justice and, therefore, excellent acquittal rates, were as many problems a decade back as they are now. What has changed after years of campaigns and protests? The law? Yes. But are our children any less victimised? No. Where are we going wrong then?

On the prevention front, most states are yet to formulate child protection policies for children at school. Schools in Bangalore that saw incidents of child sexual abuse on campus early on, following the enactment of the POCSO Act, continue to function without much consequences. University and school campuses in the United States of America have suffered prohibitive orders for payment of damages that just makes it too expensive for them to not take the safety of students on campus seriously. When will we see such accountability in India?&nbsp;

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<h5>Our discomfort around the subject of sexuality and corresponding safety translates to ignorance for our children.</h5>
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Secondly, parents continue to transfer the onus of safety and sexuality education to educational institutions without making that a conversation at home. Our discomfort around the subject of sexuality and corresponding safety translates to ignorance for our children. Couple that with a culture of body shaming and pressure to achieve and our kids are not only ignorant but lack self-esteem. The result is vulnerability to abuse: emotional, physical and sexual. Plus, we also have a recurring and more widespread problem of incestuous child sexual abuse at home. Still, we continue to teach our children to obey elders without question. So this begs the question, are we holding ourselves accountable for failing in our duty to educate and empower our kids?

While the crime prevention dynamic is pathetic, crime investigations and prosecution fare no better. Our law enforcement agencies lack specialisation and a culture of research which is necessary to ensure effective institutions. Yet no campaign so far has demanded that the Government of India institute a program on the lines of the Behavioral Sciences Unit of the FBI in the USA. We still don&rsquo;t understand the child sex offender, because thus far, law enforcement has made no effort to study them to understand the patterns and motives governing these crimes.

Only one researcher in Criminology tried to study convicted rapists in India and our law enforcement must ask themselves why it was a good spirited citizen and not them that made this first effort. On an average, a DNA test report takes 18 months because we don&rsquo;t have enough forensic science laboratories. The sum total of these failures is that we don&rsquo;t have effective investigation tools and techniques to catch sex offenders quickly and effectively.&nbsp;

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<h5>While we are content distributing sweets when rapists are sentenced to death and we burn police stations, we refuse to focus on what we really need to prevent, deter and punish crimes against women and children.</h5>
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Yet none of our campaigns so far have demanded the reforms necessary to address the above problems. While we are content distributing sweets when rapists are sentenced to death and we burn police stations, we refuse to focus on what we really need to prevent, deter and punish crimes against women and children. So far, the movement for victim&rsquo;s rights has suffered from intellectual laziness and profound insensitivity to the real problems on the ground. The reactive approach to sex crimes has served the only purpose of venting emotion and changing laws but has failed to achieve the necessary means to enforce those laws effectively. This begs the last question, are we holding ourselves accountable for our inefficiency as citizen activists?

Lastly, you might ask- who am I to judge people&rsquo;s emotions on the streets? I am a nobody, I admit. In fact, I shudder to put myself in the shoes of the child or the family that has been victimised by or affected by child sexual abuse. It is a nightmare in every sense of the word. But solutions I am afraid, come from a clinical approach to crime, bereft of emotions and supported by objective research. No doubt we should be angry and no doubt that we should empathise with the child who lost his life. But that anger and that empathy will go to a waste if we can&rsquo;t make our country safer for the other children out there. Can we, therefore, take a breather, sit on the drawing table and start planning and then act? For I feel that the war on rape can be won with strategy and not by a spontaneous call for action.

What has changed after years of campaigns and protests? The law. But are our children any less victimised? No.

