The Kozhikode sessions court in the Indian southern state of Kerala granted anticipatory bail to writer and social activist Civic Chandran in a sexual harassment case, observing that the charge under Section 354 (A) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code would not be attracted if the woman was wearing "sexually provocative" dress.

On August 12, Chandran, who had included photographs of the complainant in his bail application, was granted anticipatory bail. He had previously obtained anticipatory bail in another sexual harassment case on August 2.

The alleged incident occurred on February 8&nbsp;this year&nbsp;at a camp convened by Chandran and others near Koyilandy in Kozhikode district, according to the prosecution. Chandran allegedly groped her and inappropriately touched her when the participants were returning from the camp.&nbsp;

On July 29, the woman filed a complaint, and Chandran was charged under sections 354A (2), 341 and 354 of the IPC.

Along with the bail application, the 74-year-old accused produced photographs of the woman.

Granting anticipatory bail to Chandran, the district sessions judge S Krishna Kumar said, “In order to attract Section 354 A (sexual harassment), there must be physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures. There must be a demand or request for sexual favours. There must be a sexually-coloured remark. The photographs produced with the anticipatory bail application by the accused reveal that the complainant herself is exposing in dresses which are sexually provocative. Section 354 A will not prima facie stand against the accused.”

Chandran has been accused of sexual harassment in two cases, one by a writer from a Scheduled Tribe community who accused him of sexual harassment during a book exhibition here in April.

The other was filed by a young writer who accused him of sexual harassment at a local book fair in February 2020.

The Koyilandy police had filed cases against Chandran but had been unable to apprehend him as he remained at large since the first case was filed.

On August 2, Chandran was granted anticipatory bail in the first case.

According to a report by Indian news agency PTI, in an order dated August 2, the sessions judge granted bail to 74-year old social activist and writer Civic Chandran in a case under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) by saying that offences under this statute would not prima facie stand against him as he was fighting against the caste system.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Kozhikode sessions court in the Indian southern state of Kerala granted anticipatory bail to writer and social activist Civic Chandran in a sexual harassment case, observing that the charge under Section 354 (A) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code would not be attracted if the woman was wearing "sexually provocative" dress.

The Kozhikode sessions court in the Indian southern state of Kerala granted anticipatory bail to writer and social activist Civic Chandran in a sexual harassment case, observing that the charge under Section 354 (A) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code would not be attracted if the woman was wearing "sexually provocative" dress. On August 12, Chandran, who had included photographs of the complainant in his bail application, was granted anticipatory bail. He had previously obtained anticipatory bail in another sexual harassment case on August 2. The alleged incident occurred on February 8 this year at a camp convened by Chandran and others near Koyilandy in Kozhikode district, according to the prosecution. Chandran allegedly groped her and inappropriately touched her when the participants were returning from the camp. On July 29, the woman filed a complaint, and Chandran was charged under sections 354A (2), 341 and 354 of the IPC. Along with the bail application, the 74-year-old accused produced photographs of the woman. Granting anticipatory bail to Chandran, the district sessions judge S Krishna Kumar said, “In order to attract Section 354 A (sexual harassment), there must be physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures. There must be a demand or request for sexual favours. There must be a sexually-coloured remark. The photographs produced with the anticipatory bail application by the accused reveal that the complainant herself is exposing in dresses which are sexually provocative. Section 354 A will not prima facie stand against the accused.” Chandran has been accused of sexual harassment in two cases, one by a writer from a Scheduled Tribe community who accused him of sexual harassment during a book exhibition here in April. The other was filed by a young writer who accused him of sexual harassment at a local book fair in February 2020. The Koyilandy police had filed cases against Chandran but had been unable to apprehend him as he remained at large since the first case was filed. On August 2, Chandran was granted anticipatory bail in the first case. According to a report by Indian news agency PTI, in an order dated August 2, the sessions judge granted bail to 74-year old social activist and writer Civic Chandran in a case under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) by saying that offences under this statute would not prima facie stand against him as he was fighting against the caste system. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sexual harassment complaint won't prima facie stand if woman wore provocative dress: Indian court

A disturbing video has caught a man in Pakistan in an act of groping a burqa-clad woman in broad daylight. The horrific incident has taken place in Pakistan's capital Islamabad. The video is being angrily shared on social media.

The video shows the woman walking on the street. The man can be seen approaching the woman from behind and groping her. The woman struggles and pushes the man away with great effort after which he runs away.&nbsp;

Social media users are reacting angrily and condemning the lewd behaviour of the unidentified man.

Senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, in response to a tweet that posted the video, said that the incident is a challenge for all men to find the culprit, punish him, and make him an example for others.

The video has again brought to the fore the issue of women's safety in Pakistan.

As per reports, over 70 per cent of women in Pakistan have to face harassment at work

Data collected by White Ribbon Pakistan, an NGO working for women`s rights, shows that 4,734 women faced sexual violence between 2004 and 2016.&nbsp;

Government of Pakistan has recently passed 'Protection against Harassment at the Workplace (Amendment Bill), 2022'. The amendment has replaced weaker provisions of the law.

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A disturbing video has caught a man in Pakistan in an act of groping a burqa-clad woman in broad daylight. The horrific incident has taken place in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

A disturbing video has caught a man in Pakistan in an act of groping a burqa-clad woman in broad daylight. The horrific incident has taken place in Pakistan's capital Islamabad. The video is being angrily shared on social media. The video shows the woman walking on the street. The man can be seen approaching the woman from behind and groping her. The woman struggles and pushes the man away with great effort after which he runs away. Social media users are reacting angrily and condemning the lewd behaviour of the unidentified man. Senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, in response to a tweet that posted the video, said that the incident is a challenge for all men to find the culprit, punish him, and make him an example for others. The video has again brought to the fore the issue of women's safety in Pakistan. As per reports, over 70 per cent of women in Pakistan have to face harassment at work Data collected by White Ribbon Pakistan, an NGO working for women`s rights, shows that 4,734 women faced sexual violence between 2004 and 2016. Government of Pakistan has recently passed 'Protection against Harassment at the Workplace (Amendment Bill), 2022'. The amendment has replaced weaker provisions of the law. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Pakistan: Man caught on video groping a burqa-clad woman on street

An unidentified woman has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses American rapper, Snoop Dogg of sexual assault and battery after she attended one of his concerts in 2013. 
 
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, days before Snoop Dogg is set to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show with other hip-hop artists near Los Angeles. 
 
The woman was identified as Jane Doe and described as a dancer, model, host and actress who had worked with Snoop Dogg. 
 
In the lawsuit filed in the Central District of California against Calvin Broadus aka Snoop Dogg, the woman said Snoop Dogg entered a bathroom she was using, forced her to perform oral sex and masturbated in front of her. 
 
"Plaintiff found herself thinking about her job security if she displeased Defendant Snoop Dogg," the complaint said. "Plaintiff felt pressured by defendant Snoop Dogg due to his dominance, and his position of power over her, including his ability to hire and fire her and ensure that she would never be hired in his industry again." 
 
Representatives for Snoop Dogg did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 
 
The woman said in the lawsuit she was also sexually assaulted earlier in the evening by a Snoop Dogg employee who is also named as a defendant. The parties tried to resolve the matter through mediation, the complaint said. 
 
On Instagram on Wednesday, Snoop Dogg wrote that "Gold digger season is here be careful... keep ya guards up. And. Keep ya circle small." 
 
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, said the post appeared shortly after mediation talks broke down.

An unidentified woman has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses American rapper, Snoop Dogg of sexual assault and battery after she attended one of his concerts in 2013.

An unidentified woman has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses American rapper, Snoop Dogg of sexual assault and battery after she attended one of his concerts in 2013. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, days before Snoop Dogg is set to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show with other hip-hop artists near Los Angeles. The woman was identified as Jane Doe and described as a dancer, model, host and actress who had worked with Snoop Dogg. In the lawsuit filed in the Central District of California against Calvin Broadus aka Snoop Dogg, the woman said Snoop Dogg entered a bathroom she was using, forced her to perform oral sex and masturbated in front of her. "Plaintiff found herself thinking about her job security if she displeased Defendant Snoop Dogg," the complaint said. "Plaintiff felt pressured by defendant Snoop Dogg due to his dominance, and his position of power over her, including his ability to hire and fire her and ensure that she would never be hired in his industry again." Representatives for Snoop Dogg did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The woman said in the lawsuit she was also sexually assaulted earlier in the evening by a Snoop Dogg employee who is also named as a defendant. The parties tried to resolve the matter through mediation, the complaint said. On Instagram on Wednesday, Snoop Dogg wrote that "Gold digger season is here be careful... keep ya guards up. And. Keep ya circle small." The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, said the post appeared shortly after mediation talks broke down.

Unnamed woman accuses US rapper Snoop Dogg of sexual assault in lawsuit

A report released by Rio Tinto, a major mining company, on Tuesday (February 1) showed a culture of bullying, harassment and racism within the company. The report stated that there were complaints of actual or attempted rape or sexual assault by 21 women.

The external report commissioned by Rio was based on an online survey completed by 10,300 people, nearly a quarter of its 45,000 strong workforce at 60 operations in 35 countries, as well as group and individual listening sessions.

The ‘Report into Workplace Culture at Rio Tinto’ was written by Elizabeth Broderick, who served as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner from 2007-2015.

As per the report, nearly 30 per cent of women and about 7 per cent of men had experienced sexual harassment at work

Racism was a "significant challenge" for employees at many locations. People working in a country different to their birth experienced high rates of racism while nearly 40% of men who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in Australia had experienced racism.

The 85-page document was available on the company's website on Tuesday (February 1).

Rio said reforms will focus on a commitment from the company's leadership to create a safe and inclusive working environment, including by increasing diversity within the company. It would also ensure the company's remote mine site facilities are safe, and make it easier for staff to call out unacceptable behaviours.

The Rio report comes ahead of the release of another report by the West Australia state government later this year on sexual harassment at mining camps in the state, which provides more than half of the world's supply of iron ore.

(With inputs from agencies)

A report released by Rio Tinto, a major mining company, on Tuesday (February 1) showed a culture of bullying, harassment and racism within the company. The report stated that there were complaints of actual or attempted rape or sexual assault by 21 women.

A report released by Rio Tinto, a major mining company, on Tuesday (February 1) showed a culture of bullying, harassment and racism within the company. The report stated that there were complaints of actual or attempted rape or sexual assault by 21 women. The external report commissioned by Rio was based on an online survey completed by 10,300 people, nearly a quarter of its 45,000 strong workforce at 60 operations in 35 countries, as well as group and individual listening sessions. The ‘Report into Workplace Culture at Rio Tinto’ was written by Elizabeth Broderick, who served as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner from 2007-2015. As per the report, nearly 30 per cent of women and about 7 per cent of men had experienced sexual harassment at work Racism was a "significant challenge" for employees at many locations. People working in a country different to their birth experienced high rates of racism while nearly 40% of men who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in Australia had experienced racism. The 85-page document was available on the company's website on Tuesday (February 1). Rio said reforms will focus on a commitment from the company's leadership to create a safe and inclusive working environment, including by increasing diversity within the company. It would also ensure the company's remote mine site facilities are safe, and make it easier for staff to call out unacceptable behaviours. The Rio report comes ahead of the release of another report by the West Australia state government later this year on sexual harassment at mining camps in the state, which provides more than half of the world's supply of iron ore. (With inputs from agencies)

Rio Tinto report mentions culture of sexual harassment, racism

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that made sexual harassment a crime under the military justice code. Sexual harassment in US armed forces is an issue Pentagon has struggled with.

