Renowned opera singer David Daniels and his husband have pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another singer in Houston.

Daniels, 57, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Scott Walters, 40, entered the pleas Friday after a jury was assembled for the trial of the pair on first-degree felony charges of aggravated sexual assault.

Both pleaded guilty to sexual assault of an adult, a second-degree felony and were sentenced to eight years probation and required to register as sex offenders.

Daniels, Walters and their attorney declined to comment following the hearing.

Daniels and Walters were charged in 2019 when Samuel Schultz filed a criminal complaint in 2018 alleging the two assaulted him in 2010 after he met them at a Houston Grand Opera reception while he was a graduate student at Rice University.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-on-james-gunns-birthday-revisiting-slither-%E2%80%94-a-darkly-funny-and-terrifying-ride-622725">On James Gunn's birthday, revisiting Slither — a darkly funny and terrifying ride</a>

Schultz said he was invited to their apartment and given a drink that led him to slip in and out of consciousness. He awoke alone and naked.

The AP doesn’t normally name victims of sexual assault, but Schultz offered to publicly identify himself to help others fearful of reporting an assault.

Daniels, a countertenor, was fired as a University of Michigan professor and was removed by the San Francisco Opera from a production of Handel’s “Orlando” after sexual assault allegations by a student at the university in 2018.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Michigan, alleged Daniels groped the male student and sent and requested sexual photos. The lawsuit also alleged that Daniels served the student alcohol, gave him sleep medication and touched him sexually.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Renowned opera singer David Daniels and his husband have pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another singer in Houston. Daniels, 57, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Scott Walters, 40, entered the pleas Friday after a jury was assembled for the trial of the pair on first-degree felony charges of aggravated sexual assault.

Renowned opera singer David Daniels and his husband have pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another singer in Houston. Daniels, 57, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Scott Walters, 40, entered the pleas Friday after a jury was assembled for the trial of the pair on first-degree felony charges of aggravated sexual assault. Both pleaded guilty to sexual assault of an adult, a second-degree felony and were sentenced to eight years probation and required to register as sex offenders. Daniels, Walters and their attorney declined to comment following the hearing. Daniels and Walters were charged in 2019 when Samuel Schultz filed a criminal complaint in 2018 alleging the two assaulted him in 2010 after he met them at a Houston Grand Opera reception while he was a graduate student at Rice University. Also read: On James Gunn's birthday, revisiting Slither — a darkly funny and terrifying ride Schultz said he was invited to their apartment and given a drink that led him to slip in and out of consciousness. He awoke alone and naked. The AP doesn’t normally name victims of sexual assault, but Schultz offered to publicly identify himself to help others fearful of reporting an assault. Daniels, a countertenor, was fired as a University of Michigan professor and was removed by the San Francisco Opera from a production of Handel’s “Orlando” after sexual assault allegations by a student at the university in 2018. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Michigan, alleged Daniels groped the male student and sent and requested sexual photos. The lawsuit also alleged that Daniels served the student alcohol, gave him sleep medication and touched him sexually. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Opera singer David Daniels and his husband plead guilty to sexual assault

A $2 million lawsuit has been filed against Delta Airlines after a man sexually assaulted a mother and her teenage daughter during a nine-hour flight in the US, according to Fox Business.

A $2 million lawsuit has been filed against Delta Airlines after a man sexually assaulted a mother and her teenage daughter during a nine-hour flight in the US, according to Fox Business. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of New York, claims that a man on the flight was served at least 10 vodka drinks and a glass of wine while he groped a 16-year-old girl and slid hands under the mother's clothes. "The intoxicated Delta passenger appeared to be getting drunker and drunker as the Delta flight attendants continued serving him alcohol," the complaint states. It added that Delta flight attendants "blatantly ignored" the pleas for help by the mother who wanted the intoxicated male to be escorted out to a different place. The incident took place on the July 26 flight where the unidentified man claimed that he was from Connecticut. According to court documents, after getting drunk, the man started making obscene gestures and started harassing the minor by asking for her personal information including her address. After being told by the mother that the girl was a minor, the man said he did not care and proceeded to reach over the 16-year-old to grab at the mother’s arm. At this point, the mother had pleaded to the flight attendants multiple times to do the needful but all she received was a "be patient" remark, the complaint read. “What happened to them during a flight was not just a nightmare, it was completely preventable,” Evan Brustein, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs' told New York Post. Also read | Woman urinates on floor of plane, alleges airline did not let her use washroom Soon after, the teen began having a panic attack as she sunk her head in her mother's lap after the man inserted his 'clammy fingers' underneath her shirt and touched the clasp on her bra strap, the filing revealed. The terrified teenager jumped out of the seat but the man proceeded to put his hand on the mother's leg and proceeded to move it inside of her thigh, prompting her to jump out of the seat as well. While flight attendants failed to take action, a good samaritan offered to switch seats with the teen and sat between the man and the mother for the remainder of the trip. After landing, the Delta crew allegedly allowed the drunk man to exit the plane without alerting the police and offered the mother and daughter 5,000 airline miles as an apology. WATCH | WION Business News | US company debuts all-electric aircraft Delta declined to comment on the lawsuit but insisted it “has zero tolerance for customers who engage in inappropriate or unlawful behaviour.” "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and our people," the airline told Fox. Other instances Notably, this is not the first instance when Delta Airlines has made headlines this year. Last month, a 61-year-old Delta pilot was arrested at Edinburgh Airport 30 minutes before his flight for being under the influence of alcohol. According to reports, the pilot was arrested after his blood alcohol level was found above the legal limit of 0.02, set under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. After the arrest, the flight to New York was cancelled and the passengers re-accommodated. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Delta Airlines sued as drunk passenger sexually assaults mom & teen daughter

Indian actor Akshay Kumar reacted strongly to the viral video that allegedly shows two women in Manipur being sexually assaulted on a road in public view. &nbsp;Taking to Twitter, Akshay wrote, "Shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur. I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again." 
 
The alleged video shows two women being paraded naked and being sexually assaulted in public.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur. I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again.
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) <a href="https://twitter.com/akshaykumar/status/1681836088653123584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This is the first time that an Indian actor has spoken in public about the violence in Manipur. So far no actor has spoken out about the civil unrest in Manipur that has been ongoing for the past two months. 
 
The video of the incident went viral on Wednesday (July 19), and according to media reports, it took place about two months ago when the violence first started. 
 
The incident reportedly took place in the Meitei-dominated valley of the Thiubal district. A complaint was filed at a police station in Kangpokpi district and the case was later forwarded to the police station in Thoubal. 
 
Response to the viral video 
 
In a first official response to the video, the Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghanchandra Singh issued a press note, which said, "As regards the video of 2 women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against the unknown armed miscreants. The investigation has started and the state police is making an all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest." 
 
Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Smriti Irani also responded to the video and shared on Twitter, "The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM &nbsp;@NBirenSingh ji who has informed me that the investigation is currently underway and&nbsp;assured me that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM <a href="https://twitter.com/NBirenSingh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBirenSingh</a> ji who has informed me that investigation is currently underway &amp; assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice.
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) <a href="https://twitter.com/smritiirani/status/1681725470524731392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Indian actor Akshay Kumar reacted strongly to the viral video that allegedly shows two women in Manipur being sexually assaulted on a road in public view. Taking to Twitter, Akshay wrote, "Shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur.

Indian actor Akshay Kumar reacted strongly to the viral video that allegedly shows two women in Manipur being sexually assaulted on a road in public view. Taking to Twitter, Akshay wrote, "Shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur. I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again." The alleged video shows two women being paraded naked and being sexually assaulted in public. Shaken, disgusted to see the video of violence against women in Manipur. I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again. — Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 20, 2023 × This is the first time that an Indian actor has spoken in public about the violence in Manipur. So far no actor has spoken out about the civil unrest in Manipur that has been ongoing for the past two months. The video of the incident went viral on Wednesday (July 19), and according to media reports, it took place about two months ago when the violence first started. The incident reportedly took place in the Meitei-dominated valley of the Thiubal district. A complaint was filed at a police station in Kangpokpi district and the case was later forwarded to the police station in Thoubal. Response to the viral video In a first official response to the video, the Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghanchandra Singh issued a press note, which said, "As regards the video of 2 women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against the unknown armed miscreants. The investigation has started and the state police is making an all-out effort to arrest the culprits at the earliest." Union Minister for Women and Child Welfare Smriti Irani also responded to the video and shared on Twitter, "The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM @NBirenSingh ji who has informed me that the investigation is currently underway and assured me that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice." The horrific video of sexual assault of 2 women emanating from Manipur is condemnable and downright inhuman. Spoke to CM @NBirenSingh ji who has informed me that investigation is currently underway & assured that no effort will be spared to bring perpetrators to justice. — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) July 19, 2023 × WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Akshay Kumar reacts to the viral video of violence against women in Manipur: Disgusted, shaken

Gender-based violence remains a distressing and prevalent issue in Nigeria, now according to recent data Nigeria has witnessed a significant rise in sexual harassment affecting women of all ages our correspondent Louisa spoke to a victim of this heinous act and filed this report.

14% Nigerian women have experienced sexual violence: Report

Several sexual assault allegations have shaken McDonald's, one of the largest restaurant chains in the world, when it opened outlets in the United Kingdom.

UK: McDonald's workers report sexual harassment at workplace

Former Manchester United footballer and ex-Wales manager Ryan Giggs was on Tuesday (July 18) cleared of teh allegations of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her sister. The development comes as a huge relief for the ex-footballer after charges were pulled out by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

The 48-year-old Giggs had denied all such claims of assaulting Kate Greville and her sister Emma. Judge Hilary Manley directed that he was not guilty on all three counts. It is to be noted that the&nbsp;retrial had been due to kick off at Manchester Crown Court on 31 July. 
 
Giggs was cleared of all charges after Kate Greville withdrew her co-operation from the case ahead of a scheduled re-trial in two weeks' time.&nbsp;Giggs had faced up to five years in jail if convicted. Jurors failed to agree on their verdicts following a trial held last August. 
 
Giggs was not in court when the decision was announced.

In August 2022, the jurors failed to reach verdicts after more than 20 hours of deliberations in Giggs' four-week trial. Back then, the judge had given his consent that the ex-Wales manager does not need to be in attendance for the deliberations.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messis-inter-miami-unveiling-breaks-cristiano-ronaldos-al-nassr-presentation-record-stst-617053">Lionel Messi's Inter Miami unveiling breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr presentation record</a>

Giggs' defence barrister, Chris Daw KC stated after the latest decision,&nbsp;"Mr Giggs is deeply relieved that the case has finally come to an end after almost three years of fighting to clear his name. He now intends to rebuild his life and career as an innocent man."

