Three years into the global #MeToo movement, women who say they have been sexually assaulted are improbably going public in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The movement’s reach inside Iran gained momentum in late August after allegations aired on Iranian social media against more than 100 men, including a giant e-commerce company’s former star manager, a prominent sociology professor and the owner of a popular bookstore.

But the highest-profile person to face such allegations so far is a nearly 80-year-old, internationally acclaimed artist with ties to the ruling elite. Thirteen women, in interviews with The New York Times, accused the artist, Aydin Aghdashloo, of sexual misconduct over a 30-year span. Most are former students, and some are journalists who have reported on art and culture.

The willingness by women who say they were victims to share their stories more openly is a groundbreaking shift in Iran’s conservative society, where discussing sex is culturally prohibited, sex outside marriage is illegal, and the burden of proof for victims of sexual crimes is onerous. A raped woman often gets the blame.

Aghdashloo declined requests for an interview but strenuously denied wrongdoing, and according to his lawyer has already taken legal action against one accuser. In a written statement provided to The Times, Aghdashloo described himself as an independent artist whose career was built on creative achievement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-22-year-old-force-behind-egypts-growing-metoo-movement-332193">Also read|&nbsp;The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement</a>

“The allegations of sexual abuse against me are full of significant inaccuracies, mischaracterizations and fabrications,” he wrote. “To be clear, I have always sought to treat people with respect and dignity and I have never abused, assaulted nor taken advantage of anyone.”

Still, he wrote, “I am not a perfect man,” and that if his behavior had offended or distressed anyone, “I deeply apologize.”

How the authorities treat the perpetrators and victims of sexual misconduct has become a test of the #MeToo movement’s durability in Iran, a country of more than 80 million.

Compared with the impact in the United States after the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, the imprisoned Hollywood mogul, the fallout in Iran is only beginning to unfold. But there are signs that the male-controlled power structure in Iran has started to respond to accusations like those made against Aghdashloo.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/metoo-iranian-women-break-silence-about-sexual-abuse-through-twitter-324450">Also read|&nbsp;#MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter</a>

Tehran’s police chief announced on Oct. 12 that the bookstore owner, Keyvan Emamverdi, had confessed to raping 300 women, after 30 took the brave step of filing legal complaints. The police said he would be charged with “corruption on earth,” a capital offense.

The e-commerce company Digikala opened an investigation into its former manager and apologized to female employees. Iran’s sociology union expelled the accused professor and called for a zero-tolerance policy at universities. A painting by Aghdashloo was pulled from the cover of a famous literary collection, and at least three women have said they are considering legal action against him.

“This is a turning point for sexual abuse, the biggest taboo for women in Iran has been sex and sexual violence and abuse,” said Elnaaz Mohammadi, 33-year-old co-founder of Dideban Azar, or Abuse Watch, an education and advocacy group in Tehran.

She said the group had received complaints about Aghdashloo from “students who have left his classes distraught and crying,” and that “all his denials have no value.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-nod-to-metoo-china-codifies-sexual-harassment-by-law-302707">Also read|&nbsp;In nod to #MeToo, China codifies sexual harassment by law</a>

Paintings by Aghdashloo, a dual citizen of Canada, have been auctioned and displayed worldwide, and France honored him in 2016. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution he worked with the family of the shah to curate museums. He then moved into the circles of the revolution’s ruling clerics, and he and his family have business links to the hierarchy.

Despite a few mentions in Iran’s conservative media as a royalist and Western spy, Aghdashloo has generally received glowing coverage in state media, with no hint of any possible sexual abuse.

The Times found and interviewed former students of Aghdashloo’s after an Iranian journalist now living in the United States, Sara Omatali, posted on Twitter Aug. 22 that he had sexually assaulted her in 2006 when she visited to interview him.

She wrote that he had greeted her while naked with a robe draped on his shoulder, forced a kiss and pressed his body on hers. Her account appeared to be the catalyst for others.

In telephone interviews, 45 people — including former students, a longtime teaching assistant, art gallery owners, actresses, a Tehran art agent and journalists covering art and culture in Iran — all said Aghdashloo’s behavior toward young female students had been known in Iran’s art circles.

Thirteen said they had been victims, including one who was 13 years old at the time. Many said they did not know each other. In each of these 13 instances, a family member, friend, or colleague recalled in separate interviews having been told about it.

Nineteen described him as the “Harvey Weinstein of Iran,” elevating or destroying careers of women depending on their receptiveness to his advances.

One former student said he had offered her one of his paintings — worth $100,000, the price of a small apartment in Tehran — if she slept with him. Another said he had retaliated when she refused him, telling galleries to shun her artwork. Her career faltered.

“Aghdashloo’s reputation was an open secret in the art world but nobody did anything about it,” said Solmaz Azhdari, 32, who studied painting under him. She said she had witnessed him placing his hands between a young female student’s legs in 2007 during a sketching class, as Azhdari stooped to retrieve a dropped pencil.

In telling their stories, some asked to be identified only by their first names — a reflection of the subject’s sensitivity in a conservative society and their fear of Aghdashloo.

Three years into the global #MeToo movement, women who say they have been sexually assaulted are improbably going public in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The movement’s reach inside Iran gained momentum in late August after allegations aired on Iranian social media against more than 100 men, including a giant e-commerce company’s former star manager, a prominent sociology professor and the owner of a popular bookstore.

But the highest-profile person to face such allegations so far is a nearly 80-year-old, internationally acclaimed artist with ties to the ruling elite. Thirteen women, in interviews with The New York Times, accused the artist, Aydin Aghdashloo, of sexual misconduct over a 30-year span. Most are former students, and some are journalists who have reported on art and culture.

The willingness by women who say they were victims to share their stories more openly is a groundbreaking shift in Iran’s conservative society, where discussing sex is culturally prohibited, sex outside marriage is illegal, and the burden of proof for victims of sexual crimes is onerous. A raped woman often gets the blame.

Aghdashloo declined requests for an interview but strenuously denied wrongdoing, and according to his lawyer has already taken legal action against one accuser. In a written statement provided to The Times, Aghdashloo described himself as an independent artist whose career was built on creative achievement.

“The allegations of sexual abuse against me are full of significant inaccuracies, mischaracterizations and fabrications,” he wrote. “To be clear, I have always sought to treat people with respect and dignity and I have never abused, assaulted nor taken advantage of anyone.”

Still, he wrote, “I am not a perfect man,” and that if his behavior had offended or distressed anyone, “I deeply apologize.”

How the authorities treat the perpetrators and victims of sexual misconduct has become a test of the #MeToo movement’s durability in Iran, a country of more than 80 million.

Compared with the impact in the United States after the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, the imprisoned Hollywood mogul, the fallout in Iran is only beginning to unfold. But there are signs that the male-controlled power structure in Iran has started to respond to accusations like those made against Aghdashloo.

Tehran’s police chief announced on Oct. 12 that the bookstore owner, Keyvan Emamverdi, had confessed to raping 300 women, after 30 took the brave step of filing legal complaints. The police said he would be charged with “corruption on earth,” a capital offense.

The e-commerce company Digikala opened an investigation into its former manager and apologized to female employees. Iran’s sociology union expelled the accused professor and called for a zero-tolerance policy at universities. A painting by Aghdashloo was pulled from the cover of a famous literary collection, and at least three women have said they are considering legal action against him.

“This is a turning point for sexual abuse, the biggest taboo for women in Iran has been sex and sexual violence and abuse,” said Elnaaz Mohammadi, 33-year-old co-founder of Dideban Azar, or Abuse Watch, an education and advocacy group in Tehran.

She said the group had received complaints about Aghdashloo from “students who have left his classes distraught and crying,” and that “all his denials have no value.”

Paintings by Aghdashloo, a dual citizen of Canada, have been auctioned and displayed worldwide, and France honored him in 2016. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution he worked with the family of the shah to curate museums. He then moved into the circles of the revolution’s ruling clerics, and he and his family have business links to the hierarchy.

Despite a few mentions in Iran’s conservative media as a royalist and Western spy, Aghdashloo has generally received glowing coverage in state media, with no hint of any possible sexual abuse.

The Times found and interviewed former students of Aghdashloo’s after an Iranian journalist now living in the United States, Sara Omatali, posted on Twitter Aug. 22 that he had sexually assaulted her in 2006 when she visited to interview him.

She wrote that he had greeted her while naked with a robe draped on his shoulder, forced a kiss and pressed his body on hers. Her account appeared to be the catalyst for others.

In telephone interviews, 45 people — including former students, a longtime teaching assistant, art gallery owners, actresses, a Tehran art agent and journalists covering art and culture in Iran — all said Aghdashloo’s behavior toward young female students had been known in Iran’s art circles.

Thirteen said they had been victims, including one who was 13 years old at the time. Many said they did not know each other. In each of these 13 instances, a family member, friend, or colleague recalled in separate interviews having been told about it.

Nineteen described him as the “Harvey Weinstein of Iran,” elevating or destroying careers of women depending on their receptiveness to his advances.

One former student said he had offered her one of his paintings — worth $100,000, the price of a small apartment in Tehran — if she slept with him. Another said he had retaliated when she refused him, telling galleries to shun her artwork. Her career faltered.

“Aghdashloo’s reputation was an open secret in the art world but nobody did anything about it,” said Solmaz Azhdari, 32, who studied painting under him. She said she had witnessed him placing his hands between a young female student’s legs in 2007 during a sketching class, as Azhdari stooped to retrieve a dropped pencil.

In telling their stories, some asked to be identified only by their first names — a reflection of the subject’s sensitivity in a conservative society and their fear of Aghdashloo.

‘I was terrified of what he could do to me or my career.’

Maryam, an art photographer, 49, said she had visited Aghdashloo in 2010, to collect two paintings from his basement studio for the gallery where she worked.

She said Aghdashloo had insisted she view his paintings of nude women, then forcibly kissed her and tore at her clothes. When she screamed, Maryam said, he covered her mouth with his hands; she pushed him away and fled, shouting “you have no shame!”

Maryam said she quit her job, and on her mother’s advice never publicized the encounter or contacted the police.

“I was terrified of what he could do to me and my career if I told anyone or brought charges,” she said.

In his art classes, the former students said, he asked the women to sit on his lap when he reviewed their work, pressed against them while teaching, touched their bodies, made lewd comments and shared explicit details of a fascination with adolescent girls.

Mehrnaz, 54, said he made her sit on his lap and caressed her thighs. Atty, 30, said he had locked her in his office and forcibly kissed her. Another said he asked the color of her underwear as he touched her.

Afarin, a Tehran teacher, said she had been molested repeatedly 30 years ago, at age 13, by Aghdashloo, who would press his groin against her and touch her thighs while teaching painting technique. She had been too terrified to tell her parents, she said, and still avoids the street where Aghdashloo held class.

“I feel relieved that a man who has abused so many women and girls is finally being exposed,” she said.

Laleh Sabouri, a 50-year-old actress and television star, took art lessons with Aghdashloo for two years. Days after Omatali’s Twitter posting, Sabouri tweeted that most women were terrified of being alone with him and that accusations of rape would be “befitting.” Aghdashloo’s lawyer said he had taken legal action over that tweet, calling it “baseless.”

One of Aghdashloo’s teaching assistants, who helped manage his workshops for 12 years, said she had witnessed frequent misbehavior by him toward female students and that some had complained to her. She had confronted him and he replied that women should consider his affection a privilege, the assistant recalled. She ultimately resigned, she said, because he had assaulted her.

Omatali’s account struck a nerve among Iranian female journalists. Several said the advice in newsrooms was that no woman should interview Aghdashloo alone.

Solmaz Naraghi, 42, an art and culture reporter, said Aghdashloo sexually harassed her repeatedly in public after she had rebuffed his advances during one such interview. Her former husband recalled her in tears at a gallery after an encounter with Aghdashloo.

His supporters have rallied to defend him, including former students who posted a letter on Instagram. His first wife, Hollywood actress Shoreh Aghdashloo, said he was “simply not capable of such heinous acts.” One former student, Mitra Zad, said she had seen “nothing but good things” from him.

A formidable figure who straddles art and politics

Aydin Aghdashloo’s influence in Iran’s art world seemed to only grow after the revolution. He often boasted about connections to government and religious officials and said he was invulnerable because of them, former students and the teaching assistant said — a description he rejected in his statement to the Times.

“I have always worked as an independent artist and, following the revolution, have earned my living not through credits and connections to the state but through my art,” Aghdashloo wrote.

His students have included the daughter of Tehran’s Friday Prayer imam and grandchildren of a founding cleric of the revolution. He has worked as a consultant, instructor, author and art appraiser for Astan Quds Razavi, a religious and economic conglomerate controlled by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is under U.S. sanctions. The former head of Astan is Iran’s judiciary chief.

Aghdashloo’s daughter married into a family that owns Part Sazan, a conglomerate with ties to state-owned enterprises in the oil, gas and automotive industries. The link to the company, which lists a senior member of the Revolutionary Guard's Basij militia as chief executive and board member, has further strengthened his aura of impunity, a number of women said.

Anonymous allegations against Aghdashloo first surfaced in 2018 when an Iranian investigative journalist, Afshin Parvaresh, posted on Instagram that he had interviewed 21 women, including a minor, who said Aghdashloo had assaulted them. Parvaresh said he received violent threats. Aghdashloo’s lawyer denied his client was responsible.

Some Iranian women’s rights activists say significant challenges hinder #MeToo cases. If an accuser fails to meet the high standard of proof for rape, she can then be accused of adultery.

“A woman who is a victim can quickly turn into a criminal if she can’t prove rape,” said Shadi Sadr, a prominent Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate based in London. “When she testifies that there was sex, she is testifying against herself as well.”

Still, more women are asking how to bring charges, said Leila Rahimi, a Tehran lawyer offering them free consultation and representation.

“You cannot hide this crime happening over and over in our society,” Rahimi said. “Both for women and men, silence does not improve things.”

Three years into the global #MeToo movement, women who say they have been sexually assaulted are improbably going public in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The movement’s reach inside Iran gained momentum in late August after allegations aired on Iranian social media against more than 100 men, including a giant e-commerce company’s former star manager, a prominent sociology professor and the owner of a popular bookstore.