The recent murder of a boy in a prominent international school has once again reignited focus on the issue of the safety of our children. Good spirited citizens and stalwarts of the child rights movement in India have declared war against the rape of children. This will hopefully raise much-needed awareness and make our population conscious of their role in ensuring our children’s safety. However, call me a sceptic, but somehow the efficacy of these campaigns remain debatable (notwithstanding the good intentions behind them) considering how infrequent they are and how little effort is being made to tackle the grassroots problems around child sexual abuse. A more recent study by World Vision revealed that 1 in 2 children are sexually abused. × A 2007 Government of India study on the magnitude of child abuse in India revealed that 53 per cent of boys and 47 per cent of girls who were part of the study revealed one or the other form of child sexual abuse. A more recent study by World Vision revealed that 1 in 2 children are sexually abused. In other words, from 2007 to 2017, we haven’t had much luck in reducing the number of children who are sexually victimised. Law enforcement statistics don’t inspire much confidence either. A study by the Centre for Child and Law, National Law School of India University, Bengaluru on the functioning of special courts across the country revealed poor conviction rates and poorer compliance with the beneficial procedures for trial under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Poor quality investigations and prosecutions, lack of means to achieve expeditious administration of justice and, therefore, excellent acquittal rates, were as many problems a decade back as they are now. What has changed after years of campaigns and protests? The law? Yes. But are our children any less victimised? No. Where are we going wrong then? On the prevention front, most states are yet to formulate child protection policies for children at school. Schools in Bangalore that saw incidents of child sexual abuse on campus early on, following the enactment of the POCSO Act, continue to function without much consequences. University and school campuses in the United States of America have suffered prohibitive orders for payment of damages that just makes it too expensive for them to not take the safety of students on campus seriously. When will we see such accountability in India? Our discomfort around the subject of sexuality and corresponding safety translates to ignorance for our children. × Secondly, parents continue to transfer the onus of safety and sexuality education to educational institutions without making that a conversation at home. Our discomfort around the subject of sexuality and corresponding safety translates to ignorance for our children. Couple that with a culture of body shaming and pressure to achieve and our kids are not only ignorant but lack self-esteem. The result is vulnerability to abuse: emotional, physical and sexual. Plus, we also have a recurring and more widespread problem of incestuous child sexual abuse at home. Still, we continue to teach our children to obey elders without question. So this begs the question, are we holding ourselves accountable for failing in our duty to educate and empower our kids? While the crime prevention dynamic is pathetic, crime investigations and prosecution fare no better. Our law enforcement agencies lack specialisation and a culture of research which is necessary to ensure effective institutions. Yet no campaign so far has demanded that the Government of India institute a program on the lines of the Behavioral Sciences Unit of the FBI in the USA. We still don’t understand the child sex offender, because thus far, law enforcement has made no effort to study them to understand the patterns and motives governing these crimes. Only one researcher in Criminology tried to study convicted rapists in India and our law enforcement must ask themselves why it was a good spirited citizen and not them that made this first effort. On an average, a DNA test report takes 18 months because we don’t have enough forensic science laboratories. The sum total of these failures is that we don’t have effective investigation tools and techniques to catch sex offenders quickly and effectively. While we are content distributing sweets when rapists are sentenced to death and we burn police stations, we refuse to focus on what we really need to prevent, deter and punish crimes against women and children. × Yet none of our campaigns so far have demanded the reforms necessary to address the above problems. While we are content distributing sweets when rapists are sentenced to death and we burn police stations, we refuse to focus on what we really need to prevent, deter and punish crimes against women and children. So far, the movement for victim’s rights has suffered from intellectual laziness and profound insensitivity to the real problems on the ground. The reactive approach to sex crimes has served the only purpose of venting emotion and changing laws but has failed to achieve the necessary means to enforce those laws effectively. This begs the last question, are we holding ourselves accountable for our inefficiency as citizen activists? Lastly, you might ask- who am I to judge people’s emotions on the streets? I am a nobody, I admit. In fact, I shudder to put myself in the shoes of the child or the family that has been victimised by or affected by child sexual abuse. It is a nightmare in every sense of the word. But solutions I am afraid, come from a clinical approach to crime, bereft of emotions and supported by objective research. No doubt we should be angry and no doubt that we should empathise with the child who lost his life. But that anger and that empathy will go to a waste if we can’t make our country safer for the other children out there. Can we, therefore, take a breather, sit on the drawing table and start planning and then act? For I feel that the war on rape can be won with strategy and not by a spontaneous call for action.

Why Child Rights campaigns in India have failed to stop incidents like Ryan school murder

A ten-year-old girl got justice after being sexually assaulted by her uncle more than two years back.

The court sentenced the uncle after looking at the sketches made by the girl&nbsp;indicating sexual abuse and emotional as well as mental trauma.

Apparently, the girl was given paper and crayons while waiting to keep her distracted. It was then that she drew an abandoned house, a girl holding balloons, and a dress lying beside her. She chose dull colours to fill the drawing. The sketch was used as an evidence to prove her allegations.

