Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/ 31st March to 6th April 2018

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 news from 31st March to 6th April 2018.

1. High school student arrested for molesting a minor student on school premises

Curtis Bell, a 17-year-old high school student from South Cobb, Georgia, allegedly molested a 14-year-old girl after dragging her to one of the rooms within the school. Arrested on the day of crime itself, he is facing sexual charges, along with misdemeanour charges of child molestation and cajoling a child. Curtis was released the next day after posting a $27,720 bond

2. Old man caught for the 4th time sexually harassing women on the subway

Conrado Aleman, an 82-year-old serial sexual harasser on the subway was caught indecently grinding his genitals on a woman’s backside. After assaulting four women in two years, Aleman claims to not be guilty by reason of being an impotent. His attorney tried to use his alleged mental illnesses as argument. However, Aleman is facing non-consent touching and sexual abuse charges.  

3. New York Special Division to be reviewed

The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced an analysis of the sex crime section’s leadership under the command of Deputy Chief Michael Osgood. Osgood’s contribution to Trump’s election campaign weeks after his controversial video tape degrading women entered limelight, has stirred questions of trust amid advocate groups. Though Commissioner James O’Neill mentioned that the Special Division’s Commander and the investigators need to keep the victims assured of justice.

4. Alleged rapist auto-driver turns out to be a history-sheeter

An auto-driver in Navi Mumbai has been running from the law after being accused of raping a 16-year-old. Identified as Satyajit Kisan Dilpak, he was last seen at his homeplace in Solapur. He has a track record of crimes dating back to 2013, involving molestation in Solapur, chain snatching in Osmanabad and many more.

5. Faraway family of the royalty accused of rape of minor

David Mathews, Pippa Middleton’s father-in-law was put into police confinement at the Paris Orly airport on claims of sexually assaulting a child during a vacation between 1998 and 1999 in France.

David Mathews, was kept under the custody from Tuesday and only relieved Friday on bail. Reported by the victim’s relative in 2017, David has been indicted with “rape of a minor by a person with authority over his victim,” as reported by AFP and the case is being managed by France’s Juvenile Protection Brigade. A family spokesperson has denied the allegations.

This article was first published on Safecity as a part of the blogging team by Shaziya Shaikh