The move, called for in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon's annual budget package, pays homage to Vanessa Guillen.

Guillen, a 20-year-old army soldier was sexually harassed and murdered by a fellow soldier in 2020. Guillen had told her family that she did not trust the military command to follow up on her complaint.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the order "honors the memory of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen," whose death is "catalyzing national attention to the scourge of sexual violence in our military and helping advance bipartisan military justice reform."

Biden tweeted earlier in the day that he was "signing an Executive Order to make sexual harassment an offense in the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

The order is also meant to "strengthen the military's response to domestic violence and the wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images," he said.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had previously appointed an independent commission to submit recommendations as to how best to deal with perpetrators of sexual violence in the armed forces, and how to prosecute them more effectively.

The commission concluded that removing decisions about prosecuting sexual assault from the military chain of command was the only solution.

Instead of incurring administrative sanctions as was previously the case, perpetrators may receive prison time.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that made sexual harassment a crime under the military justice code. Sexual harassment in US armed forces is an issue Pentagon has struggled with.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that made sexual harassment a crime under the military justice code. Sexual harassment in US armed forces is an issue Pentagon has struggled with. The move, called for in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon's annual budget package, pays homage to Vanessa Guillen. Guillen, a 20-year-old army soldier was sexually harassed and murdered by a fellow soldier in 2020. Guillen had told her family that she did not trust the military command to follow up on her complaint. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the order "honors the memory of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen," whose death is "catalyzing national attention to the scourge of sexual violence in our military and helping advance bipartisan military justice reform." Biden tweeted earlier in the day that he was "signing an Executive Order to make sexual harassment an offense in the Uniform Code of Military Justice." The order is also meant to "strengthen the military's response to domestic violence and the wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images," he said. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had previously appointed an independent commission to submit recommendations as to how best to deal with perpetrators of sexual violence in the armed forces, and how to prosecute them more effectively. The commission concluded that removing decisions about prosecuting sexual assault from the military chain of command was the only solution. Instead of incurring administrative sanctions as was previously the case, perpetrators may receive prison time. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden signs order making sexual harassment in US military a crime

Amid China's Me Too scandal by tennis star Peng Shuai, China prepares and debates sexual harassment laws to add safeguards.

China debates sexual harassment laws amid Peng Shuai controversy

According to a report from The Washington Post, six more women who work at Tesla's Fremont, California plant and service centre have filed complaints against the firm.

Each woman has filed a separate action in Alameda County Superior Court, saying that she is subjected to a workplace culture of sexual harassment.&nbsp;

Elon Musk, Time's 'person of the year,' has been accused of tweeting a "lewd statement about women's bodies or a taunt toward colleagues who report wrongdoing," according to reports.&nbsp;

These latest complaints were filed less than a month after two other women brought similar claims against the corporation.&nbsp;

The women said that they work in an environment where there is a culture of sexual harassment. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-is-thinking-of-quitting-his-jobs-and-becoming-an-influencer-435797">Also read | Tesla CEO Elon Musk is thinking of quitting his jobs and becoming an influencer</a>

In the claims, they said their male coworkers routinely make sexual comments about their bodies or attire, as well as engage in abusive behaviours like catcalling and unwanted touching.

One of the six women, Eden Mederos, told The Washington Post that after the Model Y was released, "things became worse," and Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted "S3XY," an acronym referring to the Model S, 3, X, and Y.

Musk is also frequently seen tweeting jokes about "69" or "420" and other immature things, according to the source, which "triggered the technicians to be even worse."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a report from The Washington Post, six more women who work at Tesla's Fremont, California plant and service centre have filed complaints against the firm.

According to a report from The Washington Post, six more women who work at Tesla's Fremont, California plant and service centre have filed complaints against the firm. Each woman has filed a separate action in Alameda County Superior Court, saying that she is subjected to a workplace culture of sexual harassment. Elon Musk, Time's 'person of the year,' has been accused of tweeting a "lewd statement about women's bodies or a taunt toward colleagues who report wrongdoing," according to reports. These latest complaints were filed less than a month after two other women brought similar claims against the corporation. The women said that they work in an environment where there is a culture of sexual harassment. Also read | Tesla CEO Elon Musk is thinking of quitting his jobs and becoming an influencer In the claims, they said their male coworkers routinely make sexual comments about their bodies or attire, as well as engage in abusive behaviours like catcalling and unwanted touching. One of the six women, Eden Mederos, told The Washington Post that after the Model Y was released, "things became worse," and Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted "S3XY," an acronym referring to the Model S, 3, X, and Y. Musk is also frequently seen tweeting jokes about "69" or "420" and other immature things, according to the source, which "triggered the technicians to be even worse." (With inputs from agencies)

Tesla hit by string of sexual harassment lawsuits: 6 women file complaints

Tesla sued over sexual harassment: Six more women file lawsuits

A new report has found that 63% of Australia's female parliamentarians or legislators have been sexually harassed, as have 1 in 3 Parliament staffers. Earlier, reports claimed the prayer room in Australia's parliament is routinely used for sex. Palki Sharma tells all about it.

Gravitas: Report: 1 in 3 workers in Australian Parliament are sexually harassed

CNN has suspended Chris Cuomo indefinitely after details emerged about how he helped his brother, the former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, as he faced accusations of sexual harassment.

CNN suspends Chris Cuomo for helping his brother amid sexual harassment reports

According to a report published on Tuesday, one in three people working in Australia's parliament has experienced sexual harassment, following an independent inquiry into parliamentary workplace culture.

One in every three employees sexually harassed in Australian Parliament, says report

One in every three employees in Australia's parliament and other government departments have experienced sexual harassment, according to a major report aimed at cleaning up a poisonous workplace culture.

In a study of over 1,700 people, just over a quarter of those who had been sexually harassed felt a member of parliament was to blame.

Approximately 37% of employees stated they had been bullied.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-raped-in-australian-parliament-pm-apologises-363974">Also read | Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises</a>

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his administration is likely to adopt the report's 28 recommendations, which include establishing objectives for gender balance and diversity across all legislative functions.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Sex scandal rocks Australian Parliament

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The report addresses "the power imbalance, the gender imbalance, the lack of accountability for behavior, as well as understanding the challenging and demanding work environment" in parliament.

After thousands of women protested across Australia to condemn sexual abuse, Morrison ordered an independent probe to be conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.&nbsp;

Australia has dropped from 15th to 50th in the world for parliamentary gender diversity in the last 20 years.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

One in every three employees in Australia's parliament and other government departments have experienced sexual harassment, according to a major report aimed at cleaning up a poisonous workplace culture.

One in every three employees in Australia's parliament and other government departments have experienced sexual harassment, according to a major report aimed at cleaning up a poisonous workplace culture. In a study of over 1,700 people, just over a quarter of those who had been sexually harassed felt a member of parliament was to blame. Approximately 37% of employees stated they had been bullied. Also read | Woman raped in Australian parliament, PM apologises Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his administration is likely to adopt the report's 28 recommendations, which include establishing objectives for gender balance and diversity across all legislative functions. Watch | Gravitas: Sex scandal rocks Australian Parliament The report addresses "the power imbalance, the gender imbalance, the lack of accountability for behavior, as well as understanding the challenging and demanding work environment" in parliament. After thousands of women protested across Australia to condemn sexual abuse, Morrison ordered an independent probe to be conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins. Australia has dropped from 15th to 50th in the world for parliamentary gender diversity in the last 20 years. (With inputs from agencies)

Rampant sexual harassment in Australia’s Parliament: One in three workers is sexually harassed

The American chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers, one of the world’s most influential wine organizations, is moving to expel six men accused of a variety of sexual-misconduct offenses, after a nine-month investigation.

The inquiry followed an October 2020 report in The New York Times in which 21 women said they had been sexually harassed, manipulated or assaulted by male master sommeliers. Current and former members described the court, whose members are mostly men, as a bastion of sexual harassment and coercion that had long been known and tolerated by the group’s leaders.

“What became clear through this investigation was the need for a seismic cultural shift within our organization,” Emily Wines, the chairwoman of the chapter’s board, said Wednesday in a statement about its investigation, which was conducted by an outside firm. The announcement was first reported by The San Francisco Chronicle.

The court said it would not disclose specific findings about the six men: Drew Hendricks, Fred Dexheimer, Joseph Linder, Matt Stamp, Robert Bath and Fred Dame, a founder of the chapter. But it said its investigation “confirmed that perceived power was exploited by members of the organization. The findings substantiated behaviors that ranged from inappropriate comments and flirting to nonconsensual touching and exploiting a mentoring relationship for a perceived quid pro quo.”

The court will hold a hearing about the proposed expulsions within 30 days. If the men are ousted, they would be prohibited from applying for reinstatement, according to a letter sent to one of the men.

The chapter also banned Geoff Kruth, a prominent member who resigned last year, from seeking reinstatement. Shortly before The Times article appeared, Kruth stepped down as the president of GuildSomm, the court’s educational spinoff. Eleven women told The Times they had experienced sexual misconduct by Kruth. Reached by phone on Thursday, he declined to comment.

More than a dozen women said Dame had frequently engaged in unwanted touching and sexual innuendo. On Thursday, he hung up on a reporter.

One woman said Hendricks had grabbed for her breasts, and another said he had asked for “a pair of panties to snuggle with” after she refused to sleep with him. Hendricks and his lawyer did not respond to messages seeking comment. Neither did Bath and Dexheimer.

Stamp, once the vice president of the board, failed to disclose that he had sexual relationships with two women who underwent the rigorous exam process required for membership. In a statement, Stamp said he “should have not been within the vicinity of anyone taking an examination” with whom he had a romantic relationship, even though he had recused himself from proctoring the exams for those women.

He said he took responsibility for his error in judgment: “I will learn and grow from my mistakes and accept today’s decision with a heavy heart.”

Linder, a master sommelier in Seattle who is now a contractor, also said that he took responsibility for his actions, but that the scandal pointed to a wider problem in the sommelier community. “When you are impaired, your better judgment goes out the window,” he said.

Liz Dowty Mitchell, 38, a sommelier in New Orleans, is one of two women who said Dame had slapped her on the rear at court events. She also said last year that a man who mentored her had repeatedly pursued her with sexual invitations. He is not among the men the chapter is seeking to dismiss.

Mitchell said she was contacted by an investigator in January, but decided not to take part in the inquiry because she didn’t trust the process. She said that she was blindsided by the sudden release of the investigation results and disappointed that men accused of more egregious sexual acts were not among those marked for expulsion.

“It’s really disheartening,” Mitchell said. “It’s incredibly uncomfortable. It doesn’t leave me with any sort of closure.”