Three years into the global #MeToo movement, women who say they have been sexually assaulted are improbably going public in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The movement’s reach inside Iran gained momentum in late August after allegations aired on Iranian social media against more than 100 men, including a giant e-commerce company’s former star manager, a prominent sociology professor and the owner of a popular bookstore. But the highest-profile person to face such allegations so far is a nearly 80-year-old, internationally acclaimed artist with ties to the ruling elite. Thirteen women, in interviews with The New York Times, accused the artist, Aydin Aghdashloo, of sexual misconduct over a 30-year span. Most are former students, and some are journalists who have reported on art and culture. The willingness by women who say they were victims to share their stories more openly is a groundbreaking shift in Iran’s conservative society, where discussing sex is culturally prohibited, sex outside marriage is illegal, and the burden of proof for victims of sexual crimes is onerous. A raped woman often gets the blame. Aghdashloo declined requests for an interview but strenuously denied wrongdoing, and according to his lawyer has already taken legal action against one accuser. In a written statement provided to The Times, Aghdashloo described himself as an independent artist whose career was built on creative achievement. Also read| The 22-year-old force behind Egypt’s growing #MeToo movement “The allegations of sexual abuse against me are full of significant inaccuracies, mischaracterizations and fabrications,” he wrote. “To be clear, I have always sought to treat people with respect and dignity and I have never abused, assaulted nor taken advantage of anyone.” Still, he wrote, “I am not a perfect man,” and that if his behavior had offended or distressed anyone, “I deeply apologize.” How the authorities treat the perpetrators and victims of sexual misconduct has become a test of the #MeToo movement’s durability in Iran, a country of more than 80 million. Compared with the impact in the United States after the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, the imprisoned Hollywood mogul, the fallout in Iran is only beginning to unfold. But there are signs that the male-controlled power structure in Iran has started to respond to accusations like those made against Aghdashloo. Also read| #MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter Tehran’s police chief announced on Oct. 12 that the bookstore owner, Keyvan Emamverdi, had confessed to raping 300 women, after 30 took the brave step of filing legal complaints. The police said he would be charged with “corruption on earth,” a capital offense. The e-commerce company Digikala opened an investigation into its former manager and apologized to female employees. Iran’s sociology union expelled the accused professor and called for a zero-tolerance policy at universities. A painting by Aghdashloo was pulled from the cover of a famous literary collection, and at least three women have said they are considering legal action against him. “This is a turning point for sexual abuse, the biggest taboo for women in Iran has been sex and sexual violence and abuse,” said Elnaaz Mohammadi, 33-year-old co-founder of Dideban Azar, or Abuse Watch, an education and advocacy group in Tehran. She said the group had received complaints about Aghdashloo from “students who have left his classes distraught and crying,” and that “all his denials have no value.” Also read| In nod to #MeToo, China codifies sexual harassment by law Paintings by Aghdashloo, a dual citizen of Canada, have been auctioned and displayed worldwide, and France honored him in 2016. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution he worked with the family of the shah to curate museums. He then moved into the circles of the revolution’s ruling clerics, and he and his family have business links to the hierarchy. Despite a few mentions in Iran’s conservative media as a royalist and Western spy, Aghdashloo has generally received glowing coverage in state media, with no hint of any possible sexual abuse. The Times found and interviewed former students of Aghdashloo’s after an Iranian journalist now living in the United States, Sara Omatali, posted on Twitter Aug. 22 that he had sexually assaulted her in 2006 when she visited to interview him. She wrote that he had greeted her while naked with a robe draped on his shoulder, forced a kiss and pressed his body on hers. Her account appeared to be the catalyst for others. In telephone interviews, 45 people — including former students, a longtime teaching assistant, art gallery owners, actresses, a Tehran art agent and journalists covering art and culture in Iran — all said Aghdashloo’s behavior toward young female students had been known in Iran’s art circles. Thirteen said they had been victims, including one who was 13 years old at the time. Many said they did not know each other. In each of these 13 instances, a family member, friend, or colleague recalled in separate interviews having been told about it. Nineteen described him as the “Harvey Weinstein of Iran,” elevating or destroying careers of women depending on their receptiveness to his advances. One former student said he had offered her one of his paintings — worth $100,000, the price of a small apartment in Tehran — if she slept with him. Another said he had retaliated when she refused him, telling galleries to shun her artwork. Her career faltered. “Aghdashloo’s reputation was an open secret in the art world but nobody did anything about it,” said Solmaz Azhdari, 32, who studied painting under him. She said she had witnessed him placing his hands between a young female student’s legs in 2007 during a sketching class, as Azhdari stooped to retrieve a dropped pencil. In telling their stories, some asked to be identified only by their first names — a reflection of the subject’s sensitivity in a conservative society and their fear of Aghdashloo. Three years into the global #MeToo movement, women who say they have been sexually assaulted are improbably going public in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The movement’s reach inside Iran gained momentum in late August after allegations aired on Iranian social media against more than 100 men, including a giant e-commerce company’s former star manager, a prominent sociology professor and the owner of a popular bookstore. But the highest-profile person to face such allegations so far is a nearly 80-year-old, internationally acclaimed artist with ties to the ruling elite. Thirteen women, in interviews with The New York Times, accused the artist, Aydin Aghdashloo, of sexual misconduct over a 30-year span. Most are former students, and some are journalists who have reported on art and culture. The willingness by women who say they were victims to share their stories more openly is a groundbreaking shift in Iran’s conservative society, where discussing sex is culturally prohibited, sex outside marriage is illegal, and the burden of proof for victims of sexual crimes is onerous. A raped woman often gets the blame. Aghdashloo declined requests for an interview but strenuously denied wrongdoing, and according to his lawyer has already taken legal action against one accuser. In a written statement provided to The Times, Aghdashloo described himself as an independent artist whose career was built on creative achievement. “The allegations of sexual abuse against me are full of significant inaccuracies, mischaracterizations and fabrications,” he wrote. “To be clear, I have always sought to treat people with respect and dignity and I have never abused, assaulted nor taken advantage of anyone.” Still, he wrote, “I am not a perfect man,” and that if his behavior had offended or distressed anyone, “I deeply apologize.” How the authorities treat the perpetrators and victims of sexual misconduct has become a test of the #MeToo movement’s durability in Iran, a country of more than 80 million. Compared with the impact in the United States after the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, the imprisoned Hollywood mogul, the fallout in Iran is only beginning to unfold. But there are signs that the male-controlled power structure in Iran has started to respond to accusations like those made against Aghdashloo. Tehran’s police chief announced on Oct. 12 that the bookstore owner, Keyvan Emamverdi, had confessed to raping 300 women, after 30 took the brave step of filing legal complaints. The police said he would be charged with “corruption on earth,” a capital offense. The e-commerce company Digikala opened an investigation into its former manager and apologized to female employees. Iran’s sociology union expelled the accused professor and called for a zero-tolerance policy at universities. A painting by Aghdashloo was pulled from the cover of a famous literary collection, and at least three women have said they are considering legal action against him. “This is a turning point for sexual abuse, the biggest taboo for women in Iran has been sex and sexual violence and abuse,” said Elnaaz Mohammadi, 33-year-old co-founder of Dideban Azar, or Abuse Watch, an education and advocacy group in Tehran. She said the group had received complaints about Aghdashloo from “students who have left his classes distraught and crying,” and that “all his denials have no value.” Paintings by Aghdashloo, a dual citizen of Canada, have been auctioned and displayed worldwide, and France honored him in 2016. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution he worked with the family of the shah to curate museums. He then moved into the circles of the revolution’s ruling clerics, and he and his family have business links to the hierarchy. Despite a few mentions in Iran’s conservative media as a royalist and Western spy, Aghdashloo has generally received glowing coverage in state media, with no hint of any possible sexual abuse. The Times found and interviewed former students of Aghdashloo’s after an Iranian journalist now living in the United States, Sara Omatali, posted on Twitter Aug. 22 that he had sexually assaulted her in 2006 when she visited to interview him. She wrote that he had greeted her while naked with a robe draped on his shoulder, forced a kiss and pressed his body on hers. Her account appeared to be the catalyst for others. In telephone interviews, 45 people — including former students, a longtime teaching assistant, art gallery owners, actresses, a Tehran art agent and journalists covering art and culture in Iran — all said Aghdashloo’s behavior toward young female students had been known in Iran’s art circles. Thirteen said they had been victims, including one who was 13 years old at the time. Many said they did not know each other. In each of these 13 instances, a family member, friend, or colleague recalled in separate interviews having been told about it. Nineteen described him as the “Harvey Weinstein of Iran,” elevating or destroying careers of women depending on their receptiveness to his advances. One former student said he had offered her one of his paintings — worth $100,000, the price of a small apartment in Tehran — if she slept with him. Another said he had retaliated when she refused him, telling galleries to shun her artwork. Her career faltered. “Aghdashloo’s reputation was an open secret in the art world but nobody did anything about it,” said Solmaz Azhdari, 32, who studied painting under him. She said she had witnessed him placing his hands between a young female student’s legs in 2007 during a sketching class, as Azhdari stooped to retrieve a dropped pencil. In telling their stories, some asked to be identified only by their first names — a reflection of the subject’s sensitivity in a conservative society and their fear of Aghdashloo. ‘I was terrified of what he could do to me or my career.’ Maryam, an art photographer, 49, said she had visited Aghdashloo in 2010, to collect two paintings from his basement studio for the gallery where she worked. She said Aghdashloo had insisted she view his paintings of nude women, then forcibly kissed her and tore at her clothes. When she screamed, Maryam said, he covered her mouth with his hands; she pushed him away and fled, shouting “you have no shame!” Maryam said she quit her job, and on her mother’s advice never publicized the encounter or contacted the police. “I was terrified of what he could do to me and my career if I told anyone or brought charges,” she said. In his art classes, the former students said, he asked the women to sit on his lap when he reviewed their work, pressed against them while teaching, touched their bodies, made lewd comments and shared explicit details of a fascination with adolescent girls. Mehrnaz, 54, said he made her sit on his lap and caressed her thighs. Atty, 30, said he had locked her in his office and forcibly kissed her. Another said he asked the color of her underwear as he touched her. Afarin, a Tehran teacher, said she had been molested repeatedly 30 years ago, at age 13, by Aghdashloo, who would press his groin against her and touch her thighs while teaching painting technique. She had been too terrified to tell her parents, she said, and still avoids the street where Aghdashloo held class. “I feel relieved that a man who has abused so many women and girls is finally being exposed,” she said. Laleh Sabouri, a 50-year-old actress and television star, took art lessons with Aghdashloo for two years. Days after Omatali’s Twitter posting, Sabouri tweeted that most women were terrified of being alone with him and that accusations of rape would be “befitting.” Aghdashloo’s lawyer said he had taken legal action over that tweet, calling it “baseless.” One of Aghdashloo’s teaching assistants, who helped manage his workshops for 12 years, said she had witnessed frequent misbehavior by him toward female students and that some had complained to her. She had confronted him and he replied that women should consider his affection a privilege, the assistant recalled. She ultimately resigned, she said, because he had assaulted her. Omatali’s account struck a nerve among Iranian female journalists. Several said the advice in newsrooms was that no woman should interview Aghdashloo alone. Solmaz Naraghi, 42, an art and culture reporter, said Aghdashloo sexually harassed her repeatedly in public after she had rebuffed his advances during one such interview. Her former husband recalled her in tears at a gallery after an encounter with Aghdashloo. His supporters have rallied to defend him, including former students who posted a letter on Instagram. His first wife, Hollywood actress Shoreh Aghdashloo, said he was “simply not capable of such heinous acts.” One former student, Mitra Zad, said she had seen “nothing but good things” from him. A formidable figure who straddles art and politics Aydin Aghdashloo’s influence in Iran’s art world seemed to only grow after the revolution. He often boasted about connections to government and religious officials and said he was invulnerable because of them, former students and the teaching assistant said — a description he rejected in his statement to the Times. “I have always worked as an independent artist and, following the revolution, have earned my living not through credits and connections to the state but through my art,” Aghdashloo wrote. His students have included the daughter of Tehran’s Friday Prayer imam and grandchildren of a founding cleric of the revolution. He has worked as a consultant, instructor, author and art appraiser for Astan Quds Razavi, a religious and economic conglomerate controlled by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which is under U.S. sanctions. The former head of Astan is Iran’s judiciary chief. Aghdashloo’s daughter married into a family that owns Part Sazan, a conglomerate with ties to state-owned enterprises in the oil, gas and automotive industries. The link to the company, which lists a senior member of the Revolutionary Guard's Basij militia as chief executive and board member, has further strengthened his aura of impunity, a number of women said. Anonymous allegations against Aghdashloo first surfaced in 2018 when an Iranian investigative journalist, Afshin Parvaresh, posted on Instagram that he had interviewed 21 women, including a minor, who said Aghdashloo had assaulted them. Parvaresh said he received violent threats. Aghdashloo’s lawyer denied his client was responsible. Some Iranian women’s rights activists say significant challenges hinder #MeToo cases. If an accuser fails to meet the high standard of proof for rape, she can then be accused of adultery. “A woman who is a victim can quickly turn into a criminal if she can’t prove rape,” said Shadi Sadr, a prominent Iranian lawyer and human rights advocate based in London. “When she testifies that there was sex, she is testifying against herself as well.” Still, more women are asking how to bring charges, said Leila Rahimi, a Tehran lawyer offering them free consultation and representation. “You cannot hide this crime happening over and over in our society,” Rahimi said. “Both for women and men, silence does not improve things.”

A #MeToo awakening stirs in Iran

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

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

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

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

Hundreds of locals in Dhaka staged a protest rally from&nbsp;Dhaka to Noakhali to raise their voices against the rising number of rape incidents in the country.

With banners reading "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity), several hundreds of locals and members of the opposition political party gathered&nbsp;at Shahbagh in the capital city on Friday morning.

The protestors are demanding&nbsp;exemplary punishment of the sexual violence attackers, resignation of the&nbsp;home minister and&nbsp;Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) charter, the local media reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-invited-for-global-aid-conference-on-rohingya-refugees-335590">Also read|&nbsp;India invited for global aid conference on rohingya refugees&nbsp;</a>

These protests have been increasing in number with the sudden increase in the cases of sexual violence against women, especially since the recent case of gang rape in Sylhet's MC College and in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila.

The protestors have started a two-day rally in which they will be marching to Gulistan on foot and then head towards Narayanganj by bus to hold a rally. From there, they will then move to&nbsp;Comilla and Feni and then hold a rally in Maizdi of Noakhali.

A total of seven buses will transport nearly 450 people and then five additional buses will join at Narayanganj,&nbsp;Samajtantrik Chhatra Front's Dhaka University unit Vice President Sadekul Islam Sadik told the local reporters.

Hundreds of locals in Dhaka staged a protest rally from Dhaka to Noakhali to raise their voices against the rising number of rape incidents in the country. With banners reading "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity), several hundreds of locals and members of the opposition political party gathered at Shahbagh in the capital city on Friday morning.

Hundreds of locals in Dhaka staged a protest rally from Dhaka to Noakhali to raise their voices against the rising number of rape incidents in the country. With banners reading "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity), several hundreds of locals and members of the opposition political party gathered at Shahbagh in the capital city on Friday morning. The protestors are demanding exemplary punishment of the sexual violence attackers, resignation of the home minister and Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) charter, the local media reported. Also read| India invited for global aid conference on rohingya refugees These protests have been increasing in number with the sudden increase in the cases of sexual violence against women, especially since the recent case of gang rape in Sylhet's MC College and in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila. The protestors have started a two-day rally in which they will be marching to Gulistan on foot and then head towards Narayanganj by bus to hold a rally. From there, they will then move to Comilla and Feni and then hold a rally in Maizdi of Noakhali. A total of seven buses will transport nearly 450 people and then five additional buses will join at Narayanganj, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front's Dhaka University unit Vice President Sadekul Islam Sadik told the local reporters.

Bangladesh: Hundreds begin two-day march to protest against increase in rape cases

Pakistan`s Human Rights Ministry has engaged the Child Protection Committees of Islamabad to raise awareness about the rights of children and steps aimed at preventing them from abuse.

The Ministry under its Human Rights Awareness Programme, has so far held five sessions by engaging eight of the 15 Child Protection Committees, reports Dawn news.

The committees were formed in 2019 by the Ministry's National Child Protection Centre to identify, prevent and report issues of child abuse in the city in collaboration with the relevant authorities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-reopens-kartarpur-shrine-indians-allowed-with-immediate-effect-332104">Also read:&nbsp;Pakistan reopens Kartarpur shrine, Indians allowed with 'immediate effect'</a>

In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry said that these sessions helped improve participants' knowledge about the rights provided to children in the Constitution.

The Ministry further said it had plans to further hold these sessions in other communities.

In its 2019 annual report on nationwide child abuse cases, Sahil — an NGO working for the protection of children from violence — revealed that throughout the year, a total of 2,846 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in newspapers, indicating a decrease of 26 per cent as compared to 2018, The Express Tribune reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kartarpur-corridor-reopening-pak-going-against-bilateral-commitments-creating-mirage-of-goodwill-says-india-308981">Also read:&nbsp;Pak going against bilateral commitments, creating mirage of goodwill, says India</a>

The report further stated that victims as young as a few months old up to the age of five also fall pretty to sexual violence.

A total of 3,722 abusers were identified last year, out of which 2,222 were acquainted with the victims — including, relatives, cousins, neighbours, family friends, clerics, teachers, and even a parent.

Pakistan`s Human Rights Ministry has engaged the Child Protection Committees of Islamabad to raise awareness about the rights of children and steps aimed at preventing them from abuse.

Pakistan`s Human Rights Ministry has engaged the Child Protection Committees of Islamabad to raise awareness about the rights of children and steps aimed at preventing them from abuse. The Ministry under its Human Rights Awareness Programme, has so far held five sessions by engaging eight of the 15 Child Protection Committees, reports Dawn news. The committees were formed in 2019 by the Ministry's National Child Protection Centre to identify, prevent and report issues of child abuse in the city in collaboration with the relevant authorities. Also read: Pakistan reopens Kartarpur shrine, Indians allowed with 'immediate effect' In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry said that these sessions helped improve participants' knowledge about the rights provided to children in the Constitution. The Ministry further said it had plans to further hold these sessions in other communities. In its 2019 annual report on nationwide child abuse cases, Sahil — an NGO working for the protection of children from violence — revealed that throughout the year, a total of 2,846 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in newspapers, indicating a decrease of 26 per cent as compared to 2018, The Express Tribune reported. Also read: Pak going against bilateral commitments, creating mirage of goodwill, says India The report further stated that victims as young as a few months old up to the age of five also fall pretty to sexual violence. A total of 3,722 abusers were identified last year, out of which 2,222 were acquainted with the victims — including, relatives, cousins, neighbours, family friends, clerics, teachers, and even a parent.

Pakistan's Human Rights Ministry takes steps to protect kids from abuse

A 14-year-old Hindu girl has been allegedly kidnapped and forcefully married in Pakistan by faking her actual age on the documents.

Parsha Kumari, a 14-year-old, was abducted from&nbsp;the Mori district of Khairpur in Sindh in Pakistan. The family had immediately filed a mission person report with the local police. However, the local police did not take any action.

Later, it was revealed that the minor was forced to convert and was later married off to&nbsp;Abdul Saboor, without consent.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-co-accused-in-lahore-motorway-gang-rape-case-surrenders-to-police-327188">Also read|&nbsp;Pakistan: Co-accused in Lahore motorway gang-rape case surrenders to police</a>

Abdul Saboor faked Kumari's age on the affidavit, claiming that she is 18-years-old, making her an adult. However, the documents submitted by her parents, her date of birth mentioned is&nbsp;15th September 2005, which makes Kumar 14 years old. She&nbsp;was a student of class IX.

The local media reported that an affidavit was presented from the girl’s side in which she claimed that her old name was Parsha Kumari and she has accepted Islam. However, Kumar's family believes she has been forced into converting and marrying Saboor, who is an adult.

Pakistan has also been in news for a sexual violence case where a woman was raped at gunpoint on Wednesday by two men before the eyes of her children after her vehicle ran out of fuel. The two men are also said to have stolen money and jewelry before fleeing the scene.

A 14-year-old Hindu girl has been allegedly kidnapped and forcefully married in Pakistan by faking her actual age on the documents. Parsha Kumari, a 14-year-old, was abducted from the Mori district of Khairpur in Sindh in Pakistan.

A 14-year-old Hindu girl has been allegedly kidnapped and forcefully married in Pakistan by faking her actual age on the documents. Parsha Kumari, a 14-year-old, was abducted from the Mori district of Khairpur in Sindh in Pakistan. The family had immediately filed a mission person report with the local police. However, the local police did not take any action. Later, it was revealed that the minor was forced to convert and was later married off to Abdul Saboor, without consent. Also read| Pakistan: Co-accused in Lahore motorway gang-rape case surrenders to police Abdul Saboor faked Kumari's age on the affidavit, claiming that she is 18-years-old, making her an adult. However, the documents submitted by her parents, her date of birth mentioned is 15th September 2005, which makes Kumar 14 years old. She was a student of class IX. The local media reported that an affidavit was presented from the girl’s side in which she claimed that her old name was Parsha Kumari and she has accepted Islam. However, Kumar's family believes she has been forced into converting and marrying Saboor, who is an adult. Pakistan has also been in news for a sexual violence case where a woman was raped at gunpoint on Wednesday by two men before the eyes of her children after her vehicle ran out of fuel. The two men are also said to have stolen money and jewelry before fleeing the scene.

Pakistan: 14-year-old forcefully converted and married to her abductor

Thousands of Israelis on Sunday observed a symbolic work stoppage to denounce sexual violence against women following the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in a Red Sea resort.

The noon strike, which lasted around one hour, was "to protest the growing violence against women and girls in Israel, and lack of sufficient punishment", said the women group Bonot Alternativa.

