12 h. ago Ukrainian held by Russia describes torture, sinister threats and Kafkaesque court process

Maksym Butkevych tells of pattern of beatings and threats of execution and sexual violence to extract ‘confession’The first moments in Russian captivity for Maksym Butkevych saw humiliations that would pale in comparison with what would soon follow.Taken prisoner in the early months of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Butkevych and his fellow soldiers – who had been lured into a trap on the eastern frontline – at first were punched and robbed. “There were a few kicks and punches,” recalls Butkevych, who had been a human rights defender and journalist before Russia’s invasion compelled him to volunteer as a soldier. Continue reading...

Events

43 h. ago The misogyny of the metaverse: is Mark Zuckerberg’s dream world a no

Graphic sexual content, bullying, abuse and threats of violence are rife in the metaverse - and the NSPCC says a huge proportion of online grooming offences take place on Meta-owned products. Is it too late to change course?Everybody knows that young women are not safe. They are not safe in the street, where 86% of those aged 18 to 24 have experienced sexual harassment. They are not safe at school, where 79% of young people told Ofsted that sexual assault was common in their friendship groups and almost a third of 16- to 18-year-old girls report experiencing “unwanted sexual touching”. They are not safe in swimming pools or parks, or at the beach. They are not even safe online, with the children’s safety charity the NSPCC reporting that social media sites are “failing to protect girls from harm at every stage”.This will come as no surprise to any woman who has ever used social media. But it is particularly relevant as Meta, the operator of some of the biggest soc...

Politics

43 h. ago Misogyny in the metaverse: is Mark Zuckerberg’s dream world a no

Graphic sexual content, bullying, abuse and threats of violence are rife in the metaverse - and the NSPCC says a huge proportion of online grooming offences take place on Meta-owned products. Is it too late to change course?Everybody knows that young women are not safe. They are not safe in the street, where 86% of those aged 18 to 24 have experienced sexual harassment. They are not safe at school, where 79% of young people told Ofsted that sexual assault was common in their friendship groups and almost a third of 16- to 18-year-old girls report experiencing “unwanted sexual touching”. They are not safe in swimming pools or parks, or at the beach. They are not even safe online, with the children’s safety charity the NSPCC reporting that social media sites are “failing to protect girls from harm at every stage”.This will come as no surprise to any woman who has ever used social media. But it is particularly relevant as Meta, the operator of some of the biggest soc...

Politics

6 d. ago Sex assault horror across Paris after PSG Champions League win: Shocking footage shows huge mob surround terrified women's car and smash window as other victims describe sexual violence

Shocking video has shown how a mob attacked a pair of young women, screaming at them and smashing its windows in as they tried to drive through the city.

Events

6 d. ago Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh issues heartfelt plea against sexual violence: 'We must do better'

The Duchess of Edinburgh has spoken passionately of her campaign to highlight the plight of victims of sexual violence in conflict, saying: 'We must do better.'

Events

1 week ago Women and girls ‘not safe anywhere’ as Darfur suffers surge in sexual violence

Médecins Sans Frontières report sparks calls for Sudan’s warring parties to be held to account for rapes and attacks As Sudan’s Darfur region has been overrun by militias, women are facing the constant threat of sexual violence, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported.The medical charity said in the South Darfur region alone its workers treated 659 sexual violence survivors between January and March this year, more than two-thirds of whom had been raped. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Zion Williamson sued by a woman alleging the Pelicans star committed sexual violence against her

Zion Williamson is being sued by a woman describing herself as a former dating partner and who alleges the New Orleans Pelicans star committed repeated sexual violence against her

Politics

1 week ago Sexual exploitation and domestic violence soared after Lahaina wildfire, report finds

Exclusive: One in six female survivors surveyed felt forced to engage in ‘survival sex’ for necessities after 2023 catastrophic Hawaii fireSexual exploitation and domestic violence soared after the catastrophic Lahaina wildfire in 2023, with pre-existing gender inequalities exposed and exacerbated by the post-disaster response, new research has found.In the weeks and months after the deadliest American fire in a century, one in six female fire survivors surveyed felt forced to engage in sexual acts in exchange for basic necessities such as food, clothing and housing. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago How sexual violence survivors in South Africa are now collateral damage of Trump’s aid cuts

Rape crisis services are suffering the knock-on effect of US funded HIV services being cut, writes Rachel Schraer

Events

2 w. ago As a victim, I'm horrified by the idea of any rapist being let out early: JENNI MURRAY

I have not spent three quarters of my long life working to protect women from sexual and domestic violence.

Events

2 w. ago Not all OHL teams are making players take mandatory sexual violence prevention program

Not all OHL teams are making players take mandatory sexual violence prevention program  CBC

Sport

2 w. ago Sexual violence a ‘national emergency’ in UK schools amid rise of AI deepfake porn, expert warns

Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, cited AI-deepfakes as the next issue schools across the nation will have to tackle

Events

2 w. ago Unsilenced at the Imperial War Museum: 'in war, rape is cheaper than a Kalashnikov bullet'

This exhibition about sexual violence used as a weapon of war is the first of its kind in the UK

Events

2 w. ago Unsilenced at the Imperial War Museum: 'a groundbreaking look at sexual violence in conflict'

This exhibition about sexual violence used as a weapon of war is the first of its kind in the UK

Events

2 w. ago Voices: Chemical castration is ethically dubious – and simply won’t work

Chemical castration of prisoners risks violating the Nuremberg Code, says Alexis Paton, a trustee of the Institute of Medical Ethics. But more crucially, without addressing what causes someone to commit sexual violence, it risks diverting that violence into new forms

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Art is an important way of depicting these atrocities’: London show shines a light on sexual violence in conflict

‘Art is an important way of depicting these atrocities’: London show shines a light on sexual violence in conflict  The Art Newspaper

Events

3 w. ago Trump is using his assault on government to retaliate against women | Judith Levine

The administration’s attacks on the American Bar Association are part of a long line of actions that have clear commonalitiesLast week, a federal judge blocked the justice department from canceling $3.2m in federal grants to the American Bar Association (ABA). The court agreed with the ABA’s claim that the administration was retaliating against it for taking public stances against Donald Trump.But how had the US president retaliated? Which grants had he clawed back? Those supporting programs that train lawyers to defend victims of domestic and sexual violence. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Unacceptable’ exclusion of groups of Troubles victims from compensation scheme

Relatives For Justice say victims of plastic and rubber bullets, many bereaved, victims of sexual violence are being refused.

Events

4 w. ago Baby oil, sexual desires and violence: What are Diddy’s ‘freak offs’ that have become a key part of his trial?

‘Freak offs’ or days-long, drug-fueled orgies were allegedly orchestrated by Diddy and involved his former longtime partner, Cassie.

Events

4 w. ago Online dating advice: five ways to stay safe, according to the experts

Spotting red flags while online dating is far from easy – especially in the age of AI. We asked the experts for their top tipsMost dating apps have been forced to bolster their safety measures in recent years due to a litany of complaints of online abuse as well as negligence when handling reports of sexual violence. Several of them are now taking steps to combat this and encourage users to verify their identities to ensure everyone is who they say they are. Typically, this is done with facial recognition technology by asking users to take a video selfie or provide a photo ID that the app uses to compare with the photos used in their profile. Many have also introduced features to help users stay safe, including block and report systems alongside bans on sexual harassment, fetishisation and hate speech.Still, there are precautions to be taken whenever you agree to meet someone you’ve spoken to online, like meeting in public places and withholding any private information. Here are mor...

Politics