Passengers on a Philadelphia train looked on as a woman was raped in broad daylight. Why did no one help? Why did no one call the police? Another day, another instance of society failing women. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Passengers looked on as a woman was raped

In a terrific incident, a woman was raped by a stranger on a commuter train in suburban Philadelphia in the presence of other riders who a police official said, "should have done something." Several passengers saw the accused assaulting the woman but they did not intervene, the 35-year-old accused is now facing the charges.

United States: Woman raped on train, Septa riders watch

Fighting for justice for women, the state of California has declared that anyone who secretly removes a condom during sex without verbal consent from their partner will be charged with civil sexual battery offense.<o:p></o:p>

With the hope of providing more rights for victims of sexual assault, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two new laws that tackle ‘stealthing’ and spousal rape.<o:p></o:p>

Introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, removing a condom secretly without a verbal consent from the partner will now be prohibited and illegal under AB 453. Victims of stealthing can now sue the person who removed the condom against violation for damages and relief.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/status-of-women-and-state-of-feminism-in-china-419602">Spanish doctor writes 'current illness: homosexual' for a gay woman</a></o:p>

"Sexual assaults, especially those on women of color, are perpetually swept under the rug," Garcia said in a&nbsp;statement. "...It's disgusting that there are online communities that defend and encourage stealthing and give advice on how to get away with removing the condom without the consent of their partner."&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

People found guilty of stealthing can now be held liable for general, special and punitive damages according to the law.<o:p></o:p>

This law has been brought into place after a 2017 Yale study revealed that women and men around the world have been victims of stealthing. Victims were not just worried about getting pregnant or getting infected by sexually transmitted diseases, but also felt that the experience was "disempowering, demeaning violation of a sexual agreement".

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/status-of-women-and-state-of-feminism-in-china-419602">Status of women and state of feminism in China</a></o:p>

California has also become the first state to differentiate between spousal rape and non-spousal rape. Earlier, rape was defined as an act of sexual intercourse forced upon a person by anyone other than their spouse. However, now if the partner does not give consent for sexual intercourse that will be made illegal under the new spousal rape law. The latest law has eliminated the provision to include spousal rape under the definition of rape.<o:p></o:p>

"Rape is rape," Assemblywoman Garcia said in a&nbsp;statement. "And a marriage license is not an excuse for committing one of society's most violent and sadistic crimes. AB 1171 will mandate adherence to a law that will protect vulnerable spouses in a union."&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Fighting for justice for women, the state of California has declared that anyone who secretly removes a condom during sex without verbal consent from their partner will be charged with civil sexual battery offense.

Fighting for justice for women, the state of California has declared that anyone who secretly removes a condom during sex without verbal consent from their partner will be charged with civil sexual battery offense. With the hope of providing more rights for victims of sexual assault, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two new laws that tackle ‘stealthing’ and spousal rape. Introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, removing a condom secretly without a verbal consent from the partner will now be prohibited and illegal under AB 453. Victims of stealthing can now sue the person who removed the condom against violation for damages and relief. Also read | Spanish doctor writes 'current illness: homosexual' for a gay woman "Sexual assaults, especially those on women of color, are perpetually swept under the rug," Garcia said in a statement. "...It's disgusting that there are online communities that defend and encourage stealthing and give advice on how to get away with removing the condom without the consent of their partner." People found guilty of stealthing can now be held liable for general, special and punitive damages according to the law. This law has been brought into place after a 2017 Yale study revealed that women and men around the world have been victims of stealthing. Victims were not just worried about getting pregnant or getting infected by sexually transmitted diseases, but also felt that the experience was "disempowering, demeaning violation of a sexual agreement". Also read | Status of women and state of feminism in China California has also become the first state to differentiate between spousal rape and non-spousal rape. Earlier, rape was defined as an act of sexual intercourse forced upon a person by anyone other than their spouse. However, now if the partner does not give consent for sexual intercourse that will be made illegal under the new spousal rape law. The latest law has eliminated the provision to include spousal rape under the definition of rape. "Rape is rape," Assemblywoman Garcia said in a statement. "And a marriage license is not an excuse for committing one of society's most violent and sadistic crimes. AB 1171 will mandate adherence to a law that will protect vulnerable spouses in a union."

California becomes first state to ban secret removal of condom during sex

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, hundreds of students protested outside a fraternity house in August after a student reported a sexual assault by one of its members to the police.

At Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, demonstrations erupted Sunday after several students said they had been drugged at two fraternities. Northwestern suspended recruitment and social events at on-campus fraternity houses.

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, rumours about a sexual assault prompted hundreds of students to show up outside the Theta Chi fraternity house, chanting an expletive, middle fingers raised. Some protesters overturned a car, and two students were arrested.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/8-arrested-in-fraternity-pledges-alcohol-poisoning-death-says-police-416134">8 arrested in fraternity pledge’s alcohol-poisoning death, says police</a>

These protests were just part of a series of similar demonstrations against fraternities that have occurred this fall — not at small liberal arts colleges, but at big universities with powerful fraternity cultures, like Syracuse University in New York and the public universities of Kansas, Iowa and Mississippi.

Some protests are responding to recent formal reports of sexual assault. A few are driven by anonymous reports on social media, which fraternities say lack credibility, and which universities say they must take seriously, given the reluctance of some victims to report an assault.

But many protesters are not fighting what they see as a single case of rape or violence. Nor are many interested in disciplinary measures, doled out case by case.

Rather, many students, feeling newly empowered after the #MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter protests, say they want an overhaul of campus life.

“A lot of students on campus want to see the fraternity completely abolished,” said Rebecca Evans, a sophomore at the University of Iowa who helps run U for Us, which supports sexual assault victims at the university.

Fraternity officials say they understand the depth of the students’ anger about sexual assault, but that protesters are not seeing the whole picture.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-third-oldest-english-speaking-university-erupts-in-controversy-after-former-students-allege-sexual-assault-313164">World's third-oldest English speaking university erupts in controversy after former students allege sexual assault</a>

“We have our challenges no doubt, just like the governors of states, just like people who are in media, just like pro athletes, just like entertainment,” said Judson Horras, president and CEO of the North American Interfraternity Conference, the largest trade association of fraternities. He added, “We are being labeled for a problem that is frankly much larger than a fraternity issue.”

Fraternity officials say that while police and university investigations are continuing, their chapters have acted swiftly and decisively. The accused student at the University of Nebraska dropped out of school and is no longer a member of the chapter, according to the Interfraternity Conference.

“So many fraternity men are appalled by this behavior,” Horras said, adding that fraternity brothers who expelled members should be supported and encouraged, not targeted by protests.

“They did the right thing,” Horras said. “The protests should be directed at the behavior.”

Horras said the Interfraternity Conference had taken specific steps to stop sexual misconduct. It requires fraternity members to receive sexual misconduct education, and since the fall of 2019, it has banned the consumption of hard alcohol at fraternity parties and houses.

Fraternity members are told, he said, “You report the incident immediately because we want to have a culture of openness and accountability of individuals.”

But fraternities have impassioned opponents. The protests are in a similar vein to “Abolish Greek Life” movements that have sprung up over the past year at universities like Emory, American and North Carolina. And the entering class of college students seems more intense and unyielding than that of the students who entered just before them, students say.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/harvey-weinstein-again-pleads-not-guilty-to-sexual-assault-charges-414665">Harvey Weinstein again pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges</a>

Sohaila Ammar and Katie Robertson, both first-year students at UMass, used Instagram to build support for demonstrations on their campus after a friend passed on the accusation that a woman had been drugged and sexually assaulted. They think the pent-up energy of the coronavirus pandemic has been transferred to the protests.

“People are conditioned to be, ‘Oh, that’s how it is, that’s college culture,’” Robertson said. “My generation is a lot less tolerant of things that have happened in the past.”

“I feel like we’re a lot more radical even than the juniors and seniors, a lot more bold and forward,” Ammar said.

Sexual assault was widely discussed on platforms like TikTok over the past year of the pandemic, said Shivali Mashar, 21, a senior at UMass. And, she said, the suspicion of historically white, male-dominated institutions — like the police — has been mobilized against largely white, male-dominated fraternities.

“Whether it be girls who have experienced sexual assault at a fraternity party or Black Americans with the police, both of these groups have been violently targeted in different ways,” she said. They are not the same, she said, just that, “for a long time, this has been swept under the rug.”

Fraternities point out that they are part of a vibrant campus life — by giving students a sense of belonging on a big campus, by raising donations and helping students in their careers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-has-received-legal-papers-for-sexual-assault-charges-415834">Prince Andrew has received legal papers for sexual assault charges</a>

While sexual assault on campuses is said to be underreported, research on fraternities and sexual violence is thin. Some data shows that more than a quarter of female undergraduate students — and almost 7 per cent of their male counterparts — will “experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation,” according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, an advocacy group.

But some research also suggests that violence is more closely tied to alcohol abuse and peer support than to anything intrinsic to belonging to a fraternity.

Recent protests have coincided with the return of the anonymous messaging app Yik Yak in mid-August after it was discontinued four years ago. While the app is popular on college campuses because it is location-based, the anonymity it thrives on does not make it easy for protesters, administrators or police to substantiate any accusation.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, hundreds of students protested outside a fraternity house in August after a student reported a sexual assault by one of its members to the police.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, hundreds of students protested outside a fraternity house in August after a student reported a sexual assault by one of its members to the police. At Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, demonstrations erupted Sunday after several students said they had been drugged at two fraternities. Northwestern suspended recruitment and social events at on-campus fraternity houses. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, rumours about a sexual assault prompted hundreds of students to show up outside the Theta Chi fraternity house, chanting an expletive, middle fingers raised. Some protesters overturned a car, and two students were arrested. Also read | 8 arrested in fraternity pledge’s alcohol-poisoning death, says police These protests were just part of a series of similar demonstrations against fraternities that have occurred this fall — not at small liberal arts colleges, but at big universities with powerful fraternity cultures, like Syracuse University in New York and the public universities of Kansas, Iowa and Mississippi. Some protests are responding to recent formal reports of sexual assault. A few are driven by anonymous reports on social media, which fraternities say lack credibility, and which universities say they must take seriously, given the reluctance of some victims to report an assault. But many protesters are not fighting what they see as a single case of rape or violence. Nor are many interested in disciplinary measures, doled out case by case. Rather, many students, feeling newly empowered after the #MeToo movement and the Black Lives Matter protests, say they want an overhaul of campus life. “A lot of students on campus want to see the fraternity completely abolished,” said Rebecca Evans, a sophomore at the University of Iowa who helps run U for Us, which supports sexual assault victims at the university. Fraternity officials say they understand the depth of the students’ anger about sexual assault, but that protesters are not seeing the whole picture. Also read | World's third-oldest English speaking university erupts in controversy after former students allege sexual assault “We have our challenges no doubt, just like the governors of states, just like people who are in media, just like pro athletes, just like entertainment,” said Judson Horras, president and CEO of the North American Interfraternity Conference, the largest trade association of fraternities. He added, “We are being labeled for a problem that is frankly much larger than a fraternity issue.” Fraternity officials say that while police and university investigations are continuing, their chapters have acted swiftly and decisively. The accused student at the University of Nebraska dropped out of school and is no longer a member of the chapter, according to the Interfraternity Conference. “So many fraternity men are appalled by this behavior,” Horras said, adding that fraternity brothers who expelled members should be supported and encouraged, not targeted by protests. “They did the right thing,” Horras said. “The protests should be directed at the behavior.” Horras said the Interfraternity Conference had taken specific steps to stop sexual misconduct. It requires fraternity members to receive sexual misconduct education, and since the fall of 2019, it has banned the consumption of hard alcohol at fraternity parties and houses. Fraternity members are told, he said, “You report the incident immediately because we want to have a culture of openness and accountability of individuals.” But fraternities have impassioned opponents. The protests are in a similar vein to “Abolish Greek Life” movements that have sprung up over the past year at universities like Emory, American and North Carolina. And the entering class of college students seems more intense and unyielding than that of the students who entered just before them, students say. Also read | Harvey Weinstein again pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges Sohaila Ammar and Katie Robertson, both first-year students at UMass, used Instagram to build support for demonstrations on their campus after a friend passed on the accusation that a woman had been drugged and sexually assaulted. They think the pent-up energy of the coronavirus pandemic has been transferred to the protests. “People are conditioned to be, ‘Oh, that’s how it is, that’s college culture,’” Robertson said. “My generation is a lot less tolerant of things that have happened in the past.” “I feel like we’re a lot more radical even than the juniors and seniors, a lot more bold and forward,” Ammar said. Sexual assault was widely discussed on platforms like TikTok over the past year of the pandemic, said Shivali Mashar, 21, a senior at UMass. And, she said, the suspicion of historically white, male-dominated institutions — like the police — has been mobilized against largely white, male-dominated fraternities. “Whether it be girls who have experienced sexual assault at a fraternity party or Black Americans with the police, both of these groups have been violently targeted in different ways,” she said. They are not the same, she said, just that, “for a long time, this has been swept under the rug.” Fraternities point out that they are part of a vibrant campus life — by giving students a sense of belonging on a big campus, by raising donations and helping students in their careers. Also read | Prince Andrew has received legal papers for sexual assault charges While sexual assault on campuses is said to be underreported, research on fraternities and sexual violence is thin. Some data shows that more than a quarter of female undergraduate students — and almost 7 per cent of their male counterparts — will “experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation,” according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, an advocacy group. But some research also suggests that violence is more closely tied to alcohol abuse and peer support than to anything intrinsic to belonging to a fraternity. Recent protests have coincided with the return of the anonymous messaging app Yik Yak in mid-August after it was discontinued four years ago. While the app is popular on college campuses because it is location-based, the anonymity it thrives on does not make it easy for protesters, administrators or police to substantiate any accusation.