The girl was disowned by her drunkard father after her mother died in Kolkata.

She lived with her aunt in Delhi after that. It was during this&nbsp;time that her uncle, Akhter Ahmed, assaulted her a number of times.

She fled her home and was found in a bus in November 2014. She was provided with care and rehabilitation and was slowly getting over her disturbing past. In a medical test, it could be concluded that she had been possibly assaulted sexually. Members of HAQ Centre for Child Rights counselled her and she slowly revealed to them her afflictions, but it still took them time to piece together a description of Ahmed. When traced in June 2016, he claimed not guilty.&nbsp;

In the presence of the additional sessions judge Vinod Yadav, Ahmed&#39;s lawyer contested that the girl had been brainwashed into blaming him of rape and could not be considered &#39;competent witness&#39;.

After comprehending the girl&#39;s sketch, the judge said &quot;If the elements of this drawing are considered in the background of facts and circumstances of this case, then commission of sexual assault upon her by somebody in her house after undressing her, and it leaving an impression upon her mind, becomes evident. Therefore, I find the child victim to be a competent witness. Her so-called saviour had committed repeated sexual assault on her.&quot;

The court sentenced Ahmed of five years&#39; jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000 on the grounds that the sexual abuse was not penetrative. A compensation of Rs 3 lakh in fixed deposits was also announced&nbsp;for the girl&#39;s welfare and rehabilitation. It also praised HAQ counsellors Pearl Messy and Uzma Parveen for providing the child with institutional care.

&quot;The legal battle is over. The girl lives in a children&#39;s home and is attending regular school. She is doing very well in her studies and hopefully the compensation will help to build a bright future for her,&quot; her lawyer and child rights activist Chandra Suman Kumar told media reporters.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Two years being after raped by uncle, Kolkata girl got justice after providing her sketches as evidence in the court

A ten-year-old girl got justice after being sexually assaulted by her uncle more than two years back. The court sentenced the uncle after looking at the sketches made by the girl indicating sexual abuse and emotional as well as mental trauma. Apparently, the girl was given paper and crayons while waiting to keep her distracted. It was then that she drew an abandoned house, a girl holding balloons, and a dress lying beside her. She chose dull colours to fill the drawing. The sketch was used as an evidence to prove her allegations. The girl was disowned by her drunkard father after her mother died in Kolkata. She lived with her aunt in Delhi after that. It was during this time that her uncle, Akhter Ahmed, assaulted her a number of times. She fled her home and was found in a bus in November 2014. She was provided with care and rehabilitation and was slowly getting over her disturbing past. In a medical test, it could be concluded that she had been possibly assaulted sexually. Members of HAQ Centre for Child Rights counselled her and she slowly revealed to them her afflictions, but it still took them time to piece together a description of Ahmed. When traced in June 2016, he claimed not guilty. In the presence of the additional sessions judge Vinod Yadav, Ahmed's lawyer contested that the girl had been brainwashed into blaming him of rape and could not be considered 'competent witness'. After comprehending the girl's sketch, the judge said "If the elements of this drawing are considered in the background of facts and circumstances of this case, then commission of sexual assault upon her by somebody in her house after undressing her, and it leaving an impression upon her mind, becomes evident. Therefore, I find the child victim to be a competent witness. Her so-called saviour had committed repeated sexual assault on her." The court sentenced Ahmed of five years' jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000 on the grounds that the sexual abuse was not penetrative. A compensation of Rs 3 lakh in fixed deposits was also announced for the girl's welfare and rehabilitation. It also praised HAQ counsellors Pearl Messy and Uzma Parveen for providing the child with institutional care. "The legal battle is over. The girl lives in a children's home and is attending regular school. She is doing very well in her studies and hopefully the compensation will help to build a bright future for her," her lawyer and child rights activist Chandra Suman Kumar told media reporters.