The Red Devils' legend Giggs did admit that he was unfaithful in his relationship with Kate, however, he denied accepting charges of physically assaulting any woman. In addition, he even rejected claims of 'losing control'&nbsp;and headbutting his ex-girlfriend as well as assaulting her 26-year-old sister Emma by elbowing her in the jaw during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on 1 November 2020.&nbsp;

After a lengthy court battle, Giggs has finally been acquitted of all the charges and will be a relieved man. The former football is regarded as one of the finest of Man United, having made as many as 963 appearances for them and scoring 168 goals. He also represented Wales in 64 games and went on to serve as their manager for an interim period before being arrested in June 2022 with regard to the serious charges put forward by his ex-girlfriend.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Former Manchester United footballer and ex-Wales manager Ryan Giggs was on Tuesday (July 18) cleared of teh allegations of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her sister.

Former Manchester United footballer and ex-Wales manager Ryan Giggs was on Tuesday (July 18) cleared of teh allegations of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her sister. The development comes as a huge relief for the ex-footballer after charges were pulled out by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court. The 48-year-old Giggs had denied all such claims of assaulting Kate Greville and her sister Emma. Judge Hilary Manley directed that he was not guilty on all three counts. It is to be noted that the retrial had been due to kick off at Manchester Crown Court on 31 July. Giggs was cleared of all charges after Kate Greville withdrew her co-operation from the case ahead of a scheduled re-trial in two weeks' time. Giggs had faced up to five years in jail if convicted. Jurors failed to agree on their verdicts following a trial held last August. Giggs was not in court when the decision was announced. In August 2022, the jurors failed to reach verdicts after more than 20 hours of deliberations in Giggs' four-week trial. Back then, the judge had given his consent that the ex-Wales manager does not need to be in attendance for the deliberations. Also Read: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami unveiling breaks Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr presentation record Giggs' defence barrister, Chris Daw KC stated after the latest decision, "Mr Giggs is deeply relieved that the case has finally come to an end after almost three years of fighting to clear his name. He now intends to rebuild his life and career as an innocent man." The Red Devils' legend Giggs did admit that he was unfaithful in his relationship with Kate, however, he denied accepting charges of physically assaulting any woman. In addition, he even rejected claims of 'losing control' and headbutting his ex-girlfriend as well as assaulting her 26-year-old sister Emma by elbowing her in the jaw during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on 1 November 2020. After a lengthy court battle, Giggs has finally been acquitted of all the charges and will be a relieved man. The former football is regarded as one of the finest of Man United, having made as many as 963 appearances for them and scoring 168 goals. He also represented Wales in 64 games and went on to serve as their manager for an interim period before being arrested in June 2022 with regard to the serious charges put forward by his ex-girlfriend. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs cleared of assaulting former girlfriend and her sister

One of the world’s largest food chain companies,&nbsp;McDonald's has been rocked by a barrage of sexual assault claims at its outlets in the UK. A report by BBC has revealed that most of the McDonald's staff, including those as young as 16, are harassed and groped almost daily by their senior managers.&nbsp;

In a response to the BBC report, McDonald's regretted that it had "fallen short" and said it "deeply apologised".

<h2>McDonald's toxic work culture</h2>

McDonald's signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in February this year, vowing to protect its staff from sexual harassment of any kind at the workplace.&nbsp;

The agreement prompted an investigation by BBC into the company’s work culture, which astonishingly revealed the sorry state of affairs.

BBC reported at least 31 cases related to sexual assault, and 78 related to sexual harassment. The UK equality watchdog has taken cognisance of the matter and launched a new email hotline for the victims.&nbsp;

<h2>Managers responsible for enabling sexual harassment</h2>

Most victims were quoted by BBC as saying that the managers at their outlets would either indulge in sexual acts with their juniors or turn a blind eye in such cases. For instance, “A manager in Hampshire suggested a 16-year-old male worker perform sexual acts in exchange for vapes."

Watch:&nbsp;McDonald's temporarily shuts US offices, to announce layoffs

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/mcdonalds-temporarily-shuts-us-offices-to-announce-layoffs-578446/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In another case, BBC quoted an Indian-origin worker as saying that her crew members would often talk in “gibberish” to imitate her. They would also refer to a Pakistani junior worker as a terrorist.

"There is a saying at McDonald's, "tits on tills" - boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter. The idea is to put attractive people at the front," said a 22-year-old worker Lucy.

"It's the expectation that if you work at McDonald's, you will be harassed," said another worker.

<h2>UK’s youngest workforce in danger</h2>

McDonald's is one of the UK’s largest private-sector employers, with more than 170,000 people working at its outlets across the country. It also employs the country’s youngest workforce, with most junior employees aged between 16 and 25.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-more-tomatoes-in-mcdonalds-menu-items-company-cited-temporary-issue-612999">Also read:&nbsp;No more tomatoes in McDonald`s menu items, company cited `temporary’ issue</a>

For most of them, this happens to be their first job. It is important to note that McDonald's doesn’t employ these people directly, but indirectly through the franchise system. It means that individual operators are licensed to operate under McDonald's banner and are responsible for employing staff.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

One of the world’s largest food chain companies, McDonald's has been rocked by a barrage of sexual assault claims at its outlets in the UK. A report by BBC has revealed that most of the McDonald's staff, including those as young as 16, are harassed and groped almost daily by their senior managers.

One of the world’s largest food chain companies, McDonald's has been rocked by a barrage of sexual assault claims at its outlets in the UK. A report by BBC has revealed that most of the McDonald's staff, including those as young as 16, are harassed and groped almost daily by their senior managers. In a response to the BBC report, McDonald's regretted that it had "fallen short" and said it "deeply apologised". McDonald's toxic work culture McDonald's signed a legally binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in February this year, vowing to protect its staff from sexual harassment of any kind at the workplace. The agreement prompted an investigation by BBC into the company’s work culture, which astonishingly revealed the sorry state of affairs. BBC reported at least 31 cases related to sexual assault, and 78 related to sexual harassment. The UK equality watchdog has taken cognisance of the matter and launched a new email hotline for the victims. Managers responsible for enabling sexual harassment Most victims were quoted by BBC as saying that the managers at their outlets would either indulge in sexual acts with their juniors or turn a blind eye in such cases. For instance, “A manager in Hampshire suggested a 16-year-old male worker perform sexual acts in exchange for vapes." Watch: McDonald's temporarily shuts US offices, to announce layoffs × In another case, BBC quoted an Indian-origin worker as saying that her crew members would often talk in “gibberish” to imitate her. They would also refer to a Pakistani junior worker as a terrorist. "There is a saying at McDonald's, "tits on tills" - boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter. The idea is to put attractive people at the front," said a 22-year-old worker Lucy. "It's the expectation that if you work at McDonald's, you will be harassed," said another worker. UK’s youngest workforce in danger McDonald's is one of the UK’s largest private-sector employers, with more than 170,000 people working at its outlets across the country. It also employs the country’s youngest workforce, with most junior employees aged between 16 and 25. Also read: No more tomatoes in McDonald`s menu items, company cited `temporary’ issue For most of them, this happens to be their first job. It is important to note that McDonald's doesn’t employ these people directly, but indirectly through the franchise system. It means that individual operators are licensed to operate under McDonald's banner and are responsible for employing staff. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

I'm hatin' it: Over 100 McDonald's workers report sexual harassment at workplace

According to media reports, the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district is among those arrested for allegedly gang-raping and sexually assaulting two sisters.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened?</h2>

The alleged incident took place in the state’s Datia district where four people have been accused of gang-raping a 19-year-old and sexually assaulting her 17-year-old sister. The rape survivor, later, tried to commit suicide by hanging herself but was rescued and taken to the hospital.&nbsp;

According to the police, the alleged gang rape and sexual assault took place on Friday afternoon when the two sisters were returning home from school. The accused, reportedly, forcefully took them in a car to the house of another accused.&nbsp;The four men then allegedly gang-raped&nbsp;the woman.&nbsp;

“The two survivors were returning from school on Friday afternoon when three accused threatened them and took them to the house of BJP leader Ramkishore Yadav,” said the Superintendent of Police (Datia), Pradeep Sharma, on Saturday.&nbsp;

He added, “The four accused raped the woman in front of her minor sister. They also sexually harassed the girl. The accused threatened the survivors with dire consequences if they informed anyone about the assault, and let them leave.”

When the two survivors reached home, the woman tried to kill herself but was rescued by family members who then approached the police, said Sharma, quoting the complaint filed by the 19-year-old’s younger sister.&nbsp;

According to the police, the woman is undergoing treatment at the Jhansi Medical College in the neighbouring Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and her condition is stable.&nbsp;

<h2>About those accused</h2>

So far, three of those accused (one adult and two minors), including the politician’s son, have been arrested. The police have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 ($122) for finding the fourth accused, who is reported to be on the run.&nbsp;

The police have identified Dhruv Rai, son of BJP’s Unnao mandal president Kishan Rai, as the prime suspect, based on the First Information Report (FIR) registered in the case. The three accused have been reported to be his friends.&nbsp;

<h2>Incident sparks protest</h2>

The alleged incident also sparked a large protest after family members and locals of the survivors were reportedly seen outside the police station demanding action against the people who have been arrested.&nbsp;

The survivor’s brother also accused the police of not registering the complaint “for hours” and alleged that it was only after they protested that officials took action.&nbsp;

<h2>BJP’s reaction to the accusations</h2>

In a statement, on Sunday, BJP’s Datia district unit president Surendra Budholia called the incident unfortunate and said the police were yet to record the victim’s statement. If the victim names the BJP office-bearer’s son&nbsp;in her police statement, the party will serve a notice to him and take further action, reported PTI.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

According to media reports, the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district is among those arrested for allegedly gang-raping and sexually assaulting two sisters.