One of the event's organisers, Ariel Peleg, told AFP at least 30 organisations and companies, including municipalities and Microsoft Israel, took part in the midday vigil.

Demonstrations will also take place in the evening throughout the country, with the main event to be held in Tel Aviv, Peleg said.

The "women's strike" was organised after reports emerged in recent days of the alleged rape of an inebriated teen girl by a group of men in a hotel in the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

The alleged crime triggered demonstrations in several Israeli cities on Thursday and was denounced by top leaders, including President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that 10 suspects, including nine minors, had been arrested in connection with the affair so far as part of an "ongoing investigation".&nbsp;

Thousands of Israelis on Sunday observed a symbolic work stoppage to denounce sexual violence against women following the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in a Red Sea resort.

Thousands of Israelis on Sunday observed a symbolic work stoppage to denounce sexual violence against women following the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl in a Red Sea resort. The noon strike, which lasted around one hour, was "to protest the growing violence against women and girls in Israel, and lack of sufficient punishment", said the women group Bonot Alternativa. One of the event's organisers, Ariel Peleg, told AFP at least 30 organisations and companies, including municipalities and Microsoft Israel, took part in the midday vigil. Demonstrations will also take place in the evening throughout the country, with the main event to be held in Tel Aviv, Peleg said. The "women's strike" was organised after reports emerged in recent days of the alleged rape of an inebriated teen girl by a group of men in a hotel in the Red Sea resort of Eilat. The alleged crime triggered demonstrations in several Israeli cities on Thursday and was denounced by top leaders, including President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that 10 suspects, including nine minors, had been arrested in connection with the affair so far as part of an "ongoing investigation".

Israelis strike to protest sexual violence against women

Mexico's Supreme Court has rejected an injunction that could have&nbsp;effectively decriminalised termination of child birth in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The pro-choice campaigners were hoping for a historic ruling but were hugely disappointed when the court ruled against giving women the opportunity to choose.

In 2019, a judge in Xalapa, Veracruz had passed an injunction asking the state's Congress to&nbsp;remove articles 149, 150 and 154 of the local penal code, which would have decriminalised abortion in the first 12 weeks, of pregnancy, allowed abortions for health-related reasons and would have removed the existing time limit on abortions in cases of rape.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-says-over-900-girls-women-feared-dead-since-pandemic-began-316453">Also read:&nbsp;Peru says over 900 girls, women feared dead since pandemic began</a>

The changes were recommended in the&nbsp;National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (Conavim) and the National Institute for Women (InMujeres) back in 2016, and it took more than 3 years for the court to hear the case.

However, the decision that came this week has brought huge disappointment and frustration from the women's rights activists of the country who believe that while this decision currently only affects&nbsp;Veracruz, it could have impact in the whole country.

Out of 32 states,&nbsp;currently, abortion is only legal in two Mexican states — Oaxaca and Mexico City.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-takes-over-uk-with-third-highest-coronavirus-death-toll-317408">Also read:&nbsp;Mexico takes over UK with third highest coronavirus death toll</a>

Mexico is infamous for its loosely built rules regarding sexual violence and abortions. While it is legally allowed to terminate a pregnancy in case of rape, there have been instances where the women have been denied the permission to abort by courts ruling the rape as a lesser crime of&nbsp;"sexual coercion".

Mexican&nbsp;President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been accused of not taking enough steps against the ill treatment of women in the country. In fact, when the Mexican women took to streets in March 2020 to carry out a 'Day Without Women' strike, Obrador blamed the&nbsp;&nbsp;"conservatives" of "putting on the mask of feminism and saying, 'we're going to get rid of the government."&nbsp;

The lack of action and support is due to a 2008 Supreme Court ruling which allowed the states to set their own health policies, following which majority of the states banned abortion in most of the circumstances.

Mexican women are now once again protesting against the new disappointing ruling by the&nbsp;Supreme Court.

Mexico's Supreme Court has rejected an injunction that could have effectively decriminalised termination of child birth in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The pro-choice campaigners were hoping for a historic ruling but were hugely disappointed when the court ruled against giving women the opportunity to choose.

Mexico's Supreme Court has rejected an injunction that could have effectively decriminalised termination of child birth in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The pro-choice campaigners were hoping for a historic ruling but were hugely disappointed when the court ruled against giving women the opportunity to choose. In 2019, a judge in Xalapa, Veracruz had passed an injunction asking the state's Congress to remove articles 149, 150 and 154 of the local penal code, which would have decriminalised abortion in the first 12 weeks, of pregnancy, allowed abortions for health-related reasons and would have removed the existing time limit on abortions in cases of rape. Also read: Peru says over 900 girls, women feared dead since pandemic began The changes were recommended in the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (Conavim) and the National Institute for Women (InMujeres) back in 2016, and it took more than 3 years for the court to hear the case. However, the decision that came this week has brought huge disappointment and frustration from the women's rights activists of the country who believe that while this decision currently only affects Veracruz, it could have impact in the whole country. Out of 32 states, currently, abortion is only legal in two Mexican states — Oaxaca and Mexico City. Also read: Mexico takes over UK with third highest coronavirus death toll Mexico is infamous for its loosely built rules regarding sexual violence and abortions. While it is legally allowed to terminate a pregnancy in case of rape, there have been instances where the women have been denied the permission to abort by courts ruling the rape as a lesser crime of "sexual coercion". Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been accused of not taking enough steps against the ill treatment of women in the country. In fact, when the Mexican women took to streets in March 2020 to carry out a 'Day Without Women' strike, Obrador blamed the "conservatives" of "putting on the mask of feminism and saying, 'we're going to get rid of the government." The lack of action and support is due to a 2008 Supreme Court ruling which allowed the states to set their own health policies, following which majority of the states banned abortion in most of the circumstances. Mexican women are now once again protesting against the new disappointing ruling by the Supreme Court.

Mexico Supreme Court rejects proposal to decriminalise abortion

Singapore is reviewing penalties for violent offences following outcry over a 12-day prison sentence for a student who strangled his girlfriend until she blacked out.

The case of Yin Zi Qin, 23, is the latest in a series in the city-state involving university students where the punishment has been viewed by some as light.

Widespread public criticism of last Friday's sentencing has seen women's rights group AWARE warn that it could have a detrimental impact on public perceptions of violence against women.

Law minister K Shanmugam said on Tuesday he had asked for a review of penalties for such cases, the relative punishment for different offences and the extent to which educational background should be a relevant factor in sentencing.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/singapores-fake-news-law-trips-up-opposition-as-election-looms-311149" hreflang="en">Singapore's fake news law trips up opposition as election looms</a>

Yin's attack happened after his girlfriend had broken up with him via WhatsApp in May 2019, case records show.

The following day, the dentistry student went to her house with roses to ask her to take him back. After she declined, he gripped her by the neck, pressed his thumb against her eye causing it to bleed, and she blacked out and fainted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/with-gloves-and-masks-singaporeans-vote-in-general-elections-312300" hreflang="en">With gloves and masks, Singaporeans vote in general elections</a>

Yin was charged for voluntarily causing harm, an offence punishable by jail of up to two years. His short detention means he will not have a criminal record. He will have to perform community service and undergo rehabilitation.

Yin could not be immediately reached for comment. The public prosecutor said it does not plan to appeal the case.

Earlier in the year, probation for a student who molested a woman on a train sparked a similar outcry, and he was jailed for two weeks after the prosecution appealed.&nbsp;

The case of a student who protested against what she perceived as a light sentence for a male peer who filmed her in the shower sparked a debate on sexual harassment last year.

Singapore is reviewing penalties for violent offences following outcry over a 12-day prison sentence for a student who strangled his girlfriend until she blacked out.

Singapore is reviewing penalties for violent offences following outcry over a 12-day prison sentence for a student who strangled his girlfriend until she blacked out. The case of Yin Zi Qin, 23, is the latest in a series in the city-state involving university students where the punishment has been viewed by some as light. Widespread public criticism of last Friday's sentencing has seen women's rights group AWARE warn that it could have a detrimental impact on public perceptions of violence against women. Law minister K Shanmugam said on Tuesday he had asked for a review of penalties for such cases, the relative punishment for different offences and the extent to which educational background should be a relevant factor in sentencing. Also read: Singapore's fake news law trips up opposition as election looms Yin's attack happened after his girlfriend had broken up with him via WhatsApp in May 2019, case records show. The following day, the dentistry student went to her house with roses to ask her to take him back. After she declined, he gripped her by the neck, pressed his thumb against her eye causing it to bleed, and she blacked out and fainted. Also read: With gloves and masks, Singaporeans vote in general elections Yin was charged for voluntarily causing harm, an offence punishable by jail of up to two years. His short detention means he will not have a criminal record. He will have to perform community service and undergo rehabilitation. Yin could not be immediately reached for comment. The public prosecutor said it does not plan to appeal the case. Earlier in the year, probation for a student who molested a woman on a train sparked a similar outcry, and he was jailed for two weeks after the prosecution appealed. The case of a student who protested against what she perceived as a light sentence for a male peer who filmed her in the shower sparked a debate on sexual harassment last year.

Outcry over student strangler prompts Singapore to review penalties for violence

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

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

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

Combating sexual violence as a global concern

'The rapist is you': Chile protest anthem against sexual violence goes global

A rape survivor was set ablaze in Bihar area of Uttar Pradesh's Unnao on Thursday morning.

The victim has been referred to Lucknow, said Vikrant Vir, Superintendent of Police, Unnao.

"The victim has been referred to a hospital in Lucknow for better treatment. We have rounded up the three accused, search for the other two is underway. The victim had earlier filed a rape case, one accused in that case has also been rounded up," Vir told media here.

A rape survivor was set ablaze in Bihar area of Uttar Pradesh's Unnao on Thursday morning. The victim has been referred to Lucknow, said Vikrant Vir, Superintendent of Police, Unnao.

A rape survivor was set ablaze in Bihar area of Uttar Pradesh's Unnao on Thursday morning. The victim has been referred to Lucknow, said Vikrant Vir, Superintendent of Police, Unnao. "The victim has been referred to a hospital in Lucknow for better treatment. We have rounded up the three accused, search for the other two is underway. The victim had earlier filed a rape case, one accused in that case has also been rounded up," Vir told media here.

Rape survivor set ablaze in Unnao

Hundreds of people protested in Spain's capital on Monday against a court&nbsp;ruling&nbsp;last week that cleared five men of <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/outrage-in-spain-over-verdict-in-gang-sex-attack-on-teen-259401">gang-raping</a> a 14-year-old girl and instead found them guilty of the lesser charge of sexual abuse.

Barcelona's High Court sentenced the five on Thursday to 10 to 12 years in prison, saying the 2016&nbsp;assault&nbsp;was not rape because the victim, who was drunk and unconscious, could neither "agree to (nor) oppose the sexual relations".

A similar&nbsp;ruling&nbsp;in the so-called Wolfpack case sparked mass protests across Spain last year over chauvinism and sexual abuse and it was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court in June.

"It's not abuse, it's rape" and "Enough with patriarchal justice" chanted the crowd made up mostly of women gathered in front of the Justice Ministry in Madrid.

Many were wearing purple scarves, a colour associated with feminist movements, while others carried purple umbrellas or wore purple gloves.

"No one deserves something like that," 44-year-old designer, Pilar Villanueva, said. "One way or the other, the government must do the criminal code reform they had promised."

The judge said that the attack on the 14-year-old girl in the city of Manresa, near Barcelona, "was extremely severe, especially denigrating, and what's more, was against a minor in a situation of distress".

But&nbsp;Spanish&nbsp;law doesn't legally recognise rape unless physical violence or intimidation is employed.

The Socialist government has appointed a panel to review the penal code, particularly the laws relating to sexual abuse and&nbsp;assault. The latter is the&nbsp;Spanish&nbsp;equivalent of rape and carries prison sentences of 15 to 20 years.

Many European countries have revised sexual violence laws to recognise the importance of explicit consent and take non-physical forms of coercion and abuse of power into account.

Hundreds of people protested in Spain's capital on Monday against a court ruling last week that cleared five men of gang-raping a 14-year-old girl and instead found them guilty of the lesser charge of sexual abuse.

Hundreds of people protested in Spain's capital on Monday against a court ruling last week that cleared five men of gang-raping a 14-year-old girl and instead found them guilty of the lesser charge of sexual abuse. Barcelona's High Court sentenced the five on Thursday to 10 to 12 years in prison, saying the 2016 assault was not rape because the victim, who was drunk and unconscious, could neither "agree to (nor) oppose the sexual relations". A similar ruling in the so-called Wolfpack case sparked mass protests across Spain last year over chauvinism and sexual abuse and it was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court in June. "It's not abuse, it's rape" and "Enough with patriarchal justice" chanted the crowd made up mostly of women gathered in front of the Justice Ministry in Madrid. Many were wearing purple scarves, a colour associated with feminist movements, while others carried purple umbrellas or wore purple gloves. "No one deserves something like that," 44-year-old designer, Pilar Villanueva, said. "One way or the other, the government must do the criminal code reform they had promised." The judge said that the attack on the 14-year-old girl in the city of Manresa, near Barcelona, "was extremely severe, especially denigrating, and what's more, was against a minor in a situation of distress". But Spanish law doesn't legally recognise rape unless physical violence or intimidation is employed. The Socialist government has appointed a panel to review the penal code, particularly the laws relating to sexual abuse and assault. The latter is the Spanish equivalent of rape and carries prison sentences of 15 to 20 years. Many European countries have revised sexual violence laws to recognise the importance of explicit consent and take non-physical forms of coercion and abuse of power into account.

'It's not abuse, it's rape': protesters denounce Spanish assault ruling

Gulalai Ismail's campaigns to empower Pakistani girls have won her international awards and recognition as one of her country's foremost activists.

But when she spoke out against sexual violence and disappearances allegedly carried out by the army in northwestern Pakistan, her fortunes quickly changed.

The 32-year-old said she feared for her life. After four months on the run, she succeeded in eluding a vast hunt and has turned up in the United States, where she is seeking asylum.

Ismail said she never sought to become an overseas dissident but sees a closing of the political space in Pakistan, where the army has remained the dominant power-broker for most of the country's history.

"I never wanted to leave Pakistan," she told AFP in an interview in Washington. "I believe that I can better work towards democracy and civil supremacy and peace in Pakistan."

But she concluded she would be more effective abroad, saying: "If I had ended up in prison and tortured for many years, my voice would have been silenced."

Ismail, who speaks with poise and passion though she remains afraid, believed she posed a special threat as a vocal woman.

"When a man stands up, he is mostly against the state oppression," she said. "But when a woman stands up, she is fighting oppression on many levels -- fighting cultural norms, fighting the patriarchy and the state oppression."

Taking up an unpopular cause

Ismail was still a teenager when she co-founded Aware Girls in 2002, which promotes gender equality in the deeply conservative northwestern district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In 2017, she won the prestigious Anna Politkovskaya Award for human rights advocacy. The year before, she was honoured for conflict prevention by France's Chirac Foundation and has been welcomed by former first lady Michelle Obama.

But she came under greater scrutiny last year when she started speaking in support of the Pashtun Protection Movement, which defends the rights of the Pashtun tribal population in the northwest.

Quoting witnesses, Ismail said the army crackdown on Pashtun militants near the border with Afghanistan had led to frequent disappearances as well as sexual assaults.

Most women stay silent due to stigma, she said, but when a boy came forward about how security forces were barging into their home and harassing his mother, she went to investigate.

"Dozens of women had come to tell us that the incident of sexual harassment was not unique. It is systematic. It had been happening for years."

Eluding intense search

Ismail was detained briefly in 2018 but her fears mounted in February when she was taken into custody for two days after attempting to hold a news conference.

She said that she was held in a cold, dirty room with a urine-soaked sheet on the ground. She said she was denied food and water, with other female inmates warned against talking to the "high-profile terrorist."

In May, police filed a complaint against Ismail under an anti-terrorism law after she spoke out about the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl.&nbsp;

Ismail declined to discuss how she escaped Pakistan, saying she did not want to put others at risk.

Authorities widely circulated her name to seek her arrest, with airport authorities told not to let her leave.

"There were videos created online by military trolls which were clearly saying that the moment I'm in custody they will teach me a lesson. I spoke about the issue of rape -- now they will 'teach me' what rape is," she said.

She said security forces roughed up both her driver and a friend who she said was handcuffed, beaten and administered electric shocks for 14 hours in a bid to extract information on her whereabouts.

Ismail is living for now with her sister in New York. She said her initial fears of being sent back to Pakistan, a historic ally of the United States, were eased after she held meetings in Washington at the State Department and with staff of lawmakers including Chuck Schumer, who represents New York and is the top Democrat in the Senate.

"I was told that there was no chance that the US will ever take such action as extraditing me or handing me over because they know that it is a case of political revenge," she said.

But she remains worried for her parents in Pakistan. She said that they have become socially isolated, with security forces interrogating anyone who does so much as text them.

"I wanted to speak freely and that's why I'm here," she said.

"However, when it comes to the future of Pakistan, I do not see a prosperous Pakistan until the military establishment decides it needs to go back to its barracks."

Gulalai Ismail's campaigns to empower Pakistani girls have won her international awards and recognition as one of her country's foremost activists. But when she spoke out against sexual violence and disappearances allegedly carried out by the army in northwestern Pakistan, her fortunes quickly changed.

