Sexual predators at school: why South African law is failing to protect children from teachers: Schools should be a safe environment, a place of learning where children can develop their potential. In South Africa, many public schools aren’t like this. Instead they are hothouses for teachers’ poor performance, financial mismanagement, assault and sexual misconduct. When …
White Lotus: ‘the show’s depiction of sibling sexual behaviour is incredibly harmful’ – expert opinion: This article contains spoilers for season three of The White Lotus The White Lotus is a show where a lot of sex happens and many taboos are explored. For instance, in episode seven the impact on one character of watching …
Affirmative consent campaign calls for sexual assault law change in England and Wales – but this approach has pitfalls, too: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock A new campaign by non-profit Right to Equality, in partnership with creative agency CPB London and actress and comedian Emily Atack, has called for the adoption of affirmative consent as a …
Many survivors aren’t sure what to do after a sexual assault – here’s what you need to know: Bricolage/Shutterstock Millions of people have experienced sexual violence and abuse in England and Wales, but many do not know where to go, or who to turn to afterwards. Shame felt by victims and survivors of sexual violence …
Peter Bone kicked out of parliament for violence and sexual misconduct: how recall petitions work: In the 2019 general election, Conservative Peter Bone held his seat in the Northamptonshire constituency of Wellingborough with more than 60% of the vote. Four years later, although there hasn’t been another election, he is no longer an MP. Bone, …
Human trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation: the ‘loss and damage’ from climate change a fund will not compensate: A child's doll discarded during a storm. Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson Violence against women and children, including sexual abuse and exploitation, remains a taboo subject in the policy debates attended by international delegates at COP28, the latest round of …
‘No one would ever speak up again’: servicewomen feel military culture stops them from reporting sexual assault: An inquiry into the death of a 19-year-old soldier in the British army found that relentless sexual harassment by her line manager was “almost certain” to have been a causal factor in her death. Royal Artillery Gunner Jaysley-Louise …
Sexual harassment victims in Nigerian universities are being blamed – cyberspace study: Sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of inappropriate behaviour, from ogling, touching and commenting about body parts, to sexual proposition, coercion, assault and rape. In other words, it is any form of unsolicited and unwanted sexual attention. Within the academic environment, there is …
Young people with sexual or gender diversity are at higher risk of stopping their HIV treatment because of stigma and harsh laws: Ending the AIDS pandemic – particularly in eastern and southern Africa – cannot be achieved unless more resources are channelled to meet the needs of key vulnerable populations. This is one of the …
Russell Brand: why it is so difficult for people to come forward with sexual assault allegations: fizkes/Shutterstock When writer E. Jean Carroll was asked why she finally went public – after more than 25 years – to accuse then US president Donald Trump of sexual assault, her response was something that countless others have thought: …
Russell Brand investigation: what good journalists should have to go through to report sexual assault allegations: The allegations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by comedian and actor Russell Brand seemed like a bombshell scoop to many readers and viewers. But for the journalists at The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, the …
Women’s sexual desire often goes undiscussed – yet it’s one of their most common health concerns: Many women are afraid to voice concerns about low desire to their doctors. Lordn/ Shutterstock Female sexual desire is frequently misunderstood. Despite desire (also known as libido or sex drive) being the most common sexual health concern for women, …
Indian women’s struggle against sexual violence has had little support from the men in power: Two recent instances of vicious sexual violence against ethnic minority women in the Indian state of Manipur involving gang rape and murder have highlighted the problems of impunity and weak laws dealing with violence against women in India. Video footage …
Rising sexual violence in Sudan conflict reflects entrenched patriarchy — but women and girls are fighting back: Watching and hearing the horrifying reports of violence and savagery in Sudan, those of us working to end violence against women and girls immediately become concerned about how it will inevitably spill over into sexual violence. As recently …
The silence around unwanted sexual attention in LGBTQ+ venues is making safe spaces less safe: Astrastudio/Shutterstock In many parts of the world, unwanted sexual attention has become a normal, though disturbing, part of a night out. In bars, pubs and clubs, sexual harassment and assault happens regularly to people of all genders and orientations. But …
Tackling sexual misconduct in the NHS will require education and empowerment – not just words: M_Agency/Shutterstock Many were shocked by the recent revelation that more than 35,000 incidents of sexual misconduct, ranging from abusive remarks to rape, occurred in the NHS over the five years to 2022. Nearly 21,000 incidents involved patients abusing staff, almost …
Child sexual abuse: what the data tells us about perpetrators and victims: Amir Bajric/Shutterstock The government has announced plans to make it a crime not to report child abuse. As part of this, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has vowed to “stamp out” grooming gangs who perpetuate child exploitation. Ending child sexual abuse is of …
Child victims of sexual violence aren’t heard or understood: Nigerian study: Child abuse is above the global average in Nigeria. Annette Riedl/Getty Images Violence against children is a global problem. A 2020 Global Status Report revealed that every year, almost one billion children globally encounter some form of violence, such as neglect, physical abuse and …