Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/ 19th February to 24th February 2017

Sexual violence is a global pandemic. One in three women experiences sexual or physical violence – most likely from their intimate partner, according to a report from the World Health Organization. There is an urgent need to increase sensitization regarding sexual violence and the awareness of consent and sexual violence amongst persons at large. In this series, we examine sexual violence and related issues that have come up in the news, on a weekly basis, published every Saturday. This is an attempt to improve awareness regarding incidents of sexual violence and related matters, so that we, as a society can take steps towards collective action to reduce its incidence. It is an effort to ensure that we acknowledge the rampant sexual violence that exists, lest we forget.

This issue looks at 19th February to 24th February 2017.

1. 29-year-old paedophile and sadist convicted for 32 years of imprisonment

A university professor graduated from Cambridge, admitted to 137 charges against 46 people at the Birmingham Crown Court.29-year-old Mathew Falder, accepted to have committed acts of paedophilia,blackmailing, manipulation, sharing pictures of victims and advice on ways to abuse on dark web websites. The National Crime Agency (NCA) describing him as sadistic and one of the most prolific and depraved offenders they had ever encountered.

After a four-year global hunt involving the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Europe, Falder was arrested while at work at the University of Birmingham and sentenced to 32 years of imprisonment.

2. Medical professor arrested for immodest sexual talks in class

AProfessor was arrested for discussing irrelevant and undesirable sexual topicswith a class of nursing students at a state-run hospital in Mumbai. The professor was accused of unnecessarily giving explicit details of his sexual encounters and what the students were expected to do on the first night of their wedding.

Regardless of several reminders by students of sex not being a part of the subject to be taught and a written complaint to the authorities, his behaviour remained the same. Therefore, a second-year student filed a FIR against him. However, Bandre was released on probation considering his education and lack of stringent laws for the same.

3. 21 workers of the Red Cross dismissed following indecent actions

Red Cross – the Swiss-based charity – to help war victims, acknowledged sexual misconduct amongst its workers.The charity regrettably reported dismissal of 21 employees at its international committee since 2015. They either resigned amidst internal inquiry or were released from duties for buying sexual service.

In a statement to staff, ICRC director-generalYves Daccordhas shown concern about similar matters not being reported or reported and not followed up with necessary action.

4. The UNFPA faces sexual harassment complaints

The United Nations Population Fund’s Bihar office is being investigated for sexual harassment followinga FIR filed by a former woman UNFPA consultant from the Bihar office. Worked for a period of 12 months – last year – at the Bihar office, the complainant has also mentioned supposed mental harassment by a female assistant representative of UNFPA India in Delhi for having complained about the harassment.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar from New Delhi, confirmed receiving the complaint and informed that the MEA was asked for a response. The response has been forwarded to the complainant.

5. Ann Moulds to sue her stalker for £50,000

Ann Moulds, the stalking victim whose campaign ‘Scotland Against Stalking’ has successfully introduced the ‘Offence of Stalking’ Act 2010, now wants to sue her stalker Alex Reid. Ann, demands £50,000damages fee from 51-year-old Alex Reid for what she suffered while he kept hounding and blasting her with sexually explicit text messages.

Reid’s lawyer argued saying Ann’s claim was time-barred. However, Lord Matthews at theCourt of Session in Edinburgh, has given Ann a head-start to go forward with it.

This article was first published on Safecity.Shaziya Shaikh part of Safecity's blogging team.