According to media reports, the son of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district is among those arrested for allegedly gang-raping and sexually assaulting two sisters. What happened? The alleged incident took place in the state’s Datia district where four people have been accused of gang-raping a 19-year-old and sexually assaulting her 17-year-old sister. The rape survivor, later, tried to commit suicide by hanging herself but was rescued and taken to the hospital. According to the police, the alleged gang rape and sexual assault took place on Friday afternoon when the two sisters were returning home from school. The accused, reportedly, forcefully took them in a car to the house of another accused. The four men then allegedly gang-raped the woman. “The two survivors were returning from school on Friday afternoon when three accused threatened them and took them to the house of BJP leader Ramkishore Yadav,” said the Superintendent of Police (Datia), Pradeep Sharma, on Saturday. He added, “The four accused raped the woman in front of her minor sister. They also sexually harassed the girl. The accused threatened the survivors with dire consequences if they informed anyone about the assault, and let them leave.” When the two survivors reached home, the woman tried to kill herself but was rescued by family members who then approached the police, said Sharma, quoting the complaint filed by the 19-year-old’s younger sister. According to the police, the woman is undergoing treatment at the Jhansi Medical College in the neighbouring Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and her condition is stable. About those accused So far, three of those accused (one adult and two minors), including the politician’s son, have been arrested. The police have announced a reward of Rs 10,000 ($122) for finding the fourth accused, who is reported to be on the run. The police have identified Dhruv Rai, son of BJP’s Unnao mandal president Kishan Rai, as the prime suspect, based on the First Information Report (FIR) registered in the case. The three accused have been reported to be his friends. Incident sparks protest The alleged incident also sparked a large protest after family members and locals of the survivors were reportedly seen outside the police station demanding action against the people who have been arrested. The survivor’s brother also accused the police of not registering the complaint “for hours” and alleged that it was only after they protested that officials took action. BJP’s reaction to the accusations In a statement, on Sunday, BJP’s Datia district unit president Surendra Budholia called the incident unfortunate and said the police were yet to record the victim’s statement. If the victim names the BJP office-bearer’s son in her police statement, the party will serve a notice to him and take further action, reported PTI. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: BJP leader’s son arrested for alleged sexual assault of sisters in Madhya Pradesh

Actor Kevin Spacey has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted four men in London in his high-profile criminal trial. The two-time Oscar winner denied sexually grabbing the complainants against their will. Spacey described that he was crushed by the allegations made against him by the accuser. The actor who is widely known for his role in The House of Cards became emotional as he described the impact of the separate accusations on him.

Kevin Spacey denies sexual assault charges, describes himself as 'a big flirt'

A sexual assaulter was acquitted of all charges after a judge said he was 'just lingering'. The Italian Court said it wasn't a crime since he touched the teenager for less than ten seconds. Has the Italian justice system gone rogue? Molly Gambhir tells you more

Gravitas: Italy dismisses sexual assaulter with its 'ten-second rule'

Italian social media users are expressing outrage after judges said groping had to last 10 seconds to be considered sexual assault. How long does a grope have to last before it is considered sexual assault? More than 10 seconds, according to an Italian courtroom.

Italian uproar over judge's 10-second groping rule

Former CNN producer John Griffin was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl, revealed prosecutors. Griffin earlier pleaded guilty to child sex charges last December as a part of a plea deal which saw two other counts of child sex charges initially filed against him dropped.&nbsp;

The 45-year-old Connecticut man reportedly met a woman online and persuaded her to bring her 9-year-old daughter to his house, where he engaged with the minor girl in illicit sexual activity. According to New York Post, the mother, Heather Carriker, was also arrested and slapped with child sex charges.

A victim during Tuesday’s hearing told the judge that she has difficulties trusting people while telling Griffin that “You make me sad and angry.”

<h2>John Griffin: A proven paedophile</h2>

As per prosecutors, Griffin would communicate with parents having minor girls over Google Hangouts and lure them into making their girls engage in sexual activity with himself. During one of those conversations, Griffin would once say that a “woman is a woman regardless of her age” and that women should be sexually subservient and inferior to men.

In June 2020, Griffin instructed the mother of a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old girl that her responsibility was to ensure her older daughter was "properly trained." He then transferred over $3,000 to the woman for plane tickets, enabling the mother and her 9-year-old daughter to travel from Nevada to Boston.

According to prosecutors, the mother and child flew to Boston in July 2020, where Griffin picked them up in his Tesla and drove them to his residence in Ludlow. At his house, the daughter was coerced into engaging in unlawful sexual activity.

<h2>Other charges of child sex against Griffin</h2>

In exchange for Griffin's guilty plea filed last December, prosecutors dismissed two charges related to allegations that he also attempted to entice two other children into sexual activities. One of these allegations involved a mother and her 14-year-old daughter, to whom Griffin offered a "virtual training session."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/cnn-fires-tv-producer-chris-licht-after-13-month-long-crisis-ridden-tenure-601852">Also read:&nbsp;Chris Licht exits CNN after 13-month-long crisis-ridden tenure</a>

Griffin was employed at CNN for approximately eight years before being terminated following his arrest in December 2021. The mother of the victim, Heather Carriker from Henderson, Nevada, was arrested and charged in August 2020, although the current status of her case remains unknown.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Former CNN producer John Griffin was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl, revealed prosecutors. Griffin earlier pleaded guilty to child sex charges last December as a part of a plea deal which saw two other counts of child sex charges initially filed against him dropped.

Former CNN producer John Griffin was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl, revealed prosecutors. Griffin earlier pleaded guilty to child sex charges last December as a part of a plea deal which saw two other counts of child sex charges initially filed against him dropped. The 45-year-old Connecticut man reportedly met a woman online and persuaded her to bring her 9-year-old daughter to his house, where he engaged with the minor girl in illicit sexual activity. According to New York Post, the mother, Heather Carriker, was also arrested and slapped with child sex charges. A victim during Tuesday’s hearing told the judge that she has difficulties trusting people while telling Griffin that “You make me sad and angry.” John Griffin: A proven paedophile As per prosecutors, Griffin would communicate with parents having minor girls over Google Hangouts and lure them into making their girls engage in sexual activity with himself. During one of those conversations, Griffin would once say that a “woman is a woman regardless of her age” and that women should be sexually subservient and inferior to men. In June 2020, Griffin instructed the mother of a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old girl that her responsibility was to ensure her older daughter was "properly trained." He then transferred over $3,000 to the woman for plane tickets, enabling the mother and her 9-year-old daughter to travel from Nevada to Boston. According to prosecutors, the mother and child flew to Boston in July 2020, where Griffin picked them up in his Tesla and drove them to his residence in Ludlow. At his house, the daughter was coerced into engaging in unlawful sexual activity. Other charges of child sex against Griffin In exchange for Griffin's guilty plea filed last December, prosecutors dismissed two charges related to allegations that he also attempted to entice two other children into sexual activities. One of these allegations involved a mother and her 14-year-old daughter, to whom Griffin offered a "virtual training session." Also read: Chris Licht exits CNN after 13-month-long crisis-ridden tenure Griffin was employed at CNN for approximately eight years before being terminated following his arrest in December 2021. The mother of the victim, Heather Carriker from Henderson, Nevada, was arrested and charged in August 2020, although the current status of her case remains unknown. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Former CNN producer John Griffin sentenced to 19 years in jail for sexually assaulting 9-year-old girl

A female senator has accused a fellow senator of sexual assault. Is the Australian parliament truly unsafe? Mohammad Saleh reports.

Gravitas: Australia roiled up by cases of harassment inside parliament

Irish mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an NBA Finals in Miami last week, multiple US reports said Thursday. ESPN and TMZ Sports cited letters from the woman's lawyer which said McGregor "violently" assaulted her in a bathroom at the Kaseya Center during the Miami Heat's game four defeat to Denver on Friday.

The 34-year-old UFC star is alleged to have "aggressively kissed" his accuser before attempting to force her into multiple sex acts.

McGregor denied the allegations in a statement emailed to AFP by his attorney Barbara Llanes.

"The allegations are false. Mr. McGregor will not be intimidated," Llanes said in the statement.

Police in Miami, meanwhile, would only confirm that its special victims unit was investigating a report filed on Sunday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-sports-commission-recommends-testosterone-limits-for-transgender-athletes-in-elite-female-sport-604995">Australian Sports Commission recommends testosterone limits for transgender athletes in elite female sport</a>

"This is an open investigation, so no additional information can be released at this time," a Miami Police Department statement to AFP said without mentioning McGregor by name.

Both the Miami Heat and the NBA said they were aware of the reports and investigating.

"We are aware of the allegations and are conducting a full investigation," the Heat said in a statement. "Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will withhold further comment."

McGregor's conduct at Friday's game had already come under scrutiny after an incident during a timeout where he punched a Miami Heat mascot after he appeared on court for a pre-planned promotional spot.

The person wearing the mascot costume was later taken to a local hospital for medical treatment before being released later that evening after receiving pain medication.&nbsp;

McGregor is one of the biggest global stars in the history of the hugely successful Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts circuit, formerly holding the featherweight and lightweight titles.

He has taken part in several money-spinning pay-per-view events, most notably the 2017 crossover boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas which generated more than $600 million in total revenue and earned the former plumber's apprentice from Dublin around $100 million. 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Irish mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an NBA Finals in Miami last week, multiple US reports said Thursday.

Irish mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an NBA Finals in Miami last week, multiple US reports said Thursday. ESPN and TMZ Sports cited letters from the woman's lawyer which said McGregor "violently" assaulted her in a bathroom at the Kaseya Center during the Miami Heat's game four defeat to Denver on Friday. The 34-year-old UFC star is alleged to have "aggressively kissed" his accuser before attempting to force her into multiple sex acts. McGregor denied the allegations in a statement emailed to AFP by his attorney Barbara Llanes. "The allegations are false. Mr. McGregor will not be intimidated," Llanes said in the statement. Police in Miami, meanwhile, would only confirm that its special victims unit was investigating a report filed on Sunday. ALSO READ: Australian Sports Commission recommends testosterone limits for transgender athletes in elite female sport "This is an open investigation, so no additional information can be released at this time," a Miami Police Department statement to AFP said without mentioning McGregor by name. Both the Miami Heat and the NBA said they were aware of the reports and investigating. "We are aware of the allegations and are conducting a full investigation," the Heat said in a statement. "Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will withhold further comment." McGregor's conduct at Friday's game had already come under scrutiny after an incident during a timeout where he punched a Miami Heat mascot after he appeared on court for a pre-planned promotional spot. The person wearing the mascot costume was later taken to a local hospital for medical treatment before being released later that evening after receiving pain medication. McGregor is one of the biggest global stars in the history of the hugely successful Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts circuit, formerly holding the featherweight and lightweight titles. He has taken part in several money-spinning pay-per-view events, most notably the 2017 crossover boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas which generated more than $600 million in total revenue and earned the former plumber's apprentice from Dublin around $100 million. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

MMA star Conor McGregor accused of sexually assaulting a woman at NBA Finals in Miami last week

UK news publisher Guardian News &amp; Media (GNM) has apologised to women who said that a veteran ex-columnist at The Observer newspaper was responsible for sexually harassing or assaulting them, said reports in US media.

Anna Bateson, chief executive of GNM and Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of Guardian have reportedly written to several women who had alleged that Nick Cohen, the columnist, had groped them or made unwanted sexual advances.

"We want to apologise for your experience of sexual harassment by an Observer member of staff, and for the way your complaint was handled," read an email quoted by The New York Times.

Watch | Export growth remains sluggish in UK

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/export-growth-remains-sluggish-in-uk-603908/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

AFP reported that the media group had confirmed that Bateson and Viner had apologised to the women. They have reportedly also pledged to improve procedures regarding sexual misconduct allegations. The media group reportedly told AFP that Cohen resigned from the group in November 2022.