Gulalai Ismail's campaigns to empower Pakistani girls have won her international awards and recognition as one of her country's foremost activists. But when she spoke out against sexual violence and disappearances allegedly carried out by the army in northwestern Pakistan, her fortunes quickly changed. The 32-year-old said she feared for her life. After four months on the run, she succeeded in eluding a vast hunt and has turned up in the United States, where she is seeking asylum. Ismail said she never sought to become an overseas dissident but sees a closing of the political space in Pakistan, where the army has remained the dominant power-broker for most of the country's history. "I never wanted to leave Pakistan," she told AFP in an interview in Washington. "I believe that I can better work towards democracy and civil supremacy and peace in Pakistan." But she concluded she would be more effective abroad, saying: "If I had ended up in prison and tortured for many years, my voice would have been silenced." Ismail, who speaks with poise and passion though she remains afraid, believed she posed a special threat as a vocal woman. "When a man stands up, he is mostly against the state oppression," she said. "But when a woman stands up, she is fighting oppression on many levels -- fighting cultural norms, fighting the patriarchy and the state oppression." Taking up an unpopular cause Ismail was still a teenager when she co-founded Aware Girls in 2002, which promotes gender equality in the deeply conservative northwestern district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In 2017, she won the prestigious Anna Politkovskaya Award for human rights advocacy. The year before, she was honoured for conflict prevention by France's Chirac Foundation and has been welcomed by former first lady Michelle Obama. But she came under greater scrutiny last year when she started speaking in support of the Pashtun Protection Movement, which defends the rights of the Pashtun tribal population in the northwest. Quoting witnesses, Ismail said the army crackdown on Pashtun militants near the border with Afghanistan had led to frequent disappearances as well as sexual assaults. Most women stay silent due to stigma, she said, but when a boy came forward about how security forces were barging into their home and harassing his mother, she went to investigate. "Dozens of women had come to tell us that the incident of sexual harassment was not unique. It is systematic. It had been happening for years." Eluding intense search Ismail was detained briefly in 2018 but her fears mounted in February when she was taken into custody for two days after attempting to hold a news conference. She said that she was held in a cold, dirty room with a urine-soaked sheet on the ground. She said she was denied food and water, with other female inmates warned against talking to the "high-profile terrorist." In May, police filed a complaint against Ismail under an anti-terrorism law after she spoke out about the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl. Ismail declined to discuss how she escaped Pakistan, saying she did not want to put others at risk. Authorities widely circulated her name to seek her arrest, with airport authorities told not to let her leave. "There were videos created online by military trolls which were clearly saying that the moment I'm in custody they will teach me a lesson. I spoke about the issue of rape -- now they will 'teach me' what rape is," she said. She said security forces roughed up both her driver and a friend who she said was handcuffed, beaten and administered electric shocks for 14 hours in a bid to extract information on her whereabouts. Ismail is living for now with her sister in New York. She said her initial fears of being sent back to Pakistan, a historic ally of the United States, were eased after she held meetings in Washington at the State Department and with staff of lawmakers including Chuck Schumer, who represents New York and is the top Democrat in the Senate. "I was told that there was no chance that the US will ever take such action as extraditing me or handing me over because they know that it is a case of political revenge," she said. But she remains worried for her parents in Pakistan. She said that they have become socially isolated, with security forces interrogating anyone who does so much as text them. "I wanted to speak freely and that's why I'm here," she said. "However, when it comes to the future of Pakistan, I do not see a prosperous Pakistan until the military establishment decides it needs to go back to its barracks."

Pakistan women’s rights activist who highlighted atrocities by military escapes to US

Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims. &nbsp;

Yazidi activist Murad and Congolese doctor Mukwege will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo on Monday for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". &nbsp;&nbsp;

Murad, 25, who was taken hostage in Iraq by the Islamic State group (IS) in 2014 but escaped, said the prize was an honour for all of her Yazidi community, and "a sign" for the thousands of women still held by jihadists. &nbsp;

"This prize, one prize cannot remove all the violence and all the attacks on pregnant women, on children, on women and give them justice," she told a press conference in Oslo. &nbsp;

But she said she hoped it would "open doors so that we can approach more governments", to bring the perpetrators to court and "so that we can find a solution and actually stop what is happening".

Fellow laureate Mukwege, who has spent two decades treating rape victims at his hospital in conflict-torn eastern DR Congo, said the Nobel spotlight made it harder for the world to ignore sexual violence.&nbsp;

"We cannot say that we didn't act because we didn't know. Now everyone knows. And I think now the international community has a responsibility to act," he said.

He said the prize was not a "victory", but could be seen "as the start of a new struggle, a new struggle against this type of evil".

Murad has spent the years since her escape campaigning for the Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking community that follows an ancient religion and was targeted by IS as it swept through her homeland.

More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of whom 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

The United Nations is due to send a team into Iraq next year to investigate atrocities, following a Security Council resolution in September 2017 to bring those responsible for IS war crimes to justice.&nbsp;

The UN has described the massacre of the Yazidis by IS jihadists as possible genocide.

Murad, now a UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking living in Germany, said the "steps towards justice" had given her hope. &nbsp;

But she stressed that "not a single ISIS terrorist" has appeared in court, adding "this injustice will continue in this world if it is not dealt with now".

Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims.

Nobel peace laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege said Sunday they hoped their award would help them push the international community to act to end rape in conflict and deliver justice for victims. Yazidi activist Murad and Congolese doctor Mukwege will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo on Monday for "their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". Murad, 25, who was taken hostage in Iraq by the Islamic State group (IS) in 2014 but escaped, said the prize was an honour for all of her Yazidi community, and "a sign" for the thousands of women still held by jihadists. "This prize, one prize cannot remove all the violence and all the attacks on pregnant women, on children, on women and give them justice," she told a press conference in Oslo. But she said she hoped it would "open doors so that we can approach more governments", to bring the perpetrators to court and "so that we can find a solution and actually stop what is happening". Fellow laureate Mukwege, who has spent two decades treating rape victims at his hospital in conflict-torn eastern DR Congo, said the Nobel spotlight made it harder for the world to ignore sexual violence. "We cannot say that we didn't act because we didn't know. Now everyone knows. And I think now the international community has a responsibility to act," he said. He said the prize was not a "victory", but could be seen "as the start of a new struggle, a new struggle against this type of evil". Murad has spent the years since her escape campaigning for the Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking community that follows an ancient religion and was targeted by IS as it swept through her homeland. More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of whom 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). The United Nations is due to send a team into Iraq next year to investigate atrocities, following a Security Council resolution in September 2017 to bring those responsible for IS war crimes to justice. The UN has described the massacre of the Yazidis by IS jihadists as possible genocide. Murad, now a UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking living in Germany, said the "steps towards justice" had given her hope. But she stressed that "not a single ISIS terrorist" has appeared in court, adding "this injustice will continue in this world if it is not dealt with now".

Nobel laureates challenge world to end sexual violence

Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war.

Murad, 25, and Mukwege, 63, will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo, after they were announced as winners by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in October for "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". &nbsp;

Mukwege, called "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skills, has spent twenty years treating the horrendous wounds and intense emotional trauma inflicted on women in DR Congo's war-torn east.&nbsp;

He has been scathing about the world's lacklustre response to sexual violence in conflict. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"We have been able to draw a red line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms," he told AFP in 2016.&nbsp;

"Today we must also draw a red line against rape as a weapon of war."

Fellow laureate Murad has become a tireless campaigner for the rights of Yazidis since surviving the horrors of captivity under the Islamic State group, who stormed across swathes of Iraq and Syria targeting her Kurdish-speaking community.

Captured in 2014, she suffered forced marriage, beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape.

The pair have dedicated their prize to the hundreds of thousands of women around the world who have endured sexual violence.

"Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," said Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen, when the award was announced on October 5.

"Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions."

Quest for justice

The co-laureates have come to represent the struggle against a global scourge that goes well beyond any single conflict, as the #MeToo movement has shown.

Mukwege has treated tens of thousands of victims -- women, children and even babies just a few months old &nbsp;-- at Panzi hospital which he founded in 1999 in DR Congo's South Kivu.

Murad was among thousands of Yazidi women and girls who were abducted, raped and brutalised by jihadists during their assault in 2014.&nbsp;

Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide. Her mother and six of her brothers were killed.

Murad is now UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking and is at the forefront of efforts to protect the Yazidi community -- and find justice for the victims of the jihadists, a mission she has embarked on with international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

In early December a UN team authorized to investigate the massacre of the Yazidi minority said it would finally start fieldwork next year. &nbsp; &nbsp;

More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of which 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

"For me, justice doesn't mean killing all of the Daesh members who committed these crimes against us," Murad said in October in Washington, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

"Justice for me is taking Daesh members to a court of law and seeing them in court admitting to the crimes they committed against Yazidis and being punished for those crimes specifically."

Nobel scandal

The choice to highlight campaigns against sexual violence comes as a rape scandal has shredded the reputation of the Swedish Academy and led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize.

A Stockholm court on December 3 found the 72-year-old husband of a Swedish Academy member guilty on appeal of two counts of rape, jailing him for two-and-a-half years.

The Nobel Peace Prize -- a gold medal, diploma and nine million Swedish Krona (880,000 euros, a million dollars) -- will be officially presented in a ceremony in Oslo City Hall at 1200 GMT on Monday.

Other Nobel prizes are set to be handed out on the same day in Stockholm, except the literature prize, which is postponed until 2019. &nbsp;

Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war.

Champions of the fight against sexual violence, Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former captive of jihadists, will on Monday receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year highlights rape as a weapon of war. Murad, 25, and Mukwege, 63, will be jointly presented with the prize in Oslo, after they were announced as winners by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in October for "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". Mukwege, called "Doctor Miracle" for his surgical skills, has spent twenty years treating the horrendous wounds and intense emotional trauma inflicted on women in DR Congo's war-torn east. He has been scathing about the world's lacklustre response to sexual violence in conflict. "We have been able to draw a red line against chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear arms," he told AFP in 2016. "Today we must also draw a red line against rape as a weapon of war." Fellow laureate Murad has become a tireless campaigner for the rights of Yazidis since surviving the horrors of captivity under the Islamic State group, who stormed across swathes of Iraq and Syria targeting her Kurdish-speaking community. Captured in 2014, she suffered forced marriage, beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape. The pair have dedicated their prize to the hundreds of thousands of women around the world who have endured sexual violence. "Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others," said Nobel committee chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen, when the award was announced on October 5. "Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions." Quest for justice The co-laureates have come to represent the struggle against a global scourge that goes well beyond any single conflict, as the #MeToo movement has shown. Mukwege has treated tens of thousands of victims -- women, children and even babies just a few months old -- at Panzi hospital which he founded in 1999 in DR Congo's South Kivu. Murad was among thousands of Yazidi women and girls who were abducted, raped and brutalised by jihadists during their assault in 2014. Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide. Her mother and six of her brothers were killed. Murad is now UN ambassador for victims of human trafficking and is at the forefront of efforts to protect the Yazidi community -- and find justice for the victims of the jihadists, a mission she has embarked on with international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. In early December a UN team authorized to investigate the massacre of the Yazidi minority said it would finally start fieldwork next year. More than 6,800 Yazidis were kidnapped, of which 4,300 either escaped or were bought as slaves, while 2,500 remain missing, according to a recent report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). "For me, justice doesn't mean killing all of the Daesh members who committed these crimes against us," Murad said in October in Washington, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "Justice for me is taking Daesh members to a court of law and seeing them in court admitting to the crimes they committed against Yazidis and being punished for those crimes specifically." Nobel scandal The choice to highlight campaigns against sexual violence comes as a rape scandal has shredded the reputation of the Swedish Academy and led to the postponement of this year's Nobel Literature Prize. A Stockholm court on December 3 found the 72-year-old husband of a Swedish Academy member guilty on appeal of two counts of rape, jailing him for two-and-a-half years. The Nobel Peace Prize -- a gold medal, diploma and nine million Swedish Krona (880,000 euros, a million dollars) -- will be officially presented in a ceremony in Oslo City Hall at 1200 GMT on Monday. Other Nobel prizes are set to be handed out on the same day in Stockholm, except the literature prize, which is postponed until 2019.

Nobel Peace Prize to honour champions of struggle against sexual violence

India has called for the UN Security Council sanctions regime to "proactively" list terrorists and terror groups involved in sexual violence in armed conflicts, underscoring that prosecution of criminals engaged in trans-boundary crimes is critical to deliver justice to victims.

First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Paulomi Tripathi, on Thursday said that women's role and perspectives in peace processes remain largely neglected despite the normative and operative frameworks relating to women, peace and security agenda having been considerably strengthened across the UN system over the last two decades.

She voiced concern that sexual violence, abductions and human trafficking continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations.&nbsp;

"Rapidly expanding trans-boundary criminal networks finance terror, supply arms, recruit and train of foreign fighters and destabilise whole regions which disproportionately affect women," she said during a UN Security Council debate on 'Women, Peace and Security'.

Tripathi noted that large scale movements of refugees emanating from armed conflicts increase the vulnerability of women to discrimination and exploitation. Emphasising the need for global cooperation in this front, she said no country is in a position to effectively counter these challenges alone.

"As the General Assembly focuses on gender sensitive and inclusive development to build peaceful and resilient societies, the Council must push for effective cooperation on countering terrorism that threatens peace and security," she said.

Tripathi asserted that the Council must make all efforts to realise the full potential of integrating women, peace and security considerations in sanctions regimes.&nbsp;

"The Sanctions Committees of the Security Council need to address the issue of proactively listing terrorist individuals and entities involved in sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts.&nbsp;

"International cooperation for prosecution of criminals engaged in trans-boundary crimes is important to bring justice to the victims, large number of whom is women and girls," she said.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Council's annual high-level debate that the participation of women in formal peace processes remains extremely limited and the international community still has "far to go" as conflict continues to have a devastating effect on women and girls.

He said between 1990 and 2017, women constituted just 2 per cent of the mediators, 8 per cent of the negotiators and 5 per cent of the witnesses and the signatories in all major peace processes.

The UN documented more than 800 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2017, a 56 per cent increase since 2016, he said.

"Women human rights defenders, political leaders, journalists and activists, who play an important role in addressing the root causes of conflict, are targeted at alarming rates," Guterres said adding that women's marginalisation, lack of access to health and education services, and economic disempowerment continue to be both a cause and an effect of conflict.

He also voiced concern that funding for programmes to promote gender equality and empowerment of women in countries affected by conflict is just 5 per cent of the total bilateral aid to such countries.

Tripathi pointed out that the importance of women's active engagement and leadership in peace and reconciliation processes and in countering spread of violent extremism is well established.

She said the issue of women peace and security has also to be seen in the wider societal context, involving gender and development issues, which are dealt with outside the Council.

Tripathi told the 15-nation UN body that India is committed to a higher representation of women in peacekeeping missions and has fulfilled the pledge to have 15 per cent of military observers as women.

India has recently partnered with the UN Women toward a capacity building initiative. Under the initiative, the New Delhi-based Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUPNK) conducted the third UN female military officers course for 40 women military officers from 26 countries.

India also fully supports UN Secretary General's zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, and strong commitment to achieving gender parity in peace operations, she said.&nbsp;

Despite greater participation of women in building and sustaining peace and the recognition from all quarters of the value they bring, the realities on the ground show that much more remains to be done, Guterres said.

"Every year, we make laudable commitments. But they are not backed with the requisite financial and political support," he said, noting lack of inclusion in mediation efforts and limited space for women to participate as peace builders.

He said it was "crippling to our credibility and protection capacity that women represent only four per cent of our military peacekeepers and ten per cent of police".&nbsp;

He added that the UN fully supports the innovative efforts launched by the member states this year to incentivise greater women representation.

India has called for the UN Security Council sanctions regime to "proactively" list terrorists and terror groups involved in sexual violence in armed conflicts, underscoring that prosecution of criminals engaged in trans-boundary crimes is critical to deliver justice to victims.

India has called for the UN Security Council sanctions regime to "proactively" list terrorists and terror groups involved in sexual violence in armed conflicts, underscoring that prosecution of criminals engaged in trans-boundary crimes is critical to deliver justice to victims. First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Paulomi Tripathi, on Thursday said that women's role and perspectives in peace processes remain largely neglected despite the normative and operative frameworks relating to women, peace and security agenda having been considerably strengthened across the UN system over the last two decades. She voiced concern that sexual violence, abductions and human trafficking continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations. "Rapidly expanding trans-boundary criminal networks finance terror, supply arms, recruit and train of foreign fighters and destabilise whole regions which disproportionately affect women," she said during a UN Security Council debate on 'Women, Peace and Security'. Tripathi noted that large scale movements of refugees emanating from armed conflicts increase the vulnerability of women to discrimination and exploitation. Emphasising the need for global cooperation in this front, she said no country is in a position to effectively counter these challenges alone. "As the General Assembly focuses on gender sensitive and inclusive development to build peaceful and resilient societies, the Council must push for effective cooperation on countering terrorism that threatens peace and security," she said. Tripathi asserted that the Council must make all efforts to realise the full potential of integrating women, peace and security considerations in sanctions regimes. "The Sanctions Committees of the Security Council need to address the issue of proactively listing terrorist individuals and entities involved in sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts. "International cooperation for prosecution of criminals engaged in trans-boundary crimes is important to bring justice to the victims, large number of whom is women and girls," she said. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Council's annual high-level debate that the participation of women in formal peace processes remains extremely limited and the international community still has "far to go" as conflict continues to have a devastating effect on women and girls. He said between 1990 and 2017, women constituted just 2 per cent of the mediators, 8 per cent of the negotiators and 5 per cent of the witnesses and the signatories in all major peace processes. The UN documented more than 800 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2017, a 56 per cent increase since 2016, he said. "Women human rights defenders, political leaders, journalists and activists, who play an important role in addressing the root causes of conflict, are targeted at alarming rates," Guterres said adding that women's marginalisation, lack of access to health and education services, and economic disempowerment continue to be both a cause and an effect of conflict. He also voiced concern that funding for programmes to promote gender equality and empowerment of women in countries affected by conflict is just 5 per cent of the total bilateral aid to such countries. Tripathi pointed out that the importance of women's active engagement and leadership in peace and reconciliation processes and in countering spread of violent extremism is well established. She said the issue of women peace and security has also to be seen in the wider societal context, involving gender and development issues, which are dealt with outside the Council. Tripathi told the 15-nation UN body that India is committed to a higher representation of women in peacekeeping missions and has fulfilled the pledge to have 15 per cent of military observers as women. India has recently partnered with the UN Women toward a capacity building initiative. Under the initiative, the New Delhi-based Centre for UN Peacekeeping (CUPNK) conducted the third UN female military officers course for 40 women military officers from 26 countries. India also fully supports UN Secretary General's zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, and strong commitment to achieving gender parity in peace operations, she said. Despite greater participation of women in building and sustaining peace and the recognition from all quarters of the value they bring, the realities on the ground show that much more remains to be done, Guterres said. "Every year, we make laudable commitments. But they are not backed with the requisite financial and political support," he said, noting lack of inclusion in mediation efforts and limited space for women to participate as peace builders. He said it was "crippling to our credibility and protection capacity that women represent only four per cent of our military peacekeepers and ten per cent of police". He added that the UN fully supports the innovative efforts launched by the member states this year to incentivise greater women representation.