Delhi court takes cognisance of 10-year-old girl's sketches to convict uncle of rape

Children of the Street Society, a charity dedicated at&nbsp;preventing sexual exploitation and human trafficking of children and youth has come out with a new ad campaign titled &lsquo;Uncertain Terms&rsquo; on March 6. The campaign features a series of visuals that aims to make youngsters aware of scenarios that they nonchalantly agree to, while sexting.&nbsp;

It makes you question what happens in the course of sexting and would you continue if you read a &ldquo;Terms of Service&rdquo; (ToS) every time you decided to send an explicit photo.&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eqvoE-EeWPA" width="970"></iframe>

In one ad, the ToS tells a user that by clicking on the send button, she accepts &ldquo;to do as the recipient demands, including but not limited to sending more and more compromising photos.&rdquo; It reminds users to be wary while sending pictures as there is a possibility of them not remaining private after all. There is always a risk of these reaching friends and family, someday.&nbsp;

In another ad, it questions the equation between hypothetical sexters: &ldquo;Do you want him to have so much power over you?&rdquo;. It explores the likelihood of exploitation using photos and videos as a source of blackmail.&nbsp;

The ad series is impactful in its narrative and visual depiction which is both simple and&nbsp;hard-hitting. It talks about issues that we are aware of, but don&rsquo;t particularly give importance to.&nbsp;

In the third ad, user is asked be mindful of how much is being shared.&nbsp;

The three warning message would look like this if it became a reality:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/image%20tweeted%20out%20by%20alyssa%20(10)-20170406100313.png" />
<div class="media-description">
Campaign focuses on the issue of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. (Facebook)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/image%20tweeted%20out%20by%20alyssa%20(9)-20170406075048.png" />
<div class="media-description">
Campaign focuses on the issue of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. (Facebook)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/image%20tweeted%20out%20by%20alyssa%20(11)-20170406100343.png" />
<div class="media-description">
Campaign focuses on the issue of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. (Facebook)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Would it deter you or at least make you think about your action?&nbsp;

Predator Watch is a program of Children of the Street Society. It brings to fore issues of sexual exploitation through education strategies, public awareness initiatives, and family support. This campaign, primarily focuses on the aspect of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours.

These ads will appear in Vancouver transit shelters for four weeks. The video ad will run on TV and online through September.

Sexting is a serious issue, one that needs to be regulated but how far are we ready to go to protect the youth and does it impinge on their privacy?&nbsp;

(WION)

New ad campaign titled ?Uncertain Terms? is aimed at making teens aware of sexual exploitation

Children of the Street Society, a charity dedicated at preventing sexual exploitation and human trafficking of children and youth has come out with a new ad campaign titled ‘Uncertain Terms’ on March 6. The campaign features a series of visuals that aims to make youngsters aware of scenarios that they nonchalantly agree to, while sexting. It makes you question what happens in the course of sexting and would you continue if you read a “Terms of Service” (ToS) every time you decided to send an explicit photo. In one ad, the ToS tells a user that by clicking on the send button, she accepts “to do as the recipient demands, including but not limited to sending more and more compromising photos.” It reminds users to be wary while sending pictures as there is a possibility of them not remaining private after all. There is always a risk of these reaching friends and family, someday. In another ad, it questions the equation between hypothetical sexters: “Do you want him to have so much power over you?”. It explores the likelihood of exploitation using photos and videos as a source of blackmail. The ad series is impactful in its narrative and visual depiction which is both simple and hard-hitting. It talks about issues that we are aware of, but don’t particularly give importance to. In the third ad, user is asked be mindful of how much is being shared. The three warning message would look like this if it became a reality: Campaign focuses on the issue of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. (Facebook) × Campaign focuses on the issue of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. (Facebook) × Campaign focuses on the issue of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. (Facebook) × Would it deter you or at least make you think about your action? Predator Watch is a program of Children of the Street Society. It brings to fore issues of sexual exploitation through education strategies, public awareness initiatives, and family support. This campaign, primarily focuses on the aspect of sextortion, or the use of sexual images to blackmail for further images, videos or sexual favours. These ads will appear in Vancouver transit shelters for four weeks. The video ad will run on TV and online through September. Sexting is a serious issue, one that needs to be regulated but how far are we ready to go to protect the youth and does it impinge on their privacy? (WION)

What if you had to accept Terms of Services before you engaged in sexting?

Marie Collins, an Irish survivor of clerical sex abuse, resigned Wednesday from Pope Francis&#39;s child protection panel, accusing senior Vatican officials of &quot;shameful&quot; blocking of reforms approved by the pontiff.

Collins&#39;s departure and her depiction of high-level obstruction of change is an embarrassing blow to the pontiff&#39;s attempts to demonstrate that the Church is effectively combating a scourge that has profoundly damaged its image over recent decades.