"We... can confirm our editor-in-chief and CEO have written to all those who have spoken out publicly on this matter or been in touch with GNM," a spokesman said.

GNM has hired Howlett Brown, a consultancy that specialises in workplace culture and independent investigations. The consultancy found that systems and policies were "strong" but they outlined two key changes.

All future sexual harassment allegations will be investigated by independent and external third parties, instead of senior managers. Related disciplinary hearings will only be heard by independent and external third parties.

<h2>'Hugely relieved'</h2>

Journalist Lucy Siegle tweeted that she had received the GNM apology and was "hugely relieved".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As reported in the NYT, I have received an apology from Kath Viner, editor in chief and Anna Bateson, chief executive of Guardian News &amp; Media. I am hugely relieved to get this because frankly I was struggling with the whole thing and acknowledgement makes a big difference.
— lucy siegle (@lucysiegle) <a href="https://twitter.com/lucysiegle/status/1668253311248605185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

As per the&nbsp;report in the NYT, Cohen had grabbed her bottom many years earlier when she was in a junior role. She had accused the UK group of failing to act.&nbsp;

Writer Jean Hannah Edelstein tweeted she was "glad" to receive an apology over her treatment and that GNM realised that "harassment requires external investigation".

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

UK news publisher Guardian News & Media (GNM) has apologised to women who said that a veteran ex-columnist at The Observer newspaper was responsible for sexually harassing or assaulting them, said reports in US media.

UK news publisher Guardian News & Media (GNM) has apologised to women who said that a veteran ex-columnist at The Observer newspaper was responsible for sexually harassing or assaulting them, said reports in US media. Anna Bateson, chief executive of GNM and Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief of Guardian have reportedly written to several women who had alleged that Nick Cohen, the columnist, had groped them or made unwanted sexual advances. "We want to apologise for your experience of sexual harassment by an Observer member of staff, and for the way your complaint was handled," read an email quoted by The New York Times. Watch | Export growth remains sluggish in UK × AFP reported that the media group had confirmed that Bateson and Viner had apologised to the women. They have reportedly also pledged to improve procedures regarding sexual misconduct allegations. The media group reportedly told AFP that Cohen resigned from the group in November 2022. "We... can confirm our editor-in-chief and CEO have written to all those who have spoken out publicly on this matter or been in touch with GNM," a spokesman said. GNM has hired Howlett Brown, a consultancy that specialises in workplace culture and independent investigations. The consultancy found that systems and policies were "strong" but they outlined two key changes. All future sexual harassment allegations will be investigated by independent and external third parties, instead of senior managers. Related disciplinary hearings will only be heard by independent and external third parties. 'Hugely relieved' Journalist Lucy Siegle tweeted that she had received the GNM apology and was "hugely relieved". As reported in the NYT, I have received an apology from Kath Viner, editor in chief and Anna Bateson, chief executive of Guardian News & Media. I am hugely relieved to get this because frankly I was struggling with the whole thing and acknowledgement makes a big difference. — lucy siegle (@lucysiegle) June 12, 2023 × As per the report in the NYT, Cohen had grabbed her bottom many years earlier when she was in a junior role. She had accused the UK group of failing to act. Writer Jean Hannah Edelstein tweeted she was "glad" to receive an apology over her treatment and that GNM realised that "harassment requires external investigation". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UK media house apologises to female staff for sexual harassment: Report

Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe has claimed that she was sexually assaulted in the Parliament house by fellow senator David Van, who has denied the allegations. Thorpe also added that the building was "not a safe place" for women to work.

Australian senator Lidia Thorpe alleges sexual assault in Parliament house

According to a new study, there is a gap between how individuals anticipate they would react if sexually harassed and how those who have experienced it respond. The study by the University of Exeter, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, discovered that seeking justice by coming forward is just one of the needs people who experience sexual harassment consider after the event, with other needs, including those for safety, instead rated as more important.

The research may explain why people who are sexually harassed often don’t report their experience formally, with the 2017 Crime Survey England and Wales finding that five out of six people who are targeted by sexual offences do not report it to the police.

Researchers compared answers from a confidential online survey from people who have experienced sexual harassment to those who have not but were asked to imagine how they would react. People who have experienced sexual harassment reported a range of needs and engaged in a variety of actions to meet these needs. Needs for safety, personal control and social support were prioritised over formal actions, such as reporting to the police. Those who had not encountered sexual harassment anticipated having stronger needs and taking more actions–especially formal ones.

Senior author, Professor Manuela Barreto, from the University of Exeter said, “We found there is a widely held belief that quick and formal reporting is the correct response to sexual harassment. It’s what’s generally meant with the phrase ‘coming forward’. Yet most people who are sexually harassed do not report it formally and those who do, often report the offence a significant time after it happened. There’s a focus on procedural barriers with police and other authorities as to why this is, but less attention paid to the actual needs of the person who has experienced sexual harassment.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-the-magic-of-mirrors-transform-your-home-with-exquisite-mirror-d%C3%A9cor-602835">The magic of mirrors! Transform your home with exquisite mirror décor</a>

“Our research suggests there’s a gap between what people expect from those who have been sexually harassed and how those who experience it actually respond. It’s important to consider that the feelings and actions of someone who has experienced sexual harassment might be very different from those who have not. Instead of asking; ‘why people don’t come forward more often?’, we should perhaps ask ourselves; ‘what is the best action for the individual?',” she added.

Across two studies researchers analysed answers from participants who have experienced sexual harassment about the actions they took, alongside those from participants who haven’t experienced sexual assault but were asked to imagine how they’d react if they did. In the first study, 415 participants from mixed genders took part (259 experienced, 156 imaginers) and after finding no gender differences, the second study was conducted with women only (589 participants – 301 experienced, 288 imaginers), who are much more commonly sexually harassed.

Lead author, Professor Thomas Morton, worked at the University of Exeter on the research and is now at the University of Copenhagen. He said: “There is an assumption that those who experience sexual harassment are primarily guided by their desire for justice. But this research shows that peoples’ needs are wider than what others might expect, and include needs for safety, personal control, and for life to just return to normal. Of all the needs that people expressed, the need for justice was not the highest priority. This might explain why people don’t take the kind of formal actions, like reporting to police, that others expect them to.”

“There are often accusations – including high profile recent examples – that if people who experience sexual harassment don’t come forward at the time, it’s because it wasn’t that serious or perhaps even true. But if you have not experienced sexual harassment, it is hard to accurately anticipate what you might need, and therefore what you would do to satisfy those needs. Our research suggests that the assumptions people make are often wrong, or at least don’t reflect what the people who have experienced sexual harassment say they need,” he added.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

According to a new study, there is a gap between how individuals anticipate they would react if sexually harassed and how those who have experienced it respond. The study by the University of Exeter, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, discovered that seeking justice by coming forward is just one of the needs people who experience sexual harassment consider after the event, with other needs, including those for safety, instead rated as more important.

According to a new study, there is a gap between how individuals anticipate they would react if sexually harassed and how those who have experienced it respond. The study by the University of Exeter, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, discovered that seeking justice by coming forward is just one of the needs people who experience sexual harassment consider after the event, with other needs, including those for safety, instead rated as more important. The research may explain why people who are sexually harassed often don’t report their experience formally, with the 2017 Crime Survey England and Wales finding that five out of six people who are targeted by sexual offences do not report it to the police. Researchers compared answers from a confidential online survey from people who have experienced sexual harassment to those who have not but were asked to imagine how they would react. People who have experienced sexual harassment reported a range of needs and engaged in a variety of actions to meet these needs. Needs for safety, personal control and social support were prioritised over formal actions, such as reporting to the police. Those who had not encountered sexual harassment anticipated having stronger needs and taking more actions–especially formal ones. Senior author, Professor Manuela Barreto, from the University of Exeter said, “We found there is a widely held belief that quick and formal reporting is the correct response to sexual harassment. It’s what’s generally meant with the phrase ‘coming forward’. Yet most people who are sexually harassed do not report it formally and those who do, often report the offence a significant time after it happened. There’s a focus on procedural barriers with police and other authorities as to why this is, but less attention paid to the actual needs of the person who has experienced sexual harassment.” Also read: The magic of mirrors! Transform your home with exquisite mirror décor “Our research suggests there’s a gap between what people expect from those who have been sexually harassed and how those who experience it actually respond. It’s important to consider that the feelings and actions of someone who has experienced sexual harassment might be very different from those who have not. Instead of asking; ‘why people don’t come forward more often?’, we should perhaps ask ourselves; ‘what is the best action for the individual?',” she added. Across two studies researchers analysed answers from participants who have experienced sexual harassment about the actions they took, alongside those from participants who haven’t experienced sexual assault but were asked to imagine how they’d react if they did. In the first study, 415 participants from mixed genders took part (259 experienced, 156 imaginers) and after finding no gender differences, the second study was conducted with women only (589 participants – 301 experienced, 288 imaginers), who are much more commonly sexually harassed. Lead author, Professor Thomas Morton, worked at the University of Exeter on the research and is now at the University of Copenhagen. He said: “There is an assumption that those who experience sexual harassment are primarily guided by their desire for justice. But this research shows that peoples’ needs are wider than what others might expect, and include needs for safety, personal control, and for life to just return to normal. Of all the needs that people expressed, the need for justice was not the highest priority. This might explain why people don’t take the kind of formal actions, like reporting to police, that others expect them to.” “There are often accusations – including high profile recent examples – that if people who experience sexual harassment don’t come forward at the time, it’s because it wasn’t that serious or perhaps even true. But if you have not experienced sexual harassment, it is hard to accurately anticipate what you might need, and therefore what you would do to satisfy those needs. Our research suggests that the assumptions people make are often wrong, or at least don’t reflect what the people who have experienced sexual harassment say they need,” he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Study shows why sexual assault victims hesitate to come forward immediately

Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, who recently played the iconic role of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has been accused of sexual assault by saxophonist María Elena Ríos in a series of tweets. The 29-year-old woman is an acid attack survivor.

While attempting to distance herself from Poder Prieto, an organisation that aims to combat racism in Mexico, of which the Black Panther 2 actor is a member, María claimed that Tenoch is a "violent and sexual predator" and that the organisation allegedly pursued her in order to "avoid scandals over their Marvel film".&nbsp;

María also said in the tweet that Poder Prieto published some material for which they did not have authorisation and that the company did not pay for it later.&nbsp;

Following that, Poder Prieto tweeted, "We are accused of not having paid you for this podcast. We cannot pay you something that is NOT our production. And we didn’t publish it; only that content was recommended as we recommend content almost every day…”

To which, the saxophonist replied in a tweet translated from Spanish, "I made it very clear to them when I left their sect that they protect the violent and s*xual PREDATOR of @TenochHuerta that they did not publish anything about me. They still went to look for me at a concert of hypocrites to avoid scandals for their @MarvelLATAM movie.”