India calls for UN sanctions against terrorists involved in sexual violence

Sexual violence and abductions continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations which disproportionately affect women, India has said as it asked the UN Security Council to sanction individuals and entities involved in gender-based violence.&nbsp;

The remarks by Paulomi Tripathi, First Secretary in the India's Permanent Mission here, came after UN chief Antonio Guterres reported a huge increase in such brutalities.&nbsp;

"Today, there is greater awareness about the centrality of meaningful participation of women in peace processes and incorporation of gender perspectives in UN's peace and security efforts," Tripathi said.

Despite these efforts, women's role and perspectives in peace processes remain largely neglected, she said during the UN Security Council open debate on "promoting the implementation of women, peace and security agenda and sustaining peace through women's political and economic empowerment".&nbsp;

"Sexual violence, abductions and human trafficking continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations. Rapidly expanding trans-boundary criminal networks finance terror, supply arms, recruit and train of foreign fighters and destabilise whole regions which disproportionately affect women," she said.

"Large scale movements of refugees emanating from armed conflicts increase the vulnerability of women to discrimination and exploitation, she said. 
Tripathi said India appreciates Secretary General's emphasis and achievement on gender parity in UN's senior leadership.&nbsp;

"As the General Assembly focuses on gender sensitive and inclusive development to build peaceful and resilient societies, the Council must push for effective cooperation on countering terrorism that threatens peace and security," she said.

"The Council must make all efforts to realize the full potential of integrating women, peace and security considerations in sanctions regimes. The Sanctions Committees of the Security Council need to address the issue of proactively listing terrorist individuals and entities involved in sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts," she said.&nbsp;

International cooperation for prosecution of criminals engaged in transboundary crimes is important to bring justice to the victims, large number of whom is women and girls, she added. &nbsp;

In India, she said the discourse on women's empowerment has progressed from viewing women as beneficiaries of welfare schemes to mainstreaming their concerns and harnessing their leadership for inclusive development.&nbsp;

More than 1.3 million directly elected women representatives participate in formulating and implementing gender responsive policies in India. Gender-based budgeting has proved beneficial for mainstreaming of gender perspectives in policy implementation across sectors, she said

"India is committed to a higher representation of women in peacekeeping missions and has fulfilled the pledge to have 15 per cent of military observers as women," she said as she cited the example of the landmark first ever deployment by UN of all Female Formed Police Unit in Liberia by India.

The deployment became a role model to the local women to participate in policing and in relevant rule of law frameworks. India is also committed to provide another all-female formed police unit," she said.

India also fully supports UN Secretary General Guterres' zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, and strong commitment to achieving gender parity in peace operations, she said.

"India stands ready to engage with our partners to work towards ensuring the meaningful participation of women and mainstreaming of women, peace and security considerations for building inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies," Tripathi said.&nbsp;

Sexual violence and abductions continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations which disproportionately affect women, India has said as it asked the UN Security Council to sanction individuals and entities involved in gender-based violence.

Sexual violence and abductions continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations which disproportionately affect women, India has said as it asked the UN Security Council to sanction individuals and entities involved in gender-based violence. The remarks by Paulomi Tripathi, First Secretary in the India's Permanent Mission here, came after UN chief Antonio Guterres reported a huge increase in such brutalities. "Today, there is greater awareness about the centrality of meaningful participation of women in peace processes and incorporation of gender perspectives in UN's peace and security efforts," Tripathi said. Despite these efforts, women's role and perspectives in peace processes remain largely neglected, she said during the UN Security Council open debate on "promoting the implementation of women, peace and security agenda and sustaining peace through women's political and economic empowerment". "Sexual violence, abductions and human trafficking continue to be used as weapons of war in armed conflict by non-state actors and terrorist organisations. Rapidly expanding trans-boundary criminal networks finance terror, supply arms, recruit and train of foreign fighters and destabilise whole regions which disproportionately affect women," she said. "Large scale movements of refugees emanating from armed conflicts increase the vulnerability of women to discrimination and exploitation, she said. Tripathi said India appreciates Secretary General's emphasis and achievement on gender parity in UN's senior leadership. "As the General Assembly focuses on gender sensitive and inclusive development to build peaceful and resilient societies, the Council must push for effective cooperation on countering terrorism that threatens peace and security," she said. "The Council must make all efforts to realize the full potential of integrating women, peace and security considerations in sanctions regimes. The Sanctions Committees of the Security Council need to address the issue of proactively listing terrorist individuals and entities involved in sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts," she said. International cooperation for prosecution of criminals engaged in transboundary crimes is important to bring justice to the victims, large number of whom is women and girls, she added. In India, she said the discourse on women's empowerment has progressed from viewing women as beneficiaries of welfare schemes to mainstreaming their concerns and harnessing their leadership for inclusive development. More than 1.3 million directly elected women representatives participate in formulating and implementing gender responsive policies in India. Gender-based budgeting has proved beneficial for mainstreaming of gender perspectives in policy implementation across sectors, she said "India is committed to a higher representation of women in peacekeeping missions and has fulfilled the pledge to have 15 per cent of military observers as women," she said as she cited the example of the landmark first ever deployment by UN of all Female Formed Police Unit in Liberia by India. The deployment became a role model to the local women to participate in policing and in relevant rule of law frameworks. India is also committed to provide another all-female formed police unit," she said. India also fully supports UN Secretary General Guterres' zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, and strong commitment to achieving gender parity in peace operations, she said. "India stands ready to engage with our partners to work towards ensuring the meaningful participation of women and mainstreaming of women, peace and security considerations for building inclusive, peaceful and resilient societies," Tripathi said.

India asks UN to impose sanctions against terrorists for sexual violence

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi became the first person to be stripped of honorary Canadian citizenship on Tuesday over her refusal to call out atrocities by her nation's military against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The move was made official after Canada's Senate voted to revoke the symbolic honour.

The lower house had already approved a motion to the same effect last week.

The House of Commons granted the privilege to Suu Kyi in 2007, but her international reputation has since been tarnished by her refusal to call on the Burmese army to put an end to the atrocities committed against the Rohingya.

Canadian lawmakers described the violence against them as a "genocide" in a resolution passed in September.

The ethnic group are treated as foreigners in Burma, a country that is more than 90 per cent Buddhist.&nbsp;

A brutal military campaign that started last year drove more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in cramped refugee camps -- fearful of returning despite a repatriation deal.

Many have given accounts of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and arson.

Canada has granted honorary citizenship only to five other personalities, including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Malala Yousafzai.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi became the first person to be stripped of honorary Canadian citizenship on Tuesday over her refusal to call out atrocities by her nation's military against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi became the first person to be stripped of honorary Canadian citizenship on Tuesday over her refusal to call out atrocities by her nation's military against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The move was made official after Canada's Senate voted to revoke the symbolic honour. The lower house had already approved a motion to the same effect last week. The House of Commons granted the privilege to Suu Kyi in 2007, but her international reputation has since been tarnished by her refusal to call on the Burmese army to put an end to the atrocities committed against the Rohingya. Canadian lawmakers described the violence against them as a "genocide" in a resolution passed in September. The ethnic group are treated as foreigners in Burma, a country that is more than 90 per cent Buddhist. A brutal military campaign that started last year drove more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in cramped refugee camps -- fearful of returning despite a repatriation deal. Many have given accounts of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence and arson. Canada has granted honorary citizenship only to five other personalities, including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Malala Yousafzai.

Aung San Suu Kyi becomes first person stripped of honourary Canadian citizenship

By Paul McGorrery*&nbsp;

Not-for-profit group End Rape on Campus recently released a report detailing horrific incidents of &ldquo;hazing&rdquo; in residential colleges. Hazing essentially describes the ritual humiliation of newcomers to college life.

Just some examples of hazing described in the report include students:

being &ldquo;encouraged&rdquo; to drink beer that has been poured onto another resident&rsquo;s genital region

exposing each other&rsquo;s sexual activity online with graphic and embarrassing photos, and

being locked in a bathroom and having vats of dead fish thrown on them.

This report marks an important milestone, because the media interest in the release of this report creates an opportunity for a turning point. A unified public and private condemnation of hazing in Australia.

Much as Rosie Batty brought family violence into the spotlight, and much as the #metoo movement unearthed the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, the Red Zone report provides us with a unique opportunity to address yet another of society&rsquo;s unaddressed shames.&nbsp;

The fact that male students are habitually masturbating into female students&rsquo; bathroom products is unacceptable. Such behaviours are outdated, misogynistic, and cruel.&nbsp;

Most of the recommendations in the report are both sensible and uncontroversial. The authors recommend, for example, greater oversight of student residences, and more transparency and dialogue about college culture.

But they also recommend that hazing be criminalised across Australia, in particular: the act of requiring an individual to undergo any act which is likely to cause bodily danger or physical punishment to any student or other person, as a precondition of joining or participating in a student group or organisation.&nbsp;

Criminal law as a response to undesirable behaviours

The criminal law is the state&rsquo;s most coercive tool. Used to its full extent, it can lead to you being arrested, subjected to a lengthy and expensive trial, having your liberty revoked for years, and suffering a life-long stigma. The criminal law is a necessary part of a fully functioning liberal democracy, but it should be used with extreme caution.

Research has repeatedly proven the effectiveness of a criminal justice system is inextricably linked to whether it is perceived as legitimate, fair and coherent. When the criminal law is too broad, too narrow, or inconsistent, it loses legitimacy. It also loses legitimacy when new laws are introduced that are purely symbolic and add no real substance to existing laws.

It is questionable, for example, whether the new crimes of &nbsp;drive-by shooting, home invasion, and carjacking add much to the criminal law. Many of these behaviours were already captured by crimes such as attempted murder, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, aggravated burglary, and armed robbery.

There is an often forgotten criteria that should be met before any new law is introduced. Specifically: is the targeted behaviour already a crime? If so, is the answer really to criminalise it again, or is the more appropriate response to dedicate more resources to policing existing crimes?

When the Red Zone report recommended introducing specific criminal laws that target hazing in Australian universities, it neglected to consider whether those behaviours might already be criminal.&nbsp;

Hazing laws in the United States

Hazing is certainly a crime in the United States. It has been specifically criminalised in all but six US states for decades now.&nbsp;

In Texas, for example, it is a crime to intentionally or recklessly engage in an act, directed at a student, which endangers their mental or physical health or safety, for the purpose of pledging or initiation into a student organisation.

In New York, it is a crime to intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct, during another person&rsquo;s initiation or affiliation with an organisation, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury.

And in California, it is a crime to engage in any method of initiation into a student organisation that is likely to cause serious bodily injury to a former, current or prospective student.&nbsp;

To prove these crimes, the prosecution would have to establish:

the defendant intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct 
such conduct created a substantial or real risk of injury or serious injury to the victim 
the victim was a student 
the conduct was part of an initiation or affiliation with a student organisation. 
Except for the requirement the victim be a student being initiated into a student organisation, this looks very much like a number of offences that already exist around Australia.

Is hazing already a crime in Australia?

Most jurisdictions in Australia already make it a crime to intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct that creates a substantial or real risk of serious harm, including both physical and mental harm (such as South Australia and the Northern Territory).

Even more relevant, Queensland has criminalised torture, which is defined as &ldquo;the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person by an act or series of acts&rdquo;, and pain or suffering is then defined as including &ldquo;physical, mental, psychological or emotional pain or suffering&rdquo;.

Further, in addition to there already being a number of criminal laws that would capture most of the hazing behaviours described in the Red Zone report, there are also a number of issues with the way the proposed offence is framed.

Looking at their proposed offence, the prosecution would need to prove:

the defendant required the victim to engage in an act 
the victim was a student 
the victim engaged in the required act 
the act was part of initiation into a student group or organisation 
the act was likely to cause bodily injury or physical punishment.

First, it is peculiar that requiring someone to do something that is likely to cause them bodily injury would only be criminal if it occurs in the context of a student initiation ritual. Does this make such behaviours acceptable in other contexts?

Second, there are many forms of hazing that would not be captured if the legislation was limited to circumstances in which the victim suffered bodily injury or physical punishment, particularly emotional and psychological torture.

And third, it would be somewhat unorthodox to ask the prosecution to establish that a defendant required a victim to do something. Such a requirement would raise serious questions of free will and autonomy, issues which are not sufficiently addressed in the report. In many US states, for example, legislation specifies that people cannot consent to participating in initiation rituals that would constitute hazing.

The Red Zone report will hopefully herald a new era. Hazing is a blight on society. And the criminal law may well be the appropriate response to hazing behaviours.

But in an age where the criminal law is treated as both a panacea for society&rsquo;s woes and a constant failure (while it is, in fact, neither), much more consideration is needed before any new criminal laws are introduced.

First and foremost, we should determine what exactly the wrongful and harmful behaviour&nbsp;we want to prohibit is. Once that has been identified, we should determine whether that behaviour is already criminal. If so, we should consider whether we can better utilise the laws we already have. And if not, we should figure out how to write a law that adequately captures the targeted behaviour, and goes no further.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

*Paul McGorrery is a PhD Candidate in Criminal Law, Deakin University

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

We should determine what exactly the wrongful and harmful behavior we want to prohibit and whether we can better utilise the laws we already have.

By Paul McGorrery* Not-for-profit group End Rape on Campus recently released a report detailing horrific incidents of “hazing” in residential colleges. Hazing essentially describes the ritual humiliation of newcomers to college life. Just some examples of hazing described in the report include students: being “encouraged” to drink beer that has been poured onto another resident’s genital region exposing each other’s sexual activity online with graphic and embarrassing photos, and being locked in a bathroom and having vats of dead fish thrown on them. This report marks an important milestone, because the media interest in the release of this report creates an opportunity for a turning point. A unified public and private condemnation of hazing in Australia. Much as Rosie Batty brought family violence into the spotlight, and much as the #metoo movement unearthed the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, the Red Zone report provides us with a unique opportunity to address yet another of society’s unaddressed shames. The fact that male students are habitually masturbating into female students’ bathroom products is unacceptable. Such behaviours are outdated, misogynistic, and cruel. Most of the recommendations in the report are both sensible and uncontroversial. The authors recommend, for example, greater oversight of student residences, and more transparency and dialogue about college culture. But they also recommend that hazing be criminalised across Australia, in particular: the act of requiring an individual to undergo any act which is likely to cause bodily danger or physical punishment to any student or other person, as a precondition of joining or participating in a student group or organisation. Criminal law as a response to undesirable behaviours The criminal law is the state’s most coercive tool. Used to its full extent, it can lead to you being arrested, subjected to a lengthy and expensive trial, having your liberty revoked for years, and suffering a life-long stigma. The criminal law is a necessary part of a fully functioning liberal democracy, but it should be used with extreme caution. Research has repeatedly proven the effectiveness of a criminal justice system is inextricably linked to whether it is perceived as legitimate, fair and coherent. When the criminal law is too broad, too narrow, or inconsistent, it loses legitimacy. It also loses legitimacy when new laws are introduced that are purely symbolic and add no real substance to existing laws. It is questionable, for example, whether the new crimes of drive-by shooting, home invasion, and carjacking add much to the criminal law. Many of these behaviours were already captured by crimes such as attempted murder, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, aggravated burglary, and armed robbery. There is an often forgotten criteria that should be met before any new law is introduced. Specifically: is the targeted behaviour already a crime? If so, is the answer really to criminalise it again, or is the more appropriate response to dedicate more resources to policing existing crimes? When the Red Zone report recommended introducing specific criminal laws that target hazing in Australian universities, it neglected to consider whether those behaviours might already be criminal. Hazing laws in the United States Hazing is certainly a crime in the United States. It has been specifically criminalised in all but six US states for decades now. In Texas, for example, it is a crime to intentionally or recklessly engage in an act, directed at a student, which endangers their mental or physical health or safety, for the purpose of pledging or initiation into a student organisation. In New York, it is a crime to intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct, during another person’s initiation or affiliation with an organisation, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury. And in California, it is a crime to engage in any method of initiation into a student organisation that is likely to cause serious bodily injury to a former, current or prospective student. To prove these crimes, the prosecution would have to establish: the defendant intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct such conduct created a substantial or real risk of injury or serious injury to the victim the victim was a student the conduct was part of an initiation or affiliation with a student organisation. Except for the requirement the victim be a student being initiated into a student organisation, this looks very much like a number of offences that already exist around Australia. Is hazing already a crime in Australia? Most jurisdictions in Australia already make it a crime to intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct that creates a substantial or real risk of serious harm, including both physical and mental harm (such as South Australia and the Northern Territory). Even more relevant, Queensland has criminalised torture, which is defined as “the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person by an act or series of acts”, and pain or suffering is then defined as including “physical, mental, psychological or emotional pain or suffering”. Further, in addition to there already being a number of criminal laws that would capture most of the hazing behaviours described in the Red Zone report, there are also a number of issues with the way the proposed offence is framed. Looking at their proposed offence, the prosecution would need to prove: the defendant required the victim to engage in an act the victim was a student the victim engaged in the required act the act was part of initiation into a student group or organisation the act was likely to cause bodily injury or physical punishment. First, it is peculiar that requiring someone to do something that is likely to cause them bodily injury would only be criminal if it occurs in the context of a student initiation ritual. Does this make such behaviours acceptable in other contexts? Second, there are many forms of hazing that would not be captured if the legislation was limited to circumstances in which the victim suffered bodily injury or physical punishment, particularly emotional and psychological torture. And third, it would be somewhat unorthodox to ask the prosecution to establish that a defendant required a victim to do something. Such a requirement would raise serious questions of free will and autonomy, issues which are not sufficiently addressed in the report. In many US states, for example, legislation specifies that people cannot consent to participating in initiation rituals that would constitute hazing. The Red Zone report will hopefully herald a new era. Hazing is a blight on society. And the criminal law may well be the appropriate response to hazing behaviours. But in an age where the criminal law is treated as both a panacea for society’s woes and a constant failure (while it is, in fact, neither), much more consideration is needed before any new criminal laws are introduced. First and foremost, we should determine what exactly the wrongful and harmful behaviour we want to prohibit is. Once that has been identified, we should determine whether that behaviour is already criminal. If so, we should consider whether we can better utilise the laws we already have. And if not, we should figure out how to write a law that adequately captures the targeted behaviour, and goes no further. *Paul McGorrery is a PhD Candidate in Criminal Law, Deakin University (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why governments should be cautious about criminalising hazing?