The 70-year-old, who was raped by a hospital chaplain at 13, explained her decision in an article for the National Catholic Reporter (NCR).

&quot;As a survivor I have watched events unfold with dismay,&quot; she wrote.

Her resignation happened days after Francis came under fire for reducing sanctions imposed on some paedophile priests in line with his desire for the Church to be more merciful across a range of issues.

Collins&#39;s departure leaves the Pontifical Commission on the Protection of Minors with no abuse survivors working for it.

Briton Peter Saunders was sidelined last year after a row over the panel&#39;s handling of allegations of serial abuse by an Italian priest that were brought to its attention.

He described Collins&#39;s departure as &quot;sad but somewhat inevitable&quot;.

The final straw

&quot;For the Commission it is a disaster to have no survivors represented. It has blown a huge hole in its credentials,&quot; he told AFP.

In her resignation letter, Collins said she believed Francis had acted sincerely when he set up the panel in March 2014 with a brief to advise him on concrete steps to ensure the safety of minors within Catholic institutions.

&quot;However, despite the Holy Father approving all the recommendations made to him by the Commission, there have been constant setbacks,&quot; she said.

&quot;This has been directly due to the resistance by some members of the Vatican Curia (administration) to the work of the Commission. The lack of co-operation, particularly by the dicastery (Vatican ministry) most closely involved in dealing with cases of abuse, has been shameful.&quot;

Collins said the final straw came in January when officials refused to guarantee that all letters from victims/survivors would receive a response or to cooperate with the commission on developing safeguarding guidelines.

&quot;It is a reflection of how this whole abuse crisis in the Church has been handled: with fine words in public and contrary actions behind closed doors,&quot; she wrote in her NCR article.

&#39;Education needed&#39;

The panel&#39;s chair, American cardinal Sean O&#39;Malley, said the body would &quot;listen carefully&quot; to Collins&#39;s criticisms.

Another panel member, German priest and academic Hans Zollner, said that while he understood his colleague&#39;s frustration, reformers had to be realistic about the pace of change.

&quot;This is a long-term education job,&quot; he told AFP.

Saunders, who was asked to leave the commission last year after denouncing it as an exercise in window dressing, said it needed &quot;an injection of outside blood&quot;.

He added: &quot;Unless Francis pulls his finger out and gets rid of some people nothing is going to change. Will he do that? That is the big question. But he really needs to sit down with survivors and child protection experts and talk with them about what needs to happen.&quot;

Crime and sin

Since his election in 2013, Francis has repeatedly promised to root out abusers, once describing their actions as comparable to participating in a Satanic mass.

He has also attempted to end what critics say is a cover-up culture, notably by introducing new rules allowing for negligent bishops to be dismissed over abuse cases in their dioceses.

In his most recent comment on the issue, in a December letter to bishops, he called for a renewed commitment to &quot;zero tolerance,&quot; implicitly acknowledging much remains to be done.

Critics say the Church remains reluctant to hand paedophile priests over to criminal authorities.

And last week&#39;s confirmation that Francis had authorised a reduction of sanctions imposed on some paedophile priests triggered fresh accusations of complacency.

&quot;Pope Francis needs to remember that there is a difference between crime and sin,&quot; said Joelle Casteix of the US survivor network SNAP.

&quot;The place for mercy is with victims and children, not offending clergy.&quot;

(AFP)

Collins departure has dealt a blow to the pontiff's efforts to remove the scourge that has damaged the church's reputation

