A Maryland House of Delegates committee heard testimony yesterday on a bill that would require all state universities and colleges to administer an anonymous sexual violence survey every three years — to more accurately determine how many assaults are occurring on campuses — and then report those findings to the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Penn State Under Investigation for Handling of Sexual Assault and Harassment on Campus
“Our initial review of Penn State’s sexual harassment policy, compounded by a dramatic increase in the number of forcible sex offenses occurring on camp[us as reported by the university itself, raised legal concerns that compelled us to investigate.”
Report Shows Increase in Officer-on-Inmate Sexual Assault in US Prisons
A new report issued by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that allegations of rape and sexual assault by prison inmates are increasing, and that 49 percent of the alleged crimes involve correctional officers.
Activist Launches Fundraising Drive to Open Home for Sexual Assault Survivors
A Vanderbilt University graduate and sexual violence survivor launched a fundraising drive yesterday to open a home for fellow college-aged survivors in Nashville, Tennessee.
White House Launches Task Force to Prevent Campus Sexual Assault
President Barack Obama announced today the creation of a task force to combat campus sexual assault and released a report that declares “no one in America is more at risk of being raped or assaulted than college women.”
California Bill Would Change Reporting Requirements for Rapes on College Campuses
“We want to make sure administrations can’t keep stuff hush hush in hopes of making it seem like a school is safe than it really is.”
Brutal Assault and Death of Teenage Girl Spark Protests in India
Protests have erupted in India after a 16-year-old girl was gang raped in two separate attacks and fatally set on fire. Via Shutterstock The girl was first assaulted in late October by more than six men near her home in Madhyagram town, near Calcutta. She went to the police the next day to report it, and […]
President Obama Signs Defense Bill Expanding Efforts to Prevent Military Sexual Assault
Late last week, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 (NDAA), which expands efforts to prevent sexual assault and strengthens protections for victims.
Obama Calls for Review on Military Sexual Assault One Year From Now
On Dec. 1, 2014, defense and military leaders will be required to issue a full-scale report on progress made to eradicate military sexual assault, President Obama announced Friday.
UConn Under Federal Investigation For Mishandling Sexual Assault Cases
The US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights informed the University of Connecticut on Monday that it will investigate the school for allegedly mishandling sexual assault cases and violating Title IX, the federal law that requires colleges to eliminate gender-based discrimination.
Fort Hood Soldiers Recruited for Prostitution Ring During Sexual Assault Program
Female soldiers testified on Monday that they were recruited for a prostitution ring organized by a sergeant at Fort Hood in Texas.
UNFPA Plan Aims To Protect Women’s Safety, Health In Aftermath of Typhoon
Typhoon Haiyan, which hit two weeks ago, has wreaked havoc in the Philippines.
Hollaback! Finds Sexual Harassment Prevalent on College Campuses
Hollaback! found that 67 percent of students had experienced harassment on campus – which can include”unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior that significantly interferes with a student’s access to educational opportunities” – and that harassment was harming students’ ability to learn.
Lawmakers Push for Changes in US Military Justice System
MJIA attempts to erase the systemic obstacles that victims of sexual assault in the military face due to the “clear bias and inherent conflicts of interest posed by the military chain of command’s current sole decision-making power over whether cases move forward to a trial.”
Shutdown Threatens to Halt Rape Kits in DC
DC’s budget is under federal control, so if the federal government’s shutdown continues much longer, some of the city’s necessary programs–including those intended to help rape victims–may be temporarily discontinued due to lack of funding.
Panel-By-Panel: Recap of the 2013 National Sexual Assault Conference!
I’ll be spending the next three days in Los Angeles learning facts and strategies for combating sexual assault.
Sorting Through The Chaos: One-Third of Teens Are In An Abusive Relationship. What Now?
A report found that over one-third of teenagers have been in an abusive relationship. I spoke to two young women about why this is and how we can end this cycle.
The System Has Failed: We Need to End Stand Your Ground
We stand with Marissa Alexander and support a broad repeal of Stand Your Ground laws in this country.
“Rape Is Rape” Bill Fails in NY Senate, Bronx Teacher Vows to Continue Her Fight for Justice
[Trigger Warning: This post contains references to sexually violent acts and threatening behavior.] Lydia Cuomo, a 27-year-old Bronx teacher, was brutally raped at gunpoint by drunken off-duty cop Michael Pena. That was in August 2011, but over the past year Cuomo has traveled to Albany, NY numerous times to tell her horrific story in hopes of finally finding […]
A Man Who Will Choke You in Public: What Scares Me About Nigella Lawson’s Abuse
If it can happen to Nigella Lawson, it can happen to anyone. This is anything but a private matter.
