Sexual Violence

Datanomics: Rise in sexual violence against Dalit women raises alarm

The total number of rape cases against SC women has shown a worrying upward trend over the years from 2,541 cases in 2016 to 4,214 cases in 2023

Sex education should be provided to children from younger age: SC

Sex education should be provided to children from a younger age, and not Class IX onwards, the Supreme Court has said. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe said sex education should be part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools so that young adolescents are made aware of the hormonal changes that come with puberty. "We are of the opinion that sex education should be provided to children from a younger age and not Class IX onwards. It is for the authorities concerned to apply their mind and take corrective measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after puberty, and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto," the bench said. The top court made the observations while granting bail to a 15-year-old boy accused of offences under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The apex court earlier

UN chief warns Israel, Russia over alleged sexual violence by armed forces

In his annual report to the UN Security Council, Guterres warned that Israel and Russia could be listed next year for alleged patterns of rape and sexual violence in conflict zones

Over 30% girls, 13% boys in India sexually violated before age 18: Lancet

Over 30 per cent of girls and 13 per cent of boys in India experienced sexual violence before turning 18 years old in 2023, according to an analysis published in The Lancet journal. Estimating the prevalence of sexual violence against children in over 200 countries between 1990 and 2023, the study found that the highest rates were recorded in south Asia for girls -- ranging from 9.3 per cent in Bangladesh to 30.8 per cent in India. Around the world, about one in five girls and one in seven boys are estimated to experience sexual violence before turning 18. Researchers, including those from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, US, also found that sub-Saharan Africa had the highest rates of sexual violence among boys aged under 18, varying from about eight per cent in Zimbabwe to 28 per cent in Cte d'Ivoire. Sexual violence against children is a critical public health and human rights issue. Consequences of sexual abuse affect one's long-term hea

Grooming gangs: Eight men jailed in UK for sexually abusing teenagers

The survivors, aged 13 and 16 at the time, endured years of abuse that came to light after one came forward as an adult

Hema Committee report: Kerala High Court asks SIT to appoint nodal officer

Hema Committee was formed in response to a 2017 sexual assault case involving an actor and submitted its report to the Chief Minister on December 31, 2019

SC rejects ex-Karnataka MP Revanna's bail application in rape case

The Karnataka High Court had in October denied Revanna's request for bail; he is facing multiple accusations of repeated sexual assault and intimidation against him

File status rpt on probe into irregularities at RG Kar Hospital: SC to CBI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to submit a status report on the probe into alleged financial irregularities at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered last month. The top court also perused the status report filed by the CBI concerning the rape and murder incident and said disclosing the status will jeopardise further investigation. Refusing to stop streaming live proceedings in the suo motu case related to the incident, the apex court said it was a matter of public interest and the public must know what is transpiring in the courtroom. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra perused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report and said disclosing the status would jeopardise further investigation. As the hearing commenced, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, sought the stopping of live proceedings in the case. He alleged

Doc rape-murder: British Indians hold justice march in London, UK cities

Indian students, charities and diaspora organisations in Britain have organised a series of events to continue to highlight their demand for justice following the rape-murder of an on-duty female doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. While women's organisations came together to organise peace vigils at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square in London and across several other UK cities on Thursday, the Students' Federation of India United Kingdom (SFI-UK) organised a march in the city of Liverpool on Wednesday. The hundreds who gathered at London's Parliament Square lit candles to spell out Justice and held placards with messages calling for respect and empowerment of women. We have received overwhelming support from the entire world, proving that the time has come to wake up, take notice, rise up above our individual interests and join hands in our endeavour of showing support and solidarity to the cause, said Dr Dipti Jain of the Medicos Women ...

Centre issues '6-hour FIR' order over violence against health workers

Centre's order came amid massive protests in India, calling for justice in the rape-murder of the 31-year-old junior doctor, whose body was found at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last

Court rejects Prajwal Revanna's anticipatory bail plea in rape case

Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, on Wednesday moved a Special Court here seeking anticipatory bail in a rape case registered against him. According to official sources, Prajwal has booked a return flight ticket to Bengaluru from Munich on May 30, and is expected to land in the city in the small hours of May 31. His advocate filed an anticipatory bail application in the Special Court for cases involving MPs/MLAs. Prajwal, grandson of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, is accused in an alleged rape and sexual harassment case involving a 47-year-old woman. He reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan LS seat went to polls, and is still at large. A Special Court for Elected Representatives has issued an arrest warrant on May 18 against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the SIT. However, later the SIT arrested his father and JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, who is allegedly involved in kidnapping t

Why women would prefer to be alone in the woods with a bear over a man

Many women participating in a new viral debate on social media say they would rather be alone with a bear than a man in the woods. Here's why

UK govt criminalises creation of deepfake images without consent

Despicable people who create sexually explicit deepfakes will face prosecution under a new law going through its parliamentary journey, the British government said on Tuesday. Deepfake refers to images and videos made to look hyper-realistic, with the victim usually unaware and unable to give their consent. Under the new offence, those who create such images without consent face a criminal record and an unlimited fine. If the deepfake content is then shared more widely, offenders could be sent to jail. The creation of deepfake sexual images is despicable and completely unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared, said Laura Farris, UK Minister for Victims and Safeguarding. It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others - especially women. And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This government will not tolerate it. This new offence sends a crystal-clear message that ..

Calcutta HC orders CBI probe in Sandeshkhali sexual assault, land grab case

The court said that it will oversee the probe by the central agency, which is also handling the inquiry into the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate officials

US first lady Jill Biden honours 'women of courage' at White House

First lady Jill Biden hosted a White House ceremony on Monday for women of courage who have fought political repression, sexual violence, economic hardship and gender discrimination around the world. You've spoken out for yourselves and for others in the face of fear and risk, and those who have tried to steal your voices away," Biden said. She added, Change never happens on its own. There is power in this community of women. Twelve women received the awards, which were distributed by the U.S. Department of State. It was the 18th year the awards have been given out. Among the honourees were a lawyer from Myanmar, a former political prisoner from Belarus, a disability rights advocate from Afghanistan and a teacher from Ecuador. One of the honourees, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, was not able to attend because she was not allowed to leave her home country of Cuba. She's faced detention and harassment during her decades of advocacy for human rights and political freedom. Marta may no

Over 243,000 Pocso cases pending in fast-track courts till Jan 2023: Report

More than 2.43 lakh cases under the POCSO Act were pending in fast-track special courts (FTSCs) as on January 31 this year despite the central government's robust policy and financial commitment, according to a research paper published by an NGO. In 2022, the number of such cases that resulted in conviction remained a mere three per cent nationally, it said. The research paper -- 'Justice Awaits: An Analysis of the Efficacy of Justice Delivery Mechanisms in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse in India' - released by India Child Protection Fund (ICPF) said that even if no new cases are added to the list, the country will need at least nine years to clear this backlog. In some states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Bihar, it could take more than 25 years to bring the pending cases to closure. The findings of the paper cast a huge question mark on the efficacy of the country's judicial system, despite the central government's 2019 landmark decision to set up fast-track special courts to provide

Every 11 minutes, a woman killed by an intimate partner or family: UN chief

Ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, the UN chief emphasised the need to address the increasing violence against women across the world

UN calls for probe into rape allegations in Sudan anti-coup protests

The UN human rights officecalled for an independent investigation into allegations of sexual violence during mass anti-coup protests in Sudan earlier this week, a spokeswoman said.

Delhi remains most unsafe for women irrespective of drop in crime rate

Delhi has reported the highest number of crimes against women among all the metropolitan cities of the country

Where China is only a notch above India

India and China seem united in gender discrimination