Marie Collins, an Irish survivor of clerical sex abuse, resigned Wednesday from Pope Francis's child protection panel, accusing senior Vatican officials of "shameful" blocking of reforms approved by the pontiff. Collins's departure and her depiction of high-level obstruction of change is an embarrassing blow to the pontiff's attempts to demonstrate that the Church is effectively combating a scourge that has profoundly damaged its image over recent decades. The 70-year-old, who was raped by a hospital chaplain at 13, explained her decision in an article for the National Catholic Reporter (NCR). "As a survivor I have watched events unfold with dismay," she wrote. Her resignation happened days after Francis came under fire for reducing sanctions imposed on some paedophile priests in line with his desire for the Church to be more merciful across a range of issues. Collins's departure leaves the Pontifical Commission on the Protection of Minors with no abuse survivors working for it. Briton Peter Saunders was sidelined last year after a row over the panel's handling of allegations of serial abuse by an Italian priest that were brought to its attention. He described Collins's departure as "sad but somewhat inevitable". The final straw "For the Commission it is a disaster to have no survivors represented. It has blown a huge hole in its credentials," he told AFP. In her resignation letter, Collins said she believed Francis had acted sincerely when he set up the panel in March 2014 with a brief to advise him on concrete steps to ensure the safety of minors within Catholic institutions. "However, despite the Holy Father approving all the recommendations made to him by the Commission, there have been constant setbacks," she said. "This has been directly due to the resistance by some members of the Vatican Curia (administration) to the work of the Commission. The lack of co-operation, particularly by the dicastery (Vatican ministry) most closely involved in dealing with cases of abuse, has been shameful." Collins said the final straw came in January when officials refused to guarantee that all letters from victims/survivors would receive a response or to cooperate with the commission on developing safeguarding guidelines. "It is a reflection of how this whole abuse crisis in the Church has been handled: with fine words in public and contrary actions behind closed doors," she wrote in her NCR article. 'Education needed' The panel's chair, American cardinal Sean O'Malley, said the body would "listen carefully" to Collins's criticisms. Another panel member, German priest and academic Hans Zollner, said that while he understood his colleague's frustration, reformers had to be realistic about the pace of change. "This is a long-term education job," he told AFP. Saunders, who was asked to leave the commission last year after denouncing it as an exercise in window dressing, said it needed "an injection of outside blood". He added: "Unless Francis pulls his finger out and gets rid of some people nothing is going to change. Will he do that? That is the big question. But he really needs to sit down with survivors and child protection experts and talk with them about what needs to happen." Crime and sin Since his election in 2013, Francis has repeatedly promised to root out abusers, once describing their actions as comparable to participating in a Satanic mass. He has also attempted to end what critics say is a cover-up culture, notably by introducing new rules allowing for negligent bishops to be dismissed over abuse cases in their dioceses. In his most recent comment on the issue, in a December letter to bishops, he called for a renewed commitment to "zero tolerance," implicitly acknowledging much remains to be done. Critics say the Church remains reluctant to hand paedophile priests over to criminal authorities. And last week's confirmation that Francis had authorised a reduction of sanctions imposed on some paedophile priests triggered fresh accusations of complacency. "Pope Francis needs to remember that there is a difference between crime and sin," said Joelle Casteix of the US survivor network SNAP. "The place for mercy is with victims and children, not offending clergy." (AFP)

Survivor of clerical sex abuse quits panel, slams Vatican for not effecting reforms

German military and government officials condemned sexual abuse and other violence at a special operations training centre in the southern German city of Pfullendorf, and said seven soldiers were under criminal investigation.

The military said in a statement the incidents, first reported by &#39;Spiegel Online&#39;, involved hazing and abuse. They were particularly troubling given earlier reports of maltreatment of women in another unit at the training centre.

It said the latest incidents revealed &quot;grave deficits in leadership&quot; at the facility and promised serious consequences.

&quot;Discharge proceedings have been initiated against seven soldiers and seven additional soldiers will be moved to different postings,&quot; a spokesman for the German defence ministry said on Saturday.

Spiegel said &quot;sexual-sadist practices&quot; and violent rituals were widespread at the Staufer barracks, and included soldiers being tied down for hours and hosed down with water.

Hans-Peter Bartels, who fields complaints from soldiers for parliament, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper the incidents reflected lingering &quot;macho behaviour that should not be tolerated.&quot;

Bartels&#39; told lawmakers in his annual report this week that the number of reported sexual assaults in the military rose 52 per cent to 131 in 2016, but the actual number was likely higher.

&quot;What happened at the training centre is repulsive and despicable,&quot; defence secretary Ursula von der Leyen told broadcaster ARD on Friday evening. She promised a thorough investigation.

Rainer Arnold, defence speaker for the Social Democratic parliamentary fraction, called for a special session of the Bundestag&#39;s defence committee to examine the issue.

&quot;This is a case where things were tolerated and nothing was said,&quot; Arnold told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.