Time&rsquo;s 2017 Person of the Year was &ldquo;The Silence Breakers,&rdquo; a growing contingent of women who have been speaking out about sexual harassment by men in positions of power.

But the sexual exploitation of women is hardly something new. As Time observed, the #MeToo movement &ldquo;has actually been simmering for years, decades, centuries.&rdquo;

In order to prepare for a course I&rsquo;ll be teaching next fall about working women in 1920s and 1930s films, I&rsquo;ve been watching a lot of movies from the period. And I&rsquo;ve been repeatedly surprised by how much casual sexual harassment &ndash; a term that wouldn&rsquo;t exist until decades later &ndash; was depicted on screen during those years.

In recent months, we&rsquo;ve seen the exploitative behavior of powerful men exposed. But these movies from the 1930s show how far back these perverse values go, and how integral they were to Hollywood&rsquo;s imagining of women&rsquo;s lives.&nbsp;

A familiar pattern emerges

In 1934, the Motion Picture Association of America adopted a Production Code that suppressed representations of sex and violence.

In the years before the code began to be enforced, filmmakers frequently depicted sexual coercion on the big screen.

Many of these films took place in a Depression-era urban milieu. They featured unmarried, working class women struggling to pay the rent, mend their worn out stockings, and decide between dinner or carfare. And in movies from &ldquo;Millie&rdquo; (1931) to &ldquo;The Week-End Marriage&rdquo; (1932) there&rsquo;s a familiar pattern of sexual aggression towards these women.

A male shop owner, business executive, restaurant patron or department store customer promises a woman resources &ndash; nice clothes, a fancy apartment, career advancement &ndash; or marriage (once their wives divorce them, of course). In exchange, they want sex. Maybe it&rsquo;s just for a weekend; maybe it&rsquo;s for longer.

When the men get what they want, their initial promises &ndash; marriage, a better job, a life of luxury &ndash; usually dry up.

For the predators in these movies, consequences are almost always nonexistent. The men casually presume their right to the bodies of these young, beautiful women, banking on their literal hunger and economic desperation. The harassed, on the other hand, typically suffer for their optimistic (some might say foolish) hope that love or decency might win out in the end.&nbsp;

Harassment, heartbreak, suicide

These repeated incidences of sexual exploitation appear to be commonplace, even expected.

Female characters are rarely surprised when men grope or solicit them. Instead, they offer well-rehearsed (and often hilarious) cracks as they commiserate with each other in the aftermath. A joke, repeated in several films, is the &ldquo;no sale&rdquo; icon popping up at the cash register after a female character rejects a pass.&nbsp;

Some female characters &ndash; like Fay (Ginger Rogers) and Trixie (Aline MacMahon) in &ldquo;Gold Diggers of 1933&rdquo; (1933) &ndash; are savvy about their sexual currency, seeking relationships with otherwise undesirable men to gain access to their wallets. Others, like Lily (Barbara Stanwyck) in &ldquo;Baby Face&rdquo; (1933), use men&rsquo;s relentless advances to build their careers, turning sex into a tool for economic ascension.

But for every Trixie and Lily, there are a host of devastated women who fall victim to male deception, some to the point of committing suicide.

&ldquo;Our Blushing Brides&rdquo; (1930) tells the story of a trio of department store models. Connie (Anita Page), falls in love with a wealthy man who leads her to believe he&rsquo;s going to marry her, showering her with the finer things in life and a swanky apartment in exchange for you-know-what.

It turns out that Prince Charming plans to marry another woman, one of his class. Heartbroken and ashamed, Connie listens to the wedding broadcast on the radio. Then she quaffs poison.

&ldquo;Three Wise Girls&rdquo; (1932) opens with Cassie (Jean Harlow) walking alone at night on a dark country road. A male driver stops and offers her a ride, to which Cassie cracks: &ldquo;No thanks, I&rsquo;m just walking home from one.&rdquo;

From the start, this is a film about the nonstop diligence required to avoid sexual victimization. Cassie moves to New York hoping to rise in the world, and ends up working at a soda fountain. Her boss slides behind her as she&rsquo;s pouring a soda, lingering with his hands on her until she brushes him away. Seconds later, we hear Harlow slap him in the back room and shout, &ldquo;Take your hands off me.&rdquo; Needless to say, that&rsquo;s the end of that job.

A wealthy drunk who observes this encounter follows Cassie out of the store, offering her a ride in his car, saying he needs the air.

&ldquo;Yeah, well I&rsquo;m giving you the air,&rdquo; Cassie replies.&nbsp;

That makes three passes in the film&rsquo;s first 10 minutes, and that&rsquo;s the tip of the iceberg.

Toward the end of the film, one of the other (not so) wise girls, Gladys (Mae Clarke), finds out from a newspaper headline that her beau has reconciled with his wife.

&ldquo;Not a note, telephone call, anything. I had to read it in the papers,&rdquo; she tells Cassie, before collapsing.

Moments later, Cassie finds the bottle of poison Gladys used to commit suicide.&nbsp;

Same as it ever was?

In the midst of our current cultural reckoning with sexual harassment, it&rsquo;s worth considering what these films communicated.

Much like their #MeToo counterparts today, some of these female characters manage to ward off their pursuers, even when they&rsquo;re the boss. However, just as often they pay the price with their jobs or, as in the aforementioned examples, their lives.

Is it surprising that Hollywood is rife with the real-life version of these stories, which are only now coming out and being taken seriously?

Moviegoers in the early 1930s watched films about such sexual aggression on a regular basis, suggesting the degree to which this behavior was known, if not tacitly condoned, by film producers who were, of course, all male. The Production Code certainly tamed such blunt plot lines.

But the residue of men using their power to exert control over women (especially those economically beneath them) remained, albeit in muted forms. One can only imagine how many Harvey Weinsteins operated with impunity in 1930s Hollywood.

As Lily says to Courtland Trenhold (George Brent) in &ldquo;Baby Face,&rdquo; &ldquo;I was hoping you wouldn&rsquo;t be like everybody else. Silly of me, wasn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Scores of Depression-era films depicted a pattern of sexual harassment that sounds all too familiar.

Time’s 2017 Person of the Year was “The Silence Breakers,” a growing contingent of women who have been speaking out about sexual harassment by men in positions of power. But the sexual exploitation of women is hardly something new. As Time observed, the #MeToo movement “has actually been simmering for years, decades, centuries.” In order to prepare for a course I’ll be teaching next fall about working women in 1920s and 1930s films, I’ve been watching a lot of movies from the period. And I’ve been repeatedly surprised by how much casual sexual harassment – a term that wouldn’t exist until decades later – was depicted on screen during those years. In recent months, we’ve seen the exploitative behavior of powerful men exposed. But these movies from the 1930s show how far back these perverse values go, and how integral they were to Hollywood’s imagining of women’s lives. A familiar pattern emerges In 1934, the Motion Picture Association of America adopted a Production Code that suppressed representations of sex and violence. In the years before the code began to be enforced, filmmakers frequently depicted sexual coercion on the big screen. Many of these films took place in a Depression-era urban milieu. They featured unmarried, working class women struggling to pay the rent, mend their worn out stockings, and decide between dinner or carfare. And in movies from “Millie” (1931) to “The Week-End Marriage” (1932) there’s a familiar pattern of sexual aggression towards these women. A male shop owner, business executive, restaurant patron or department store customer promises a woman resources – nice clothes, a fancy apartment, career advancement – or marriage (once their wives divorce them, of course). In exchange, they want sex. Maybe it’s just for a weekend; maybe it’s for longer. When the men get what they want, their initial promises – marriage, a better job, a life of luxury – usually dry up. For the predators in these movies, consequences are almost always nonexistent. The men casually presume their right to the bodies of these young, beautiful women, banking on their literal hunger and economic desperation. The harassed, on the other hand, typically suffer for their optimistic (some might say foolish) hope that love or decency might win out in the end. Harassment, heartbreak, suicide These repeated incidences of sexual exploitation appear to be commonplace, even expected. Female characters are rarely surprised when men grope or solicit them. Instead, they offer well-rehearsed (and often hilarious) cracks as they commiserate with each other in the aftermath. A joke, repeated in several films, is the “no sale” icon popping up at the cash register after a female character rejects a pass. Some female characters – like Fay (Ginger Rogers) and Trixie (Aline MacMahon) in “Gold Diggers of 1933” (1933) – are savvy about their sexual currency, seeking relationships with otherwise undesirable men to gain access to their wallets. Others, like Lily (Barbara Stanwyck) in “Baby Face” (1933), use men’s relentless advances to build their careers, turning sex into a tool for economic ascension. But for every Trixie and Lily, there are a host of devastated women who fall victim to male deception, some to the point of committing suicide. “Our Blushing Brides” (1930) tells the story of a trio of department store models. Connie (Anita Page), falls in love with a wealthy man who leads her to believe he’s going to marry her, showering her with the finer things in life and a swanky apartment in exchange for you-know-what. It turns out that Prince Charming plans to marry another woman, one of his class. Heartbroken and ashamed, Connie listens to the wedding broadcast on the radio. Then she quaffs poison. “Three Wise Girls” (1932) opens with Cassie (Jean Harlow) walking alone at night on a dark country road. A male driver stops and offers her a ride, to which Cassie cracks: “No thanks, I’m just walking home from one.” From the start, this is a film about the nonstop diligence required to avoid sexual victimization. Cassie moves to New York hoping to rise in the world, and ends up working at a soda fountain. Her boss slides behind her as she’s pouring a soda, lingering with his hands on her until she brushes him away. Seconds later, we hear Harlow slap him in the back room and shout, “Take your hands off me.” Needless to say, that’s the end of that job. A wealthy drunk who observes this encounter follows Cassie out of the store, offering her a ride in his car, saying he needs the air. “Yeah, well I’m giving you the air,” Cassie replies. That makes three passes in the film’s first 10 minutes, and that’s the tip of the iceberg. Toward the end of the film, one of the other (not so) wise girls, Gladys (Mae Clarke), finds out from a newspaper headline that her beau has reconciled with his wife. “Not a note, telephone call, anything. I had to read it in the papers,” she tells Cassie, before collapsing. Moments later, Cassie finds the bottle of poison Gladys used to commit suicide. Same as it ever was? In the midst of our current cultural reckoning with sexual harassment, it’s worth considering what these films communicated. Much like their #MeToo counterparts today, some of these female characters manage to ward off their pursuers, even when they’re the boss. However, just as often they pay the price with their jobs or, as in the aforementioned examples, their lives. Is it surprising that Hollywood is rife with the real-life version of these stories, which are only now coming out and being taken seriously? Moviegoers in the early 1930s watched films about such sexual aggression on a regular basis, suggesting the degree to which this behavior was known, if not tacitly condoned, by film producers who were, of course, all male. The Production Code certainly tamed such blunt plot lines. But the residue of men using their power to exert control over women (especially those economically beneath them) remained, albeit in muted forms. One can only imagine how many Harvey Weinsteins operated with impunity in 1930s Hollywood. As Lily says to Courtland Trenhold (George Brent) in “Baby Face,” “I was hoping you wouldn’t be like everybody else. Silly of me, wasn’t it?” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Sexual plight of working women in Hollywood films of 1930s

With the collapse of Islamic State&rsquo;s (IS) &ldquo;caliphate&rdquo; in Iraq and Syria, it is time to think about the next steps for those who have suffered under them. In particular, the children who have been born as a result of sexual violence perpetrated by IS fighters.

The precise number of children born within IS as a result of this violence is difficult to establish. But in March 2016 it was estimated that there were 31,000 pregnant women living within the caliphate. While the circumstances surrounding these pregnancies is unclear, a recent report on the use of sexual slavery within IS highlighted an economic dimension. This includes the payment of an additional US$35 for each child born to a woman held as a sex slave.

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<h5>Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence.</h5>
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These children suffer unique challenges. They have issued birth certificates, but as Islamic State is a non-state actor, they are effectively stateless. Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence.

These factors pose significant challenges for children who escape IS. These children lack a recognised nationality, bringing problems such as discrimination and lack of access to education and healthcare. They are also often viewed as a threat to security. Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as &ldquo;guilty by association&rdquo;. When entering a refugee camp north of Raqqa in May 2017, some of these children and their mothers were labelled &ldquo;the Daeshis&rdquo;, meaning Islamic State families, and shunned by others in the camp.

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<h5>Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as &ldquo;guilty by association&rdquo;.</h5>
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Further, children born of sexual violence in conflict, which includes children of IS, exist in what the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict has previously termed an &ldquo;accountability gap&rdquo;. While children born of sexual violence have been recognised as victims eligible for reparations as a result of truth commissions or national legislation in places such as Timor Leste, Chile, Peru and Sierra Leone, there are often strict criteria such as the mother being single. Further, these children have been neglected within the criminal justice processes developed in response to mass atrocities.

So, how should the international community respond? My tentative answer contains two elements. Firstly, the international community has a role to play in helping these children rebuild their lives. Secondly, consideration should be given to how the International Criminal Court (ICC), which integrates retributive and reparative justice mechanisms, can hold IS members responsible for sexual violence and recognise children born of this violence as victims entitled to reparations.

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Rebuilding lives

Firstly, these children will require legitimate documentation. Governments should, therefore, respond to calls by the United Nations to grant citizenship to children born under IS. Some cases may be complex. There may be cases where the child is born of one or two foreign parents; where the mother&rsquo;s home country enforces discriminatory laws denying women the right to transmit their nationality to their children; or where the child is orphaned. The international community must establish cooperation and coordination mechanisms to deal with such cases and ensure the best interests of the child are respected.

Support networks should also be established to coordinate integration into communities and entry into the education systems of national states.

Combating stigma of children born of war is key. Governments should adopt national stigma strategies with specific programmes to support mothers and children born from sexual violence, as recommended in the UK&rsquo;s new principles on this subject.

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Criminal prosecution

Then, in order to close the accountability gap, it is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims. While it has been reported that some IS members have been tried in domestic courts, the ICC has yet to play a role.

The UN has recently called for the ICC to exercise its jurisdiction with respect to crimes committed by IS in Iraq. But of course, prosecuting IS for international crimes raises a host of challenges, including jurisdictional issues and lack of precedence.

Should members ever face prosecution at the ICC, children born of sexual violence may be captured within the definition of forced pregnancy, an international crime for which individuals can be held criminally responsible under the Rome Statute. But the main element of this crime is confinement of the mother, rather than the recognition of sexual violence that has resulted in the pregnancy and birth of a child.

Indeed, there is no specific crime of fathering a child through sexual violence. This gap in the legal framework has been identified by international criminal legal experts Patricia Seller and Maxine Marcus as something for future jurisprudence at international criminal tribunals.

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Developments at the ICC

Despite the lack of formal recognition of children born of sexual violence in current legal frameworks, such children have featured in cases at the ICC.

For instance, in the ongoing case against Dominic Ongwen, who was charged with forced pregnancy, amongst other crimes in March 2016, ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, drew attention to &ldquo;a whole category of other victims: the children born in captivity resulting from these forced marriages, who sometimes face hostility and taunts as a result of their parentage&rdquo;.

Bensouda&rsquo;s statement suggests that attention will be paid to children born of sexual violence within this case, perhaps at the reparations stage, where the harms suffered by these children could be addressed.

There are of course limits to international criminal prosecutions. But it is encouraging to see that, should IS fighters ever face trial, jurisprudence is being developed which may allow children born under their reign to be recognised within the process.

Children born under IS raise a host legal and social issues that require a sensitive and coordinated response from the international community. Rather than being punished for the life they have been born into, the cloak of stigma and suspicion surrounding these children should be removed &ndash; and they should be supported in moving forward with their lives.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/children-born-of-sexual-violence-under-islamic-state-need-support-87147" rel="nofollow">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Image Credit: EPA

It is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims.

