A new report released by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) this morning shows the Department of Defense (DOD) is grossly under-reporting the number of sexual assault crimes in the US military, particularly those occurring on military bases.
One Year Since the Kidnappings, #BringBackOurGirls Still Matters
In April of 2014, almost 300 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram. It’s been one year, and 219 of them are still missing.
A Judge Just Dramatically Reduced the Sentence of a Man Convicted of Raping a Toddler
Nieto, who was convicted last December of one felony count of sexual intercourse with a child and one felony count of lewd act upon a child for sodomizing a 3-year-old toddler, will now only spend 10 years behind bars.
Brutally Murdered Afghan Woman Becomes Symbol for Women’s Rights
27-year-old Farkhunda was falsely accused of burning the Koran then brutally murdered. She’s now being held up as a champion of Islam and women’s rights.
Major League Baseball Begins Mandatory Domestic Violence Prevention Training
Advocates and legislators agree that although these actions are promising, much more will be necessary for sustainable change in the culture of violence that seems to enshrine professional sports institutions.
Penn State Fraternity Suspended for Facebook Page of Nude, Unconscious Women
A Penn State fraternity has been suspended over the discovery of a private Facebook page with photographs of nude women, some of whom appear to have passed out, as well as photos of drug deals and hazing.
Vice President Biden Pledges $41 Million to Clear Rape Kit Backlog
Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Mikulski (D-MD) spoke yesterday at a Maryland State Police Laboratory to declare their support for a $41 million budget proposal to combat the national backlog of rape kits.
New Law Cracks Down on Domestic Abusers in Brazil
Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff signed a new law this week creating harsher penalties for the murder of women and girls connected to domestic violence.
This Courageous One-Woman Protest Challenged Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan
Kubra Khademi designed and wore an exaggerated breast and buttock armor in a crowded street of Kabul to condemn violence against women.
Houston Is Finally Testing a Backlog of Thirty-Year-Old Rape Kits
In just one week, those tests have led to hundreds of leads
This Bipartisan Bill Will Hold Colleges Accountable for Ending Campus Sexual Assault
Some of the Campus Accountability and Safety Act’s key key provisions include a requirement of confidential reporting systems on colleges and universities, minimum training requirements for campus personnel, and stricter penalties for schools found to be in violation of Title IX or the Clery Act.
If This Bill Passes, Federal Law Will Mandate Consent Education in Public Schools
Right now, federal law does not require health or sex education to include sexual assault prevention – but that could change.
New Bill Would Create a Registry of Military Sex Offenders
Due to loopholes in the system, many convicted sex offenders in the military are not registered sex offenders once they exit the military.
Yale Fraternity That Violated Sexual Misconduct Policy Now Banned From Campus
The fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) will not be allowed to hold on-campus activities, use the school bulletin boards or email system to communicate, or use the fraternity’s name “in connection with the university.”
Testing Detroit’s Backlogged Rape Kits Has Already Identified 188 Serial Rapists
The testing has also produced over 750 DNA matches to an FBI database. The Wayne County prosecutor’s office has so far issued warrants for 23 alleged rapists, convicted 14 of them, and three are awaiting trial.
UVA President Announces Initiatives to Curb Campus Sexual Assault
The University of Virginia’s president, Teresa Sullivan, recently spoke to the campus community about what’s next in their push to end sexual assault on campus and strengthen their policies for survivrs.
New UK Guidelines Would Put the Onus on Rape Suspects, Not Victims, in Sexual Violence Cases
If the new guidelines are utilized, rape suspects will be required to offer hard proof that consent was given “with full capacity and freedom to do so.”
Former Vanderbilt Football Players Found Guilty in Campus Sexual Assault Case
Cory Batey and Brandon Vandenburg, both former football players, will hear their sentencing on March 6.
Sports Illustrated Runs Domestic Violence Ad Before Super Bowl
Just days before the Super Bowl, Sports Illustrated has decided to run an advertisement on their site that puts a spotlight on domestic violence in the National Football League.
Marissa Alexander To Be Released from Prison
Alexander spent the last three years of her life in prison after firing a warning shot into the air to defend herself from her estranged and abusive husband.