(Reuters)

Defence secretary Ursula von der Leyen called the incidents 'repulsive and despicable' and promised a thorough investigation into the matter

German military and government officials condemned sexual abuse and other violence at a special operations training centre in the southern German city of Pfullendorf, and said seven soldiers were under criminal investigation. The military said in a statement the incidents, first reported by 'Spiegel Online', involved hazing and abuse. They were particularly troubling given earlier reports of maltreatment of women in another unit at the training centre. It said the latest incidents revealed "grave deficits in leadership" at the facility and promised serious consequences. "Discharge proceedings have been initiated against seven soldiers and seven additional soldiers will be moved to different postings," a spokesman for the German defence ministry said on Saturday. Spiegel said "sexual-sadist practices" and violent rituals were widespread at the Staufer barracks, and included soldiers being tied down for hours and hosed down with water. Hans-Peter Bartels, who fields complaints from soldiers for parliament, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper the incidents reflected lingering "macho behaviour that should not be tolerated." Bartels' told lawmakers in his annual report this week that the number of reported sexual assaults in the military rose 52 per cent to 131 in 2016, but the actual number was likely higher. "What happened at the training centre is repulsive and despicable," defence secretary Ursula von der Leyen told broadcaster ARD on Friday evening. She promised a thorough investigation. Rainer Arnold, defence speaker for the Social Democratic parliamentary fraction, called for a special session of the Bundestag's defence committee to examine the issue. "This is a case where things were tolerated and nothing was said," Arnold told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. (Reuters)

German officials condemn sexual abuses at training centre

The Bengaluru mass molestation has evoked a litany of anguished complaints against our collective existence as civilised human beings. Data crunching is being done to show, rightly, that precious little has changed despite the amended rape law or the oft-repeated promises on women&rsquo;s security. Half-a-billion citizens of this country have to try hard, on an everyday basis, to keep their bodily integrity intact.

But why is everybody silent about the body, the focal point of this discourse?

One of the challenges facing a sexual assault victim is to regain her ability to love her body as before. Almost everything around her stymies this effort. PTSD, somatic symptoms&nbsp;and depression are some of the commonly spoken about aftermaths of a sexual assault. The assaulted body not only bears the marks of the violation suffered, it also writhes in neglect and loathing. The victim fights a battle with not just the world outside but also within and the body is caught in this crossfire.

While studying child sexual abuse in the Jewish community, Rachel Lev, a US-based clinical psychologist, observed that insensitivity and ignorance displayed by institutions around the victim (healthcare, education, security, religion et al) severely hinder recovery and healing of the victims. Lev&rsquo;s 2003 book &lsquo;Shine the Light: Sexual Abuse and Healing in the Jewish Community&rsquo; emphasises the need for &ldquo;compassionate, informed and proactive community&rdquo; that helps in healing. An earlier research on rape victims (University of Illinois, 2001) establishes that while positive social reaction has a&nbsp;negligible impact on victim&rsquo;s recovery, negative social reactions hinder it substantially. Ironically, it is the community&rsquo;s collective failure that breeds sexual assault on an industrial scale.

How, then, can the victim emerge from the cesspool of shame, trauma and that unhealthy tendency of seeing the body as the cause of her woes? There are no prescribed answers or standard operating procedures. Yet, there can be some universal whistle points. To begin with, it is essential to recognise sexual assault to be what it is: a criminal act. Just like stealing, robbery, and murder. The victim needs to learn and internalise it. A sparkling SUV, straight out of the showroom, did not ASK to be stolen. It just was.

The body has an inbuilt self-healing mechanism. The victim needs to tap that. The ableist approach in combating violence against women, with its insistence on putting the onus of safety on the potential victim, has been rightly criticised by the gender equality activists and other stakeholders. However, a lot stands to be gained while leveraging the ability of a victim, post facto. It is also a step towards establishing a continuum of empathy. A victim, at ease with herself, is likely to extend support to those who need it. Mukhtar Mai of Pakistan, Sunitha Krishnan of Bengaluru, and Suzette Jordan of Kolkata were assaulted but not broken.

A victim has no agency in deciding what happens to her body. The victims of child sexual abuse do not even have the vocabulary to describe either their bodies or what is done to them. Yet, there is a shroud of shame with which the victim is expected to cover her bruised honour with. The body does not get impure or tainted by unwanted touch or penetration. Yes, it causes pain physical and mental. The ideas of impurity and honour are carefully placed constructs to silence the victims.