After rape accusations, fraternities face protests and growing anger

The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, has confirmed that he has received the court papers of the law suit filed against him in a sexual assault case.<o:p></o:p>

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a victim of infamous Jeffrey Epstein, has accused Prince Andrew of sexually harassing her at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and a few other places, in 2001 when she was 17 years old.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-served-with-legal-papers-over-accusations-of-sexual-assault-412283">Prince Andrew served with legal papers over accusations of sexual assault</a></o:p>

Giuffre had filed a legal complaint against Andrew. The Prince was served with papers by Cesar Sepulveda, who identifies himself as corporate investigator/process server. Sepulveda said he had handed over the documents to the security guards of the Royal Lodge in Windsor, England as he was declined a face-to-face meeting with the British royal.<o:p></o:p>

In her complaint, Guiffre had alleged that she "was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth and authority."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-ghost-of-jeffrey-epstein-sex-offence-cases-continue-with-british-prince-andrew-back-in-sharp-focus-405410">The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein: Sex offence cases continue with British prince Andrew back in sharp focus</a>

<o:p></o:p>

The allegations have been dismissed by Prince Andrew and the Buckingham Palace in the past. However, this time the Prince had stayed silent.<o:p></o:p>

It was not clear if the Prince had received the legal papers or not. However, it has now been confirmed that he has received the papers and has time till October 29 to respond.

<o:p>(With inputs from agencies)</o:p>

The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, has confirmed that he has received the court papers of the law suit filed against him in a sexual assault case. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a victim of infamous Jeffrey Epstein, has accused Prince Andrew of sexually harassing her at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and a few other places, in 2001 when she was 17 years old.

The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, has confirmed that he has received the court papers of the law suit filed against him in a sexual assault case. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a victim of infamous Jeffrey Epstein, has accused Prince Andrew of sexually harassing her at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and a few other places, in 2001 when she was 17 years old. Also read | Prince Andrew served with legal papers over accusations of sexual assault Giuffre had filed a legal complaint against Andrew. The Prince was served with papers by Cesar Sepulveda, who identifies himself as corporate investigator/process server. Sepulveda said he had handed over the documents to the security guards of the Royal Lodge in Windsor, England as he was declined a face-to-face meeting with the British royal. In her complaint, Guiffre had alleged that she "was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth and authority." Also read | The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein: Sex offence cases continue with British prince Andrew back in sharp focus The allegations have been dismissed by Prince Andrew and the Buckingham Palace in the past. However, this time the Prince had stayed silent. It was not clear if the Prince had received the legal papers or not. However, it has now been confirmed that he has received the papers and has time till October 29 to respond. (With inputs from agencies)

Prince Andrew has received legal papers for sexual assault charges

FBI Director Christopher Wray and several elite gymnasts, including Simone Biles, were testifying at a Senate hearing Wednesday on the agency’s botched handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case, the first public questioning of the failure to properly investigate one of the biggest sexual abuse cases in U.S. history.

McKayla Maroney, a former Olympic gymnast, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that she spent hours telling FBI agents how Nassar had repeatedly sexually abused her, only to have them misrepresent her statements later.

“Not only did the FBI not report my abuse, but when they eventually documented my report 17 months later, they made entirely false claims about what I said,” Maroney testified. She said she was 15 when she spoke to agents. “They chose to lie about what I said and protect a serial child molester rather than protect not only me but countless others.”

The hearing comes days after the FBI fired one agent who initially worked on the case investigating Nassar, the former national gymnastics team doctor who ultimately was convicted on state charges of abusing scores of gymnasts, including Olympians, under the guise of physical exams.

And it comes two months after the Justice Department’s inspector general released a report that sharply criticized the FBI for making crucial errors in the matter. Those errors allowed Nassar to continue treating patients for eight months at Michigan State University, where he practiced, and in and around Lansing, Michigan, including at a local gymnastics center and a high school.

Nassar, who is serving what amounts to life in prison for sexual misconduct, was able to molest more than 70 girls and women while the FBI failed to act, the inspector general’s report said.

Two FBI agents initially assigned to the case no longer work for the agency. Michael Langeman, a supervisory special agent in the FBI’s Indianapolis office, was fired in the days leading up to Wednesday’s hearing, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. Those people did not want their names published because they do not have the authority to speak about the case. The Washington Post was the first to publish news of Langeman’s firing.

Langeman, who was not immediately available for comment, was not named in the inspector general report, but his actions as the special supervisory agent, and his multiple crucial missteps, were described in detail. The report said Langeman should have known that Nassar’s abuse was probably widespread, yet he did not investigate the case with any urgency.

Langeman interviewed just one of the three elite gymnasts who gave USA Gymnastics details of Nassar’s abuse and did not properly document that interview or open an investigation. In an interview report Langeman filed with the FBI 17 months after he spoke to that gymnast — Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney, who was not named in the report — he included statements she did not make, according to the report.

Like other agents initially involved in the case, Langeman also did not alert local or state officials of Nassar’s alleged abuse, violating FBI policy that states that crimes against children “invariably require a broad, multijurisdictional, and multidisciplinary approach.”

Langeman later said he had filed an initial report about Nassar, asking for the case to be transferred to the Lansing office because that’s where Nassar was based at Michigan State. But the paperwork wasn’t found in the FBI database, the inspector general’s report said.

W. Jay Abbott, a special agent in the FBI’s Indianapolis office, also is no longer with the FBI, after retiring in 2018. The report said he made false statements to Justice Department investigators and also “violated FBI policy and exercised extremely poor judgment under federal ethics rules.” According to the report, he had been angling for a job with the United States Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee and discussed it with then-President of USA Gymnastics Steve Penny. Abbott applied for the job with the USOPC but didn’t get the position — yet told Justice Department investigators that he never applied.

Hundreds of girls and women who were abused by Nassar have been waiting to hear from the FBI about the mistakes in the case. Biles, the Olympic gold medalist, has been vocal about wanting to know “who knew what, and when” about Nassar. She won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games after dropping out of the team competition because of a mental health issue.

Biles was testifying alongside former teammates Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols, who is known as “Athlete A” in the Nassar case because she was the first elite gymnast to report the abuse to USA Gymnastics. That was in July 2015. The Lansing office of the FBI opened its official investigation into Nassar in October 2016.

FBI Director Christopher Wray and several elite gymnasts, including Simone Biles, were testifying at a Senate hearing Wednesday on the agency’s botched handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case, the first public questioning of the failure to properly investigate one of the biggest sexual abuse cases in U.

FBI Director Christopher Wray and several elite gymnasts, including Simone Biles, were testifying at a Senate hearing Wednesday on the agency’s botched handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case, the first public questioning of the failure to properly investigate one of the biggest sexual abuse cases in U.S. history. McKayla Maroney, a former Olympic gymnast, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that she spent hours telling FBI agents how Nassar had repeatedly sexually abused her, only to have them misrepresent her statements later. “Not only did the FBI not report my abuse, but when they eventually documented my report 17 months later, they made entirely false claims about what I said,” Maroney testified. She said she was 15 when she spoke to agents. “They chose to lie about what I said and protect a serial child molester rather than protect not only me but countless others.” The hearing comes days after the FBI fired one agent who initially worked on the case investigating Nassar, the former national gymnastics team doctor who ultimately was convicted on state charges of abusing scores of gymnasts, including Olympians, under the guise of physical exams. And it comes two months after the Justice Department’s inspector general released a report that sharply criticized the FBI for making crucial errors in the matter. Those errors allowed Nassar to continue treating patients for eight months at Michigan State University, where he practiced, and in and around Lansing, Michigan, including at a local gymnastics center and a high school. Nassar, who is serving what amounts to life in prison for sexual misconduct, was able to molest more than 70 girls and women while the FBI failed to act, the inspector general’s report said. Two FBI agents initially assigned to the case no longer work for the agency. Michael Langeman, a supervisory special agent in the FBI’s Indianapolis office, was fired in the days leading up to Wednesday’s hearing, according to two people with knowledge of the situation. Those people did not want their names published because they do not have the authority to speak about the case. The Washington Post was the first to publish news of Langeman’s firing. Langeman, who was not immediately available for comment, was not named in the inspector general report, but his actions as the special supervisory agent, and his multiple crucial missteps, were described in detail. The report said Langeman should have known that Nassar’s abuse was probably widespread, yet he did not investigate the case with any urgency. Langeman interviewed just one of the three elite gymnasts who gave USA Gymnastics details of Nassar’s abuse and did not properly document that interview or open an investigation. In an interview report Langeman filed with the FBI 17 months after he spoke to that gymnast — Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney, who was not named in the report — he included statements she did not make, according to the report. Like other agents initially involved in the case, Langeman also did not alert local or state officials of Nassar’s alleged abuse, violating FBI policy that states that crimes against children “invariably require a broad, multijurisdictional, and multidisciplinary approach.” Langeman later said he had filed an initial report about Nassar, asking for the case to be transferred to the Lansing office because that’s where Nassar was based at Michigan State. But the paperwork wasn’t found in the FBI database, the inspector general’s report said. W. Jay Abbott, a special agent in the FBI’s Indianapolis office, also is no longer with the FBI, after retiring in 2018. The report said he made false statements to Justice Department investigators and also “violated FBI policy and exercised extremely poor judgment under federal ethics rules.” According to the report, he had been angling for a job with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and discussed it with then-President of USA Gymnastics Steve Penny. Abbott applied for the job with the USOPC but didn’t get the position — yet told Justice Department investigators that he never applied. Hundreds of girls and women who were abused by Nassar have been waiting to hear from the FBI about the mistakes in the case. Biles, the Olympic gold medalist, has been vocal about wanting to know “who knew what, and when” about Nassar. She won a silver medal and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games after dropping out of the team competition because of a mental health issue. Biles was testifying alongside former teammates Maroney, Aly Raisman and Maggie Nichols, who is known as “Athlete A” in the Nassar case because she was the first elite gymnast to report the abuse to USA Gymnastics. That was in July 2015. The Lansing office of the FBI opened its official investigation into Nassar in October 2016.

