The bill will radically change the current standard of proving sexual assault, which requires victims of sexual assault to demonstrate that they did not consent.
Domestic Violence Victims May Now Qualify For Asylum in the US
The Justice Department’s Board of Immigration Appeals ruled for the first time on Tuesday that a victim of domestic violence fit a specific criterion for asylum: persecution for membership in a particular social group.
New California Law Takes Military Sexual Assault Cases Out of the Chain of Command
The law also now requires the California Military Department to report annually to the state government on sexual assault incidences and prevention plans.
Senator Boxer Pushes for Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocates at California Universities
Senator Barbara Boxer urged California universities to create independent sexual assault victim’s advocates on their campuses in a letter sent out on Tuesday.
Peru Finally Complies with Sexual Assault Settlement
Twenty years ago, a doctor at a hospital in Peru raped a 22-year-old woman who was getting medical care. Now, after human-rights groups fought for the case, the Peruvian government has finally settled the case.
Congress Introduces Legislation to Protect Students from Sexual Assault
The Campus Accountability and Safety Act, cosponsored by Senators Claire McCaskill, Dean Heller, Richard Blumenthal, Chuck Grassley, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kelly Ayotte, Mark Warner, and Marco Rubio, focuses on steps colleges can take to proactively protect students.
A Call for Action to Reduce Gun Deaths Among Victims of Domestic Violence
Over 250 people gathered inside the Dirksen Senate building on Wednesday to support legislation aimed at decreasing intimate partner homicide through gun violence.
#FreeMarissa: Why Prosecution for Domestic Violence Goes Wrong and Why Marissa Shouldn’t Bear the Brunt of It
I can absolutely understand and relate to the calculating one must go through before taking any action to stop an abuser from being abusive. That’s why I find Marissa Alexander’s story so enraging.
Hundreds March for Marissa Alexander in Jacksonville
“Today, it’s Marissa. Tomorrow, it’s you. And yesterday, it was Trayvon.”
Extensive Female Genital Mutilation Study To Be Conducted in the US
The Obama administration plans to conduct a large study on female genital mutilation to try to assess how many girls and women in the US are at risk or have experienced the practice.
‘Revenge Rape’ in India Leads to Three Arrests
A man in eastern India was arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl this week in “retaliation” for the girl’s brother having allegedly sexually assaulted a woman.
New York Women’s Equality Act Stalled For A Second Time
Although the State Senate passed nine planks of the WEA as separate bills, the full act ultimately did not move forward because Senate Republicans opposed a provision that would codify Roe v. Wade.
Strong Support For IVAWA and CEDAW in Senate Hearing
Dozens of students, organizations, concerned citizens and U.S. Senators packed the small hearing room in Dirksen early this morning to show support for IVAWA and CEDAW–two critical tools the US hasn’t taken action on in years.
Senate Subcommittee to Tackle Violence Against Women Globally
To date, 187 countries support this international agreement to reduce violence and discrimination. The US isn’t one of them. Tomorrow’s hearing could be an opportunity to redeem that standing.
UK Religious Groups Unite to Condemn Female Genital Mutilation
“No girl or woman should ever be forced to choose between her safety and her religious community and tradition and it is our sacred obligation to be just agents of change against this unjust practice.”
American Apparel CEO Dov Charney Fired Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Following sexual misconduct allegations, American Apparel’s founder and Chief Operating Officer Dov Charney has been fired.
Senate Set to Approve Rape Kit Backlog Funds
The Senate today is expected to approve $41 million in funding to process hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits across the country.
Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict Convenes This Week
British Foreign Secretary William Hague and actress and United Nations special envoy Angelina Jolie are co-chairing the event, the largest ever of its kind.
Veterans Groups File Lawsuit Alleging Discrimination Against Military Sexual Assault Survivors
The lawsuit alleges that the VA makes military sexual assault survivors who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) go through more procedural hurdles than other veterans to receive disability benefits.
White House Campus Sexual Assault Task Force Releases First Report
To compile “Not Alone: The First Report of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault,” The Task Force used recommendations it gathered from a wide variety of people during a 90-day review period.