The court said 22 members were investigated, but the “findings did not support further action in some cases.” Some members, it said, will go through “varying levels of rehabilitative education to allow members to take accountability and then return in good standing.”

Wines, the board’s chairwoman, said that while “a small number” of investigations were continuing, the court decided to announce the proposed expulsions because most of the inquiries had concluded.

Mitchell said she has been haunted by the belief that some men, including her mentor, who harassed women would continue as members.

“That’s a horrible feeling when I risked everything to come forward to protect future women,” she said. “I have no assurance that it won’t happen again in the future, and that’s why we came forward in the first place, to protect future women. It’s a pretty terrible feeling. It’s like this is all in vain.”

In the days following The Times report, the chapter elected a new board. Devon Broglie, the chairman, had resigned, after a junior-level candidate said Broglie had an inappropriate sexual relationship with her before he became chairman. The court said his resignation was unrelated to the allegations.

Linder, one of the sommeliers marked for ouster, said he agreed with Mitchell that some men accused of more serious abuses had not been punished.

“The hammer should’ve come a lot harder on the people who groomed candidates and had sex with them,” he said. “And for some reason, they got a pass.”

The American chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers, one of the world’s most influential wine organizations, is moving to expel six men accused of a variety of sexual-misconduct offenses, after a nine-month investigation.

The American chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers, one of the world’s most influential wine organizations, is moving to expel six men accused of a variety of sexual-misconduct offenses, after a nine-month investigation. The inquiry followed an October 2020 report in The New York Times in which 21 women said they had been sexually harassed, manipulated or assaulted by male master sommeliers. Current and former members described the court, whose members are mostly men, as a bastion of sexual harassment and coercion that had long been known and tolerated by the group’s leaders. “What became clear through this investigation was the need for a seismic cultural shift within our organization,” Emily Wines, the chairwoman of the chapter’s board, said Wednesday in a statement about its investigation, which was conducted by an outside firm. The announcement was first reported by The San Francisco Chronicle. The court said it would not disclose specific findings about the six men: Drew Hendricks, Fred Dexheimer, Joseph Linder, Matt Stamp, Robert Bath and Fred Dame, a founder of the chapter. But it said its investigation “confirmed that perceived power was exploited by members of the organization. The findings substantiated behaviors that ranged from inappropriate comments and flirting to nonconsensual touching and exploiting a mentoring relationship for a perceived quid pro quo.” The court will hold a hearing about the proposed expulsions within 30 days. If the men are ousted, they would be prohibited from applying for reinstatement, according to a letter sent to one of the men. The chapter also banned Geoff Kruth, a prominent member who resigned last year, from seeking reinstatement. Shortly before The Times article appeared, Kruth stepped down as the president of GuildSomm, the court’s educational spinoff. Eleven women told The Times they had experienced sexual misconduct by Kruth. Reached by phone on Thursday, he declined to comment. More than a dozen women said Dame had frequently engaged in unwanted touching and sexual innuendo. On Thursday, he hung up on a reporter. One woman said Hendricks had grabbed for her breasts, and another said he had asked for “a pair of panties to snuggle with” after she refused to sleep with him. Hendricks and his lawyer did not respond to messages seeking comment. Neither did Bath and Dexheimer. Stamp, once the vice president of the board, failed to disclose that he had sexual relationships with two women who underwent the rigorous exam process required for membership. In a statement, Stamp said he “should have not been within the vicinity of anyone taking an examination” with whom he had a romantic relationship, even though he had recused himself from proctoring the exams for those women. He said he took responsibility for his error in judgment: “I will learn and grow from my mistakes and accept today’s decision with a heavy heart.” Linder, a master sommelier in Seattle who is now a contractor, also said that he took responsibility for his actions, but that the scandal pointed to a wider problem in the sommelier community. “When you are impaired, your better judgment goes out the window,” he said. Liz Dowty Mitchell, 38, a sommelier in New Orleans, is one of two women who said Dame had slapped her on the rear at court events. She also said last year that a man who mentored her had repeatedly pursued her with sexual invitations. He is not among the men the chapter is seeking to dismiss. Mitchell said she was contacted by an investigator in January, but decided not to take part in the inquiry because she didn’t trust the process. She said that she was blindsided by the sudden release of the investigation results and disappointed that men accused of more egregious sexual acts were not among those marked for expulsion. “It’s really disheartening,” Mitchell said. “It’s incredibly uncomfortable. It doesn’t leave me with any sort of closure.” The court said 22 members were investigated, but the “findings did not support further action in some cases.” Some members, it said, will go through “varying levels of rehabilitative education to allow members to take accountability and then return in good standing.” Wines, the board’s chairwoman, said that while “a small number” of investigations were continuing, the court decided to announce the proposed expulsions because most of the inquiries had concluded. Mitchell said she has been haunted by the belief that some men, including her mentor, who harassed women would continue as members. “That’s a horrible feeling when I risked everything to come forward to protect future women,” she said. “I have no assurance that it won’t happen again in the future, and that’s why we came forward in the first place, to protect future women. It’s a pretty terrible feeling. It’s like this is all in vain.” In the days following The Times report, the chapter elected a new board. Devon Broglie, the chairman, had resigned, after a junior-level candidate said Broglie had an inappropriate sexual relationship with her before he became chairman. The court said his resignation was unrelated to the allegations. Linder, one of the sommeliers marked for ouster, said he agreed with Mitchell that some men accused of more serious abuses had not been punished. “The hammer should’ve come a lot harder on the people who groomed candidates and had sex with them,” he said. “And for some reason, they got a pass.”

Elite wine group moves to expel 6 members in sexual harassment inquiry

Former employees of the technology company Afiniti, the broadcaster CBS and the luxury giant LVMH shared accounts of sexual abuse, rape and harassment with a congressional committee on Tuesday, experiences they said they had been required to keep quiet because they had signed contracts with “forced arbitration” clauses.

The testimony, which implicated executives at the companies, came as the House Judiciary Committee was considering legislation that would abolish forced arbitration for victims of sexual assault and harassment. Forced arbitration often requires an employee to go through a private proceeding with his or her employer after bringing an accusation of workplace misconduct, according to legislators.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bullying-sexual-harassment-assault-rampant-with-women-in-uk-military-reveals-study-424170">Bullying, sexual harassment, assault rampant with women in UK military, reveals study</a>

Although arbitration clauses do not prevent employees from going to the police in the event of a serious crime, companies often make signing them a condition of keeping or getting a job. Paired with confidentiality clauses, they can have a chilling effect on reporting misconduct.

The witnesses were all women who worked in different fields and described a range of experiences of misconduct, from verbal harassment to outright assault. They testified for hours, under the protection of congressional subpoenas.

Tatiana Spottiswoode said that in April 2016, she had begun working for Afiniti, a medical-device technology company founded by Zia Chishti, whom she described as a multimillionaire and a family friend who had known her since she was about 12 years old.

Spottiswoode, who was about 23 at the time, said she had signed a contract that included “an arbitration agreement with a strong confidentiality clause.”

“I did not know what that meant at the time,” she said. “I was just excited and relieved to be making $60,000 a year.”

Chishti harassed her for months and sent her an email describing a sexual fantasy in which he strangled her and grabbed her buttocks in front of other employees, she said. Then, during a business trip to Brazil, he sexually assaulted and beat her, Spottiswoode testified. When she hired lawyers and accused him of attacking her, she said, he filed for arbitration against her.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sexual-harassment-rife-in-mine-camps-western-australian-inquiry-finds-407203">Sexual harassment rife in mine camps, western Australian inquiry finds</a>

“He knew that the secrecy of arbitration would protect him,” Spottiswoode said.

She later said that she was “appalled” by how she had been treated and that she felt as if no one at the company had wanted to help her.

“I felt very unsafe,” Spottiswoode said. “I was very afraid for my life and well-being.”

Natalie Cerny, a spokesperson for Afiniti, said in a statement on Tuesday that the company had investigated Spottiswoode’s claims “with independent counsel and concluded that the arbitral decision she references was erroneous.”

“Zia Chishti strongly disputes all accusations against him,” Cerny said.

The legislation, which was introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., and Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., has bipartisan support and would end forced arbitration for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

An identical version of the bill was recently passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The House committee is scheduled to vote on the legislation on Wednesday. If it passes, it will go before the House for a full vote.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-asks-us-court-to-dismiss-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-425176">Prince Andrew asks US court to dismiss sexual harassment lawsuit</a>

Sarah Parshall Perry, a legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, testified against the legislation, saying that arbitration should not be conflated with confidentiality clauses. Under federal law, she said, employees are allowed to disclose what occurred in arbitration hearings, report what happened and take their complaints to other public agencies.

She warned that the legislation could force more cases into federal court and lead to longer, more expensive legal proceedings that would not benefit employees or hold “bad actors” accountable.

“The very premise of this hearing, that arbitration keeps victims of sexual violence and harassment in the shadows, suggests a solution to the problem of harassment and discrimination that’s ultimately misguided,” Parshall Perry said. “Curtailing access to arbitration would injure, in the end, the very people that Congress has sought for nearly a century to protect.”

Watch |&nbsp;Global firms lag on sex harassment, says report

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-firms-lag-on-sex-harassment-says-report-368806/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But according to legislators, the clauses strip survivors of the right to decide how to pursue accountability, and instead, their cases are heard in secretive proceedings that do little to stop systemic abuse from occurring again.

Lora Henry, who worked at Ken Ganley Kia, a car dealership in Medina, Ohio, said that her supervisor, Mike Gentry, had grabbed her buttocks, pinched her nipples and, on her birthday, showed up unannounced “with a bag of sex toys as ‘gifts.’”

She said that when she had complained, the company said “it was my fault” and that she had eventually been fired. When she filed a lawsuit, the company’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss it, citing the arbitration agreement, she said.

Mark Koberna, a lawyer for Ken Ganley Kia, said that the dealership had “responded immediately” to her complaint, hiring a “third-party human resources consultant” to investigate. The consultant “was not able to substantiate the ex-employee’s claims,” Koberna said in a statement.

Koberna said Henry had been fired not for filing a complaint, but for other reasons, which he did not specify.

“The dealership does not tolerate sexual harassment or retaliation against employees who report claims of sexual harassment,” he said.

Andowah A. Newton, a lawyer who worked for LVMH, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate of luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Dom Pérignon and Veuve Clicquot, said she had repeatedly been harassed by Lloyd Doran, the company’s director of property and facility operations.

After she was hired as director of litigation counsel at the company in 2014, she said, he lurked around her office and made a “lewd” comment. On one occasion, she said, he thrust his pelvis in her face while she was sitting in her office and then pinned his body against hers.

When Newton complained to company superiors, they ignored her claims or said she was “misinterpreting” his behaviour, she testified.

Newton said that the company had hired an outside investigator, who told her that she would have a difficult time proving her case.

The investigator “also suggested that I should be grateful for and flattered by the harassment,” Newton said. She said she had found herself isolated at work, left out of important legal meetings and given poor reviews while Doran was promoted. Doran did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

In a statement, LVMH said that it “has clear policies prohibiting harassment and retaliation in the workplace and procedures to address any concerns raised, and they were followed.”