Biles and teammates testify on FBI’s handling of abuse case

Crime against women in Indian cities declined by nearly 21 per cent in the pandemic year of 2020, when compared with 2019.<o:p></o:p>

A report by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) stated that nearly 35,331 cases of violence against women were registered in 2021. In 2019, however, 44,783 cases of women assault were registered by the authorities.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-served-with-legal-papers-over-accusations-of-sexual-assault-412283">Prince Andrew served with legal papers over accusations of sexual assault</a>

<o:p></o:p>

The report also stated that majority of the cases (30.2 per cent) were registered under 'Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives', 19.7 per cent of cases were 'Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty'. In addition to it, 19 per cent cases were of 'Kidnapping and Abduction of Women' and 7.2 per cent were cases of rape.<o:p></o:p>

National capital Delhi saw a significant decline of 24.18 per cent cases last year, in comparison to 2019. In 2020, 9,782 cases were reported whereas 2019 saw 12,902 registered cases of violence against women.<o:p></o:p>

Similarly, Mumbai recorded a decline from 6,519 cases in 2019 to 4,583 cases in 2020. Bengaluru cases declined from 3,486 to 2,730 and Hyderabad’s cases decreased a tad from 2,755 in 2019 to 2,390 in 2020.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-canadian-mp-raj-saini-denies-sexual-misconduct-allegations-410065">Indian-origin Canadian MP Raj Saini denies sexual misconduct allegations</a></o:p>

While major metro cities recorded a decline, Kolkata and Lucknow saw an increase of 35 and 8 per cent respectively in 2020. Cases in Kolkata increased from 1,474 to 2,001 last year and Lucknow cases reached 2.636 instead of 2,425 from 2019.<o:p></o:p>

While the decrease in cases has come as a piece of good news, many also believe that it may be simply a result of repetitive and extended lockdowns imposed in India due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.<o:p></o:p>

Crime against women in Indian cities declined by nearly 21 per cent in the pandemic year of 2020, when compared with 2019. A report by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) stated that nearly 35,331 cases of violence against women were registered in 2021.

Crime against women in Indian cities declined by nearly 21 per cent in the pandemic year of 2020, when compared with 2019. A report by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) stated that nearly 35,331 cases of violence against women were registered in 2021. In 2019, however, 44,783 cases of women assault were registered by the authorities. Also read | Prince Andrew served with legal papers over accusations of sexual assault The report also stated that majority of the cases (30.2 per cent) were registered under 'Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives', 19.7 per cent of cases were 'Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty'. In addition to it, 19 per cent cases were of 'Kidnapping and Abduction of Women' and 7.2 per cent were cases of rape. National capital Delhi saw a significant decline of 24.18 per cent cases last year, in comparison to 2019. In 2020, 9,782 cases were reported whereas 2019 saw 12,902 registered cases of violence against women. Similarly, Mumbai recorded a decline from 6,519 cases in 2019 to 4,583 cases in 2020. Bengaluru cases declined from 3,486 to 2,730 and Hyderabad’s cases decreased a tad from 2,755 in 2019 to 2,390 in 2020. Also read | Indian-origin Canadian MP Raj Saini denies sexual misconduct allegations While major metro cities recorded a decline, Kolkata and Lucknow saw an increase of 35 and 8 per cent respectively in 2020. Cases in Kolkata increased from 1,474 to 2,001 last year and Lucknow cases reached 2.636 instead of 2,425 from 2019. While the decrease in cases has come as a piece of good news, many also believe that it may be simply a result of repetitive and extended lockdowns imposed in India due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Crime against women in Indian cities decreased by 21% in 2020: NCRB

A court in China has dropped a case against a former Alibaba manager who was accused by a female colleague of sexual assault.

The district court in north-eastern Shandong province said the “forcible indecency” committed by the man, identified as Wang, was not a crime.

The former manager, whose last name is Wang, was detained in August after the women accused him of sexual assault while they were on a business trip to the northern Chinese city of Jinan.

Police said the investigation was closed but added that Wang will remain under detention for 15 days “as punishment”.

On Weibo, Wang's wife thanked his team of lawyers in a post on Tuesday. She previously accused the female employee of framing her husband for sexual misconduct.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alibaba-fires-10-employees-for-leaking-sexual-assault-accusations-409422">&nbsp;Alibaba fires 10 employees for leaking sexual assault accusations</a>

In an 8,000-word letter, the woman had claimed that the manager raped her in a hotel room while she was unconscious after a “drunken night.” She said she woke up the next morning naked in her bed in her hotel room.

According to a letter sent to employees by Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang, Wang admitted to “intimate acts” with an inebriated female employee, adding that he will “never be rehired.”

Her allegations were widely shared on Chinese social media, drawing widespread criticism online, with many lamenting the lack of protection for women in sexual assault cases.

Facing severe backlash, Alibaba fired Wang, while the two executives who failed to act on the allegation also resigned.

Later, the company issued a statement, saying, “Alibaba Group has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct, and ensuring a safe workplace for all our employees is Alibaba’s top priority.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in China has dropped a case against a former Alibaba manager who was accused by a female colleague of sexual assault. The district court in north-eastern Shandong province said the “forcible indecency” committed by the man, identified as Wang, was not a crime.

A court in China has dropped a case against a former Alibaba manager who was accused by a female colleague of sexual assault. The district court in north-eastern Shandong province said the “forcible indecency” committed by the man, identified as Wang, was not a crime. The former manager, whose last name is Wang, was detained in August after the women accused him of sexual assault while they were on a business trip to the northern Chinese city of Jinan. Police said the investigation was closed but added that Wang will remain under detention for 15 days “as punishment”. On Weibo, Wang's wife thanked his team of lawyers in a post on Tuesday. She previously accused the female employee of framing her husband for sexual misconduct. Also read | Alibaba fires 10 employees for leaking sexual assault accusations In an 8,000-word letter, the woman had claimed that the manager raped her in a hotel room while she was unconscious after a “drunken night.” She said she woke up the next morning naked in her bed in her hotel room. According to a letter sent to employees by Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang, Wang admitted to “intimate acts” with an inebriated female employee, adding that he will “never be rehired.” Her allegations were widely shared on Chinese social media, drawing widespread criticism online, with many lamenting the lack of protection for women in sexual assault cases. Facing severe backlash, Alibaba fired Wang, while the two executives who failed to act on the allegation also resigned. Later, the company issued a statement, saying, “Alibaba Group has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct, and ensuring a safe workplace for all our employees is Alibaba’s top priority.” (With inputs from agencies)

China court drops sexual assault charge against former Alibaba employee

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd dismissed 10 employees for publicizing a female colleague's account of sexual assault allegations against a former manager, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The company fired the 10 employees for sharing screenshots of the woman's post in the public domain after removing watermarks that bore their IDs, the Bloomberg report said, citing an internal announcement from last week.

The employees were fired for violating policies against exposing content on employee forums, Bloomberg reported, citing the people familiar.

Three other employees have also been reprimanded for making inappropriate comments in public forum, according to the report.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-alibaba-fires-manager-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-employee-as-social-media-explodes-404150">China's Alibaba fires manager accused of sexually assaulting employee as social media explodes</a>

Alibaba declined to comment on the report.

A female employee had posted an 11-page account on Alibaba's intranet in early August saying her manager and a client had sexually assaulted her, and that superiors and human resources had not taken the matter seriously in the five days since she reported it.

Alibaba fired the manager accused of sexual assault, but was blasted by state media for not acting until the accuser went public.

The e-commerce company made its decision to fire the 10 workers after wrapping up an internal investigation and has not announced the final results of that probe to the public, Bloomberg reported.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd dismissed 10 employees for publicizing a female colleague's account of sexual assault allegations against a former manager, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd dismissed 10 employees for publicizing a female colleague's account of sexual assault allegations against a former manager, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company fired the 10 employees for sharing screenshots of the woman's post in the public domain after removing watermarks that bore their IDs, the Bloomberg report said, citing an internal announcement from last week. The employees were fired for violating policies against exposing content on employee forums, Bloomberg reported, citing the people familiar. Three other employees have also been reprimanded for making inappropriate comments in public forum, according to the report. Also read | China's Alibaba fires manager accused of sexually assaulting employee as social media explodes Alibaba declined to comment on the report. A female employee had posted an 11-page account on Alibaba's intranet in early August saying her manager and a client had sexually assaulted her, and that superiors and human resources had not taken the matter seriously in the five days since she reported it. Alibaba fired the manager accused of sexual assault, but was blasted by state media for not acting until the accuser went public. The e-commerce company made its decision to fire the 10 workers after wrapping up an internal investigation and has not announced the final results of that probe to the public, Bloomberg reported.

Alibaba fires 10 employees for leaking sexual assault accusations

A little after a female Pakistan TikTok star revealed that she was sexually assaulted by nearly 400 men in public on the country’s Independence Day, the government has condemned the "shameful" act.

The spokesman for the Pakistani Government of the Punjab Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, on Thursday, said the authorities are doing everything they can to identify and punish hundreds of the men who groped, harassed and stole from the TikTok star.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/they-tore-my-clothes-woman-tiktok-star-assaulted-by-hundreds-in-lahore-on-pakistans-independence-day-406486">'They tore my clothes': Woman TikTok star assaulted by hundreds in Lahore on Pakistan’s Independence Day&nbsp;</a>

On Pakistan’s Independence Day, i.e. August 14, the single woman was approached by a large group of men who started touching her without her permission. They later picked her up and carried her through the crowd.

"The incident of assault on a woman in Greater Iqbal Park is a shameful act which has brought shame to the society,"&nbsp;Chohan said in a statement.

This horrifying incident took place in Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-unleash-its-wicked-face-open-fire-women-and-children-beaten-at-kabul-airport-406855">WATCH</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/a-wion-special-women-in-taliban-country-406870/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As per the reports, the TikTok star was shooting a video in the park when she was attacked by a large group of men. These men started groping her, tore off her clothes, started beating her and even threw her in the air. In addition to this assault, her phone, rings and money was also stolen from her.

Local police have started an investigation into this matter, as per local media reports. However, none of the culprits have been identified yet.

"The assault of a young women by a mob at #minarepakistan [Independence Day] should shame every Pakistani. It speaks to a rot in our society," Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party said.

A little after a female Pakistan TikTok star revealed that she was sexually assaulted by nearly 400 men in public on the country’s Independence Day, the government has condemned the "shameful" act.

A little after a female Pakistan TikTok star revealed that she was sexually assaulted by nearly 400 men in public on the country’s Independence Day, the government has condemned the "shameful" act. The spokesman for the Pakistani Government of the Punjab Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, on Thursday, said the authorities are doing everything they can to identify and punish hundreds of the men who groped, harassed and stole from the TikTok star. Also read: 'They tore my clothes': Woman TikTok star assaulted by hundreds in Lahore on Pakistan’s Independence Day On Pakistan’s Independence Day, i.e. August 14, the single woman was approached by a large group of men who started touching her without her permission. They later picked her up and carried her through the crowd. "The incident of assault on a woman in Greater Iqbal Park is a shameful act which has brought shame to the society," Chohan said in a statement. This horrifying incident took place in Lahore’s Greater Iqbal Park. WATCH As per the reports, the TikTok star was shooting a video in the park when she was attacked by a large group of men. These men started groping her, tore off her clothes, started beating her and even threw her in the air. In addition to this assault, her phone, rings and money was also stolen from her. Local police have started an investigation into this matter, as per local media reports. However, none of the culprits have been identified yet. "The assault of a young women by a mob at #minarepakistan [Independence Day] should shame every Pakistani. It speaks to a rot in our society," Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party said.

'Shameful act': Pakistan govt condemns sexual assault on TikTok star by 400 men

The Indonesian army's chief of staff has said that women wanting to join the troops will no longer be subjected to virginity tests.

Human rights organisations have long denounced the practice, calling it humiliating and traumatic.&nbsp;

The procedure is known in Indonesia as the "two-finger test," since doctors would put two fingers into the woman's vagina during the examination to see if the hymen was still intact.

Those who were not deemed virgins were not eligible for recruitment.&nbsp;

"Two-finger tests" was systematic, abusive and cruel, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which conducted investigations in 2014 into the practice and in 2017 renewed calls for it to end.

The military previously stated that the exams were crucial in assessing the morals of recruits.

They have "no scientific value," according to the World Health Organization, and the presence of a hymen is not a reliable sign on intercourse.

On Tuesday, Indonesian army chief of staff Andika Perkasa informed reporters that such exams were no longer conducted in the army.&nbsp;

"Whether the hymen was ruptured or partially ruptured was part of the examination ... now there`s no more of that," he said, in comments that were confirmed by a military spokesman.

Andika last week said that the army selection process for male and female recruits must be equal.

Rights activists welcomed the move, reiterating that such tests were a form of violence against women.&nbsp;

It's unclear if the restriction has been lifted for Indonesia's navy and air force as well.

In 2015, the national police force abolished the policy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indonesian army's chief of staff has said that women wanting to join the troops will no longer be subjected to virginity tests. Human rights organisations have long denounced the practice, calling it humiliating and traumatic.