Silence suits the perpetrators and, unfortunately, even some secondary survivors. A victim&rsquo;s loved ones are the co-sufferers of an assault, yet the worst ordeal is reserved for the victim herself. Do remember the &lsquo;honourable&rsquo; killings (inclusive of abetment to suicide) of countless women by family members during the Partition because they were or could be sexually assaulted. Thus, the onus to reclaim the battered body needs to be on the victim. Negative social reactions to assault or even the body in the first place, however, disallows this process of rebuilding.

Learning to see the&nbsp;body as a&nbsp;whole and not disambiguated body parts, with a hierarchy of honour to define them, is the first step towards recovery. Learning to see a crime as crime is the essential second. When the individual heals, society heals. And vice versa.

(WION)

Ideas of impurity and honour are carefully-placed constructs to silence victims of sexual attacks

The Bengaluru mass molestation has evoked a litany of anguished complaints against our collective existence as civilised human beings. Data crunching is being done to show, rightly, that precious little has changed despite the amended rape law or the oft-repeated promises on women’s security. Half-a-billion citizens of this country have to try hard, on an everyday basis, to keep their bodily integrity intact. But why is everybody silent about the body, the focal point of this discourse? One of the challenges facing a sexual assault victim is to regain her ability to love her body as before. Almost everything around her stymies this effort. PTSD, somatic symptoms and depression are some of the commonly spoken about aftermaths of a sexual assault. The assaulted body not only bears the marks of the violation suffered, it also writhes in neglect and loathing. The victim fights a battle with not just the world outside but also within and the body is caught in this crossfire. While studying child sexual abuse in the Jewish community, Rachel Lev, a US-based clinical psychologist, observed that insensitivity and ignorance displayed by institutions around the victim (healthcare, education, security, religion et al) severely hinder recovery and healing of the victims. Lev’s 2003 book ‘Shine the Light: Sexual Abuse and Healing in the Jewish Community’ emphasises the need for “compassionate, informed and proactive community” that helps in healing. An earlier research on rape victims (University of Illinois, 2001) establishes that while positive social reaction has a negligible impact on victim’s recovery, negative social reactions hinder it substantially. Ironically, it is the community’s collective failure that breeds sexual assault on an industrial scale. How, then, can the victim emerge from the cesspool of shame, trauma and that unhealthy tendency of seeing the body as the cause of her woes? There are no prescribed answers or standard operating procedures. Yet, there can be some universal whistle points. To begin with, it is essential to recognise sexual assault to be what it is: a criminal act. Just like stealing, robbery, and murder. The victim needs to learn and internalise it. A sparkling SUV, straight out of the showroom, did not ASK to be stolen. It just was. The body has an inbuilt self-healing mechanism. The victim needs to tap that. The ableist approach in combating violence against women, with its insistence on putting the onus of safety on the potential victim, has been rightly criticised by the gender equality activists and other stakeholders. However, a lot stands to be gained while leveraging the ability of a victim, post facto. It is also a step towards establishing a continuum of empathy. A victim, at ease with herself, is likely to extend support to those who need it. Mukhtar Mai of Pakistan, Sunitha Krishnan of Bengaluru, and Suzette Jordan of Kolkata were assaulted but not broken. A victim has no agency in deciding what happens to her body. The victims of child sexual abuse do not even have the vocabulary to describe either their bodies or what is done to them. Yet, there is a shroud of shame with which the victim is expected to cover her bruised honour with. The body does not get impure or tainted by unwanted touch or penetration. Yes, it causes pain physical and mental. The ideas of impurity and honour are carefully placed constructs to silence the victims. Silence suits the perpetrators and, unfortunately, even some secondary survivors. A victim’s loved ones are the co-sufferers of an assault, yet the worst ordeal is reserved for the victim herself. Do remember the ‘honourable’ killings (inclusive of abetment to suicide) of countless women by family members during the Partition because they were or could be sexually assaulted. Thus, the onus to reclaim the battered body needs to be on the victim. Negative social reactions to assault or even the body in the first place, however, disallows this process of rebuilding. Learning to see the body as a whole and not disambiguated body parts, with a hierarchy of honour to define them, is the first step towards recovery. Learning to see a crime as crime is the essential second. When the individual heals, society heals. And vice versa. (WION)

Bengaluru mass molestation: Woman's scarred psyche and society's unholy mind

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