With the collapse of Islamic State’s (IS) “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, it is time to think about the next steps for those who have suffered under them. In particular, the children who have been born as a result of sexual violence perpetrated by IS fighters. The precise number of children born within IS as a result of this violence is difficult to establish. But in March 2016 it was estimated that there were 31,000 pregnant women living within the caliphate. While the circumstances surrounding these pregnancies is unclear, a recent report on the use of sexual slavery within IS highlighted an economic dimension. This includes the payment of an additional US$35 for each child born to a woman held as a sex slave. Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence. × These children suffer unique challenges. They have issued birth certificates, but as Islamic State is a non-state actor, they are effectively stateless. Indoctrinated with extreme ideology from birth, current IS fighters consider these children to be potentially better and more lethal fighters due to the normalisation of violence. These factors pose significant challenges for children who escape IS. These children lack a recognised nationality, bringing problems such as discrimination and lack of access to education and healthcare. They are also often viewed as a threat to security. Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as “guilty by association”. When entering a refugee camp north of Raqqa in May 2017, some of these children and their mothers were labelled “the Daeshis”, meaning Islamic State families, and shunned by others in the camp. Rather than being recognised as victims in need of support, children of IS are frequently seen as “guilty by association”. × Further, children born of sexual violence in conflict, which includes children of IS, exist in what the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict has previously termed an “accountability gap”. While children born of sexual violence have been recognised as victims eligible for reparations as a result of truth commissions or national legislation in places such as Timor Leste, Chile, Peru and Sierra Leone, there are often strict criteria such as the mother being single. Further, these children have been neglected within the criminal justice processes developed in response to mass atrocities. So, how should the international community respond? My tentative answer contains two elements. Firstly, the international community has a role to play in helping these children rebuild their lives. Secondly, consideration should be given to how the International Criminal Court (ICC), which integrates retributive and reparative justice mechanisms, can hold IS members responsible for sexual violence and recognise children born of this violence as victims entitled to reparations. An unidentified child of a militant of Islamic State (IS) plays with an AK-47. (Others) × Rebuilding lives Firstly, these children will require legitimate documentation. Governments should, therefore, respond to calls by the United Nations to grant citizenship to children born under IS. Some cases may be complex. There may be cases where the child is born of one or two foreign parents; where the mother’s home country enforces discriminatory laws denying women the right to transmit their nationality to their children; or where the child is orphaned. The international community must establish cooperation and coordination mechanisms to deal with such cases and ensure the best interests of the child are respected. Support networks should also be established to coordinate integration into communities and entry into the education systems of national states. Combating stigma of children born of war is key. Governments should adopt national stigma strategies with specific programmes to support mothers and children born from sexual violence, as recommended in the UK’s new principles on this subject. It is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims. × Criminal prosecution Then, in order to close the accountability gap, it is imperative that IS members responsible for crimes of sexual violence are prosecuted and that children born of this violence are recognised as victims. While it has been reported that some IS members have been tried in domestic courts, the ICC has yet to play a role. The UN has recently called for the ICC to exercise its jurisdiction with respect to crimes committed by IS in Iraq. But of course, prosecuting IS for international crimes raises a host of challenges, including jurisdictional issues and lack of precedence. Should members ever face prosecution at the ICC, children born of sexual violence may be captured within the definition of forced pregnancy, an international crime for which individuals can be held criminally responsible under the Rome Statute. But the main element of this crime is confinement of the mother, rather than the recognition of sexual violence that has resulted in the pregnancy and birth of a child. Indeed, there is no specific crime of fathering a child through sexual violence. This gap in the legal framework has been identified by international criminal legal experts Patricia Seller and Maxine Marcus as something for future jurisprudence at international criminal tribunals. There is no specific crime of fathering a child through sexual violence. × Developments at the ICC Despite the lack of formal recognition of children born of sexual violence in current legal frameworks, such children have featured in cases at the ICC. For instance, in the ongoing case against Dominic Ongwen, who was charged with forced pregnancy, amongst other crimes in March 2016, ICC chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, drew attention to “a whole category of other victims: the children born in captivity resulting from these forced marriages, who sometimes face hostility and taunts as a result of their parentage”. Bensouda’s statement suggests that attention will be paid to children born of sexual violence within this case, perhaps at the reparations stage, where the harms suffered by these children could be addressed. There are of course limits to international criminal prosecutions. But it is encouraging to see that, should IS fighters ever face trial, jurisprudence is being developed which may allow children born under their reign to be recognised within the process. Children born under IS raise a host legal and social issues that require a sensitive and coordinated response from the international community. Rather than being punished for the life they have been born into, the cloak of stigma and suspicion surrounding these children should be removed – and they should be supported in moving forward with their lives. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity). Image Credit: EPA

Opinion: Children born of sexual violence under Islamic State

&quot;Sexual violence is everywhere - in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world,&quot; said the Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie.

Delivering the keynote address at the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, the actor, who is one of many women who came forward with accusations against Harvey Weinstein, addressed the recent stream of sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood. 
 
&quot;All too often, these kinds of crimes against women are laughed off, depicted as a minor offence by someone who cannot control themselves, as an illness, or as some kind of exaggerated sexual need,&quot; Jolie stated in her keynote speech, as reported by The Independent.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But a man who mistreats women is not oversexed. He is abusive.&quot;The 42-year-old, who is a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, called for sexual violence to be recognised around the world as a weapon and &quot;a critical obstacle to achieving women`s equality and our full human rights.&quot; 
 
&quot;It is cheaper than a bullet, and it has lasting consequences that unfold with sickening predictability that make it so cruelly effective,&quot; the By The Sea&nbsp;star continued.&nbsp;&quot;This is rape and assault designed to torture, to terrorize, to force people to flee, and to humiliate them.&quot; 
 
&quot;Even if we accept that sexual violence has nothing to do with sex, that it is a crime, and that it is used as a weapon, many people still believe that it is simply not possible to do anything about it,&quot; she said.&nbsp;&quot;It is hard, but it is not impossible. We have the laws, the institutions, and the expertise in gathering evidence. We are able to identify perpetrators. What is missing is the political will.&quot; 
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"Sexual violence is everywhere - in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world," said the Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie.

"Sexual violence is everywhere - in the industry where I work, in business, in universities, in politics, in the military, and across the world," said the Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie. Delivering the keynote address at the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial Conference in Vancouver, the actor, who is one of many women who came forward with accusations against Harvey Weinstein, addressed the recent stream of sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood. "All too often, these kinds of crimes against women are laughed off, depicted as a minor offence by someone who cannot control themselves, as an illness, or as some kind of exaggerated sexual need," Jolie stated in her keynote speech, as reported by The Independent. "But a man who mistreats women is not oversexed. He is abusive."The 42-year-old, who is a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, called for sexual violence to be recognised around the world as a weapon and "a critical obstacle to achieving women`s equality and our full human rights." "It is cheaper than a bullet, and it has lasting consequences that unfold with sickening predictability that make it so cruelly effective," the By The Sea star continued. "This is rape and assault designed to torture, to terrorize, to force people to flee, and to humiliate them." "Even if we accept that sexual violence has nothing to do with sex, that it is a crime, and that it is used as a weapon, many people still believe that it is simply not possible to do anything about it," she said. "It is hard, but it is not impossible. We have the laws, the institutions, and the expertise in gathering evidence. We are able to identify perpetrators. What is missing is the political will."

Angelina Jolie gives powerful speech at UN about sexual violence

On May 29th, in Manesar at Gurgaon, a 19-year-old woman was gang-raped and her 9-month-old daughter was killed by throwing her to the ground. Yesterday, The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Director General of Police, Haryana and the Gurugram Police Commission stating, &ldquo;the night patrolling on the road by the police was not being done&rdquo;. The NHRC requested the Police Commissioners of Delhi, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad to come up with constructive suggestions and a joint action programme is expected by the law enforcement agencies of the National Capital Region (NCR). Though this came as a positive measure to ensure women&rsquo;s safety, yet we are a long way to go.&nbsp;

The situation is particularly difficult to address as many Indian politicians across partylines often place the onus on the victims themselves.&nbsp;For instance, Azam Khan of Samajwadi Party&nbsp;remarked after two girls were raped by 14 men&nbsp;at&nbsp;Rampur in Uttar Pradesh that&nbsp;&rdquo;girls should avoid places where molesters roam free&rdquo;. The incident and bizarre assertion make us question if we women have a safe space to dwell in this country. Another leader Babulal Gaur on another gang rape case of two teenagers said, &ldquo;this is a social crime which depends on men and women. Sometimes it&rsquo;s right, sometimes it&rsquo;s wrong.&ldquo; Such remarks by leaders clearly do not reflect us in a respectable position, hence we do not want your sympathy.

The Nirbhaya verdict (5th May 2017) stirred clamour around capital punishment against the perpetrators of rape. Many believed, the perpetrators deserved &lsquo;justice served&rsquo; and some opposed the idea of capital punishment. Unfortunately, after the most celebrated verdict by the Apex court, a series of rape cases has been&nbsp;reported so far. Death penalty is commonly seen&nbsp;as a deterrent but&nbsp;so far it has failed in the prevention of rape against women. In the month of May alone, three very heinous instances of rape have made the headlines in the country.&nbsp;

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<h5>Frequently,&nbsp;police officials encourages&nbsp;the victim to settle the matter out of court, thereby,&nbsp;dissuading&nbsp;them from&nbsp;pursuing&nbsp;the case</h5>
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The dark figure of crime: Unreported Rape

The Indian Penal Code largely understands gender specific crime as an assault on women with the intent to outrage the modesty, cruelty by husband or relatives as well as kidnapping, abduction and rape. As per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), 327,394 cases of crimes against women were reported in 2015.&nbsp;In 95 per cent of these cases the offender knew&nbsp;the rape victim. One of the most frightening facts reported by NCRB is one rape occurs every 20 minutes in India.

Despite all the facts and figures reported by the NCRB, experts are unanimous that it is extremely to difficult to accurately calculate the number of rapes in any country, particularly in India. Victims often fail to report, more so,&nbsp;if family members are involved or in cases where the victim was found to be&nbsp;drunk or intoxicated. In the latter case, it is difficult to ascertain whether&nbsp;consent was given or not.&nbsp;Frequently,&nbsp;police officials encourages&nbsp;the victim to settle the matter out of court, thereby,&nbsp;dissuading&nbsp;them from&nbsp;pursuing&nbsp;the case.

Rape: Theories and Beliefs

If we evaluate why a woman is always the victim, it is pertinent to understand the various theories and studies done by scholars, psychologist and feminist over a period of time on rape culture. The early proponents of the Evolutionary Theory believed man rapes to enforce their sexual desires on a woman so that the offsprings bear their qualities. Whereas, the Feminist theory believed rape is &ldquo;violent and not just a sexual act&rdquo;, ideally generate fear and intimidate a woman.&nbsp;

The early proponents of feminism&nbsp;suggested, &ldquo;rape is about power and control and not sex&rdquo;. Anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sandy through her research on tribal societies presented &ldquo;rape varies cross-culturally&rdquo; and it includes, &rdquo;interpersonal violence, male dominance and sexual separation&rdquo;. Her study showcases the attitude towards women in &ldquo;rape free&rdquo; and &ldquo;rape prone&rdquo; zones. The &ldquo;rape free&rdquo; zones are ideal communities that &lsquo;respect female authority and power&rsquo; but, &ldquo;rape-prone&rdquo; are communities with male dominant societies. Her deviation from the common understanding provided a fresh perspective in understanding how certain positive attitude and behaviour in society tend to benefit women at large.&nbsp;

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<h5>&ldquo;Rape is a political matter&quot; and can be stopped only with the end patriarchy</h5>
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&nbsp;The New York Radical Feminists in their Manifesto categorically states that rape is not a &ldquo;personal&rdquo; problem. Rather, their argument is&nbsp;&ldquo;rape is a political matter&quot; and can be stopped only with the end patriarchy. The position taken by the Radical feminists complicates the common perception that capital punishment of the culprit will root out rape.&nbsp;

Capital punishment or not: The big debate

It is evident death penalty hasn&rsquo;t acted deterrent for our society. Moreover, the experts are not even sure whether the judiciary should see death penalty as a deterrent, reformation or retribution. &nbsp;Retribution is the common practice preferred however, it has failed to prove beneficial for neither our society nor criminals. This aspect is forcefully brought out by&nbsp;Professor John Braithwaite of The Australian National University who believes that&nbsp;&quot;crime hurts and justice should heal&quot;. The restorative justice cuts crime, it is noticed that after meeting their victims and engaging in a dialogue, criminals are less likely to re-offend. The survivor too gets a pivotal role in the &ldquo;justice process&rdquo;.&nbsp;

Joanne Nodding, a rape survivor, a few years ago wanted to confront the man who raped her. As part of restorative justice programme, she decided to meet him five years after the incident. The program allows victims to initiate a conversation with the person responsible. During the session, Nodding described the harrowing abuse she had to undergo. The perpetrator apologised and Nodding ended the meeting by forgiving him. She added she felt &ldquo;on top of the world, she had to release the burden so that he could look towards his future. It may stop him from doing it again&rdquo;. It is difficult to analyse the punishment that would fit the bill for the rapist.&nbsp;

Also, there exists unpredictability in awarding death sentence in rape cases, as most of the perpetrators are from underprivileged background. Raju Ramachandran, one of the amicus curie in the historic Nirbhaya&rsquo;s case, was a strong opponent of a death penalty.&nbsp;Ramachandran argued that a whole set of&nbsp;reasons, particularly one related to individual backgrounds&nbsp;should be considered rather than advocating that &quot;one penalty fits all&rdquo;. A blanket judgment&nbsp;&ldquo;hits at the very root of Article 14 which prohibits similar treatment of differently situated individuals&rdquo;. Despite a culture of &ldquo;shame and silence&rdquo;, we have to resort to progressive measures to deal with rape.

In spite of making necessary amendments in rape laws and better provisions adopted for women in India, nevertheless, we are not safe. The measures should be aimed at substantially reducing harm against women. Initiatives should be undertaken for collective actions, such as&nbsp;engaging&nbsp;bystanders, better policing, educate youth about healthy relationships and implement better prevention programs. Most of the initiatives undertaken in India have failed to achieve the desired result. It includes utilisation of Nirbhaya Fund-- &lsquo;One Stop Centre&rsquo;, &lsquo;Universalisation of Women Helpline&rsquo;, &lsquo;Mahila Police Volunteer&rsquo; and schemes of other Ministries/Departments under Nirbhaya Fund are yet to highlight their success stories.&nbsp;

To sum up, the unequal power dynamics between man and woman should be reduced; it will reduce the &ldquo;domination&rdquo; and &ldquo;discrimination&rdquo; attitude against women. Sexual violence is a public health issue,&nbsp;hence, collective action,&nbsp;implementing laws&nbsp;and generating interest are required to transform communities.

Sexual violence is a public health issue,?hence, collective action is necessary to prevent rape

On May 29th, in Manesar at Gurgaon, a 19-year-old woman was gang-raped and her 9-month-old daughter was killed by throwing her to the ground. Yesterday, The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Director General of Police, Haryana and the Gurugram Police Commission stating, “the night patrolling on the road by the police was not being done”. The NHRC requested the Police Commissioners of Delhi, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad to come up with constructive suggestions and a joint action programme is expected by the law enforcement agencies of the National Capital Region (NCR). Though this came as a positive measure to ensure women’s safety, yet we are a long way to go. The situation is particularly difficult to address as many Indian politicians across partylines often place the onus on the victims themselves. For instance, Azam Khan of Samajwadi Party remarked after two girls were raped by 14 men at Rampur in Uttar Pradesh that ”girls should avoid places where molesters roam free”. The incident and bizarre assertion make us question if we women have a safe space to dwell in this country. Another leader Babulal Gaur on another gang rape case of two teenagers said, “this is a social crime which depends on men and women. Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong.“ Such remarks by leaders clearly do not reflect us in a respectable position, hence we do not want your sympathy. The Nirbhaya verdict (5th May 2017) stirred clamour around capital punishment against the perpetrators of rape. Many believed, the perpetrators deserved ‘justice served’ and some opposed the idea of capital punishment. Unfortunately, after the most celebrated verdict by the Apex court, a series of rape cases has been reported so far. Death penalty is commonly seen as a deterrent but so far it has failed in the prevention of rape against women. In the month of May alone, three very heinous instances of rape have made the headlines in the country. Frequently, police officials encourages the victim to settle the matter out of court, thereby, dissuading them from pursuing the case × The dark figure of crime: Unreported Rape The Indian Penal Code largely understands gender specific crime as an assault on women with the intent to outrage the modesty, cruelty by husband or relatives as well as kidnapping, abduction and rape. As per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), 327,394 cases of crimes against women were reported in 2015. In 95 per cent of these cases the offender knew the rape victim. One of the most frightening facts reported by NCRB is one rape occurs every 20 minutes in India. Despite all the facts and figures reported by the NCRB, experts are unanimous that it is extremely to difficult to accurately calculate the number of rapes in any country, particularly in India. Victims often fail to report, more so, if family members are involved or in cases where the victim was found to be drunk or intoxicated. In the latter case, it is difficult to ascertain whether consent was given or not. Frequently, police officials encourages the victim to settle the matter out of court, thereby, dissuading them from pursuing the case. Rape: Theories and Beliefs If we evaluate why a woman is always the victim, it is pertinent to understand the various theories and studies done by scholars, psychologist and feminist over a period of time on rape culture. The early proponents of the Evolutionary Theory believed man rapes to enforce their sexual desires on a woman so that the offsprings bear their qualities. Whereas, the Feminist theory believed rape is “violent and not just a sexual act”, ideally generate fear and intimidate a woman. The early proponents of feminism suggested, “rape is about power and control and not sex”. Anthropologist Peggy Reeves Sandy through her research on tribal societies presented “rape varies cross-culturally” and it includes, ”interpersonal violence, male dominance and sexual separation”. Her study showcases the attitude towards women in “rape free” and “rape prone” zones. The “rape free” zones are ideal communities that ‘respect female authority and power’ but, “rape-prone” are communities with male dominant societies. Her deviation from the common understanding provided a fresh perspective in understanding how certain positive attitude and behaviour in society tend to benefit women at large. “Rape is a political matter" and can be stopped only with the end patriarchy × The New York Radical Feminists in their Manifesto categorically states that rape is not a “personal” problem. Rather, their argument is “rape is a political matter" and can be stopped only with the end patriarchy. The position taken by the Radical feminists complicates the common perception that capital punishment of the culprit will root out rape. Capital punishment or not: The big debate It is evident death penalty hasn’t acted deterrent for our society. Moreover, the experts are not even sure whether the judiciary should see death penalty as a deterrent, reformation or retribution. Retribution is the common practice preferred however, it has failed to prove beneficial for neither our society nor criminals. This aspect is forcefully brought out by Professor John Braithwaite of The Australian National University who believes that "crime hurts and justice should heal". The restorative justice cuts crime, it is noticed that after meeting their victims and engaging in a dialogue, criminals are less likely to re-offend. The survivor too gets a pivotal role in the “justice process”. Joanne Nodding, a rape survivor, a few years ago wanted to confront the man who raped her. As part of restorative justice programme, she decided to meet him five years after the incident. The program allows victims to initiate a conversation with the person responsible. During the session, Nodding described the harrowing abuse she had to undergo. The perpetrator apologised and Nodding ended the meeting by forgiving him. She added she felt “on top of the world, she had to release the burden so that he could look towards his future. It may stop him from doing it again”. It is difficult to analyse the punishment that would fit the bill for the rapist. Also, there exists unpredictability in awarding death sentence in rape cases, as most of the perpetrators are from underprivileged background. Raju Ramachandran, one of the amicus curie in the historic Nirbhaya’s case, was a strong opponent of a death penalty. Ramachandran argued that a whole set of reasons, particularly one related to individual backgrounds should be considered rather than advocating that "one penalty fits all”. A blanket judgment “hits at the very root of Article 14 which prohibits similar treatment of differently situated individuals”. Despite a culture of “shame and silence”, we have to resort to progressive measures to deal with rape. In spite of making necessary amendments in rape laws and better provisions adopted for women in India, nevertheless, we are not safe. The measures should be aimed at substantially reducing harm against women. Initiatives should be undertaken for collective actions, such as engaging bystanders, better policing, educate youth about healthy relationships and implement better prevention programs. Most of the initiatives undertaken in India have failed to achieve the desired result. It includes utilisation of Nirbhaya Fund-- ‘One Stop Centre’, ‘Universalisation of Women Helpline’, ‘Mahila Police Volunteer’ and schemes of other Ministries/Departments under Nirbhaya Fund are yet to highlight their success stories. To sum up, the unequal power dynamics between man and woman should be reduced; it will reduce the “domination” and “discrimination” attitude against women. Sexual violence is a public health issue, hence, collective action, implementing laws and generating interest are required to transform communities.