The Indonesian army's chief of staff has said that women wanting to join the troops will no longer be subjected to virginity tests. Human rights organisations have long denounced the practice, calling it humiliating and traumatic. The procedure is known in Indonesia as the "two-finger test," since doctors would put two fingers into the woman's vagina during the examination to see if the hymen was still intact. Those who were not deemed virgins were not eligible for recruitment. "Two-finger tests" was systematic, abusive and cruel, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which conducted investigations in 2014 into the practice and in 2017 renewed calls for it to end. The military previously stated that the exams were crucial in assessing the morals of recruits. They have "no scientific value," according to the World Health Organization, and the presence of a hymen is not a reliable sign on intercourse. On Tuesday, Indonesian army chief of staff Andika Perkasa informed reporters that such exams were no longer conducted in the army. "Whether the hymen was ruptured or partially ruptured was part of the examination ... now there`s no more of that," he said, in comments that were confirmed by a military spokesman. Andika last week said that the army selection process for male and female recruits must be equal. Rights activists welcomed the move, reiterating that such tests were a form of violence against women. It's unclear if the restriction has been lifted for Indonesia's navy and air force as well. In 2015, the national police force abolished the policy. (With inputs from agencies)

Virginity check for female recruits: Indonesian army ends the abusive two-finger test

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has fired a manager accused of sexual abuse. CEO Danial Zhang said that he felt shocked, ashamed, furious about the sexual assault case. He also added that the company is cooperating in the police investigation.

Alibaba fires manager accused of sexual assault

China's retail giant Alibaba has fired a manager who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman employee.

The company said it will establish policies to prevent sexual harassment. Alibaba said the manager has been fired and will never be rehired as a police investigation was launched into the incident.

"Alibaba Group has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct," the company asserted.

Earlier, a woman over the weekend had posted a long PDF document alleging she was sexually assaulted by her boss and a client. The post went viral on China's microblogging website Weibo as police took up the investigation in China's Jinan city.

Alibaba said it had "suspended relevant parties" for violating policies as the issue created a firestorm on China's social media. According to the woman, the client kissed her and after consuming alcohol she reportedly woke up the next day without her clothes and no memory of what had happened.

The woman alleged that her boss had forced her to go to Jinan on a business trip with him while revealing that CCTV footage she had got from the hotel showed her boss had entered the room four times in the evening.

The woman said that the HR department of the company did not fire her boss despite lodging a complaint after initially agreeing. Reports say Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang promised strong action asserting that "starting from me, starting from management, starting from human resources, everyone at Alibaba must empathize, reflect, and take action."

The company said it had placed the HR personnel including those related to the incident under suspension.

Earlier, China's superstar Kris Wu was detained over sexual assault allegations in a boost to #MeToo movement in the country.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

China's retail giant Alibaba has fired a manager who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman employee. The company said it will establish policies to prevent sexual harassment.

China's retail giant Alibaba has fired a manager who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman employee. The company said it will establish policies to prevent sexual harassment. Alibaba said the manager has been fired and will never be rehired as a police investigation was launched into the incident. "Alibaba Group has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct," the company asserted. Earlier, a woman over the weekend had posted a long PDF document alleging she was sexually assaulted by her boss and a client. The post went viral on China's microblogging website Weibo as police took up the investigation in China's Jinan city. Alibaba said it had "suspended relevant parties" for violating policies as the issue created a firestorm on China's social media. According to the woman, the client kissed her and after consuming alcohol she reportedly woke up the next day without her clothes and no memory of what had happened. The woman alleged that her boss had forced her to go to Jinan on a business trip with him while revealing that CCTV footage she had got from the hotel showed her boss had entered the room four times in the evening. The woman said that the HR department of the company did not fire her boss despite lodging a complaint after initially agreeing. Reports say Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang promised strong action asserting that "starting from me, starting from management, starting from human resources, everyone at Alibaba must empathize, reflect, and take action." The company said it had placed the HR personnel including those related to the incident under suspension. Earlier, China's superstar Kris Wu was detained over sexual assault allegations in a boost to #MeToo movement in the country. (With inputs from Agencies)

China's Alibaba fires manager accused of sexually assaulting employee as social media explodes

American fencers Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald, and Yeisser Ramirez wore pink face masks in order to protest against their own teammate, Alen&nbsp;Hadzic, at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-swimming-more-gold-for-dressel-mckeown-does-backstroke-double-401882" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics, Swimming: More gold for Dressel, McKeown does backstroke double</a>

Out of the four standing, Hadzic was the only one to not wear a pink mask. The reason behind their protest against their own teammate was because Alen&nbsp;Hadzic has been accused of sexual assault.&nbsp;

After his qualification for Tokyo Olympics in May, three women accused him of sexual misconduct that took place from 2013 to 2015. Even though his attorney, Michael Palma, said that the fencer is innocent of all allegations, he did confirm that Hadzic was suspended from Columbia University for the 2013-14 school year after an investigation involving sexual consent.

Despite being initially suspended by the US Center for SafeSport, the watchdog that protects athletes from abuse, he managed to get his ban lifted through arbitration.

USA Fencing made arrangements for Hadzic to travel to Tokyo apart from the rest of the team and he has to stay in a separate hotel.

“The disdain was clear,” one source told BuzzFeed News about the mask protest.

Another fencer, who is not at the games, told the news outlet, that “they decided to make a statement that they were not standing for him being there”.

“They wanted to make a distinction between themselves that they didn’t stand for sexual assault or abuse against women. These athletes wanted to have a voice where US Fencing and SafeSport failed.”

American fencers Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald, and Yeisser Ramirez wore pink face masks in order to protest against their own teammate, Alen Hadzic, at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

American fencers Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald, and Yeisser Ramirez wore pink face masks in order to protest against their own teammate, Alen Hadzic, at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics, Swimming: More gold for Dressel, McKeown does backstroke double Out of the four standing, Hadzic was the only one to not wear a pink mask. The reason behind their protest against their own teammate was because Alen Hadzic has been accused of sexual assault. After his qualification for Tokyo Olympics in May, three women accused him of sexual misconduct that took place from 2013 to 2015. Even though his attorney, Michael Palma, said that the fencer is innocent of all allegations, he did confirm that Hadzic was suspended from Columbia University for the 2013-14 school year after an investigation involving sexual consent. Despite being initially suspended by the US Center for SafeSport, the watchdog that protects athletes from abuse, he managed to get his ban lifted through arbitration. USA Fencing made arrangements for Hadzic to travel to Tokyo apart from the rest of the team and he has to stay in a separate hotel. “The disdain was clear,” one source told BuzzFeed News about the mask protest. Another fencer, who is not at the games, told the news outlet, that “they decided to make a statement that they were not standing for him being there”. “They wanted to make a distinction between themselves that they didn’t stand for sexual assault or abuse against women. These athletes wanted to have a voice where US Fencing and SafeSport failed.”

Tokyo Olympics: American fencers wear pink masks in protest at teammate accused of sexual assault

The Spanish government has approved legislation that toughens the country's law against rape. The government has decided to define all non-consensual acts of sex as sexual assault. The draft still requires parliamentary approval which is expected by the end of the year.

'Only Yes is yes': Spain criminalizes all sort of non-consensual sex

Putting an end to the fight for consent, Spain's cabinet has approved a draft bill that lays down strict rules&nbsp;against rape under false pretence and fake consent.

The new law states that only a direct 'yes' can be justified as consent for sexual intercourse. The absence of consent and a 'no' will not be ruled as 'justifications' in rape cases.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dowry-payments-still-largely-taking-place-in-india-world-bank-395969" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dowry-payments-still-largely-taking-place-in-india-world-bank-395969&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjPjqq0987xAhUJyzgGHdOHAQgQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw2utLuGJqlMVeHi0WaV2130" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dowry-payments-still-largely-taking-place-in-india-world-bank-395969" target="_blank">Dowry&nbsp;payments still largely taking place in India: World Bank</a>

It "makes clear that silence or passivity do not mean consent, or that not showing opposition can not be an excuse to act against the will of the other person," explained government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero.

This bill has been introduced after the tragic gang-rape case of an 18-year-old woman. The victim was raped by five men at a bull-running festival in northern Spain who called themselves the "wolf pack".

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/growing-epidemic-of-sexual-violence-in-new-zealand-childrens-commissioner-394497" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/growing-epidemic-of-sexual-violence-in-new-zealand-childrens-commissioner-394497&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjwkdf85svxAhX0xzgGHV5vAcQQFjAHegQIAhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3PLG7aH0oRdT4mvDsLrUp9" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/growing-epidemic-of-sexual-violence-in-new-zealand-childrens-commissioner-394497" target="_blank">Growing 'epidemic' of&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;violence in New Zealand</a>

These penetrators were initially only charged with sexual abuse, rather than sexual assault as the judge believed there was no use of physical violence. It was also suggested that considering the victim had stayed silent, it was a form of consent.

Contesting this thought process and highlighting loopholes in the criminal code, this new bill "only yes is yes" has been introduced.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/rising-cases-of-sexual-harassment-in-uk-schools-alarming-watchdog-390631" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/rising-cases-of-sexual-harassment-in-uk-schools-alarming-watchdog-390631&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjFioOH58vxAhV_xzgGHd5RBn84ChAWMAB6BAgFEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fGBe3OH-m6caOsTeKed5-" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rising-cases-of-sexual-harassment-in-uk-schools-alarming-watchdog-390631" target="_blank">Rising cases of&nbsp;sexual harassment&nbsp;in UK schools alarming</a>

As per this new law, rape will be defined as a forced sexual activity performed without the consent of the victim. It will also bring in violence and intimidation during sexual assault.

Under this law, work-related sexual harassment cases can also lead to jail time. Additionally, catcalling will be labelled as a criminal offence.

The law will now be open to a debate and vote in September.

Putting an end to the fight for consent, Spain's cabinet has approved a draft bill that lays down strict rules against rape under false pretence and fake consent.

Putting an end to the fight for consent, Spain's cabinet has approved a draft bill that lays down strict rules against rape under false pretence and fake consent. The new law states that only a direct 'yes' can be justified as consent for sexual intercourse. The absence of consent and a 'no' will not be ruled as 'justifications' in rape cases. Also read | Dowry payments still largely taking place in India: World Bank It "makes clear that silence or passivity do not mean consent, or that not showing opposition can not be an excuse to act against the will of the other person," explained government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero. This bill has been introduced after the tragic gang-rape case of an 18-year-old woman. The victim was raped by five men at a bull-running festival in northern Spain who called themselves the "wolf pack". Also read | Growing 'epidemic' of sexual violence in New Zealand These penetrators were initially only charged with sexual abuse, rather than sexual assault as the judge believed there was no use of physical violence. It was also suggested that considering the victim had stayed silent, it was a form of consent. Contesting this thought process and highlighting loopholes in the criminal code, this new bill "only yes is yes" has been introduced. Also read | Rising cases of sexual harassment in UK schools alarming As per this new law, rape will be defined as a forced sexual activity performed without the consent of the victim. It will also bring in violence and intimidation during sexual assault. Under this law, work-related sexual harassment cases can also lead to jail time. Additionally, catcalling will be labelled as a criminal offence. The law will now be open to a debate and vote in September.

'Only yes is yes': Spain's Cabinet passes bill to redefine 'consent' in rape law

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> on Friday endorsed removing the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases in the armed forces from the military chain of command.

The recommendation was one of the chief proposals made by an independent commission set up by Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to look into the handling of sexual assault in the military.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-second-consecutive-year-sexual-assault-cases-increase-in-us-military-296096">For second consecutive year, sexual assault cases increase in US military</a>

Austin said he would work with Congress to amend military justice laws and remove the prosecution of cases of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse from the military chain of command.

Dedicated offices in each military department would be created to handle the prosecution of such cases, the defence secretary said.

Currently, commanders are responsible for the investigation and prosecution of crimes allegedly committed by their subordinates, a system critics say often presents conflicts of interest and other issues.

The proposed changes were an "overdue step in the right direction", Biden said.

"We need concrete actions that fundamentally change the way we handle military sexual assault and that make it clear that these crimes will not be minimized or dismissed," he said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-defence-chief-favours-reforms-on-how-military-prosecutes-sex-crimes-393251">US defence chief favours reforms on how military prosecutes sex crimes</a>

"I look forward to working with Congress to implement these necessary reforms and promote a work environment that is free from sexual assault and harassment for every one of our brave service members."

More than a dozen commanders and unit leaders were sacked in December after a series of murders and sex crimes at a major US military base.

Among the victims was Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old army soldier who was murdered by a fellow soldier after being sexually harassed and telling her family she did not trust the military command to follow up on her complaint.

According to the Defense Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, there were 7,816 sexual assault complaints in the armed forces in 2020, a slight fall from the record 7,825 of 2019.