“Neither an internal investigation nor an external investigation conducted by a former judge found any evidence to support Newton’s claims,” LVMH said.

Eliza Dushku, an actress, testified that she had been fired from the CBS prime-time drama “Bull” after she asked her co-star, Michael Weatherly, a producer on the show, to stop harassing her. She said he had made rape jokes about her and had told her in front of dozens of cast and crew members that he wanted to be in a threesome with her.

She said she had later learnt&nbsp;that the contract she signed with CBS included a forced arbitration clause.

“Who would ever think up such a clause?” Dushku said. “Who were these clauses meant to favour and protect? It suddenly became clear: Not me.”

Chris Ender, a spokesperson for CBS, declined to comment on Tuesday. After a mediation, the company agreed to a confidential settlement that would pay Dushku $9.5 million.

Myriam Gilles, a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, told the panel that arbitration could be just as costly and protracted as litigation, noting that employers were able to hire teams of lawyers to fight their employees’ claims.

Forced arbitration, Gilles said, allows companies “to hide and shield sexual predators” and keep employees from learning that other colleagues may also have been victims of the same person.

“Victims have to go it alone,” Gilles said. “Never knowing about one another.”

Former employees of the technology company Afiniti, the broadcaster CBS and the luxury giant LVMH shared accounts of sexual abuse, rape and harassment with a congressional committee on Tuesday, experiences they said they had been required to keep quiet because they had signed contracts with “forced arbitration” clauses.

Former employees of the technology company Afiniti, the broadcaster CBS and the luxury giant LVMH shared accounts of sexual abuse, rape and harassment with a congressional committee on Tuesday, experiences they said they had been required to keep quiet because they had signed contracts with “forced arbitration” clauses. The testimony, which implicated executives at the companies, came as the House Judiciary Committee was considering legislation that would abolish forced arbitration for victims of sexual assault and harassment. Forced arbitration often requires an employee to go through a private proceeding with his or her employer after bringing an accusation of workplace misconduct, according to legislators. Also read | Bullying, sexual harassment, assault rampant with women in UK military, reveals study Although arbitration clauses do not prevent employees from going to the police in the event of a serious crime, companies often make signing them a condition of keeping or getting a job. Paired with confidentiality clauses, they can have a chilling effect on reporting misconduct. The witnesses were all women who worked in different fields and described a range of experiences of misconduct, from verbal harassment to outright assault. They testified for hours, under the protection of congressional subpoenas. Tatiana Spottiswoode said that in April 2016, she had begun working for Afiniti, a medical-device technology company founded by Zia Chishti, whom she described as a multimillionaire and a family friend who had known her since she was about 12 years old. Spottiswoode, who was about 23 at the time, said she had signed a contract that included “an arbitration agreement with a strong confidentiality clause.” “I did not know what that meant at the time,” she said. “I was just excited and relieved to be making $60,000 a year.” Chishti harassed her for months and sent her an email describing a sexual fantasy in which he strangled her and grabbed her buttocks in front of other employees, she said. Then, during a business trip to Brazil, he sexually assaulted and beat her, Spottiswoode testified. When she hired lawyers and accused him of attacking her, she said, he filed for arbitration against her. Also read | Sexual harassment rife in mine camps, western Australian inquiry finds “He knew that the secrecy of arbitration would protect him,” Spottiswoode said. She later said that she was “appalled” by how she had been treated and that she felt as if no one at the company had wanted to help her. “I felt very unsafe,” Spottiswoode said. “I was very afraid for my life and well-being.” Natalie Cerny, a spokesperson for Afiniti, said in a statement on Tuesday that the company had investigated Spottiswoode’s claims “with independent counsel and concluded that the arbitral decision she references was erroneous.” “Zia Chishti strongly disputes all accusations against him,” Cerny said. The legislation, which was introduced by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., and Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., has bipartisan support and would end forced arbitration for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment. An identical version of the bill was recently passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The House committee is scheduled to vote on the legislation on Wednesday. If it passes, it will go before the House for a full vote. Also read | Prince Andrew asks US court to dismiss sexual harassment lawsuit Sarah Parshall Perry, a legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, testified against the legislation, saying that arbitration should not be conflated with confidentiality clauses. Under federal law, she said, employees are allowed to disclose what occurred in arbitration hearings, report what happened and take their complaints to other public agencies. She warned that the legislation could force more cases into federal court and lead to longer, more expensive legal proceedings that would not benefit employees or hold “bad actors” accountable. “The very premise of this hearing, that arbitration keeps victims of sexual violence and harassment in the shadows, suggests a solution to the problem of harassment and discrimination that’s ultimately misguided,” Parshall Perry said. “Curtailing access to arbitration would injure, in the end, the very people that Congress has sought for nearly a century to protect.” Watch | Global firms lag on sex harassment, says report But according to legislators, the clauses strip survivors of the right to decide how to pursue accountability, and instead, their cases are heard in secretive proceedings that do little to stop systemic abuse from occurring again. Lora Henry, who worked at Ken Ganley Kia, a car dealership in Medina, Ohio, said that her supervisor, Mike Gentry, had grabbed her buttocks, pinched her nipples and, on her birthday, showed up unannounced “with a bag of sex toys as ‘gifts.’” She said that when she had complained, the company said “it was my fault” and that she had eventually been fired. When she filed a lawsuit, the company’s lawyers filed a motion to dismiss it, citing the arbitration agreement, she said. Mark Koberna, a lawyer for Ken Ganley Kia, said that the dealership had “responded immediately” to her complaint, hiring a “third-party human resources consultant” to investigate. The consultant “was not able to substantiate the ex-employee’s claims,” Koberna said in a statement. Koberna said Henry had been fired not for filing a complaint, but for other reasons, which he did not specify. “The dealership does not tolerate sexual harassment or retaliation against employees who report claims of sexual harassment,” he said. Andowah A. Newton, a lawyer who worked for LVMH, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate of luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Dom Pérignon and Veuve Clicquot, said she had repeatedly been harassed by Lloyd Doran, the company’s director of property and facility operations. After she was hired as director of litigation counsel at the company in 2014, she said, he lurked around her office and made a “lewd” comment. On one occasion, she said, he thrust his pelvis in her face while she was sitting in her office and then pinned his body against hers. When Newton complained to company superiors, they ignored her claims or said she was “misinterpreting” his behaviour, she testified. Newton said that the company had hired an outside investigator, who told her that she would have a difficult time proving her case. The investigator “also suggested that I should be grateful for and flattered by the harassment,” Newton said. She said she had found herself isolated at work, left out of important legal meetings and given poor reviews while Doran was promoted. Doran did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. In a statement, LVMH said that it “has clear policies prohibiting harassment and retaliation in the workplace and procedures to address any concerns raised, and they were followed.” “Neither an internal investigation nor an external investigation conducted by a former judge found any evidence to support Newton’s claims,” LVMH said. Eliza Dushku, an actress, testified that she had been fired from the CBS prime-time drama “Bull” after she asked her co-star, Michael Weatherly, a producer on the show, to stop harassing her. She said he had made rape jokes about her and had told her in front of dozens of cast and crew members that he wanted to be in a threesome with her. She said she had later learnt that the contract she signed with CBS included a forced arbitration clause. “Who would ever think up such a clause?” Dushku said. “Who were these clauses meant to favour and protect? It suddenly became clear: Not me.” Chris Ender, a spokesperson for CBS, declined to comment on Tuesday. After a mediation, the company agreed to a confidential settlement that would pay Dushku $9.5 million. Myriam Gilles, a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, told the panel that arbitration could be just as costly and protracted as litigation, noting that employers were able to hire teams of lawyers to fight their employees’ claims. Forced arbitration, Gilles said, allows companies “to hide and shield sexual predators” and keep employees from learning that other colleagues may also have been victims of the same person. “Victims have to go it alone,” Gilles said. “Never knowing about one another.”

Victims of sexual misconduct testify against forced arbitration

Vatican’s Pope Francis has thanked journalists from around the world for their helping uncover the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church.<o:p></o:p>

The Pope has appreciated and thanked the journalists for carrying on their "mission"&nbsp;of journalism. He said it was extremely important that these cases were uncovered and presented infront of the world.<o:p></o:p>

He thanked the journalists for stepping out of the newsrooms to discover and present what was happening around the world. This helps counter misinformation that is spread online these days, he said, and added that "not everything can be told through email, the phone, or a screen."<o:p></o:p>

"(I) thank you for what you tell us about what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet, and for the voice you have given to the abuse victims," the Pope said.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-appoints-first-woman-to-serve-as-secretary-general-of-vatican-city-426890">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pope-francis-appoints-first-woman-to-serve-as-secretary-general-of-vatican-city-426890/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The leader thanked the journalists while he was speaking at a ceremony to honour two veteran correspondents (Philip Pullella of Reuters and Valentina Alazraki of Mexico's Noticieros Televisa) who had spent their time covering the Vatican.<o:p></o:p>

Pope Francis was talking about the sexual abuse scandals that had hit the headlines in 2002. Journalists had uncovered several cases where minors had been sexually assaulted and abused by clerics. It was revealed that there was a silent culture of concealment within the Church about these issues.<o:p></o:p>

The exposure of these cases in 2002 continued and since then scandals have been making headlines across the globe. Recently, in October, it was revealed that more than 200,000 children have been abused by French clerics over the past 70 years.<o:p></o:p>

While journalists have, in the past, accused Pope Francis of not acting quickly on these cases, the leader thanked the media houses for their work and said the journalists have "to explain the world, to make it less obscure, to make those who live in it less fear it".<o:p></o:p>

Vatican’s Pope Francis has thanked journalists from around the world for their helping uncover the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope has appreciated and thanked the journalists for carrying on their "mission" of journalism.

Vatican’s Pope Francis has thanked journalists from around the world for their helping uncover the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope has appreciated and thanked the journalists for carrying on their "mission" of journalism. He said it was extremely important that these cases were uncovered and presented infront of the world. He thanked the journalists for stepping out of the newsrooms to discover and present what was happening around the world. This helps counter misinformation that is spread online these days, he said, and added that "not everything can be told through email, the phone, or a screen." "(I) thank you for what you tell us about what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet, and for the voice you have given to the abuse victims," the Pope said. WATCH | The leader thanked the journalists while he was speaking at a ceremony to honour two veteran correspondents (Philip Pullella of Reuters and Valentina Alazraki of Mexico's Noticieros Televisa) who had spent their time covering the Vatican. Pope Francis was talking about the sexual abuse scandals that had hit the headlines in 2002. Journalists had uncovered several cases where minors had been sexually assaulted and abused by clerics. It was revealed that there was a silent culture of concealment within the Church about these issues. The exposure of these cases in 2002 continued and since then scandals have been making headlines across the globe. Recently, in October, it was revealed that more than 200,000 children have been abused by French clerics over the past 70 years. While journalists have, in the past, accused Pope Francis of not acting quickly on these cases, the leader thanked the media houses for their work and said the journalists have "to explain the world, to make it less obscure, to make those who live in it less fear it".

