Sexual Violence: A Global Pandemic/19th to 25th August 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 19th to 25th August 2018.

1. Minor girl raped, drowned in tub in Bhiwandi

A 14-year-old girl was raped and killed by an unidentified person in Bhiwandi tehsil of Thane district on Thursday evening, police said. The incident took place around 5.40 pm at Mankoli village near Bhiwandi. The girl was alone at home when an unidentified man entered the house, raped her and strangled her, an official from Narpoli police station said. The assailant also forced her head into a tub of water which probably caused the death..

2. Ragpicker nabbed for raping minor in Delhi slum

A ragpicker was arrested by Delhi police after massive outrage and protest over the rape of a minor girl. The nine-year-old girl was sexually assaulted a day earlier and then dumped at Rangpur Pahadi near Vasant Kunj. He had allegedly tried to kidnap another girl on Thursday. He found the girl relieving herself at the public toilet and decided to abduct her.  

3. A 38-year-old mother of three children molested in Jodhpur area

The women filed a complaint with Satellite police station on Thursday.“When I went inside to show him the cupboard, he put his hand on my mouth and told me not to resist. I then ran outside and told his wife about the incident, but but she remained silent about her husband’s act,” added the complainant.

4. Saudi Arabia ‘seeks death penalty for woman activist’

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor has reportedly sought the death penalty for five activists, including the female rights defender Israa al-Ghomgham. At least 13 human rights defenders and women’s rights activists have been arrested since mid-May, accused of activities deemed a risk to national security. Some have been released, but others remain detained without charge.

5. Woman paraded naked, beaten by angry mob on suspicion of killing man

A woman was beaten up, stripped and paraded naked on Sunday on the streets of Bhojpur district in Bihar by an irate mob, which suspected her to be involved in the killing of a 19-year-old man, police said.The villagers stormed the place, setting on fire a number of shops and beating up several residents. They dragged out a woman on the street, ripped off her clothes and paraded her naked while kicking and slapping her, the SP said.

This article was first published on Safecity, as a part of the blogging team by Blessy Varghese.