US President Joe Biden on Friday endorsed removing the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases in the armed forces from the military chain of command.

US President Joe Biden on Friday endorsed removing the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases in the armed forces from the military chain of command. The recommendation was one of the chief proposals made by an independent commission set up by Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to look into the handling of sexual assault in the military. Also read | For second consecutive year, sexual assault cases increase in US military Austin said he would work with Congress to amend military justice laws and remove the prosecution of cases of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse from the military chain of command. Dedicated offices in each military department would be created to handle the prosecution of such cases, the defence secretary said. Currently, commanders are responsible for the investigation and prosecution of crimes allegedly committed by their subordinates, a system critics say often presents conflicts of interest and other issues. The proposed changes were an "overdue step in the right direction", Biden said. "We need concrete actions that fundamentally change the way we handle military sexual assault and that make it clear that these crimes will not be minimized or dismissed," he said in a statement. Also read | US defence chief favours reforms on how military prosecutes sex crimes "I look forward to working with Congress to implement these necessary reforms and promote a work environment that is free from sexual assault and harassment for every one of our brave service members." More than a dozen commanders and unit leaders were sacked in December after a series of murders and sex crimes at a major US military base. Among the victims was Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old army soldier who was murdered by a fellow soldier after being sexually harassed and telling her family she did not trust the military command to follow up on her complaint. According to the Defense Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, there were 7,816 sexual assault complaints in the armed forces in 2020, a slight fall from the record 7,825 of 2019.

Biden backs removing assault prosecution from US military chain of command

A French woman, Valérie Bacot, is set to stand trial for killing her stepfather-turned-husband who raped her for nearly 25 years.

Daniel "Dany" Polette, Bacot’s then stepfather started raping her when she was 12 years old and living with her alcoholic mother. When he raped her, she had no idea what he was doing and only realised what had happened after she learned about it in one of her biology lessons, she said.

When her mother got to know about the torture, Polette was put behind bars in 1995 for incest but he returned back to the family very soon and continued raping Bacot. "Nobody seemed to find it bizarre that Daniel came back to live with us as if nothing had happened," she said in her book Bacot’s story:&nbsp;Tout le Monde Savait&nbsp;(Everyone Knew)."Everyone knew but nobody said anything."

When he started raping her again, she overheard her mother tell him, "I don’t give a damn as long as she doesn’t become pregnant." However, she soon became pregnant at the age of 17 and Polette decided to forcefully marry the victim.

The toxic wedding brought daily beatings, which even involved hammer at one point. She bore three more children out of the forced sexual engagements with Polette and the children faced his beatings too.

Later, she was forced to be a prostitute as he pimped her in the back of his Peugeot 806 that he fitted with a mattress. He spied on her during the "appointments" and instructed her what to do through an earpiece she was forced to wear.

One day when she was raped by one of the men her husband had pimped her to, she decided she has had enough and shot Polette from a pistol he used to hide in his car.

"This is a woman who has been destroyed and devastated, not just by the lack of maternal love, the rapes, the blows, the denigration, the prostitution but also and above all by the indifference and the omerta of society," Bacot’s lawyers wrote.

"From her earliest age she was put through terrible things without anyone, not even those close to her, blinking an eye. They ignored her distress and her ordeal, which could be read on her face. The story of her life is deeply distressing," they added.

Her trial will go on for a week and has once again highlighted the alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse in the EU.

A French woman, Valérie Bacot, is set to stand trial for killing her stepfather-turned-husband who raped her for nearly 25 years. Daniel "Dany" Polette, Bacot’s then stepfather started raping her when she was 12 years old and living with her alcoholic mother.

A French woman, Valérie Bacot, is set to stand trial for killing her stepfather-turned-husband who raped her for nearly 25 years. Daniel "Dany" Polette, Bacot’s then stepfather started raping her when she was 12 years old and living with her alcoholic mother. When he raped her, she had no idea what he was doing and only realised what had happened after she learned about it in one of her biology lessons, she said. When her mother got to know about the torture, Polette was put behind bars in 1995 for incest but he returned back to the family very soon and continued raping Bacot. "Nobody seemed to find it bizarre that Daniel came back to live with us as if nothing had happened," she said in her book Bacot’s story: Tout le Monde Savait (Everyone Knew)."Everyone knew but nobody said anything." When he started raping her again, she overheard her mother tell him, "I don’t give a damn as long as she doesn’t become pregnant." However, she soon became pregnant at the age of 17 and Polette decided to forcefully marry the victim. The toxic wedding brought daily beatings, which even involved hammer at one point. She bore three more children out of the forced sexual engagements with Polette and the children faced his beatings too. Later, she was forced to be a prostitute as he pimped her in the back of his Peugeot 806 that he fitted with a mattress. He spied on her during the "appointments" and instructed her what to do through an earpiece she was forced to wear. One day when she was raped by one of the men her husband had pimped her to, she decided she has had enough and shot Polette from a pistol he used to hide in his car. "This is a woman who has been destroyed and devastated, not just by the lack of maternal love, the rapes, the blows, the denigration, the prostitution but also and above all by the indifference and the omerta of society," Bacot’s lawyers wrote. "From her earliest age she was put through terrible things without anyone, not even those close to her, blinking an eye. They ignored her distress and her ordeal, which could be read on her face. The story of her life is deeply distressing," they added. Her trial will go on for a week and has once again highlighted the alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse in the EU.

French woman faces trial for killing her stepfather-turned-husband who raped her for 25 years

Airbnb has paid an Australian tourist $7 million after it was revealed that she was raped in a rental property near Times Square in Manhattan, New York.

The traveller was visiting New York City with her friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve in 2015 and revealed her tragic story while she was interviewed about safety standards in the vacation rental company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-set-to-scrap-almost-100-years-old-loophole-allowing-child-marriage-by-back-door-391971">Britain set to scrap almost 100 years old loophole allowing child marriage ‘by back door’</a>

As per the media reports, the tourist had picked up keys to the rental property from a nearby shop, as instructed by the owner. Later, when she returned to the property alone after a New Year party, she was attacked by a stranger, who has been identified as a 24-year-old Junior Lee, and was raped on knifepoint.

The local police found the set of keys with the perpetrator who was then charged with predatory sexual assault but has not pleaded guilty. The offender is still in police custody.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-sexual-abuse-normalised-in-uk-schools-390921">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-sexual-abuse-normalised-in-uk-schools-390921/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After the attack, the traveller was shifted to a hotel and her mother was flown in from Australia to support her daughter. Airbnb also offered to cover all health and counselling costs for the victim.

The $7 million settlement was made to make sure the victim never sues or blames Airbnb for the tragedy. However, the company claims they welcome people to speak freely about their tragic experiences as part of the settlements.

"We proactively reached out to the NYPD after the attack to offer our assistance for their investigation, and we helped get her into a hotel. The priority for our company and our executives was supporting the survivor and doing right by someone who had endured trauma," a spokesperson of Airbnb told a local media house.

Airbnb has paid an Australian tourist $7 million after it was revealed that she was raped in a rental property near Times Square in Manhattan, New York. The traveller was visiting New York City with her friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve in 2015 and revealed her tragic story while she was interviewed about safety standards in the vacation rental company.

Airbnb has paid an Australian tourist $7 million after it was revealed that she was raped in a rental property near Times Square in Manhattan, New York. The traveller was visiting New York City with her friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve in 2015 and revealed her tragic story while she was interviewed about safety standards in the vacation rental company. Also read | Britain set to scrap almost 100 years old loophole allowing child marriage ‘by back door’ As per the media reports, the tourist had picked up keys to the rental property from a nearby shop, as instructed by the owner. Later, when she returned to the property alone after a New Year party, she was attacked by a stranger, who has been identified as a 24-year-old Junior Lee, and was raped on knifepoint. The local police found the set of keys with the perpetrator who was then charged with predatory sexual assault but has not pleaded guilty. The offender is still in police custody. WATCH | After the attack, the traveller was shifted to a hotel and her mother was flown in from Australia to support her daughter. Airbnb also offered to cover all health and counselling costs for the victim. The $7 million settlement was made to make sure the victim never sues or blames Airbnb for the tragedy. However, the company claims they welcome people to speak freely about their tragic experiences as part of the settlements. "We proactively reached out to the NYPD after the attack to offer our assistance for their investigation, and we helped get her into a hotel. The priority for our company and our executives was supporting the survivor and doing right by someone who had endured trauma," a spokesperson of Airbnb told a local media house.

New York: Rape victim paid $7 million as 'settlement' by Airbnb

A few months after the UK school children started coming forward about their unfortunate experiences of sexual harassment, a watchdog has slammed authorities for failing to protect children in school.

UK’s Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has collected testimonies from hundreds of school students from around the country and the situation is "very concerning", Education Minister Gavin Williamson said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bumbles-31-year-old-ceo-who-left-tinder-over-sexual-harassment-becomes-billionaire-363116">Bumble's 31-year-old CEO, who left Tinder over sexual harassment becomes billionaire</a>

As per the report, sexual harassment happens so frequently in UK schools, that it has become 'commonplace'&nbsp;for school children. Ofsted has warned school authorities that they should assume these incidents are happening, whether or not someone reports any.

"Some forms of sexual harassment and online sexual abuse have become so normalised for children that they do not see the point in reporting and challenging this behaviour," Ofsted report read.

Almost 90 per cent of girls and 50 per cent of boys have revealed that they have received explicit images and videos and nearly 92 per cent girls said they have been labelled as "slag" or "slut".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/sex-attack-survivors-praise-bafta-tipped-i-may-destroy-you-389723">Sex attack survivors praise Bafta-tipped 'I May Destroy You'</a>

Ofsted has also raised the issue of pornography and the exchange of nude pictures in the present generation. The watchdog said that children being exposed to pornography and being peer-pressured to exchange nude images and videos is a "much wider problem than schools can address".

This report has come as another eye-opener after a graduate girl had set up a website, Everyone's Invited, where school children came forward and posted anonymous testimonies about being sexually harassed,&nbsp;especially in top-level private institutes.

A few months after the UK school children started coming forward about their unfortunate experiences of sexual harassment, a watchdog has slammed authorities for failing to protect children in school.

A few months after the UK school children started coming forward about their unfortunate experiences of sexual harassment, a watchdog has slammed authorities for failing to protect children in school. UK’s Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) has collected testimonies from hundreds of school students from around the country and the situation is "very concerning", Education Minister Gavin Williamson said. Also read | Bumble's 31-year-old CEO, who left Tinder over sexual harassment becomes billionaire As per the report, sexual harassment happens so frequently in UK schools, that it has become 'commonplace' for school children. Ofsted has warned school authorities that they should assume these incidents are happening, whether or not someone reports any. "Some forms of sexual harassment and online sexual abuse have become so normalised for children that they do not see the point in reporting and challenging this behaviour," Ofsted report read. Almost 90 per cent of girls and 50 per cent of boys have revealed that they have received explicit images and videos and nearly 92 per cent girls said they have been labelled as "slag" or "slut". Also read | Sex attack survivors praise Bafta-tipped 'I May Destroy You' Ofsted has also raised the issue of pornography and the exchange of nude pictures in the present generation. The watchdog said that children being exposed to pornography and being peer-pressured to exchange nude images and videos is a "much wider problem than schools can address". This report has come as another eye-opener after a graduate girl had set up a website, Everyone's Invited, where school children came forward and posted anonymous testimonies about being sexually harassed, especially in top-level private institutes.

Rising cases of sexual harassment in UK schools alarming: Watchdog

A Malaysian teenager is facing major backlash for speaking out against the passivity shown towards rape culture in the country’s schools. Ain took to TikTok to point to excesses teachers take with words, especially while referring to traumatic crimes like rape.

Since then, the 17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam has received support from many on social media, while also receiving a lot of backlash for speaking out against the same.

Insensitivity a 'joke'?

The teacher in question&nbsp;was referring to protections offered in the country against rape. While doing so, the teacher reportedly said the following to students - “So if you want to rape anyone, rape someone above 18”.&nbsp;

Ain raised the issue with another teacher, but was chided for being “emotional and sensitive”, she revealed to BBC. Even though she has received immense support on social media since speaking out, the general backlash and the attitude of others speaks&nbsp;of how such heinous crimes are infantilised as “jokes”.