Pope Francis thanks journalists for exposing sexual abuse cases

According to a court document, Britain's Prince Andrew filed a motion to request a New York court to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit against him on Friday. &nbsp;

In the filing, Andrew "respectfully moves to dismiss plaintiff Virginia Giuffre's complaint", said the Duke of York’s attorneys. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In August, Giuffre sued Andrew, claiming he sexually assaulted her over 20 years ago when she was 17 and a minor under the US state law. &nbsp;

The 61-year-old Andrew has not been criminally charged. He has repeatedly and strenuously denied the allegations.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-settle-us-charges-of-tax-evasion-russian-billionaire-pays-500-million-425174" hreflang="en">To settle US charges of tax evasion, Russian billionaire pays $500 million</a>

Last month, Queen Elizabeth II's second son accepted he was served legal papers in the case. He was also instructed to respond to the lawsuit by October 29. &nbsp;

The lawyers of Andrew asked a Manhattan district court to dismiss the case "for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." &nbsp;

They also asked that 38-year-old Giuffre to alternatively "provide a more definitive statement of her allegations." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-decries-frances-seizure-of-fishing-boat-as-post-brexit-row-deepens-425168" hreflang="en">UK decries France's seizure of fishing boat as post-Brexit row deepens</a>

"Prince Andrew respectfully requests the court hold oral argument on his motion," said the statement. &nbsp;

Andrew sexually abused Giuffre at the London home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, alleges complainant. &nbsp;

He also assaulted her at the New York home of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein and at Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, she said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a court document, Britain's Prince Andrew filed a motion to request a New York court to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit against him on Friday. In the filing, Andrew "respectfully moves to dismiss plaintiff Virginia Giuffre's complaint", said the Duke of York’s attorneys.

According to a court document, Britain's Prince Andrew filed a motion to request a New York court to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit against him on Friday. In the filing, Andrew "respectfully moves to dismiss plaintiff Virginia Giuffre's complaint", said the Duke of York’s attorneys. In August, Giuffre sued Andrew, claiming he sexually assaulted her over 20 years ago when she was 17 and a minor under the US state law. The 61-year-old Andrew has not been criminally charged. He has repeatedly and strenuously denied the allegations. Also Read: To settle US charges of tax evasion, Russian billionaire pays $500 million Last month, Queen Elizabeth II's second son accepted he was served legal papers in the case. He was also instructed to respond to the lawsuit by October 29. The lawyers of Andrew asked a Manhattan district court to dismiss the case "for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." They also asked that 38-year-old Giuffre to alternatively "provide a more definitive statement of her allegations." Also Read: UK decries France's seizure of fishing boat as post-Brexit row deepens "Prince Andrew respectfully requests the court hold oral argument on his motion," said the statement. Andrew sexually abused Giuffre at the London home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, alleges complainant. He also assaulted her at the New York home of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein and at Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Prince Andrew asks US court to dismiss sexual harassment lawsuit

Women have been suffering severe physical and mental health issues from “widespread” emotional bullying, sexual harassment and physical assault in the UK military, a research revealed. &nbsp;

According to the findings published in BMJ Military Health journal, the people, who are likely to have experienced such treatment, were younger personnel, who have held the rank of officer or had a combat or support role. &nbsp;

Around 750 female veterans were surveyed. Of the people featured in the survey, 22.5% said they had been sexually harassed, while 5.1% said they were sexually assaulted. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-spy-agencies-sign-deal-with-amazon-to-host-top-secret-data-for-espionage-report-424123" hreflang="en">British spy agencies sign deal with Amazon to host ‘top secret data’ for espionage: Report</a>

As per the findings, 22.7% of the women were subjected to emotional bullying and 3.3% said they had been physically assaulted. &nbsp;

In the forces, sexual harassment was sparking physical somatisation, where&nbsp;mental distress has been causing women to suffer physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue, found researchers. &nbsp;

The research done by the University of Oxford, King’s College London and the charity Combat Stress said the sexual assault has been leading to alcohol problems, while emotional bullying is resulting in anxiety, depression and loneliness. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-three-million-homes-at-risk-of-flooding-due-to-climate-change-423946" hreflang="en">UK: Three million homes at risk of flooding due to climate change</a>

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, said, “(We) do not tolerate abuse, bullying, harassment or discrimination. We have taken a range of steps to improve the experiences of women in our armed forces, as we continue to do for all serving personnel. This includes launching a 24/7 confidential and independent whole-force bullying, harassment and discrimination helpline with trained advisors to support personnel. &nbsp;

“All allegations are taken very seriously, with unlawful behaviour investigated by the relevant police service as necessary.” &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Women have been suffering severe physical and mental health issues from “widespread” emotional bullying, sexual harassment and physical assault in the UK military, a research revealed.

Women have been suffering severe physical and mental health issues from “widespread” emotional bullying, sexual harassment and physical assault in the UK military, a research revealed. According to the findings published in BMJ Military Health journal, the people, who are likely to have experienced such treatment, were younger personnel, who have held the rank of officer or had a combat or support role. Around 750 female veterans were surveyed. Of the people featured in the survey, 22.5% said they had been sexually harassed, while 5.1% said they were sexually assaulted. Also Read | British spy agencies sign deal with Amazon to host ‘top secret data’ for espionage: Report As per the findings, 22.7% of the women were subjected to emotional bullying and 3.3% said they had been physically assaulted. In the forces, sexual harassment was sparking physical somatisation, where mental distress has been causing women to suffer physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue, found researchers. The research done by the University of Oxford, King’s College London and the charity Combat Stress said the sexual assault has been leading to alcohol problems, while emotional bullying is resulting in anxiety, depression and loneliness. Also Read | UK: Three million homes at risk of flooding due to climate change A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, said, “(We) do not tolerate abuse, bullying, harassment or discrimination. We have taken a range of steps to improve the experiences of women in our armed forces, as we continue to do for all serving personnel. This includes launching a 24/7 confidential and independent whole-force bullying, harassment and discrimination helpline with trained advisors to support personnel. “All allegations are taken very seriously, with unlawful behaviour investigated by the relevant police service as necessary.” (With inputs from agencies)

Bullying, sexual harassment, assault rampant with women in UK military, reveals study

Social media giant Facebook is changing its approach to the harassment of journalists and human rights defenders. Facebooks global safety chief said that it would now count activists and journalists as involuntary public figures.

Facebook increases protection against harassment, bullying

Tech billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Thursday faced accusations of having 'toxic' work culture. The claim was made by a group of current and former Blue Origin employees. The allegations also say that sexual harassment was rampant in the company&nbsp;and there was a pattern of decision making that prioritized speedy rocket development over safety.&nbsp;

Blue Origin has firmly rejected the allegations. The allegations were outlined in a lengthy blogpost which was signed by Alexandra Abrams, the company's former head of employee communications

The post also said that it represented views of 20 other workers and ex-workers. The blogpost said that these individuals wanted to remain anonymous.

"Workforce gender gaps are common in the space industry, but at Blue Origin they also manifest in a particular brand of sexism," it said.

One senior executive was said to have reported for sexual harassment multiple times, but remained within the "loyal inner circle" of CEO Bob Smith.

Another former executive frequently referred to women co-workers as "'baby girl,' 'baby doll,' or 'sweetheart'" and inquired about their dating lives, the post added.

"It appeared to many of us that he was protected by his close personal relationship with Bezos -- it took him physically groping a female subordinate for him to finally be let go," the authors said.

They also said a former NASA astronaut and Blue Origin senior leader once instructed a group of women: "You should ask my opinion because I am a man."

Abrams and her co-authors further claimed that the company romanticized burnout, suppressed dissent, and was obsessed with competing with rivals SpaceX and Virgin Galactic in the race to launch their billionaire founders, thus compromising safety.

"In the opinion of an engineer who has signed on to this essay, 'Blue Origin has been lucky that nothing has happened so far,'" they said.

A Blue Origin spokesperson denied the allegations, saying Abrams was dismissed two years ago after warnings over issues involving US export control regulations.

"Blue Origin has no tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind," the spokesperson added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tech billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Thursday faced accusations of having 'toxic' work culture. The claim was made by a group of current and former Blue Origin employees.

Tech billionaire Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin on Thursday faced accusations of having 'toxic' work culture. The claim was made by a group of current and former Blue Origin employees. The allegations also say that sexual harassment was rampant in the company and there was a pattern of decision making that prioritized speedy rocket development over safety. Blue Origin has firmly rejected the allegations. The allegations were outlined in a lengthy blogpost which was signed by Alexandra Abrams, the company's former head of employee communications The post also said that it represented views of 20 other workers and ex-workers. The blogpost said that these individuals wanted to remain anonymous. "Workforce gender gaps are common in the space industry, but at Blue Origin they also manifest in a particular brand of sexism," it said. One senior executive was said to have reported for sexual harassment multiple times, but remained within the "loyal inner circle" of CEO Bob Smith. Another former executive frequently referred to women co-workers as "'baby girl,' 'baby doll,' or 'sweetheart'" and inquired about their dating lives, the post added. "It appeared to many of us that he was protected by his close personal relationship with Bezos -- it took him physically groping a female subordinate for him to finally be let go," the authors said. They also said a former NASA astronaut and Blue Origin senior leader once instructed a group of women: "You should ask my opinion because I am a man." Abrams and her co-authors further claimed that the company romanticized burnout, suppressed dissent, and was obsessed with competing with rivals SpaceX and Virgin Galactic in the race to launch their billionaire founders, thus compromising safety. "In the opinion of an engineer who has signed on to this essay, 'Blue Origin has been lucky that nothing has happened so far,'" they said. A Blue Origin spokesperson denied the allegations, saying Abrams was dismissed two years ago after warnings over issues involving US export control regulations. "Blue Origin has no tolerance for discrimination or harassment of any kind," the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies)

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin accused of 'toxic' work culture involving sexual harassment

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

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

After a blog caused an outpouring of fury, hundreds of women working in the advertising industry have described harassment, assault and discrimination, in what is now being called the industry's #MeToo moment.

Zoe Scaman, a leading figure in the advertising industry, said she received emails from women worldwide detailing incidents ranging from sexist statements in meetings to sexual assault and rape. As a result, she is now collaborating with leaders of organizations representing women in the advertising sector who want to make effective change instead of just another policy pledge.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-bill-cosby-release-sparks-worries-it-will-set-back-metoo-progress-395271">Bill Cosby release sparks worries it will set back #MeToo progress</a>

She has removed identifying details, but included some examples in&nbsp;her blog titled "Mad Men, Furious Women"`.

In one instance, a woman described how her boss assaulted her when she was 24.&nbsp; He followed her into the restroom, where he proceeded to assault her and later suggested they "forget about it". In her letter, she stated that it was neither.

Yet another was paid £20,000 less than a man with the same experience and seniority, while a senior executive lost her job just six months after bringing in new business because she was pregnant.

Women described being told to "suck it up" and "take it for the team" when faced with sexual advances from their clients.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-jails-man-for-8-years-in-metoo-case-376919">Egypt jails man for 8 years in #MeToo case</a>

Despite the anger expressed by most of the women who contacted Scaman, many did not want their stories posted online.