In a follow-up tweet, she wrote, "It is very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved in the world for playing a character in a movie like Tenoch Huerta. Charming in appearance, the great hallmark of a narcissist + a good helping of victimisation."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Les dejé muy claro a mi salida de su secta que protege al violentador y DEPREDADOR sexual de <a href="https://twitter.com/TenochHuerta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TenochHuerta</a> que no publicaran nada de mí. Todavía fueron a buscarme a un concierto bola de hipócritas para evitar escándalos por su película de <a href="https://twitter.com/MarvelLATAM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarvelLATAM</a>. 
 
No ando jugando <a href="https://twitter.com/LaMZapata?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaMZapata</a> <a href="https://t.co/3wf1ofyFx1">https://t.co/3wf1ofyFx1</a>
— •𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐑í𝐨𝐬 🎷 (@_ElenaRios) <a href="https://twitter.com/_ElenaRios/status/1667404721508810753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/next-xxx-film-in-the-making-vin-diesels-new-post-for-deepika-padukone-sparks-speculation-603045">Next XXX film in the making? Vin Diesel's new post for Deepika Padukone sparks speculation</a>

Tenoch is yet to publicly respond to the sexual assault&nbsp;claims made by Maria.&nbsp;

The sexual assault allegations against&nbsp;Tenoch&nbsp;come soon after another Marvel star Jonathan Majors was arrested on sexual assault charges. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, who recently played the iconic role of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has been accused of sexual assault by saxophonist María Elena Ríos in a series of tweets.

Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, who recently played the iconic role of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has been accused of sexual assault by saxophonist María Elena Ríos in a series of tweets. The 29-year-old woman is an acid attack survivor. While attempting to distance herself from Poder Prieto, an organisation that aims to combat racism in Mexico, of which the Black Panther 2 actor is a member, María claimed that Tenoch is a "violent and sexual predator" and that the organisation allegedly pursued her in order to "avoid scandals over their Marvel film". María also said in the tweet that Poder Prieto published some material for which they did not have authorisation and that the company did not pay for it later. Following that, Poder Prieto tweeted, "We are accused of not having paid you for this podcast. We cannot pay you something that is NOT our production. And we didn’t publish it; only that content was recommended as we recommend content almost every day…” To which, the saxophonist replied in a tweet translated from Spanish, "I made it very clear to them when I left their sect that they protect the violent and s*xual PREDATOR of @TenochHuerta that they did not publish anything about me. They still went to look for me at a concert of hypocrites to avoid scandals for their @MarvelLATAM movie.” In a follow-up tweet, she wrote, "It is very difficult to talk about the emotional abuse and abuse of power of a sexual predator who is loved in the world for playing a character in a movie like Tenoch Huerta. Charming in appearance, the great hallmark of a narcissist + a good helping of victimisation." Les dejé muy claro a mi salida de su secta que protege al violentador y DEPREDADOR sexual de @TenochHuerta que no publicaran nada de mí. Todavía fueron a buscarme a un concierto bola de hipócritas para evitar escándalos por su película de @MarvelLATAM. No ando jugando @LaMZapata https://t.co/3wf1ofyFx1 — •𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐑í𝐨𝐬 🎷 (@_ElenaRios) June 10, 2023 Also read: Next XXX film in the making? Vin Diesel's new post for Deepika Padukone sparks speculation Tenoch is yet to publicly respond to the sexual assault claims made by Maria. The sexual assault allegations against Tenoch come soon after another Marvel star Jonathan Majors was arrested on sexual assault charges. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Black Panther 2 star Tenoch Huerta accused of sexual assault by saxophonist Maria Elena Rios

After passing the landmark bill to redefine rape and increase the age of consent in the Lower House, Japan's Upper House discusses the legislation as it moves ahead to make it a law.

'No means no': Japan redefining sexual assault, making room for consent

Hollywood actor Cuba Gooding Jr. settled a civil lawsuit that accused him of rape, narrowly averting a trial that had been expected to include testimony from three other women who also claim the actor sexually assaulted them.

Cuba Gooding Jr. settles 2013 rape accusation lawsuit ahead of civil trial

A woman who alleged that US President Joe Biden&nbsp;sexually assaulted her in 1993&nbsp;has sought Russian citizenship after defecting to the country. Ex-Senate staffer Tara Reade had made the accusations in 2020 when Biden was seeking a Democratic nomination for the president's post.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reade, in an interview with the Russian state media, appeared alongside&nbsp;Maria Butina, a Russian lawmaker, who was&nbsp;imprisoned in Washington in 2018 for being an&nbsp;alleged spy and said she&nbsp;feels right at home in Moscow&nbsp;after fleeing the United States.&nbsp;

"When I got off the plane in Moscow, for the first time in a very long time I felt safe, and I felt heard and felt respected," said Reade, according to Sputnik News.&nbsp;

“I’m still kind of in a daze a bit but I feel very good. I feel very surrounded by protection and safety. And I just really so appreciate Maria and everyone who’s been giving me that at a time when it’s been very difficult to know if I’m safe or not," she added.

Reade requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to grant her citizenship, adding that she will remain a "good citizen".&nbsp;

"I'd like to apply for citizenship in Russia, from the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;I do promise to be a good citizen."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-the-us-prepared-to-fight-in-space-amid-threat-posed-by-provocative-russia-china-597928">WATCH |&nbsp;Is the U.S. prepared to fight in space amid threat posed by ‘provocative’ Russia &amp; China?</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-the-us-prepared-to-fight-in-space-amid-threat-posed-by-provocative-russia-china-597928/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>What were Reade's accusations?</h2>

Notably, in the run-up to the 2020 elections, Reade in an interview said the Democrat leader attempted to sexually assault her. Then a junior staffer, Reade was tasked with bringing Biden's gym bag to him in his Senate office when the incident occurred.&nbsp;

“l want to f— you,” the former staffer said Biden told her while pinning her up against the wall. She added that what happened next "happened very quickly".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-assault-accuser-calls-on-him-to-quit-us-presidential-race-297348">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Biden's assault accuser calls on him to quit US Presidential race&nbsp;</a>

“I remember being pushed up against the wall. The first thought I had was ‘Where’s the bag?’ which is an absurd thought, but that’s what I thought,” she said.

“He had his hands underneath my clothes, and it happened all at once, so when I tell about it, it’s hard because so many things were happening at once, it’s like my brain was trying to catch up to what was happening."

However, Biden denied all the allegations saying the incident never happened.&nbsp;

"It is not true. I'm saying unequivocally it never, never happened," he said.

Reade said she filed a complaint after the alleged incident, but no record of it has been found.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A woman who alleged that US President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 has sought Russian citizenship after defecting to the country. Ex-Senate staffer Tara Reade had made the accusations in 2020 when Biden was seeking a Democratic nomination for the president's post.

A woman who alleged that US President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 has sought Russian citizenship after defecting to the country. Ex-Senate staffer Tara Reade had made the accusations in 2020 when Biden was seeking a Democratic nomination for the president's post. Reade, in an interview with the Russian state media, appeared alongside Maria Butina, a Russian lawmaker, who was imprisoned in Washington in 2018 for being an alleged spy and said she feels right at home in Moscow after fleeing the United States. "When I got off the plane in Moscow, for the first time in a very long time I felt safe, and I felt heard and felt respected," said Reade, according to Sputnik News. “I’m still kind of in a daze a bit but I feel very good. I feel very surrounded by protection and safety. And I just really so appreciate Maria and everyone who’s been giving me that at a time when it’s been very difficult to know if I’m safe or not," she added. Reade requested Russian President Vladimir Putin to grant her citizenship, adding that she will remain a "good citizen". "I'd like to apply for citizenship in Russia, from the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. I do promise to be a good citizen." WATCH | Is the U.S. prepared to fight in space amid threat posed by ‘provocative’ Russia & China? × What were Reade's accusations? Notably, in the run-up to the 2020 elections, Reade in an interview said the Democrat leader attempted to sexually assault her. Then a junior staffer, Reade was tasked with bringing Biden's gym bag to him in his Senate office when the incident occurred. “l want to f— you,” the former staffer said Biden told her while pinning her up against the wall. She added that what happened next "happened very quickly". ALSO READ | Biden's assault accuser calls on him to quit US Presidential race “I remember being pushed up against the wall. The first thought I had was ‘Where’s the bag?’ which is an absurd thought, but that’s what I thought,” she said. “He had his hands underneath my clothes, and it happened all at once, so when I tell about it, it’s hard because so many things were happening at once, it’s like my brain was trying to catch up to what was happening." However, Biden denied all the allegations saying the incident never happened. "It is not true. I'm saying unequivocally it never, never happened," he said. Reade said she filed a complaint after the alleged incident, but no record of it has been found. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Biden's sexual assault accuser calls on Putin for Russian citizenship after defecting

An investigation in New Zealand has found that allegations of sexual harassment against an in-house doctor made by new recruits were not properly investigated, reported local media. The investigation into police handling of the complaints was carried out by Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The concerned doctor worked with police between 1999 and 2016 and the police department continued sending new recruits to the doctor for medical tests. The complaints were raised roughly during the same period. The complainants include men, as well as women.

NZ Herald reported that the medical test, known simply as 'medical', is the final step in the recruitment process and the doctor conducted anal examinations and asked the recruits to undress. IPCA said that such actions were not common during a medical test. The watchdog received two complaints in 2019 about poor handling of internal complaints by the police department.

“We found that recruits had raised their concerns about the doctor’s medicals at least seven times between 2002 and 2014/15. Police had failed to act and continued to send recruits to the doctor,” the authority said in a statement, as quoted by NZ Herald.

The police department launched an investigation only in 2017 when a formal complaint was lodged. The Medical Council was notified but the investigation said that there was insufficient evidence to charge the person.

“We found that the criminal investigation of the doctor conducted by police in 2017 was of an acceptable standard. However, we also found police had failed to investigate any of the concerns raised between 2002 and 2014/15,” the authority said.

“In addition, we reached the view that while the criminal investigators offered appropriate support to recruits during the criminal investigation, the member of police executive who knew about the allegations failed adequately to support the recruits throughout the criminal investigation and Medical Council process.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-enraged-over-the-mistreatment-of-a-kiwi-bird-in-a-miami-zoo-595906">New Zealand enraged over mistreatment of a kiwi bird in a Miami zoo</a>

However, the watchdog said that when the extent of the allegations was clear, the police should have fully investigated why the earlier complaints were not acted upon.

“By not doing so, Police failed to gather the information necessary to enable them to reach proper conclusions about how they had initially dealt with the recruits’ concerns,” IPCA said, as quoted by NZ Herald.