The teenager’s ferocious words have struck a chord with a few. In fact, now Malaysians are asking for schools to become safer for boys and girls alike. Many have written songs about the same, asking the authorities to take necessary steps to spread awareness about the severity of a crime like rape.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-woman-accuses-spy-of-rape-by-tricking-her-into-relationship-384233" hreflang="en">UK: Woman accuses spy of rape by tricking her into relationship</a>

Since in spoke out, Malaysian kids erupted on social media - sharing similar instances they faced in their educational institutions. Many also reported incidents of harassment and abuse at the hands of teachers who&nbsp;allegedly do nothing to break the cycle.&nbsp;

'We want to educate'

“We want to educate. We want to change”, Ain told BBC.&nbsp;

But soon after her post on social media, many began to criticise her for taking a joke too seriously. Some comments went as far as urging her to “cover” herself to avoid being raped.&nbsp;

Ain’s father spoke out in her support during a chat with BBC, saying that this incident serves as “proof that our culture, our society… we need to rectify this and come out from that kind of way of thinking”.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/break-their-lineage-break-their-roots-report-details-chinese-authorities-torture-rape-of-uighur-muslims-378793" hreflang="en">'Break their lineage, break their roots': Report details Chinese authorities’ torture, rape of Uighur Muslims</a>

This doesn’t end here. Turns out, the family took the matter to the police.

Local outlet MalaysiaKini reported that the deputy inspector-general of police dismissed the claims as “maybe a joke”.

According to Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, the teacher who made the “joke” has been transferred while the matter is being investigated.

&nbsp;

A Malaysian teenager is facing major backlash for speaking out against the passivity shown towards rape culture in the country’s schools. Ain took to TikTok to point to excesses teachers take with words, especially while referring to traumatic crimes like rape.

A Malaysian teenager is facing major backlash for speaking out against the passivity shown towards rape culture in the country’s schools. Ain took to TikTok to point to excesses teachers take with words, especially while referring to traumatic crimes like rape. Since then, the 17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam has received support from many on social media, while also receiving a lot of backlash for speaking out against the same. Insensitivity a 'joke'? The teacher in question was referring to protections offered in the country against rape. While doing so, the teacher reportedly said the following to students - “So if you want to rape anyone, rape someone above 18”. Ain raised the issue with another teacher, but was chided for being “emotional and sensitive”, she revealed to BBC. Even though she has received immense support on social media since speaking out, the general backlash and the attitude of others speaks of how such heinous crimes are infantilised as “jokes”. The teenager’s ferocious words have struck a chord with a few. In fact, now Malaysians are asking for schools to become safer for boys and girls alike. Many have written songs about the same, asking the authorities to take necessary steps to spread awareness about the severity of a crime like rape. Also read: UK: Woman accuses spy of rape by tricking her into relationship Since in spoke out, Malaysian kids erupted on social media - sharing similar instances they faced in their educational institutions. Many also reported incidents of harassment and abuse at the hands of teachers who allegedly do nothing to break the cycle. 'We want to educate' “We want to educate. We want to change”, Ain told BBC. But soon after her post on social media, many began to criticise her for taking a joke too seriously. Some comments went as far as urging her to “cover” herself to avoid being raped. Ain’s father spoke out in her support during a chat with BBC, saying that this incident serves as “proof that our culture, our society… we need to rectify this and come out from that kind of way of thinking”. Also read: 'Break their lineage, break their roots': Report details Chinese authorities’ torture, rape of Uighur Muslims This doesn’t end here. Turns out, the family took the matter to the police. Local outlet MalaysiaKini reported that the deputy inspector-general of police dismissed the claims as “maybe a joke”. According to Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, the teacher who made the “joke” has been transferred while the matter is being investigated.

How a Malaysian teenager's fight against rape culture in schools caused national backlash

An annual UN report has said that 20 countries still allow rapists to marry their victims in a bid to avoid criminal prosecution.&nbsp;

According to the annual report on the state of world population, Russia, Thailand and Venezuela are part of nations that allow rapists to escape publishment if they agree on marrying the women or girls they have assaulted.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/protest-erupts-in-pak-demanding-imran-khan-to-apologise-over-rape-statement-376617">Protest erupts in Pak demanding Imran Khan to apologise over rape statement&nbsp;</a>

"The denial of rights cannot be shielded in law. 'Marry your rapist' laws shift the burden of guilt on to the victim and try to sanitise a situation which is criminal," Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)&nbsp;which released the report on Wednesday, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;

Dima Dabbous, director of Equality Now's Middle East and Africa region, whose research is mentioned in the UN report said such rules reflected a culture "that does not think women should have bodily autonomy and that they are the property of the family. It's a tribal and antiquated approach to sexuality and honour mixed together".

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/women-are-calling-out-rape-culture-in-uk-schools-375084">Women are calling out ‘rape culture’ in UK schools</a>

She also added that it's "very difficult" to change these laws, but not "impossible".&nbsp;

Dabbous gave the example of Morocco where a woman killed herself when she was asked to marry her rapist, something that forced the country to repeal the law.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

An annual UN report has said that 20 countries still allow rapists to marry their victims in a bid to avoid criminal prosecution. According to the annual report on the state of world population, Russia, Thailand and Venezuela are part of nations that allow rapists to escape publishment if they agree on marrying the women or girls they have assaulted.

An annual UN report has said that 20 countries still allow rapists to marry their victims in a bid to avoid criminal prosecution. According to the annual report on the state of world population, Russia, Thailand and Venezuela are part of nations that allow rapists to escape publishment if they agree on marrying the women or girls they have assaulted. Also read | Protest erupts in Pak demanding Imran Khan to apologise over rape statement "The denial of rights cannot be shielded in law. 'Marry your rapist' laws shift the burden of guilt on to the victim and try to sanitise a situation which is criminal," Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) which released the report on Wednesday, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Dima Dabbous, director of Equality Now's Middle East and Africa region, whose research is mentioned in the UN report said such rules reflected a culture "that does not think women should have bodily autonomy and that they are the property of the family. It's a tribal and antiquated approach to sexuality and honour mixed together". Also read | Women are calling out ‘rape culture’ in UK schools She also added that it's "very difficult" to change these laws, but not "impossible". Dabbous gave the example of Morocco where a woman killed herself when she was asked to marry her rapist, something that forced the country to repeal the law.

'Marry your rapist' laws still practised in 20 countries to prevent justice: UN

Public transport can be a blessing for society in general but can also be a nightmare for those who have to face misbehaving co-passengers. Things that go wrong can range from a minor nuisance to serious crimes like sexual harassment. In all such cases, role played by fellow&nbsp;travellers often proves to be important.

A video tweeted by South China Morning Post (SCMP) is being shared widely. The scuffle at the very start of the video makes a viewer confused for a while. But then it becomes clear that it is a commotion inside a bus filled with passengers.

As per SCMP, the video shows a man trying to escape the bus after allegedly sexually assaulting a university student. As per information in the&nbsp;video, the bus-driver locked the doors to prevent the man from escaping. The man&nbsp;then tried escaping through the window, but co-passengers held him back. Even a passerby came to help and obstructed the man's escape route from outside the bus.

Watch the video below:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A man allegedly sexually assaults a student on a bus. Everyone made sure he couldn't escape. <a href="https://t.co/ILaCXDMZJ0">pic.twitter.com/ILaCXDMZJ0</a>
— SCMP News (@SCMPNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SCMPNews/status/1380259906037637122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2021</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 video has got close to 100,000 views in just 2 days after it was posted. Everyone is praising the&nbsp;passengers and a good samaritan who ensured that a man accused of a sexual crime was not able to escape. 
&nbsp;

Public transport can be a blessing for society in general but can also be a nightmare for those who have to face misbehaving co-passengers. Things that go wrong can range from a minor nuisance to serious crimes like sexual harassment.

Public transport can be a blessing for society in general but can also be a nightmare for those who have to face misbehaving co-passengers. Things that go wrong can range from a minor nuisance to serious crimes like sexual harassment. In all such cases, role played by fellow travellers often proves to be important. A video tweeted by South China Morning Post (SCMP) is being shared widely. The scuffle at the very start of the video makes a viewer confused for a while. But then it becomes clear that it is a commotion inside a bus filled with passengers. As per SCMP, the video shows a man trying to escape the bus after allegedly sexually assaulting a university student. As per information in the video, the bus-driver locked the doors to prevent the man from escaping. The man then tried escaping through the window, but co-passengers held him back. Even a passerby came to help and obstructed the man's escape route from outside the bus. Watch the video below: A man allegedly sexually assaults a student on a bus. Everyone made sure he couldn't escape. pic.twitter.com/ILaCXDMZJ0 — SCMP News (@SCMPNews) April 8, 2021 × This video has got close to 100,000 views in just 2 days after it was posted. Everyone is praising the passengers and a good samaritan who ensured that a man accused of a sexual crime was not able to escape.

Video: Travellers ensure man misbehaving with a student on bus doesn't escape

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

Harvey Weinstein appeals against sex crimes conviction, seeks new trial

For weeks, the harrowing anonymous testimonies have poured in, one after another.

Accusations of sexual assault of girls as young as 9. Girls shamed by classmates after intimate photos were circulated without their consent. One girl was blamed by classmates after she reported being raped at a party.

On a platform called Everyone’s Invited, thousands of young women and girls in Britain have recently been sharing frank accounts of sexual violence, sexism and misogyny during their time as students — accusations of everything including criminal sexual attacks to coercive encounters to verbal harassment to unwanted touching — offering raw and unfiltered discussions of their personal trauma.

But when taken together, the accusations paint a troubling picture of widespread sexual violence by students both within the school walls and outside, particularly at parties. In addition to reports of violence, the accounts also included claims of sexism and misogyny.

“This is a real problem,” said Soma Sara, the 22-year-old Londoner who founded Everyone’s Invited. “Rape culture is real.”

The powerful testimonies, while heartbreaking and often infuriating, are unfiltered and remain unconfirmed. But they have nevertheless exploded into a national examination of sexual violence in schools, highlighting what accusers call a toxic culture of shame, silencing and victim blaming that they say school officials have done little or nothing to combat. And it comes amid a broader reckoning in Britain after the killing of Sarah Everard, whose abduction from a London street in early March set off a national conversation about violence women face.

Schools, local and national officials have begun investigations. On Wednesday, the government tasked an education body with conducting an immediate review of safeguarding policies in both public and private schools.

Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council leader for child protection, told the BBC on Monday, “We have a real problem here.”

A helpline will be launched Thursday, and criminal allegations investigated, the Department of Education said. London’s Metropolitan Police encouraged victims to report crimes to the authorities.

While the accounts omit the names of both victims and perpetrators, they identify the schools the students attended, whether the alleged assaults took place on school grounds or elsewhere. Some were prestigious private schools that soon made headlines.

Current and former students at elite institutions — including Dulwich College, King’s College School, Highgate School, Latymer Upper School and more — have now written open letters to school leaders by name, detailing a culture of silence and victim blaming. In one instance, a former student said she was discouraged from taking legal action in a sexual assault case. In another, girls described being groped in a school hallway.

King’s College School and Highgate School issued statements saying they have begun independent reviews of the accusations and school policies, and Latymer Upper School said it had encouraged students to come to school authorities directly. Some of the schools named did not respond directly to requests for comment but in local news reports similarly said they were taking the matter seriously and investigating in some cases.

Accusations of sexual abuse are not the province only of elite prep schools. Dozens of schools, universities and state-run schools have been named, though testimonies received after March 23 no longer identify the institutions. The thousands of stories speak to a pervasive problem facing young women and girls, Sara said, adding she hoped the focus on certain prominent schools would not distract attention from the bigger issues.

“If we point the finger at a person, at a place, at a demographic, you’re actually making it seem like these cases are rare or just anomalies when, really, they’re not rare,” she said.

Experts agree that the accounts, while troubling, are part of a long overdue conversation about attitudes and behavior around gender and sexuality at institutions that have the effect of normalizing and trivializing sexual violence, or rape culture.

Aisha Gill, a professor of criminology at the University of Roehampton in London and an expert on violence against women and girls, said that the “tsunami of disclosures” highlighted a need for change and for accountability and that it was “unreasonable to say it’s just happening in private schools.”

But she stressed that schools have to examine every accusation to determine whether a criminal act took place and whether it was addressed.

The schools themselves “have a duty of care in terms of their function, and there’s a duty there to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils,” she said. “So something is going badly wrong.”

The killing of Everard became a symbol of all the women who have been attacked but whose cases have gone largely unnoticed. Much of the discussion revolved around shifting the focus from women needing to protect themselves to the responsibility of the police, institutions and men to collectively bear the burden of ensuring safety.