She stated that many women are scared of being honest about the abuse they face. NDAs silence these women. They are pushed out.&nbsp;

It's particularly problematic that those men continue to lead these agencies and succeed.&nbsp;

Scaman believes that even though misogyny and discrimination exist in every field, advertising has a particular reputation as a "maverick" industry that's especially harmful to women.

She went on to say that the problem with claiming to live outside the rules of society is that you get away with bad behaviour, and it is dismissed as just a typical occurrence in advertising.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-most-unsafe-workplace-parliament-australian-women-say-375759">‘The most unsafe workplace’? Parliament, Australian women say</a>

Approximately 41 per cent of respondents to a 2018 survey by TimeTo, the industry group set up after #MeToo, had experienced harassment at work, but around 83&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;didn't report it.

More than half of women surveyed by the '3% Conference' in 2016 had been sexually harassed in the workplace - 88&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;by a colleague, 70&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;by a superior, and 49 per cent by a client. The average number of complaints was one out of three. Sixty-eight per cent of women had also been told they were "too aggressive" and 64 per cent said they were "too emotional".

Scaman has joined a coalition of women's advocacy organizations, and claims there is the potential for a "real change" in the advertising industry. It is her wish that NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) are no longer used to protect the harassers and the assaulters, and the industry should employ a "central repository" where harassment can be independently and externally reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/sexism-still-rife-in-hollywood-despite-metoo-uproar-survey-finds-350038">Sexism still rife in Hollywood despite #MeToo uproar, survey finds</a>

Scaman further says that in cases of sexual assaults, a woman can only escalate the issue via the company's human resources department, but it is a known fact that HR is only "there to silence staff and avoid scandal".

However, establishing an unbiased third party that women could go to, would put the fear of God into the agencies.&nbsp;

Advertising agencies should fund such a body rather than make an easy-to-forget pledge if they are serious about tackling the issue. She said that she doesn't care about pledges or codes of conduct because they don't mean anything. Adding that solutions like those don't work and changing policies is what's needed.

After a blog caused an outpouring of fury, hundreds of women working in the advertising industry have described harassment, assault and discrimination, in what is now being called the industry's #MeToo moment.

After a blog caused an outpouring of fury, hundreds of women working in the advertising industry have described harassment, assault and discrimination, in what is now being called the industry's #MeToo moment. Zoe Scaman, a leading figure in the advertising industry, said she received emails from women worldwide detailing incidents ranging from sexist statements in meetings to sexual assault and rape. As a result, she is now collaborating with leaders of organizations representing women in the advertising sector who want to make effective change instead of just another policy pledge. Also read | Bill Cosby release sparks worries it will set back #MeToo progress She has removed identifying details, but included some examples in her blog titled "Mad Men, Furious Women"`. In one instance, a woman described how her boss assaulted her when she was 24. He followed her into the restroom, where he proceeded to assault her and later suggested they "forget about it". In her letter, she stated that it was neither. Yet another was paid £20,000 less than a man with the same experience and seniority, while a senior executive lost her job just six months after bringing in new business because she was pregnant. Women described being told to "suck it up" and "take it for the team" when faced with sexual advances from their clients. Also read | Egypt jails man for 8 years in #MeToo case Despite the anger expressed by most of the women who contacted Scaman, many did not want their stories posted online. She stated that many women are scared of being honest about the abuse they face. NDAs silence these women. They are pushed out. It's particularly problematic that those men continue to lead these agencies and succeed. Scaman believes that even though misogyny and discrimination exist in every field, advertising has a particular reputation as a "maverick" industry that's especially harmful to women. She went on to say that the problem with claiming to live outside the rules of society is that you get away with bad behaviour, and it is dismissed as just a typical occurrence in advertising. Also read | ‘The most unsafe workplace’? Parliament, Australian women say Approximately 41 per cent of respondents to a 2018 survey by TimeTo, the industry group set up after #MeToo, had experienced harassment at work, but around 83 per cent didn't report it. More than half of women surveyed by the '3% Conference' in 2016 had been sexually harassed in the workplace - 88 per cent by a colleague, 70 per cent by a superior, and 49 per cent by a client. The average number of complaints was one out of three. Sixty-eight per cent of women had also been told they were "too aggressive" and 64 per cent said they were "too emotional". Scaman has joined a coalition of women's advocacy organizations, and claims there is the potential for a "real change" in the advertising industry. It is her wish that NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) are no longer used to protect the harassers and the assaulters, and the industry should employ a "central repository" where harassment can be independently and externally reported. Also read | Sexism still rife in Hollywood despite #MeToo uproar, survey finds Scaman further says that in cases of sexual assaults, a woman can only escalate the issue via the company's human resources department, but it is a known fact that HR is only "there to silence staff and avoid scandal". However, establishing an unbiased third party that women could go to, would put the fear of God into the agencies. Advertising agencies should fund such a body rather than make an easy-to-forget pledge if they are serious about tackling the issue. She said that she doesn't care about pledges or codes of conduct because they don't mean anything. Adding that solutions like those don't work and changing policies is what's needed.

Blog sparks advertising industry's #MeToo movement

Belgian choreographer Jan Fabre, one of Europe's most celebrated and controversial artists, has been referred to a Belgian criminal court on charges of sexual harassment in the workplace, a court statement said on Monday.

The 62-year-old choreographer, visual artist and theatre director is known for his provocative performances that openly address sexuality. A first hearing will take place in Antwerp on September 21, the court said.

The case stems from complaints by twenty dancers who in 2018 alleged suffering years of humiliation and sexual harassment in an open letter that thrust the #metoo movement into the highest spheres of Europe's avant garde.

The former employees described a toxic work environment where sexual acts became an exchange for performance time and where "humilation was our daily bread".

Among other accusations, they said that Jan Fabre invited artists to his home under the pretext of preparing performances, but would then attempt a "sexual approach".

Some staff were offered a substantial sum after these invitations, with those who refused the money seeing their stature in the group suffer.

They alleged several acts of humiliation and sexual intimidation, including "semi-secret" photographic sessions in which dancers were singled out with offers of money and urged to take drugs to "feel more free".

The statement said that Fabre would be tried for "violence" and "sexual harassment in the workplace" against 12 employees, as well as "indecent assault on a person".

"It was never my intention to intimidate or hurt people psychologically or sexually," Jan Fabre defended himself at the time the complaints first emerged.

Belgian choreographer Jan Fabre, one of Europe's most celebrated and controversial artists, has been referred to a Belgian criminal court on charges of sexual harassment in the workplace, a court statement said on Monday.

Belgian choreographer Jan Fabre, one of Europe's most celebrated and controversial artists, has been referred to a Belgian criminal court on charges of sexual harassment in the workplace, a court statement said on Monday. The 62-year-old choreographer, visual artist and theatre director is known for his provocative performances that openly address sexuality. A first hearing will take place in Antwerp on September 21, the court said. The case stems from complaints by twenty dancers who in 2018 alleged suffering years of humiliation and sexual harassment in an open letter that thrust the #metoo movement into the highest spheres of Europe's avant garde. The former employees described a toxic work environment where sexual acts became an exchange for performance time and where "humilation was our daily bread". Among other accusations, they said that Jan Fabre invited artists to his home under the pretext of preparing performances, but would then attempt a "sexual approach". Some staff were offered a substantial sum after these invitations, with those who refused the money seeing their stature in the group suffer. They alleged several acts of humiliation and sexual intimidation, including "semi-secret" photographic sessions in which dancers were singled out with offers of money and urged to take drugs to "feel more free". The statement said that Fabre would be tried for "violence" and "sexual harassment in the workplace" against 12 employees, as well as "indecent assault on a person". "It was never my intention to intimidate or hurt people psychologically or sexually," Jan Fabre defended himself at the time the complaints first emerged.

Belgian art star Jan Fabre sent to trial for sexual harassment

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

Workplace harassment comes in many forms, from sexual harassment to offensive jokes and to gender-based discrimination.

In China, one employee decided to stand for herself as she beat her boss with a mop after he constantly sent her lewd text messages.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-workplace-harassment-a-global-plague-377842/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The woman has become an internet sensation in China, but the incident has also spurred up the debate about the persistence of workplace harassment.

Also, the smallest of incidents can ruin a great job and turn any company into an unproductive environment.

The story is about a government worker in China whose boss was sending her harassing text messages.

She decided to do what many workers would not dare to, as she tossed water on his face and thrashed him with the business end of a mop.

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/the-most-unsafe-workplace-parliament-australian-women-say-375759">‘The most unsafe workplace’? Parliament, Australian women say</a>

The woman has been identified as Zhou and the man has been identified as Wang, the deputy director of a state-run poverty alleviation agency.

According to reports, Wang was sending Zhou unwanted text messages, and others in the office had received similar unwelcome attention.

On being confronted, all he could do was hide his face and make failed attempts at offering an apology.

It is unclear when the incident took place, but the 14-minute video has been viewed millions of times.

Social media users were full of praises for what they called an uncommon display of resistance in a country with limited workplace protections against sexual harassment.

But, workplace harassment is all-pervasive and a 2019 survey backs this claim.&nbsp;

According to the survey, 25 per cent to 85 per cent of all American women experienced sexual harassment at their workplace.

In the UK, 13 per cent of women experienced various forms of verbal or visual harassment and India witnessed a 14 per cent rise in sexual harassment the very same year.

In another global survey in 2020, 58 per cent of harased women did not file a complaint.

Only 25 per cent of the victims said they could easily report the incident.

About 50 per cent of women who were victims agreed that harassment hurt their career and 99 per cent of employees said they could successfully recognise workplace harassment.

As many as 56 per cent of men believed that reported workplace harassment goes unpunished and only 1 per cent of the victims confronted their harassers.

Workplace harassment is a global plague and the root cause of why it persists is the unwillingness of a victim's colleagues to speak up and the failure of employers to implement their policies.

There is also intimidation and ridicule based on one's performance.

Often, all these forms of harassment go unreported since victims are unsure of what to do or are given lack of support from their colleagues or simply because their bosses are indispensable!

 
&nbsp;

Workplace harassment comes in many forms, from sexual harassment to offensive jokes and to gender-based discrimination. In China, one employee decided to stand for herself as she beat her boss with a mop after he constantly sent her lewd text messages.