<h2>Police accept&nbsp;mistake</h2>

The police department has acknowledged and accepted the findings.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/political-party-in-new-zealand-admits-to-using-ai-generated-people-in-attack-ads-595907">Political party in New Zealand admits to using AI-generated people in attack ads</a>

“Police would like to acknowledge the people who were affected and who had the courage to come forward and speak up when they felt something wasn’t right," Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura, as quoted by NZ Herald.

“This is clearly a situation in which the police’s high standards when dealing with historic allegations of this kind have not been met."

It is important to note that both police’s own criminal investigation, and a disciplinary investigation by the Medical Council’s Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, found insufficient grounds to proceed with further action, including criminal charges.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

An investigation in New Zealand has found that allegations of sexual harassment against an in-house doctor made by new recruits were not properly investigated, reported local media.

An investigation in New Zealand has found that allegations of sexual harassment against an in-house doctor made by new recruits were not properly investigated, reported local media. The investigation into police handling of the complaints was carried out by Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The concerned doctor worked with police between 1999 and 2016 and the police department continued sending new recruits to the doctor for medical tests. The complaints were raised roughly during the same period. The complainants include men, as well as women. NZ Herald reported that the medical test, known simply as 'medical', is the final step in the recruitment process and the doctor conducted anal examinations and asked the recruits to undress. IPCA said that such actions were not common during a medical test. The watchdog received two complaints in 2019 about poor handling of internal complaints by the police department. “We found that recruits had raised their concerns about the doctor’s medicals at least seven times between 2002 and 2014/15. Police had failed to act and continued to send recruits to the doctor,” the authority said in a statement, as quoted by NZ Herald. The police department launched an investigation only in 2017 when a formal complaint was lodged. The Medical Council was notified but the investigation said that there was insufficient evidence to charge the person. “We found that the criminal investigation of the doctor conducted by police in 2017 was of an acceptable standard. However, we also found police had failed to investigate any of the concerns raised between 2002 and 2014/15,” the authority said. “In addition, we reached the view that while the criminal investigators offered appropriate support to recruits during the criminal investigation, the member of police executive who knew about the allegations failed adequately to support the recruits throughout the criminal investigation and Medical Council process.” Also Read | New Zealand enraged over mistreatment of a kiwi bird in a Miami zoo However, the watchdog said that when the extent of the allegations was clear, the police should have fully investigated why the earlier complaints were not acted upon. “By not doing so, Police failed to gather the information necessary to enable them to reach proper conclusions about how they had initially dealt with the recruits’ concerns,” IPCA said, as quoted by NZ Herald. Police accept mistake The police department has acknowledged and accepted the findings. Also Read | Political party in New Zealand admits to using AI-generated people in attack ads “Police would like to acknowledge the people who were affected and who had the courage to come forward and speak up when they felt something wasn’t right," Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura, as quoted by NZ Herald. “This is clearly a situation in which the police’s high standards when dealing with historic allegations of this kind have not been met." It is important to note that both police’s own criminal investigation, and a disciplinary investigation by the Medical Council’s Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, found insufficient grounds to proceed with further action, including criminal charges. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

New Zealand: Police didn't handle sexual harassment complaints against in-house doctor well, says watchdog

Since 2010, prisons in England and Wales have seen nearly 1,000 rapes. As per exclusive data obtained by The Observer for the period, an additional 2,336 sexual assaults were reported to the police. However, as per a report by the Guardian, experts have warned that the true figure of the heinous crimes may be much higher, as not all the attacks get reported. The data reportedly includes cases of both staff-on-prisoner and prisoner-on-prisoner abuse.

The figures have raised concerns about the safety of prisoners and the prison system's effectiveness in addressing the issue of sexual violence.

Overcrowding, staff reductions and budget cuts have all contributed to the rising incidents of sexual assault and rape in prisons. These issues, as per the report, have been further exacerbated by austerity measures over the past decade.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/gucci-reincarnated-7-year-old-prodigy-dressmaker-claims-to-be-renowned-fashion-designer-in-past-life-592020">Gucci reincarnation: 7-year-old prodigy dressmaker claims to be renowned fashion designer in past life</a>

According to research by Nasrul Ismail, a lecturer in criminology at Bristol University, the impact of austerity has left English prisons "unable to provide safe environments for rising prison populations".

A government report revealed that 52 per cent of prisons in England and Wales were overcrowded as of September 2022.

There are currently just under 90,000 people in prisons in the UK, reports The Guardian.&nbsp;

Last year, the government even announced a £500 million (a little more than $622mn) funding injection to create thousands of new prison places for both men and women.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-elections-ahead-of-polls-erdogan-to-lead-prayers-at-iconic-hagia-sophia-mosque-heres-what-it-means-592064">On poll eve, Erdogan to emulate historical ritual of Ottoman Sultans: lead prayers at Hagia Sophia</a>

However, it's not just space for prisoners, the prison system is also struggling to recruit and retain staff.

As per the Guardian report, in 2021-22, the number of prison officers and custodial managers fell by 600. Losing staff has also contributed to the safety issues, putting safety at risk. Many experienced officers are leaving the workforce and prisons are struggling to recruit and retain new staff to replace them.

Talking to the Observer, UK-based charity Howard League for Penal Reform's director of campaigns, Andrew Neilson said that his organisation had called for staff to be given more training and guidance. However, he added, "we know that many experienced officers have since left the workforce and prisons have struggled to recruit and retain people to replace them."

He also said that there has been "minimal research – and a worrying lack of coherent and consistently applied policies – in relation to consensual and coercive sex behind bars."

Sexual violence is a problem not just for the female prison estate but also for male ones.

According to the latest statistics on safety in custody published by the UK Ministry of Justice, there were a total of 20,993 assaults in the 12 months leading up to December 2022. Out of these, 12 per cent were classified as "serious assaults," which encompass sexual violence incidents. This represents a 19 per cent rise in the number of serious assaults compared to the previous year. The number of prisoner-on-prisoner sexual assaults, however, fell to 195, which is 26 per cent lower than the 265 incidents that were recorded in 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Since 2010, prisons in England and Wales have seen nearly 1,000 rapes. As per exclusive data obtained by The Observer for the period, an additional 2,336 sexual assaults were reported to the police.

Since 2010, prisons in England and Wales have seen nearly 1,000 rapes. As per exclusive data obtained by The Observer for the period, an additional 2,336 sexual assaults were reported to the police. However, as per a report by the Guardian, experts have warned that the true figure of the heinous crimes may be much higher, as not all the attacks get reported. The data reportedly includes cases of both staff-on-prisoner and prisoner-on-prisoner abuse. The figures have raised concerns about the safety of prisoners and the prison system's effectiveness in addressing the issue of sexual violence. Overcrowding, staff reductions and budget cuts have all contributed to the rising incidents of sexual assault and rape in prisons. These issues, as per the report, have been further exacerbated by austerity measures over the past decade. Also read | Gucci reincarnation: 7-year-old prodigy dressmaker claims to be renowned fashion designer in past life According to research by Nasrul Ismail, a lecturer in criminology at Bristol University, the impact of austerity has left English prisons "unable to provide safe environments for rising prison populations". A government report revealed that 52 per cent of prisons in England and Wales were overcrowded as of September 2022. There are currently just under 90,000 people in prisons in the UK, reports The Guardian. Last year, the government even announced a £500 million (a little more than $622mn) funding injection to create thousands of new prison places for both men and women. Also read | On poll eve, Erdogan to emulate historical ritual of Ottoman Sultans: lead prayers at Hagia Sophia However, it's not just space for prisoners, the prison system is also struggling to recruit and retain staff. As per the Guardian report, in 2021-22, the number of prison officers and custodial managers fell by 600. Losing staff has also contributed to the safety issues, putting safety at risk. Many experienced officers are leaving the workforce and prisons are struggling to recruit and retain new staff to replace them. Talking to the Observer, UK-based charity Howard League for Penal Reform's director of campaigns, Andrew Neilson said that his organisation had called for staff to be given more training and guidance. However, he added, "we know that many experienced officers have since left the workforce and prisons have struggled to recruit and retain people to replace them." He also said that there has been "minimal research – and a worrying lack of coherent and consistently applied policies – in relation to consensual and coercive sex behind bars." Sexual violence is a problem not just for the female prison estate but also for male ones. According to the latest statistics on safety in custody published by the UK Ministry of Justice, there were a total of 20,993 assaults in the 12 months leading up to December 2022. Out of these, 12 per cent were classified as "serious assaults," which encompass sexual violence incidents. This represents a 19 per cent rise in the number of serious assaults compared to the previous year. The number of prisoner-on-prisoner sexual assaults, however, fell to 195, which is 26 per cent lower than the 265 incidents that were recorded in 2019. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Since 2010, more than 1,000 rape, sexual assault incidents happened in England, Wales prisons: Report

Pakistan-based Daily Times carried an op-ed titled 'Unsafe in Graves' where the shocking revelations were made including parents in the country being forced to lock the graves of their daughters with padlocks to stop individuals from raping their dead bodies.

Pakistan-based Daily Times carried an op-ed titled 'Unsafe in Graves' where the shocking revelations were made including parents in the country being forced to lock the graves of their daughters with padlocks to stop individuals from raping their dead bodies. "The heart-wrenching sight of padlocks on the graves of females is enough for the entire society to hang its head in shame and never dare to look at the so-called vessels of honour," the publication stated. "This is being done as a desperate bid to ensure the sanctity of dead bodies in case some randy monsters cherry-pick them to satiate their lust," it added. WION earlier carried the report with an image shared by a user named Harris Sultan, claiming to be an ex-Muslim atheist activist and author of "The Curse of God, why I left Islam". Sultan tweeted that hardline Islamist ideology was to blame for such unproven acts. The user wrote in his tweet that "Pakistan has created such a horny, sexually frustrated society that people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped. When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave". But the image turned out to be false as a fact-check by BOOM clarified that the "grave in the viral image is located at Masjid E Salar Mulk in Darab Jung Colony, Hyderabad, India, and does not show an instance of parents in Pakistan locking their daughter's grave to protect against necrophilia". Pakistan has created such a horny, sexually frustrated society that people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped. When you link the burqa with rape, it follows you to the grave. pic.twitter.com/THrRO1y6ok — Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) April 26, 2023 × Previous incidents of necrophilia In 2011, a grave keeper named Muhammad Rizwan from the city of Karachi was apprehended after he confessed to having raped over 48 female corpses. Last year in May, unknown men dug out the corpse of a teenage girl in the Chak Kamala village in Gujrat, Pakistan and raped her. Shockingly, the incident took place on the same night the family had buried the girl. In 2021, a freshly-buried teenage girl in the Maulvi Ashraf Chandio village near the coastal town of Ghulamullah was raped by unknown men after digging out the body. The victim's family stated that a local goon, the son of the village landlord, was the main perpetrator in the heinous crime. Similarly, in 2020, a man was caught red-handed raping the corpse of a woman in a graveyard in Okara in the Punjab province. According to National Commission for Human Rights, over 40 per cent of women in Pakistan have faced some kind of violence in their lives. Pakistan is undergoing one of the worst economic crises in its history and yet minorities and women's rights are being constantly trampled upon, even in their death. Disclaimer: An earlier version of this article incorrectly carried an image of padlocks on a grave claimed to be from Pakistan. The article has been updated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Photo of padlocks on grave in India's Hyderabad falsely claimed to be from Pakistan

E. Jean Carroll, a former journalist is currently in the news after she testified against Donald Trump earlier this week, saying the former US president raped her at a New York City department store.