It was against this backdrop that Sara posed a question last month on the Everyone’s Invited Instagram account and website she started last year, as she grappled with her own experiences of sexual violence while a student.

She asked if others had experienced sexual violence during their school years or knew someone who had. Nearly every respondent said yes.

While the accounts vary, and are anonymous and unverified, the sheer numbers — more than 11,500 and counting — could not easily be ignored. When she shared the accounts, Sara withheld the names of the victims and the accused but not the schools they attended.

“We did feel that an important place where rape culture is pervasive is in schools, and we felt all schools have a responsibility of safeguarding their children,” Sara said. “These are incredibly formative years.”

Many of the accusations “might not reach the threshold for criminality” but were distressing nevertheless, Jess Phillips, a lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, told the BBC this week. She said the onus was on the government to collect data about sexual violence in schools, saying it had failed to act on a recommendation to do just that after a 2016 inquiry.

“We need a better inspection regime, we need to have a proper inquiry, we need the government to actually be collecting the data — they’re not actually currently collecting this data anywhere,” Phillips said.

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said in a statement that the accusations were “shocking and abhorrent” and that they must be dealt with properly.

“While the majority of schools take their safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously, I am determined to make sure the right resources and processes are in place across the education system to support any victims of abuse to come forward,” he said.

Government agencies and the police are in contact with Everyone’s Invited to provide support to those who are reporting abuse.

Sexual assaults and attempted sexual assaults often go unreported worldwide, so crime data can give only a partial picture of the scale of the problem. But in Britain other statistics show that sexual violence against school-age girls and young women is endemic.

Data released last month by Britain’s Office of National Statistics showed that women and girls ages 16 to 19 were the most common victims of sexual assault in England and Wales, followed by women ages 20 to 24. The statistics also show that Black people and people with mixed ethnicity in England and Wales were even more likely to be sexually assaulted.

A new survey from Plan International UK, a children’s charity, showed that 58% of girls ages 14 to 21 in Britain have been publicly sexually harassed in their learning environments.

Sara and other activists in Britain are not alone in using social media to call out sexual violence in school settings. In Australia, amid a broader national conversation about violence against women, Chanel Contos, 23, started an online petition in February that included thousands of testimonies of sexual violence among students.

The petition called for an overhaul of sex education with a holistic, early and consent-based approach and is being discussed in the Australian Parliament.

“The fact that two girls on opposite sides of the world, who didn’t know each other, experienced the exact same thing,” is telling, Contos said in an interview.

Gill, the criminology professor in London, pointed out that conversations about rape culture in institutions — or environments where attitudes or behavior about gender and sexuality have the effect of normalizing and trivializing sexual violence, like assault or rape — are not new. Successive waves of the feminist movement have called attention to it, she said.

But schools have a duty to safeguard students, she said, from creating safe spaces for victims of sexual violence to come forward to educating other students about their behavior.

“How do they teach choice?” Gill said. “How do they teach respect? How do they encourage young people to build healthy relationships?”

She noted that sex education curriculum should focus on intersectionality and consent. “I think there’s an opportunity now for transformative change.”

For weeks, the harrowing anonymous testimonies have poured in, one after another. Accusations of sexual assault of girls as young as 9. Girls shamed by classmates after intimate photos were circulated without their consent.

For weeks, the harrowing anonymous testimonies have poured in, one after another. Accusations of sexual assault of girls as young as 9. Girls shamed by classmates after intimate photos were circulated without their consent. One girl was blamed by classmates after she reported being raped at a party. On a platform called Everyone’s Invited, thousands of young women and girls in Britain have recently been sharing frank accounts of sexual violence, sexism and misogyny during their time as students — accusations of everything including criminal sexual attacks to coercive encounters to verbal harassment to unwanted touching — offering raw and unfiltered discussions of their personal trauma. But when taken together, the accusations paint a troubling picture of widespread sexual violence by students both within the school walls and outside, particularly at parties. In addition to reports of violence, the accounts also included claims of sexism and misogyny. “This is a real problem,” said Soma Sara, the 22-year-old Londoner who founded Everyone’s Invited. “Rape culture is real.” The powerful testimonies, while heartbreaking and often infuriating, are unfiltered and remain unconfirmed. But they have nevertheless exploded into a national examination of sexual violence in schools, highlighting what accusers call a toxic culture of shame, silencing and victim blaming that they say school officials have done little or nothing to combat. And it comes amid a broader reckoning in Britain after the killing of Sarah Everard, whose abduction from a London street in early March set off a national conversation about violence women face. Schools, local and national officials have begun investigations. On Wednesday, the government tasked an education body with conducting an immediate review of safeguarding policies in both public and private schools. Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council leader for child protection, told the BBC on Monday, “We have a real problem here.” A helpline will be launched Thursday, and criminal allegations investigated, the Department of Education said. London’s Metropolitan Police encouraged victims to report crimes to the authorities. While the accounts omit the names of both victims and perpetrators, they identify the schools the students attended, whether the alleged assaults took place on school grounds or elsewhere. Some were prestigious private schools that soon made headlines. Current and former students at elite institutions — including Dulwich College, King’s College School, Highgate School, Latymer Upper School and more — have now written open letters to school leaders by name, detailing a culture of silence and victim blaming. In one instance, a former student said she was discouraged from taking legal action in a sexual assault case. In another, girls described being groped in a school hallway. King’s College School and Highgate School issued statements saying they have begun independent reviews of the accusations and school policies, and Latymer Upper School said it had encouraged students to come to school authorities directly. Some of the schools named did not respond directly to requests for comment but in local news reports similarly said they were taking the matter seriously and investigating in some cases. Accusations of sexual abuse are not the province only of elite prep schools. Dozens of schools, universities and state-run schools have been named, though testimonies received after March 23 no longer identify the institutions. The thousands of stories speak to a pervasive problem facing young women and girls, Sara said, adding she hoped the focus on certain prominent schools would not distract attention from the bigger issues. “If we point the finger at a person, at a place, at a demographic, you’re actually making it seem like these cases are rare or just anomalies when, really, they’re not rare,” she said. Experts agree that the accounts, while troubling, are part of a long overdue conversation about attitudes and behavior around gender and sexuality at institutions that have the effect of normalizing and trivializing sexual violence, or rape culture. Aisha Gill, a professor of criminology at the University of Roehampton in London and an expert on violence against women and girls, said that the “tsunami of disclosures” highlighted a need for change and for accountability and that it was “unreasonable to say it’s just happening in private schools.” But she stressed that schools have to examine every accusation to determine whether a criminal act took place and whether it was addressed. The schools themselves “have a duty of care in terms of their function, and there’s a duty there to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils,” she said. “So something is going badly wrong.” The killing of Everard became a symbol of all the women who have been attacked but whose cases have gone largely unnoticed. Much of the discussion revolved around shifting the focus from women needing to protect themselves to the responsibility of the police, institutions and men to collectively bear the burden of ensuring safety. It was against this backdrop that Sara posed a question last month on the Everyone’s Invited Instagram account and website she started last year, as she grappled with her own experiences of sexual violence while a student. She asked if others had experienced sexual violence during their school years or knew someone who had. Nearly every respondent said yes. While the accounts vary, and are anonymous and unverified, the sheer numbers — more than 11,500 and counting — could not easily be ignored. When she shared the accounts, Sara withheld the names of the victims and the accused but not the schools they attended. “We did feel that an important place where rape culture is pervasive is in schools, and we felt all schools have a responsibility of safeguarding their children,” Sara said. “These are incredibly formative years.” Many of the accusations “might not reach the threshold for criminality” but were distressing nevertheless, Jess Phillips, a lawmaker from the opposition Labour Party, told the BBC this week. She said the onus was on the government to collect data about sexual violence in schools, saying it had failed to act on a recommendation to do just that after a 2016 inquiry. “We need a better inspection regime, we need to have a proper inquiry, we need the government to actually be collecting the data — they’re not actually currently collecting this data anywhere,” Phillips said. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said in a statement that the accusations were “shocking and abhorrent” and that they must be dealt with properly. “While the majority of schools take their safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously, I am determined to make sure the right resources and processes are in place across the education system to support any victims of abuse to come forward,” he said. Government agencies and the police are in contact with Everyone’s Invited to provide support to those who are reporting abuse. Sexual assaults and attempted sexual assaults often go unreported worldwide, so crime data can give only a partial picture of the scale of the problem. But in Britain other statistics show that sexual violence against school-age girls and young women is endemic. Data released last month by Britain’s Office of National Statistics showed that women and girls ages 16 to 19 were the most common victims of sexual assault in England and Wales, followed by women ages 20 to 24. The statistics also show that Black people and people with mixed ethnicity in England and Wales were even more likely to be sexually assaulted. A new survey from Plan International UK, a children’s charity, showed that 58% of girls ages 14 to 21 in Britain have been publicly sexually harassed in their learning environments. Sara and other activists in Britain are not alone in using social media to call out sexual violence in school settings. In Australia, amid a broader national conversation about violence against women, Chanel Contos, 23, started an online petition in February that included thousands of testimonies of sexual violence among students. The petition called for an overhaul of sex education with a holistic, early and consent-based approach and is being discussed in the Australian Parliament. “The fact that two girls on opposite sides of the world, who didn’t know each other, experienced the exact same thing,” is telling, Contos said in an interview. Gill, the criminology professor in London, pointed out that conversations about rape culture in institutions — or environments where attitudes or behavior about gender and sexuality have the effect of normalizing and trivializing sexual violence, like assault or rape — are not new. Successive waves of the feminist movement have called attention to it, she said. But schools have a duty to safeguard students, she said, from creating safe spaces for victims of sexual violence to come forward to educating other students about their behavior. “How do they teach choice?” Gill said. “How do they teach respect? How do they encourage young people to build healthy relationships?” She noted that sex education curriculum should focus on intersectionality and consent. “I think there’s an opportunity now for transformative change.”

Women are calling out ‘rape culture’ in UK schools

Trouble mounts for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as another woman has now come forward to accuse him of kissing her aggressively on the cheeks. Sherry Vill added that she was left rattled and afraid to come forward with her account after this incident.

Sherry Vill is the latest woman to accuse Cuomo of 'kissing aggressively'

UK's school children are coming forward with witness testimonials of sexual assault victims, which are being posted online on a website "Everyone's Invited".

With nearly 6,000 incidents reported of sexual assault in the UK's top private schools, the UK police have assured that it is launching an investigation into the matter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sarah-everard-case-britain-needs-cultural-change-says-prime-minister-boris-johnson-371164">Sarah Everard case: Britain needs cultural change says Prime Minister Boris Johnson</a>

The website's founder Soma Sara has said they have been successful in exposing a "rape culture" in UK schools.

These horrifying stories of young girls being subjected to sexual assault started coming out in public after a London police officer was remanded in custody on March 16 after he was charged with kidnapping and murdering a woman — Sarah Everard.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400">'Men, do better': Londoners hold vigil for Sarah Everard; Police revolts</a>

After these incidents were reported, the MeT police department is trying if any potential victims at these schools will be willing to come forward and report crimes.&nbsp;

The police department is also examining "a number of reports of specific offences".

Incidents reported on the website have names of more than 100 schools where such incidents have taken place, including some of the elite schools such as Sherborne, Westminster and Eton.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sarah-everard-case-london-police-chief-backs-her-officers-as-cops-face-backlash-after-dragging-mourners-370664">Sarah Everard case: London police chief backs her officers as cops face backlash after dragging mourners</a>

"I think it's more widespread than private schools," Detective Superintendent Mel Laremore, the Met's lead officer for rape and sexual offences said in an interview. "I think we're still looking into the exact scope of how wide this is spread. But certainly I know there's already over 100 schools cited on the website, which do reach out to national parameters."

The founder of the website, who is a university student herself, has urged people and authorities to focus on situations beyond the elite schools too.&nbsp;

"When we narrow our focus on a school, a demographic, or as an individual, we risk making these cases seem like anomalies. But this isn't rare, it happens all the time," she said. "When we direct the blame onto a person or place we are undermining the most important message: rape culture is everywhere. And because it's everywhere it affects everyone."

UK's school children are coming forward with witness testimonials of sexual assault victims, which are being posted online on a website "Everyone's Invited". With nearly 6,000 incidents reported of sexual assault in the UK's top private schools, the UK police have assured that it is launching an investigation into the matter.