Workplace harassment comes in many forms, from sexual harassment to offensive jokes and to gender-based discrimination. In China, one employee decided to stand for herself as she beat her boss with a mop after he constantly sent her lewd text messages. Watch | The woman has become an internet sensation in China, but the incident has also spurred up the debate about the persistence of workplace harassment. Also, the smallest of incidents can ruin a great job and turn any company into an unproductive environment. The story is about a government worker in China whose boss was sending her harassing text messages. She decided to do what many workers would not dare to, as she tossed water on his face and thrashed him with the business end of a mop. Also read | ‘The most unsafe workplace’? Parliament, Australian women say The woman has been identified as Zhou and the man has been identified as Wang, the deputy director of a state-run poverty alleviation agency. According to reports, Wang was sending Zhou unwanted text messages, and others in the office had received similar unwelcome attention. On being confronted, all he could do was hide his face and make failed attempts at offering an apology. It is unclear when the incident took place, but the 14-minute video has been viewed millions of times. Social media users were full of praises for what they called an uncommon display of resistance in a country with limited workplace protections against sexual harassment. But, workplace harassment is all-pervasive and a 2019 survey backs this claim. According to the survey, 25 per cent to 85 per cent of all American women experienced sexual harassment at their workplace. In the UK, 13 per cent of women experienced various forms of verbal or visual harassment and India witnessed a 14 per cent rise in sexual harassment the very same year. In another global survey in 2020, 58 per cent of harased women did not file a complaint. Only 25 per cent of the victims said they could easily report the incident. About 50 per cent of women who were victims agreed that harassment hurt their career and 99 per cent of employees said they could successfully recognise workplace harassment. As many as 56 per cent of men believed that reported workplace harassment goes unpunished and only 1 per cent of the victims confronted their harassers. Workplace harassment is a global plague and the root cause of why it persists is the unwillingness of a victim's colleagues to speak up and the failure of employers to implement their policies. There is also intimidation and ridicule based on one's performance. Often, all these forms of harassment go unreported since victims are unsure of what to do or are given lack of support from their colleagues or simply because their bosses are indispensable!

Workplace harassment: A global plague amid pandemic

In China, a harassed woman beat her boss with a mop. The video has gone viral. The incident has spurred up the debate about workplace harassment. Why does it persist? Why does it go unpunished? WION's Palki Sharma gets a report.

Gravitas: Workplace Harassment: A Global Plague

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'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison`s approval ratings fell to the lowest level in a year as his conservative government struggles to contain a backlash over allegations of mistreatment of female MPs and staff, a poll showed on Monday.

A Newspoll conducted for The Australian newspaper showed Morrison`s public support dropped seven points in two weeks to 55%, the first time since last March that his approval ratings have not been in the 60s.

Morrison`s government also trails opposition Labor on a two-party preferred basis, where votes for minor parties are distributed, by 52-48. If the poll result was replicated at an election, the conservative government would lose office to centre-left Labor.

The Australian parliament has been engulfed by allegations of sexual abuse, discrimination against women and misconduct.

The poll comes after historical rape allegations were aired against Attorney-General Christian Porter. Porter strongly denies the claim of the alleged 1988 rape.

Separately, two female employees of Morrison`s Liberal Party have said they were raped by a former employee, who has not been identified, in 2019 and 2020.

There have also been reports of lewd acts by male staff in parliament, fueling outrage that the government has allowed a toxic and sexist workplace to fester.

Morrison, who on Saturday reprimanded one of his lawmakers for bullying two women constituents, has ordered a probe into parliament`s workplace culture but critics say he has failed to map out any new policy initiatives to address the broader issues of sexism and violence against women.

After a surprise victory in the 2019 election which left the ruling coalition with a wafer-thin majority, Morrison`s popularity waned over perceptions he mishandled the response to deadly bushfires in 2019-2020.

His standing had recovered as Australia successfully contained the coronavirus pandemic, before the government`s alleged mistreatment of women brought his poll ratings down again.

Tens of thousands of women protested earlier this month outside parliament and around Australia calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault.

The Newspoll was based on surveys of just over 1,500 voters across capital cities and regional areas from Wednesday to Saturday, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison`s approval ratings fell to the lowest level in a year as his conservative government struggles to contain a backlash over allegations of mistreatment of female MPs and staff, a poll showed on Monday.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison`s approval ratings fell to the lowest level in a year as his conservative government struggles to contain a backlash over allegations of mistreatment of female MPs and staff, a poll showed on Monday. A Newspoll conducted for The Australian newspaper showed Morrison`s public support dropped seven points in two weeks to 55%, the first time since last March that his approval ratings have not been in the 60s. Morrison`s government also trails opposition Labor on a two-party preferred basis, where votes for minor parties are distributed, by 52-48. If the poll result was replicated at an election, the conservative government would lose office to centre-left Labor. The Australian parliament has been engulfed by allegations of sexual abuse, discrimination against women and misconduct. The poll comes after historical rape allegations were aired against Attorney-General Christian Porter. Porter strongly denies the claim of the alleged 1988 rape. Separately, two female employees of Morrison`s Liberal Party have said they were raped by a former employee, who has not been identified, in 2019 and 2020. There have also been reports of lewd acts by male staff in parliament, fueling outrage that the government has allowed a toxic and sexist workplace to fester. Morrison, who on Saturday reprimanded one of his lawmakers for bullying two women constituents, has ordered a probe into parliament`s workplace culture but critics say he has failed to map out any new policy initiatives to address the broader issues of sexism and violence against women. After a surprise victory in the 2019 election which left the ruling coalition with a wafer-thin majority, Morrison`s popularity waned over perceptions he mishandled the response to deadly bushfires in 2019-2020. His standing had recovered as Australia successfully contained the coronavirus pandemic, before the government`s alleged mistreatment of women brought his poll ratings down again. Tens of thousands of women protested earlier this month outside parliament and around Australia calling for gender equality and justice for victims of sexual assault. The Newspoll was based on surveys of just over 1,500 voters across capital cities and regional areas from Wednesday to Saturday, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Australian PM Morrison's approval rating falls to lowest in a year

Australian MP Andrew Laming will resign from politics at the next election, after allegations of harassing women online -- to undertake cultural sensitivity training.

Two women had earlier accused him of slandering them, with one saying it had left her feeling suicidal.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had ordered Laming to apologise in parliament for his "disgraceful" behaviour.

Laming has, however, not stepped down as an MP.

In his statement, Laming said: "I will step down from all parliamentary roles effective immediately and complete both the counselling courses I committed to; as well as additional clinical counselling, and ask for privacy while that is completed." He said he would have "more to say on my future" after his awareness training.

Laming conceded his social media commentary had caused significant distress to two highly respected members of his federal electorate. The exchanges sparked accusations of slander, stealing and stalking.

Laming apologised to both women in writing and during a speech to parliament.

"I want to express my regret and deep apologies for the hurt and the distress that communication may have caused," he said on Thursday.

"I want to retract those comments and issue a public unreserved apology."

The Queensland backbencher, who regularly attracts criticism for his behaviour and comments on social media, acknowledged he had lessons to learn about his use of words.

"I want to say to any person who has received correspondence from me which fell short of what they expect from an MP that I intend to own that failure and apologise without hesitation," he said.

Australian MP Andrew Laming will resign from politics at the next election, after allegations of harassing women online -- to undertake cultural sensitivity training.

Australian MP Andrew Laming will resign from politics at the next election, after allegations of harassing women online -- to undertake cultural sensitivity training. Two women had earlier accused him of slandering them, with one saying it had left her feeling suicidal. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had ordered Laming to apologise in parliament for his "disgraceful" behaviour. Laming has, however, not stepped down as an MP. In his statement, Laming said: "I will step down from all parliamentary roles effective immediately and complete both the counselling courses I committed to; as well as additional clinical counselling, and ask for privacy while that is completed." He said he would have "more to say on my future" after his awareness training. Laming conceded his social media commentary had caused significant distress to two highly respected members of his federal electorate. The exchanges sparked accusations of slander, stealing and stalking. Laming apologised to both women in writing and during a speech to parliament. "I want to express my regret and deep apologies for the hurt and the distress that communication may have caused," he said on Thursday. "I want to retract those comments and issue a public unreserved apology." The Queensland backbencher, who regularly attracts criticism for his behaviour and comments on social media, acknowledged he had lessons to learn about his use of words. "I want to say to any person who has received correspondence from me which fell short of what they expect from an MP that I intend to own that failure and apologise without hesitation," he said.

Australian MP Andrew Laming to quit politics amid sexual harassment complaints

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York state Assembly may already have enough votes to impeach Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Just not the right kind of votes.

There is no question that Cuomo is facing the biggest political crisis of his career, with calls for his resignation or impeachment after the disclosure of sexual harassment accusations against him and a controversy over his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.

There are two parallel investigations into both his personal behavior and professional performance. One is overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James, who has deputized two independent attorneys; the second is led by the Judiciary Committee of the state Assembly, which hired an outside law firm and held its first meeting on the issue Tuesday.

The governor, who denies touching anyone inappropriately, has said he has no intention of resigning. He has also vociferously defended his administration’s COVID-19 response.

And while there is a path for Cuomo to be impeached, to understand how that could happen requires some knowledge of the process as well as a crash course in Albany, New York’s version of Political Math 101.

Here is what we know.

How Will the Assembly Investigation Play Out?

With few parameters in the state constitution defining impeachable conduct, Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat who serves as speaker of the assembly, agreed on March 11 to launch an investigation that would effectively determine if there were grounds to remove the governor from office.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Democratic chair of the committee, said Tuesday that the goal of his investigation is to determine whether the governor “has engaged in conduct which merits impeachment.” He said its scope included but “was not limited to” a series of sexual harassment accusations against Cuomo and a controversy over his and surrogates’ handling of nursing homes and death data from those facilities during the pandemic.

Other topics could include looking into whether the administration covered up potential structural problems on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which connects Rockland and Westchester counties, as well as whether the Cuomo administration has engaged in retaliation against accusers, interference with law enforcement efforts or fostering a hostile workplace.

The investigation will be conducted by Davis Polk &amp;amp; Wardwell, led by Martine Beamon and Greg Andres, two former federal prosecutors, and Angela Burgess, an expert in white-collar defense and compliance. They will have the authority to interview witnesses and subpoena documents.

The selection of the firm has been criticized by some, including Debra Katz, a lawyer for Charlotte Bennett, one of Cuomo’s accusers. She noted that Dennis Glazer, who spent more than 30 years as a partner at Davis Polk, is married to Janet DiFiore, chief judge of the Court of Appeals, who could oversee an impeachment trial in the state Senate.

Katz characterized the firm’s choice as “an unacceptable conflict of interest,” a contention denied by Heastie, Levine and the Davis Polk team.

Some left-wing lawmakers, who supported beginning impeachment proceedings immediately, have described the Assembly investigation as a delay tactic designed to buy Cuomo more time. The Assembly has insisted that the inquiry would be “expeditious,” and Andres said about six lawyers were already working on the case, with more to come.

Still, Lavine conceded Tuesday that findings were likely to take months, “rather than weeks.”

What Happens After the Investigation?

Most of the Davis Polk investigation will be conducted confidentially, in part to protect witnesses who wish to come forward, although many lawmakers are pressing for regular updates.

By the end, investigators will put together some sort of report, although it is unclear how many of the details will become public. The report will focus mostly on the facts and is not likely to recommend whether Cuomo should be impeached, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The members of the judiciary committee will then review the report and recommend whether the Assembly should impeach Cuomo, the person said. The Assembly could then decide whether to move ahead with impeachment.

The state constitution says an elected official can be removed from office “for misconduct or malversation in office,” but the constitution does not say what constitutes an impeachable offense. That is a key question lawmakers will have to grapple with.

How Would Impeachment Work?

It is difficult to say how the process will play out. The last time New York held impeachment proceedings for a governor was in 1913, when the state Capitol, officially declared open in 1899, still probably had that new-building smell.

Congress, of course, has had more recent experience, having twice impeached Donald Trump. And indeed, the process in New York would look very much like its counterpart on the federal level.