E. Jean Carroll, a former journalist is currently in the news after she testified against Donald Trump earlier this week, saying the former US president raped her at a New York City department store. The 79-year-old is best known for being an advice columnist for Elle magazine for over 26 years. The column mostly revolved around Carroll's view that the fairer sex should not plan their lives around men. Interspersed between that was her compassionate advice to people who came to her seeking solutions to the quandaries in their lives. Born in Detroit, she grew up as Betty Jean Carroll in the midwestern US state of Indiana. From the beginning, Carroll thought of herself as a writer and sent pitches to magazines when she was as little as 12. Carroll went to Indiana University where apart from honing her writing abilities, she participated in the Miss Indiana contest and won it as well in 1963. She first started writing for Esquire and changed her name to Elizabeth Jean and then shortened it to “E. Jean” for the first byline. Her big break came when she wrote a profile on Fran Lebowitz for Outside magazine. After drawing interest with a 'witty literary quiz' about Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald in the magazine, she was approached by Rolling Stone and Playboy where she became the first female contributing editor. WATCH | US writer E. Jean Carroll testifies in her lawsuit against Donald Trump × Apart from being a prolific writer, Carroll also ventured into the television industry. She became a writer on Saturday Night Live (one of the USA's longest-running TV programmes) in the 1980s. A decade later, riding the success of her advice column, she turned it into a television talk show, Ask E Jean. In the early 2000s, Carroll co-founded a dating website called Greatboyfriends.com with a twist where women could recommend their exes. In 2019, she published a memoir titled "What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal" where she laid bare her version of how Truno and former CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves mistreated her. The book also described the alleged assault which took place at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York, in the spring of 1996. ALSO READ | ‘Donald Trump raped me': Former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll's chilling testimony Carroll's testimony in the court During her testimony, Carroll said Trump's actions shattered her and she had been trying to get her life back. “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation and I’m here to try to get my life back,” Carroll testified. Carroll described how, despite her protests, Trump reportedly pushed her up against the wall and ultimately placed his fingers and then his penis into her. She remembered the ache in her vagina and the back of her head. “I’m not settling a political score,” Carroll said. “I’m settling a personal score because he called me a liar repeatedly and it really has decimated my reputation. I’m a journalist – the one thing I have to have is the trust of the readers.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Who is E. Jean Carroll, the woman who testified Trump raped her?

A second woman has come forward to say she was raped while working at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), as reported by Sky news.&nbsp;The woman&nbsp;allegedly contacted The Guardian after it broke the first-ever historical claim that a woman&nbsp;CBI employee was assaulted at a party in London in 2019.

The second woman claimed there was photographic evidence of her engaging in sexual activities with two male coworkers while she was unconscious after a night out while employed at a CBI office abroad.

She had no memory of giving her consent, as reported by the Guardian.&nbsp;

It is also noted that another female employee had reported in 2018 that a male coworker had stalked her, and that despite the company's lobbying group upholding the charge of harassment, the man's services had been retained.

At least 12 women have made allegations of misconduct against top members of Britain's largest employers' organisation, and the controversy has caused several of the members to reevaluate their roles within the body.

According to the CBI, new information about an allegedly "serious" offence was given to the police on Thursday (April 20).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-political-turbulence-live-deputy-pm-dominic-raab-resigns-following-bullying-allegations-584777">UK political turbulence LIVE | Oliver Dowden named new UK deputy PM after Raab resignation</a>

In the wake of the controversy, the police investigation, and a review ordered by the organisation, director general Tony Danker was fired and three other employees were suspended.

The CBI had previously rendered it evident that&nbsp;Danker was not the target of the most serious accusations, such as rape, that had been made to date.

In an interview earlier this week, he criticised the organisation's handling of the situation, saying he had been made the "fall guy" for the company's prior&nbsp;failures.&nbsp;

<h2>CBI's culture at fault?</h2>

The second woman to come forward with a rape claim told the Guardian that while she did not hold the CBI accountable for allegedly being raped, the body's culture was to blame.

"I was really young and people took advantage of me after a night of drinking," she told the Guardian.

"I blame the CBI for an atmosphere that was allowed to feed into people's sense of confidence. That they could act in this way and afterwards feel no worries, no fears of consequences. That they could feel somehow proud, in an office," she added.

"That there wasn't a person for me to speak to in HR who I knew of and could trust.&nbsp;I want to say to other women or men at the CBI that they do great work. I hope they understand why I wanted to speak about it; what happened to me," she continued.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Prince William helps out at Indian restaurant in Birmingham, takes booking

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/prince-william-helps-out-at-indian-restaurant-in-birmingham-takes-booking-584814/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Guardian claimed that in order to help protect the woman's identity, it had not disclosed the alleged attack's location or date.

Following the conclusion of the first part of the review, which was overseen by a law firm, the CBI is expected to provide an update on the changes that it aims to adopt at the organisation next week.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

A second woman has come forward to say she was raped while working at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), as reported by Sky news. The woman allegedly contacted The Guardian after it broke the first-ever historical claim that a woman CBI employee was assaulted at a party in London in 2019.

A second woman has come forward to say she was raped while working at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), as reported by Sky news. The woman allegedly contacted The Guardian after it broke the first-ever historical claim that a woman CBI employee was assaulted at a party in London in 2019. The second woman claimed there was photographic evidence of her engaging in sexual activities with two male coworkers while she was unconscious after a night out while employed at a CBI office abroad. She had no memory of giving her consent, as reported by the Guardian. It is also noted that another female employee had reported in 2018 that a male coworker had stalked her, and that despite the company's lobbying group upholding the charge of harassment, the man's services had been retained. At least 12 women have made allegations of misconduct against top members of Britain's largest employers' organisation, and the controversy has caused several of the members to reevaluate their roles within the body. According to the CBI, new information about an allegedly "serious" offence was given to the police on Thursday (April 20). ALSO READ | UK political turbulence LIVE | Oliver Dowden named new UK deputy PM after Raab resignation In the wake of the controversy, the police investigation, and a review ordered by the organisation, director general Tony Danker was fired and three other employees were suspended. The CBI had previously rendered it evident that Danker was not the target of the most serious accusations, such as rape, that had been made to date. In an interview earlier this week, he criticised the organisation's handling of the situation, saying he had been made the "fall guy" for the company's prior failures. CBI's culture at fault? The second woman to come forward with a rape claim told the Guardian that while she did not hold the CBI accountable for allegedly being raped, the body's culture was to blame. "I was really young and people took advantage of me after a night of drinking," she told the Guardian. "I blame the CBI for an atmosphere that was allowed to feed into people's sense of confidence. That they could act in this way and afterwards feel no worries, no fears of consequences. That they could feel somehow proud, in an office," she added. "That there wasn't a person for me to speak to in HR who I knew of and could trust. I want to say to other women or men at the CBI that they do great work. I hope they understand why I wanted to speak about it; what happened to me," she continued. ALSO WATCH | Prince William helps out at Indian restaurant in Birmingham, takes booking The Guardian claimed that in order to help protect the woman's identity, it had not disclosed the alleged attack's location or date. Following the conclusion of the first part of the review, which was overseen by a law firm, the CBI is expected to provide an update on the changes that it aims to adopt at the organisation next week. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UK: Crisis in industry lobby body CBI intensifies after second woman alleges rape

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

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

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

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

A court found former Israeli headmistress Malka Leifer guilty of sexually assaulting her former students in Australia's ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls school.&nbsp;

On Monday, the jury concluded that Malka Leifer was guilty of raping and indecently assaulting sisters Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2003 and 2007.

However, the jury did not find her guilty of sexually abusing a third sister, Nicole Meyer.

Leifer, aged 56, pleaded not guilty to more than two dozen charges against her and spent years battling extradition from Israel.

However, in 2021, her extradition to Australia was ordered by an Israeli judge.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-suella-braverman-makes-reporting-child-sexual-abuse-a-legal-duty-attacks-british-pakistani-gangs-578267">UK: Suella Braverman to make reporting child sexual abuse a legal duty; slams British Pakistani gangs</a>

Victoria's County Court, during the six-week trial, heard evidence that Leifer was among the revered figures at Adass Israel School in Melbourne, where the three sisters were studying.

They stated that the sisters were abused by the former headmistress in the school's locked classrooms, in school camps, and at the home of the head teacher.

The jury said that the sexual abuse continued after the sisters graduated and came back to the school as student teachers.&nbsp;

"When we look back at the journey that it took, everything that happened in Israel, it was so unbelievable that we get to this time and we have: she's guilty, she's guilty; that can't be taken away, she is guilty," Erlich said while speaking to the reporters outside a Melbourne court, flanked by her sisters.

Prosecutor Justin Lewis argued that Malka Leifer had shown "a tendency to have a sexual interest in girls". He said that she misused her position and also that the sisters' "vulnerability (and) their ignorance in sexual matters".

WATCH | Gravitas: UK police officers face sexual assault charges

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-uk-police-officers-face-sexual-assault-charges-572061/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He stated that the sisters in their teenagehood, had little knowledge and understanding about sex because their upbringing was centred around their Jewish faith and community, which is ultra-conservative.

"Knowing that they were neglected at home, she pretended that she loved them and told them that she was helping them," Lewis argued.

Defence barrister Ian Hill said that the allegations against Leifer were false and questioned the witnesses' reliability.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

A court found former Israeli headmistress Malka Leifer guilty of sexually assaulting her former students in Australia's ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls school. On Monday, the jury concluded that Malka Leifer was guilty of raping and indecently assaulting sisters Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2003 and 2007.