UK's school children are coming forward with witness testimonials of sexual assault victims, which are being posted online on a website "Everyone's Invited". With nearly 6,000 incidents reported of sexual assault in the UK's top private schools, the UK police have assured that it is launching an investigation into the matter. Also read | Sarah Everard case: Britain needs cultural change says Prime Minister Boris Johnson The website's founder Soma Sara has said they have been successful in exposing a "rape culture" in UK schools. These horrifying stories of young girls being subjected to sexual assault started coming out in public after a London police officer was remanded in custody on March 16 after he was charged with kidnapping and murdering a woman — Sarah Everard. Also see| 'Men, do better': Londoners hold vigil for Sarah Everard; Police revolts After these incidents were reported, the MeT police department is trying if any potential victims at these schools will be willing to come forward and report crimes. The police department is also examining "a number of reports of specific offences". Incidents reported on the website have names of more than 100 schools where such incidents have taken place, including some of the elite schools such as Sherborne, Westminster and Eton. Also read | Sarah Everard case: London police chief backs her officers as cops face backlash after dragging mourners "I think it's more widespread than private schools," Detective Superintendent Mel Laremore, the Met's lead officer for rape and sexual offences said in an interview. "I think we're still looking into the exact scope of how wide this is spread. But certainly I know there's already over 100 schools cited on the website, which do reach out to national parameters." The founder of the website, who is a university student herself, has urged people and authorities to focus on situations beyond the elite schools too. "When we narrow our focus on a school, a demographic, or as an individual, we risk making these cases seem like anomalies. But this isn't rare, it happens all the time," she said. "When we direct the blame onto a person or place we are undermining the most important message: rape culture is everywhere. And because it's everywhere it affects everyone."

UK police begin investigation into school sexual assault claims

The pandemic not only took lives due to the deadly virus but also put several lives in danger due to extended lockdowns which brought an alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Krysia Paszko, a 17-year-old girl from Poland, saw a similar report about the surge in domestic violence cases in Europe and decided to do her bit in helping such victims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-reauthorises-violence-against-women-act-371268" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-reauthorises-violence-against-women-act-371268&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikyNeX1cvvAhWgzTgGHcmfBMk4ChAWMAJ6BAgJEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Zs8ZMbtMe9ElRwOwBWTB0" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-reauthorises-violence-against-women-act-371268" target="_blank">US House reauthorises&nbsp;Violence&nbsp;Against Women Act</a>

Quick research made her aware of France's new policy which urged victims to say "Mask 19" at any pharmacy and get immediate and discreet help. Working on the same idea, Paszko created a Facebook page to do her bit.

Paszko sought help from a graphic designer friend and created a Facebook page of a fake cosmetics company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwikyNeX1cvvAhWgzTgGHcmfBMk4ChAWMAl6BAgFEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw0rCPlr-bY2zrNQk5s6SgUI" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/men-do-better-londoners-hold-vigil-for-sarah-everard-police-revolts-370400" target="_blank">'Men, do better': Londoners hold vigil for Sarah Everard</a>

In this initiative, the victims can ask for natural cosmetics and the volunteers will start monitoring the users who message on the page. As soon as the victim messages 'STOP', the volunteers will call the police for urgent help.

"If you are in quarantine or isolation with a toxic or violent person, send a message," she wrote on her personal Facebook page, along with the link to the page of the fictitious company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-in-three-women-have-already-suffered-physical-violence-world-health-organization-369207" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/one-in-three-women-have-already-suffered-physical-violence-world-health-organization-369207&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjnntir1cvvAhWMyjgGHRQ1Dao4FBAWMAR6BAgGEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw2jjP7sYb3avyvQuLsi-L2G" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-in-three-women-have-already-suffered-physical-violence-world-health-organization-369207" target="_blank">One in three women have already suffered physical&nbsp;violence</a>

As people started sharing the page, Paszko started receiving hundreds of messages through that page, which was shared more than a thousand times.

The response was so overwhelming that the 17-year-old social worker had to contact Centrum Praw Kobiet (CPK), Poland's largest women's rights centre, for assistance.

Paszko also coded a system that determines the type of assistance needed by the victims whose social media activity is monitored by their abusive partners.

"What surprised me is that you can say nearly everything using the code," she said.

The pandemic not only took lives due to the deadly virus but also put several lives in danger due to extended lockdowns which brought an alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The pandemic not only took lives due to the deadly virus but also put several lives in danger due to extended lockdowns which brought an alarming increase in domestic violence and sexual abuse. Krysia Paszko, a 17-year-old girl from Poland, saw a similar report about the surge in domestic violence cases in Europe and decided to do her bit in helping such victims. Also read | US House reauthorises Violence Against Women Act Quick research made her aware of France's new policy which urged victims to say "Mask 19" at any pharmacy and get immediate and discreet help. Working on the same idea, Paszko created a Facebook page to do her bit. Paszko sought help from a graphic designer friend and created a Facebook page of a fake cosmetics company. Also read | 'Men, do better': Londoners hold vigil for Sarah Everard In this initiative, the victims can ask for natural cosmetics and the volunteers will start monitoring the users who message on the page. As soon as the victim messages 'STOP', the volunteers will call the police for urgent help. "If you are in quarantine or isolation with a toxic or violent person, send a message," she wrote on her personal Facebook page, along with the link to the page of the fictitious company. Also read | One in three women have already suffered physical violence As people started sharing the page, Paszko started receiving hundreds of messages through that page, which was shared more than a thousand times. The response was so overwhelming that the 17-year-old social worker had to contact Centrum Praw Kobiet (CPK), Poland's largest women's rights centre, for assistance. Paszko also coded a system that determines the type of assistance needed by the victims whose social media activity is monitored by their abusive partners. "What surprised me is that you can say nearly everything using the code," she said.

'Say STOP': 17-year-old makes fake Facebook page to help women flee abuse

The Australian parliament is once again in the news and for all the wrong reasons. After a couple of women came forward to tell their tales of sexual assault within the parliament building, a video has emerged that allegedly showed the staff members performing sexual acts in the offices.

Footage leaked to media allegedly showed a senior aide performing a sex act on a female MP’s desk.&nbsp; The&nbsp;aide has been fired from his position in the Australian parliament.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/twelve-hours-of-hell-couple-gets-married-amid-nsw-floods-372525" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/twelve-hours-of-hell-couple-gets-married-amid-nsw-floods-372525&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjyytbuuMbvAhU-8HMBHf5DDQ8QFjAAegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0zj09bFF9-aZAMS7hbL_Tx" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twelve-hours-of-hell-couple-gets-married-amid-nsw-floods-372525" target="_blank">Twelve hours of hell: Couple gets married amid NSW floods</a>

This video was leaked by a former government staff member, who claims to have become “immune” due to the high volume of such images and videos&nbsp;he had received.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the new turn of events as “disgraceful”.

The video in question was filmed two years ago. The former government officer also claimed that members of parliament used the prayer room to have sex, and some even brought sex workers into the parliament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-disgusted-by-sex-scandal-in-govt-wants-more-women-in-politics-372532">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-pm-disgusted-by-sex-scandal-in-govt-wants-more-women-in-politics-372532/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Describing some of the members of parliament as “morally bankrupt”, the whistleblower said the parliament composes of a “culture of men thinking that they can do whatever they want”.

Morrison said he was “shocked” after he got to know about the “disgraceful” video. “We must get this house in order. We must put the politics aside on these things, and we must recognise this problem, acknowledge it, and we must fix it,” he said.

This has come after friends of a&nbsp;victim sent a letter to the authorities alleging she had been sexually assaulted by a senior member of the parliament. Another local, Brittany Higgins, alleged that she was raped by a senior colleague in an office in the Australian parliament in March 2019.

Women in Australia have been trying to fight against these assaults, on behalf of women who feel too threatened to come out and not lose their jobs.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Australian parliament is once again in the news and for all the wrong reasons. After a couple of women came forward to tell their tales of sexual assault within the parliament building, a video has emerged that allegedly showed the staff members performing sexual acts in the offices.

The Australian parliament is once again in the news and for all the wrong reasons. After a couple of women came forward to tell their tales of sexual assault within the parliament building, a video has emerged that allegedly showed the staff members performing sexual acts in the offices. Footage leaked to media allegedly showed a senior aide performing a sex act on a female MP’s desk. The aide has been fired from his position in the Australian parliament. Also read | Twelve hours of hell: Couple gets married amid NSW floods This video was leaked by a former government staff member, who claims to have become “immune” due to the high volume of such images and videos he had received. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the new turn of events as “disgraceful”. The video in question was filmed two years ago. The former government officer also claimed that members of parliament used the prayer room to have sex, and some even brought sex workers into the parliament. Watch | Describing some of the members of parliament as “morally bankrupt”, the whistleblower said the parliament composes of a “culture of men thinking that they can do whatever they want”. Morrison said he was “shocked” after he got to know about the “disgraceful” video. “We must get this house in order. We must put the politics aside on these things, and we must recognise this problem, acknowledge it, and we must fix it,” he said. This has come after friends of a victim sent a letter to the authorities alleging she had been sexually assaulted by a senior member of the parliament. Another local, Brittany Higgins, alleged that she was raped by a senior colleague in an office in the Australian parliament in March 2019. Women in Australia have been trying to fight against these assaults, on behalf of women who feel too threatened to come out and not lose their jobs. (With inputs from agencies)

Australian govt rocked by leaked video allegedly showing sex acts in parliament; aide fired

Thousands of women gathered in major cities across Australia on Monday to take part in rallies calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault. 
 
The March 4 Justice rallies have been spurred by a recent wave of allegations of sexual assault, discrimination and misconduct in some of Australia`s highest political offices. 
 
Organisers expect around 85,000 women to join the marches, including one in the capital of Canberra where two petitions demanding action will be delivered to parliament. 
 
A delegation of organisers rejected an invitation to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in private. 
 
"We`ve come to his front garden," Janine Hendry, one of the organisers, told Reuters outside Parliament House. "We are 200 metres from his office and it`s not appropriate for us to meet behind closed doors especially when we are talking about sexual assault which does happen behind closed doors." 
 
A spokesman for Morrison said there was a standing offer for a private meeting and declined to comment further. 
 
Recently reported scandals include rape allegations against Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has strongly denied the alleged 1988 assault, saying it simply did not happen. 
 
The public anger over the government`s handling of alleged incidents of sexual assault mirrors the sentiment on display in London over the weekend, where protests were held following the killing of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home at night-time. 
 
Among protesters gathered in Canberra, one held a sign reading: "Shatter the silence. Stop the violence." 
 
The allegations involving people in Morrison`s government are expected to dominate parliamentary proceedings over the next two weeks. 
 
Both Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds - who has been criticised for failing to report an alleged rape of one of her former staff members by another - are both on sick leave.

Thousands of women gathered in major cities across Australia on Monday to take part in rallies calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault.

Thousands of women gathered in major cities across Australia on Monday to take part in rallies calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault. The March 4 Justice rallies have been spurred by a recent wave of allegations of sexual assault, discrimination and misconduct in some of Australia`s highest political offices. Organisers expect around 85,000 women to join the marches, including one in the capital of Canberra where two petitions demanding action will be delivered to parliament. A delegation of organisers rejected an invitation to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in private. "We`ve come to his front garden," Janine Hendry, one of the organisers, told Reuters outside Parliament House. "We are 200 metres from his office and it`s not appropriate for us to meet behind closed doors especially when we are talking about sexual assault which does happen behind closed doors." A spokesman for Morrison said there was a standing offer for a private meeting and declined to comment further. Recently reported scandals include rape allegations against Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has strongly denied the alleged 1988 assault, saying it simply did not happen. The public anger over the government`s handling of alleged incidents of sexual assault mirrors the sentiment on display in London over the weekend, where protests were held following the killing of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home at night-time. Among protesters gathered in Canberra, one held a sign reading: "Shatter the silence. Stop the violence." The allegations involving people in Morrison`s government are expected to dominate parliamentary proceedings over the next two weeks. Both Porter and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds - who has been criticised for failing to report an alleged rape of one of her former staff members by another - are both on sick leave.

Thousands rally at Australia's parliament to demand justice for sexual assault victims

Thousands protested in Australia's Perth on Sunday, kicking off a nationwide campaign for gender equality. The movement has started after there were allegations of sexual assault by members of the parliaments.

Australia: Thousands protest for gender equality in Perth

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