The initial step could involve an accusation of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” a constitutional phrase that was included in a recent resolution offered up by the Assembly’s long-suffering Republicans. The resolution also touched on the governor’s verbal attack on Assemblyman Ron Kim, a progressive Democrat who probably has very little in common with most of the Republican delegation.

If the impeachment measure passes the Assembly, it would then be up to the Senate to try Cuomo, with a jury of most Senate members and the judges from the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. A two-thirds majority is required to convict. (Andrea Stewart-Cousins, majority leader and one of the first major elected officials to say that Cuomo should resign, would have to abstain, per the state constitution.)

If Cuomo were to be convicted by the Senate and removed from office, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul would become governor, the first woman to hold the office in state history. She would also serve as acting governor during an impeachment trial in the Senate.

What About the Attorney General’s Investigation?

James’ investigation, which is already underway, is being conducted by Joon Kim, a former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Anne Clark, an employment discrimination lawyer.

The investigators, who have started interviews, are looking only at sexual harassment allegations leveled against Cuomo. They have subpoena power to request records and compel witnesses, including the governor, to testify under oath.

They are also expected to issue a public report with their findings, and considering their head start on the Assembly and more limited scope, it may well preempt the Assembly’s.

James has said the Assembly’s inquiry would not affect her office’s investigation, and she has indicated that her investigation would continue even if Cuomo left office before its conclusion. And on Tuesday, Andres said it was likely that lawyers involved in both investigations would be in communication to coordinate witness interviews — potentially with current and former aides, state officials and private citizens — and avoid interfering with each other’s investigations.

If the attorney general’s report corroborates the allegations against the governor, it is unclear if lawmakers in the Assembly would move to impeach Cuomo before its own inquiry was completed.

What If the Governor Resigns?

Some in Albany have floated the idea that Cuomo might resign under immense political pressure, especially if President Joe Biden decides to intervene or if Heastie tells the governor he has the votes to impeach him.

So far, Cuomo has defiantly rejected calls for his resignation, even as most Democrats from New York’s congressional delegation, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have turned against him. The governor has pleaded with New Yorkers to allow the investigations to play out.

In the meantime, he has sought to carry on business as usual. The governor has held numerous photo ops over the past two weeks at mass vaccination sites and has talked about the importance of reaching a deal with the Legislature on the state budget, due April 1.

Last week, however, Biden told ABC News in an interview that the governor should step down if the investigations corroborate the harassment claims.

And Now, About that Impeachment Math

In one of the state Capitol’s many peculiar traditions, the 150-seat state Assembly will generally not move any bill — let alone something as significant as an impeachment measure — without a majority of support from the ruling Democrats.

Eric Lane, a professor of political science at Hofstra University, said Albany’s tradition of moving only bills backed by a majority of the majority dates back decades. “It’s pure power politics,” Lane said. “It’s democratic in the sense that it’s a majority of the party that’s in control.”

And while the Assembly is under the microscope right now, the same procedure has often been in practice in the state Senate, where Democrats also hold a supermajority.

Back to the Numbers

To impeach the governor, in practical terms, 76 of the chamber’s 106 Democrats would have to agree. (The Assembly also has one independent, Fred Thiele, who conferences with the Democrats.)

So far, at least 40 Democrats currently think the governor should resign, according to an informal survey of members’ opinions by The New York Times.

But if you count the chamber’s 43 Republicans — most of whom have said they would favor impeaching Cuomo — there would seem to be enough support for the governor’s exit and potentially enough votes in the Assembly to impeach. The body would only need a simple majority vote in this improbable scenario.

It is far more likely that the Assembly will move at its own pace — and only with the approval of its ruling party — before casting a single vote.

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York state Assembly may already have enough votes to impeach Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Just not the right kind of votes. There is no question that Cuomo is facing the biggest political crisis of his career, with calls for his resignation or impeachment after the disclosure of sexual harassment accusations against him and a controversy over his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.

ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York state Assembly may already have enough votes to impeach Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Just not the right kind of votes. There is no question that Cuomo is facing the biggest political crisis of his career, with calls for his resignation or impeachment after the disclosure of sexual harassment accusations against him and a controversy over his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic. There are two parallel investigations into both his personal behavior and professional performance. One is overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James, who has deputized two independent attorneys; the second is led by the Judiciary Committee of the state Assembly, which hired an outside law firm and held its first meeting on the issue Tuesday. The governor, who denies touching anyone inappropriately, has said he has no intention of resigning. He has also vociferously defended his administration’s COVID-19 response. And while there is a path for Cuomo to be impeached, to understand how that could happen requires some knowledge of the process as well as a crash course in Albany, New York’s version of Political Math 101. Here is what we know. How Will the Assembly Investigation Play Out? With few parameters in the state constitution defining impeachable conduct, Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat who serves as speaker of the assembly, agreed on March 11 to launch an investigation that would effectively determine if there were grounds to remove the governor from office. Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Democratic chair of the committee, said Tuesday that the goal of his investigation is to determine whether the governor “has engaged in conduct which merits impeachment.” He said its scope included but “was not limited to” a series of sexual harassment accusations against Cuomo and a controversy over his and surrogates’ handling of nursing homes and death data from those facilities during the pandemic. Other topics could include looking into whether the administration covered up potential structural problems on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which connects Rockland and Westchester counties, as well as whether the Cuomo administration has engaged in retaliation against accusers, interference with law enforcement efforts or fostering a hostile workplace. The investigation will be conducted by Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell, led by Martine Beamon and Greg Andres, two former federal prosecutors, and Angela Burgess, an expert in white-collar defense and compliance. They will have the authority to interview witnesses and subpoena documents. The selection of the firm has been criticized by some, including Debra Katz, a lawyer for Charlotte Bennett, one of Cuomo’s accusers. She noted that Dennis Glazer, who spent more than 30 years as a partner at Davis Polk, is married to Janet DiFiore, chief judge of the Court of Appeals, who could oversee an impeachment trial in the state Senate. Katz characterized the firm’s choice as “an unacceptable conflict of interest,” a contention denied by Heastie, Levine and the Davis Polk team. Some left-wing lawmakers, who supported beginning impeachment proceedings immediately, have described the Assembly investigation as a delay tactic designed to buy Cuomo more time. The Assembly has insisted that the inquiry would be “expeditious,” and Andres said about six lawyers were already working on the case, with more to come. Still, Lavine conceded Tuesday that findings were likely to take months, “rather than weeks.” What Happens After the Investigation? Most of the Davis Polk investigation will be conducted confidentially, in part to protect witnesses who wish to come forward, although many lawmakers are pressing for regular updates. By the end, investigators will put together some sort of report, although it is unclear how many of the details will become public. The report will focus mostly on the facts and is not likely to recommend whether Cuomo should be impeached, according to a person familiar with the matter. The members of the judiciary committee will then review the report and recommend whether the Assembly should impeach Cuomo, the person said. The Assembly could then decide whether to move ahead with impeachment. The state constitution says an elected official can be removed from office “for misconduct or malversation in office,” but the constitution does not say what constitutes an impeachable offense. That is a key question lawmakers will have to grapple with. How Would Impeachment Work? It is difficult to say how the process will play out. The last time New York held impeachment proceedings for a governor was in 1913, when the state Capitol, officially declared open in 1899, still probably had that new-building smell. Congress, of course, has had more recent experience, having twice impeached Donald Trump. And indeed, the process in New York would look very much like its counterpart on the federal level. The initial step could involve an accusation of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” a constitutional phrase that was included in a recent resolution offered up by the Assembly’s long-suffering Republicans. The resolution also touched on the governor’s verbal attack on Assemblyman Ron Kim, a progressive Democrat who probably has very little in common with most of the Republican delegation. If the impeachment measure passes the Assembly, it would then be up to the Senate to try Cuomo, with a jury of most Senate members and the judges from the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. A two-thirds majority is required to convict. (Andrea Stewart-Cousins, majority leader and one of the first major elected officials to say that Cuomo should resign, would have to abstain, per the state constitution.) If Cuomo were to be convicted by the Senate and removed from office, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul would become governor, the first woman to hold the office in state history. She would also serve as acting governor during an impeachment trial in the Senate. What About the Attorney General’s Investigation? James’ investigation, which is already underway, is being conducted by Joon Kim, a former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Anne Clark, an employment discrimination lawyer. The investigators, who have started interviews, are looking only at sexual harassment allegations leveled against Cuomo. They have subpoena power to request records and compel witnesses, including the governor, to testify under oath. They are also expected to issue a public report with their findings, and considering their head start on the Assembly and more limited scope, it may well preempt the Assembly’s. James has said the Assembly’s inquiry would not affect her office’s investigation, and she has indicated that her investigation would continue even if Cuomo left office before its conclusion. And on Tuesday, Andres said it was likely that lawyers involved in both investigations would be in communication to coordinate witness interviews — potentially with current and former aides, state officials and private citizens — and avoid interfering with each other’s investigations. If the attorney general’s report corroborates the allegations against the governor, it is unclear if lawmakers in the Assembly would move to impeach Cuomo before its own inquiry was completed. What If the Governor Resigns? Some in Albany have floated the idea that Cuomo might resign under immense political pressure, especially if President Joe Biden decides to intervene or if Heastie tells the governor he has the votes to impeach him. So far, Cuomo has defiantly rejected calls for his resignation, even as most Democrats from New York’s congressional delegation, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have turned against him. The governor has pleaded with New Yorkers to allow the investigations to play out. In the meantime, he has sought to carry on business as usual. The governor has held numerous photo ops over the past two weeks at mass vaccination sites and has talked about the importance of reaching a deal with the Legislature on the state budget, due April 1. Last week, however, Biden told ABC News in an interview that the governor should step down if the investigations corroborate the harassment claims. And Now, About that Impeachment Math In one of the state Capitol’s many peculiar traditions, the 150-seat state Assembly will generally not move any bill — let alone something as significant as an impeachment measure — without a majority of support from the ruling Democrats. Eric Lane, a professor of political science at Hofstra University, said Albany’s tradition of moving only bills backed by a majority of the majority dates back decades. “It’s pure power politics,” Lane said. “It’s democratic in the sense that it’s a majority of the party that’s in control.” And while the Assembly is under the microscope right now, the same procedure has often been in practice in the state Senate, where Democrats also hold a supermajority. Back to the Numbers To impeach the governor, in practical terms, 76 of the chamber’s 106 Democrats would have to agree. (The Assembly also has one independent, Fred Thiele, who conferences with the Democrats.) So far, at least 40 Democrats currently think the governor should resign, according to an informal survey of members’ opinions by The New York Times. But if you count the chamber’s 43 Republicans — most of whom have said they would favor impeaching Cuomo — there would seem to be enough support for the governor’s exit and potentially enough votes in the Assembly to impeach. The body would only need a simple majority vote in this improbable scenario. It is far more likely that the Assembly will move at its own pace — and only with the approval of its ruling party — before casting a single vote.

Cuomo could be impeached. Here’s how it would happen

From rape allegations to sexual misconduct, the Australian parliament is at the centre of a major controversy. What is Scott Morrison's plan to reform this culture? WION's Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Sex scandal rocks Australian Parliament

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