A court found former Israeli headmistress Malka Leifer guilty of sexually assaulting her former students in Australia's ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls school. On Monday, the jury concluded that Malka Leifer was guilty of raping and indecently assaulting sisters Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2003 and 2007. However, the jury did not find her guilty of sexually abusing a third sister, Nicole Meyer. Leifer, aged 56, pleaded not guilty to more than two dozen charges against her and spent years battling extradition from Israel. However, in 2021, her extradition to Australia was ordered by an Israeli judge. ALSO READ | UK: Suella Braverman to make reporting child sexual abuse a legal duty; slams British Pakistani gangs Victoria's County Court, during the six-week trial, heard evidence that Leifer was among the revered figures at Adass Israel School in Melbourne, where the three sisters were studying. They stated that the sisters were abused by the former headmistress in the school's locked classrooms, in school camps, and at the home of the head teacher. The jury said that the sexual abuse continued after the sisters graduated and came back to the school as student teachers. "When we look back at the journey that it took, everything that happened in Israel, it was so unbelievable that we get to this time and we have: she's guilty, she's guilty; that can't be taken away, she is guilty," Erlich said while speaking to the reporters outside a Melbourne court, flanked by her sisters. Prosecutor Justin Lewis argued that Malka Leifer had shown "a tendency to have a sexual interest in girls". He said that she misused her position and also that the sisters' "vulnerability (and) their ignorance in sexual matters". WATCH | Gravitas: UK police officers face sexual assault charges He stated that the sisters in their teenagehood, had little knowledge and understanding about sex because their upbringing was centred around their Jewish faith and community, which is ultra-conservative. "Knowing that they were neglected at home, she pretended that she loved them and told them that she was helping them," Lewis argued. Defence barrister Ian Hill said that the allegations against Leifer were false and questioned the witnesses' reliability. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Court finds Israeli headmistress Malka Leifer guilty of sexual assault

1,539 UK police officers have been accused of misconduct and sexual assault in six months. Only 13 were fired; 91% of public complaints were scrapped. Mohammed Saleh reports.

Gravitas: UK police officers face sexual assault charges

The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday (March 14) approved a bill which would&nbsp; raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 and recognise sexual violation even in the absence of physical violence or coercion. The country is moving to reform its Penal Code after years of criticism that several sex offenders went scot-free. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago.

The package of reforms proposed last month by a Japanese justice ministry panel also sought to clarify rape prosecution requirements. It would now define sexual offence charges as per the circumstances which make it difficult for a person to “form, express or fulfill the intention to resist” a sexual act and listed eight acts in this context.&nbsp;

The examples ranged from threats and abusing one’s economic or social power to taking advantage of a person’s impairment due to the influence of alcohol or drugs.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/explained-japan-poised-to-raise-age-of-consent-to-16-after-over-a-century-why-now-564542">Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now?</a>

According to local media reports, the reforms also rename a sexual offence charge in order to clarify the illegality of non-consensual intercourse. It will also make so-called upskirting and producing images of genitalia without consent punishable under the Penal Code.&nbsp;

The amendments will also make illegal the production of images of genitalia, buttocks and breasts without consent. Providing or circulating such images and videos will become punishable. The government aims to pass the bill during the current parliamentary session while the revision will come into effect 20 days after the promulgation, as per local media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-to-raise-age-of-consent-from-13-to-16-age-remains-same-since-enacted-in-1907-564286">Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16; age remains same since enacted in 1907</a>

As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent among developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent. This means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape.

The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences.

As per the current Japanese laws, forced sexual intercourse must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday (March 14) approved a bill which would raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 and recognise sexual violation even in the absence of physical violence or coercion.

The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday (March 14) approved a bill which would raise the legal age of consent from 13 to 16 and recognise sexual violation even in the absence of physical violence or coercion. The country is moving to reform its Penal Code after years of criticism that several sex offenders went scot-free. Notably, the age of consent in the Asian country is the lowest among the Group of seven nations (G7) and has remained unchanged since its enactment over a century ago. The package of reforms proposed last month by a Japanese justice ministry panel also sought to clarify rape prosecution requirements. It would now define sexual offence charges as per the circumstances which make it difficult for a person to “form, express or fulfill the intention to resist” a sexual act and listed eight acts in this context. The examples ranged from threats and abusing one’s economic or social power to taking advantage of a person’s impairment due to the influence of alcohol or drugs. ALSO READ | Explained | Japan poised to raise age of consent to 16 after over a century. Why now? According to local media reports, the reforms also rename a sexual offence charge in order to clarify the illegality of non-consensual intercourse. It will also make so-called upskirting and producing images of genitalia without consent punishable under the Penal Code. The amendments will also make illegal the production of images of genitalia, buttocks and breasts without consent. Providing or circulating such images and videos will become punishable. The government aims to pass the bill during the current parliamentary session while the revision will come into effect 20 days after the promulgation, as per local media reports. ALSO WATCH | Japan to raise age of consent from 13 to 16; age remains same since enacted in 1907 As of now, Japan has the lowest age of consent among developed countries, as 13-year-old children are deemed old enough to consent. This means sexual activity with them is not considered statutory rape. The proposed overhaul comes after mounting criticism that current laws are inadequate to protect children from rape and other sexual offences. As per the current Japanese laws, forced sexual intercourse must be non-consensual and the prosecution must be able to prove that the rape perpetrator used “violence and intimidation” and that it was “impossible to resist”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Japan OKs bill to raise age of consent from 13 to 16, reform sexual offence charges

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal made a big revelation on Saturday (March 11) as she said that she was sexually assaulted by her father in her childhood. Maliwal said that the trauma gave her the strength to fight for the rights of women and children. The DCW chief was speaking with the reporters after the DCW International Women's Day Awards ceremony in New Delhi. She said that she faced abuse till the time she was in fourth grade in school.&nbsp;

"I was sexually assaulted by my father when I was a child. I was very small at that time. My father used to beat me up and I used to hide under the bed to save myself," she said.

"While hiding under the bed, I used to think how I will teach a lesson to such men who abuse women and children, and how I can help women get their rights," she said.

Narrating her ordeal, Maliwal said that her father would grab her by her braid and slam her against the wall, leading to severe bleeding. "This happened till I was in Class 4," she recalled.

Talking to Press Trust of India later, she said that she knows that she will be subjected to trolling after narrating her childhood trauma but added as a public figure, it was her duty to talk about it.

"My father was an alcoholic. When heavily drunk, he harassed me on many occasions. The brutal beatings that I have got, it is really, really scary."

"The fact that I am a strong and vocal voice against crimes against women today, a lot of it stems from my own childhood trauma...If channelled in the right direction, the pain, the anger and the trauma helps you understand other people's pain better and helps you work for other people," she told PTI.

She said her mother, who herself was a victim of domestic violence and extreme abuse at the hands of her father, tried her level best to protect her.

"Then there came a day when she (mother) felt that there was absolutely no way out. She couldn't take it any longer and she separated from my father and that is when my life started improving. I started feeling more secure since we started living with our grandparents. I started feeling more secure but at the same time, it was very traumatic and it still is," she said.

Maliwal said her mother is a very strong woman and taught her to fight her battles.

"I think when you go through that kind of pain you understand what one goes through when one faces such abuse from one's own parent.... It happens with so many people. It's a mark that I cannot erase forever," she said. 
But what made her speak up at a public forum at this point?

"I was feeling very emotional because we gave awards to 90 very inspiring people. Many of them overcame their childhood traumas to really shine and achieve a lot in their lives. I feel people holding positions and those who are public figures should talk about such things.

"I think these should not be kept hidden. I think I have reached a stage in life where I feel that I have healed to quite an extent, and I do feel comfortable to talk about it. I understand it's still a very taboo topic and I will be subjected to n number of trolling but despite that I still decided to do it," she said.

The DCW chief said she wants to give a message to all girls who are being subjected to any form of incest that they must speak up and fight it out. If they are able to struggle, they will be able to come out of it, she asserted.

"I am a human being and I have a vulnerable side. I fight for women and girls and that is my passion. I wanted to share with everyone where that passion came from. It's really unfortunate that everyday an incest case is reported in the national capital. It does make my blood boil," she added.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal made a big revelation on Saturday (March 11) as she said that she was sexually assaulted by her father in her childhood.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal made a big revelation on Saturday (March 11) as she said that she was sexually assaulted by her father in her childhood. Maliwal said that the trauma gave her the strength to fight for the rights of women and children. The DCW chief was speaking with the reporters after the DCW International Women's Day Awards ceremony in New Delhi. She said that she faced abuse till the time she was in fourth grade in school. "I was sexually assaulted by my father when I was a child. I was very small at that time. My father used to beat me up and I used to hide under the bed to save myself," she said. "While hiding under the bed, I used to think how I will teach a lesson to such men who abuse women and children, and how I can help women get their rights," she said. Narrating her ordeal, Maliwal said that her father would grab her by her braid and slam her against the wall, leading to severe bleeding. "This happened till I was in Class 4," she recalled. Talking to Press Trust of India later, she said that she knows that she will be subjected to trolling after narrating her childhood trauma but added as a public figure, it was her duty to talk about it. "My father was an alcoholic. When heavily drunk, he harassed me on many occasions. The brutal beatings that I have got, it is really, really scary." "The fact that I am a strong and vocal voice against crimes against women today, a lot of it stems from my own childhood trauma...If channelled in the right direction, the pain, the anger and the trauma helps you understand other people's pain better and helps you work for other people," she told PTI. She said her mother, who herself was a victim of domestic violence and extreme abuse at the hands of her father, tried her level best to protect her. "Then there came a day when she (mother) felt that there was absolutely no way out. She couldn't take it any longer and she separated from my father and that is when my life started improving. I started feeling more secure since we started living with our grandparents. I started feeling more secure but at the same time, it was very traumatic and it still is," she said. Maliwal said her mother is a very strong woman and taught her to fight her battles. "I think when you go through that kind of pain you understand what one goes through when one faces such abuse from one's own parent.... It happens with so many people. It's a mark that I cannot erase forever," she said. But what made her speak up at a public forum at this point? "I was feeling very emotional because we gave awards to 90 very inspiring people. Many of them overcame their childhood traumas to really shine and achieve a lot in their lives. I feel people holding positions and those who are public figures should talk about such things. "I think these should not be kept hidden. I think I have reached a stage in life where I feel that I have healed to quite an extent, and I do feel comfortable to talk about it. I understand it's still a very taboo topic and I will be subjected to n number of trolling but despite that I still decided to do it," she said. The DCW chief said she wants to give a message to all girls who are being subjected to any form of incest that they must speak up and fight it out. If they are able to struggle, they will be able to come out of it, she asserted. "I am a human being and I have a vulnerable side. I fight for women and girls and that is my passion. I wanted to share with everyone where that passion came from. It's really unfortunate that everyday an incest case is reported in the national capital. It does make my blood boil," she added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

DCW chief Swati Maliwal speaks of childhood sexual assault by father

sexual-assault

Sexual Assault, News on Sexual Assault, stories on Sexual Assault, articles on Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault stories at Wion, Sexual Assault news, Sexual Assault latest news