Why can't capital punishment stop rape in India?

&nbsp;

By&nbsp;Anitha Shenoy* &amp; Srishti Agnihotri**

The Supreme Court <a href="http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/FileServer/2017-05-05_1493976928.pdf">judgment</a> in Mukesh and Anr v. State for NCT of Delhi (the &lsquo;Nirbhaya case&rsquo;) marks a significant milestone. The Nirbhaya case is unique because it evoked a quick and integrated response from every pillar of Indian democracy. The nationwide civil society galvanisation created a sustained public pressure, which ensured that the executive, the legislature and the judiciary rose to the occasion and responded effectively in their respective spheres.&nbsp;

The societal response was two-fold: firstly, a response to Nirbhaya herself and, secondly, a response meant to meet the needs of all victims of sexual violence.&nbsp;

For decades, activists associated with the women&rsquo;s movement had been <a href="http://feministlawarchives.pldindia.org/wp-content/uploads/SA-Bill-Pocess-Document.pdf">discussing the rising rates of sexual assaults in India</a>, and the need to change laws relating to rape. The first watershed moment came with the verdict on the custodial rape of a young tribal girl Mathura at Maharashtra in March 1972. The protests following the <a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1092711/">judgment </a>of the Supreme Court led to <a href="http://www.lawyerscollective.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Annexure_3_CONSOLIDATED_TIMELINE.pdf">changes</a> in the law, including the introduction of the concept of custodial rape and shifting of the burden of proof on the accused, once the sexual intercourse is proved.

In a <a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1103956/">Writ Petition</a> before the Supreme Court, SAKSHI, an organization working on issues related to women, asked for an interpretation of the phrase &lsquo;sexual intercourse&rsquo; that would include all forms of penetration. The expansion of the ambit of rapes, however, had to wait for few years until the sexual assault on Nirbhaya catalysed a flurry of legal reforms. It was only with the passage of the <a href="https://www.iitk.ac.in/wc/data/TheCriminalLaw.pdf">Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013</a> that the ambit of rape was expanded as suggested initially by SAKSHI. The Act also came to include provisions to deal with acid attacks, sexual harassment and stalking as well as acts of voyeurism, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe a woman. Though pathbreaking in many ways, it is a matter of sadness and concern, that it took such a heinous offence to evoke a policy response that was long overdue.&nbsp;

There was a simultaneous response from the Executive. The ministry of finance set up a dedicated fund called the <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=157727">Nirbhaya Fund </a>with a corpus of Rs 3000 crores. The funds were to be utilised for enhancing the safety and security of women in the country. The schemes that have been initiated under this fund include &lsquo;Sakhi&rsquo; centers that will act as one-stop centres for women affected by violence, a helpline specifically meant for women that would link the women to the one-stop centres, and Mahila Police Volunteers to act as a bridge between the police and the community.&nbsp;

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<h5>The low conviction rates in rape trials, delay in conclusion of the trial, and the difficult, often insensitive, interaction between the survivor and the criminal-justice system need immediate remedying.</h5>
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&nbsp;

After the verdict in the Nirbhaya case, it is time for a collective stock-taking of how far we have progressed, in terms of ensuring that women in India enjoy a life of dignity, autonomy and an environment free of violence.&nbsp;

The low conviction rates in rape trials, delay in conclusion of the trial, and the difficult, often insensitive, interaction between the survivor and the criminal-justice system need immediate remedying. Steps must be taken to update and train the officers in the Mahila Police Stations in the latest investigative practices, forensic protocols, and sensitise police personnel on how to handle cases of rape and violence against women. With an increasing number of cybercrimes against women, including cyber-stalking, and online rape threats and death threats, it is important that police force is trained on responding to the particular investigative requirements in such cases. &nbsp;

Another, crucial aspect in any rape trial is the medico-legal aspect. Reports from doctors are a determining factor in judicial decision making. However, what doctors often lose sight of is that sexual assault is a legal issue and not a medical diagnosis. This has been strongly emphasised by the Justice Verma Committee which stated that &quot;doctors should not, on the basis of the medical examination conclude whether rape had occurred or not.&quot;&nbsp;

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<h5>We also need to be sensitive to complaints of sexual assault from men or transgendered persons.</h5>
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Courts must refrain from using terminology like &#39;habituated to sexual intercourse&#39; and medical practitioners must not employ legally irrelevant tests such as the &lsquo;two-finger test&rsquo; in arriving at an answer to the question of whether rape has been committed. The Supreme Court has categorically <a href="https://indiankanoon.org/doc/78844212/">held in Lillu @ Rajesh &amp; Anr vs State Of Haryana </a>that &quot;two finger test and its interpretation violates the right of rape survivors to privacy, physical and mental integrity and dignity.&quot;

No discussion on sexual violence is complete if it does not take into account assault on victims by persons known to them, either from home or school, the workplace and even within a marriage. Specific institutionalised and legal responses are needed to handle these categories of assault, which are distinct from assault by strangers. We also need to be sensitive to complaints of sexual assault from men or transgendered persons.&nbsp;

We have reached a point in time when it has become imperative that law and policy should evolve contemporaneously to the needs of society. A proactive approach to legal changes, not a reactive one, must guide us on the way forward. &nbsp; &nbsp;

*Anitha Shenoy is a lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, and has practised for the last 2 decades.

** Srishti Agnihotri, is a Delhi based lawyer.

&nbsp;

It is vitally important that sexual violence laws in the country reflect the needs of the society

By Anitha Shenoy* & Srishti Agnihotri** The Supreme Court judgment in Mukesh and Anr v. State for NCT of Delhi (the ‘Nirbhaya case’) marks a significant milestone. The Nirbhaya case is unique because it evoked a quick and integrated response from every pillar of Indian democracy. The nationwide civil society galvanisation created a sustained public pressure, which ensured that the executive, the legislature and the judiciary rose to the occasion and responded effectively in their respective spheres. The societal response was two-fold: firstly, a response to Nirbhaya herself and, secondly, a response meant to meet the needs of all victims of sexual violence. For decades, activists associated with the women’s movement had been discussing the rising rates of sexual assaults in India, and the need to change laws relating to rape. The first watershed moment came with the verdict on the custodial rape of a young tribal girl Mathura at Maharashtra in March 1972. The protests following the judgment of the Supreme Court led to changes in the law, including the introduction of the concept of custodial rape and shifting of the burden of proof on the accused, once the sexual intercourse is proved. In a Writ Petition before the Supreme Court, SAKSHI, an organization working on issues related to women, asked for an interpretation of the phrase ‘sexual intercourse’ that would include all forms of penetration. The expansion of the ambit of rapes, however, had to wait for few years until the sexual assault on Nirbhaya catalysed a flurry of legal reforms. It was only with the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013 that the ambit of rape was expanded as suggested initially by SAKSHI. The Act also came to include provisions to deal with acid attacks, sexual harassment and stalking as well as acts of voyeurism, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe a woman. Though pathbreaking in many ways, it is a matter of sadness and concern, that it took such a heinous offence to evoke a policy response that was long overdue. There was a simultaneous response from the Executive. The ministry of finance set up a dedicated fund called the Nirbhaya Fund with a corpus of Rs 3000 crores. The funds were to be utilised for enhancing the safety and security of women in the country. The schemes that have been initiated under this fund include ‘Sakhi’ centers that will act as one-stop centres for women affected by violence, a helpline specifically meant for women that would link the women to the one-stop centres, and Mahila Police Volunteers to act as a bridge between the police and the community. The low conviction rates in rape trials, delay in conclusion of the trial, and the difficult, often insensitive, interaction between the survivor and the criminal-justice system need immediate remedying. × After the verdict in the Nirbhaya case, it is time for a collective stock-taking of how far we have progressed, in terms of ensuring that women in India enjoy a life of dignity, autonomy and an environment free of violence. The low conviction rates in rape trials, delay in conclusion of the trial, and the difficult, often insensitive, interaction between the survivor and the criminal-justice system need immediate remedying. Steps must be taken to update and train the officers in the Mahila Police Stations in the latest investigative practices, forensic protocols, and sensitise police personnel on how to handle cases of rape and violence against women. With an increasing number of cybercrimes against women, including cyber-stalking, and online rape threats and death threats, it is important that police force is trained on responding to the particular investigative requirements in such cases. Another, crucial aspect in any rape trial is the medico-legal aspect. Reports from doctors are a determining factor in judicial decision making. However, what doctors often lose sight of is that sexual assault is a legal issue and not a medical diagnosis. This has been strongly emphasised by the Justice Verma Committee which stated that "doctors should not, on the basis of the medical examination conclude whether rape had occurred or not." We also need to be sensitive to complaints of sexual assault from men or transgendered persons. × Courts must refrain from using terminology like 'habituated to sexual intercourse' and medical practitioners must not employ legally irrelevant tests such as the ‘two-finger test’ in arriving at an answer to the question of whether rape has been committed. The Supreme Court has categorically held in Lillu @ Rajesh & Anr vs State Of Haryana that "two finger test and its interpretation violates the right of rape survivors to privacy, physical and mental integrity and dignity." No discussion on sexual violence is complete if it does not take into account assault on victims by persons known to them, either from home or school, the workplace and even within a marriage. Specific institutionalised and legal responses are needed to handle these categories of assault, which are distinct from assault by strangers. We also need to be sensitive to complaints of sexual assault from men or transgendered persons. We have reached a point in time when it has become imperative that law and policy should evolve contemporaneously to the needs of society. A proactive approach to legal changes, not a reactive one, must guide us on the way forward. *Anitha Shenoy is a lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, and has practised for the last 2 decades. ** Srishti Agnihotri, is a Delhi based lawyer.

Remembering Nirbhaya and looking for ways to stop rape

Florencia was just 10 years old when her stepfather suffocated her with a plastic bag.

Lucia was 16 when two men drugged her, raped her and fatally impaled her on a spike.

Joseline was 22 when she was found strangled to death, her body covered in bruises.

They are three of the latest victims in a wave of horrific violence against women and girls that is stoking outrage in Latin America.

These three young women&#39;s countries -- Chile, Argentina and Mexico -- have, like much of the region, been swept by protests condemning domestic violence, machismo and what activists call a culture that values women less than men.

The movement is gaining momentum.

In Peru, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski joined a protest in August that drew 50,000 people. Across the region, powerful labor unions and political parties are joining in.

&quot;There is a change, and it&#39;s very important,&quot; said Lakshmi Puri, the deputy executive director of UN Women.

&quot;This whole cry of zero tolerance is now catching on everywhere.&quot;

Puri compared what is happening in Latin America to her native India, where shock over the brutal gang rape and torture of a 23-year-old student unleashed a historic protest movement in 2012.

&quot;It&#39;s that same outrage now that is being provoked by this gruesome and brutal violence that is perpetrated against women and girls&quot; in Latin America, she told AFP.

She condemned the region&#39;s &quot;culture of machismo,&quot; saying it fuelled the violence.

Of the 25 countries that register the most women&#39;s murders worldwide, half are in Latin America, she said.

Social networks&nbsp; 
&quot;It&#39;s tremendously dangerous to be a woman in Latin America,&quot; said Ariadna Estevez, a researcher in human rights at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Mexicans have been protesting violence against women for at least 20 years, she said -- starting with the brutal murders of hundreds of women and girls in Ciudad Juarez, on the US border.

But that movement was mainly confined to victims&#39; friends and families.

Lately, there has been a broader, region-wide &quot;wake-up call,&quot; she said.

In Argentina, the protests started last year with a movement called #NiUnaMenos (Not One Woman Less). Born on Twitter and Facebook, it has since spread to several other countries.

In Mexico, it is called the Violet Spring (#PrimaveraVioleta).

&quot;Social networks played a fundamental role,&quot; said Estevez -- and not just to mobilise people.

&quot;It was also a form of catharsis,&quot; she said. &quot;A lot of women had never talked about sexual harassment and the violence they had faced. You realize it&#39;s not just you, it&#39;s the majority of women.&quot;

That is the case in Brazil, where the hashtag #MeuPrimeiroAssedio (My First Harassment) has gone viral.

In Uruguay, where social worker Fanny Samuniski has been helping abused women for years, she says she has noticed a change.

&quot;Now they arrive asking, What are my rights?&quot; she said.

New generation&nbsp; 
In Uruguay, one of the first countries in deeply Catholic Latin America to legalise divorce and abortion, 19 women have been killed by their partners or exes so far this year, activists say.

One case horrified the country in June, when a man set fire to his ex-girlfriend&#39;s house, badly burning her and killing her three daughters and a friend.

&quot;Women are reporting (domestic violence) much more, but they still put up with it for 10 years first,&quot; said Samuniski.

Part of the problem, she said, is they often have no means to support themselves.

She is pushing for Uruguay to pass a law imposing harsher sentences for &quot;femicide,&quot; as 16 Latin American countries have done.

Samuniski, who is nearly 80, said she has seen an awakening in the region.

&quot;The women of my generation were much more timid. They (the younger generations) are fighters,&quot; she said.

Women today are &quot;born and raised in another context,&quot; with more access to economic and educational resources, said Maria Nieves Rico, an Argentine who focuses on gender issues at the UN&#39;s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Change in the region will take time, but &quot;we are hearing their voices, and that always helps. Silence does not,&quot; she said.

(AFP)

The continent is coming together to protest against domestic violence, a culture of machismo, and the putting of men before women

Florencia was just 10 years old when her stepfather suffocated her with a plastic bag. Lucia was 16 when two men drugged her, raped her and fatally impaled her on a spike. Joseline was 22 when she was found strangled to death, her body covered in bruises. They are three of the latest victims in a wave of horrific violence against women and girls that is stoking outrage in Latin America. These three young women's countries -- Chile, Argentina and Mexico -- have, like much of the region, been swept by protests condemning domestic violence, machismo and what activists call a culture that values women less than men. The movement is gaining momentum. In Peru, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski joined a protest in August that drew 50,000 people. Across the region, powerful labor unions and political parties are joining in. "There is a change, and it's very important," said Lakshmi Puri, the deputy executive director of UN Women. "This whole cry of zero tolerance is now catching on everywhere." Puri compared what is happening in Latin America to her native India, where shock over the brutal gang rape and torture of a 23-year-old student unleashed a historic protest movement in 2012. "It's that same outrage now that is being provoked by this gruesome and brutal violence that is perpetrated against women and girls" in Latin America, she told AFP. She condemned the region's "culture of machismo," saying it fuelled the violence. Of the 25 countries that register the most women's murders worldwide, half are in Latin America, she said. Social networks "It's tremendously dangerous to be a woman in Latin America," said Ariadna Estevez, a researcher in human rights at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Mexicans have been protesting violence against women for at least 20 years, she said -- starting with the brutal murders of hundreds of women and girls in Ciudad Juarez, on the US border. But that movement was mainly confined to victims' friends and families. Lately, there has been a broader, region-wide "wake-up call," she said. In Argentina, the protests started last year with a movement called #NiUnaMenos (Not One Woman Less). Born on Twitter and Facebook, it has since spread to several other countries. In Mexico, it is called the Violet Spring (#PrimaveraVioleta). "Social networks played a fundamental role," said Estevez -- and not just to mobilise people. "It was also a form of catharsis," she said. "A lot of women had never talked about sexual harassment and the violence they had faced. You realize it's not just you, it's the majority of women." That is the case in Brazil, where the hashtag #MeuPrimeiroAssedio (My First Harassment) has gone viral. In Uruguay, where social worker Fanny Samuniski has been helping abused women for years, she says she has noticed a change. "Now they arrive asking, What are my rights?" she said. New generation In Uruguay, one of the first countries in deeply Catholic Latin America to legalise divorce and abortion, 19 women have been killed by their partners or exes so far this year, activists say. One case horrified the country in June, when a man set fire to his ex-girlfriend's house, badly burning her and killing her three daughters and a friend. "Women are reporting (domestic violence) much more, but they still put up with it for 10 years first," said Samuniski. Part of the problem, she said, is they often have no means to support themselves. She is pushing for Uruguay to pass a law imposing harsher sentences for "femicide," as 16 Latin American countries have done. Samuniski, who is nearly 80, said she has seen an awakening in the region. "The women of my generation were much more timid. They (the younger generations) are fighters," she said. Women today are "born and raised in another context," with more access to economic and educational resources, said Maria Nieves Rico, an Argentine who focuses on gender issues at the UN's Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Change in the region will take time, but "we are hearing their voices, and that always helps. Silence does not," she said. (AFP)

Shocked by women's murders, Latin Americans fight back

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