The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill last week that reforms the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, which provides the current guidelines for how sexual harassment, discrimination and other related claims are handled on Capitol Hill. The new reform bill awaits a vote in the Senate.
Congress Passes Bill to Protect Young Athletes from Sexual Abuse
Last week, the House and Senate passed the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act that makes it mandatory for sports organizations to report the sexual abuse of athletes to law enforcement or social services within 24 hours. The bill is now waiting to be signed into law by the President.
Congressional Leaders Request Review of Climate Surveys on Campus Sexual Violence
United States Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Susan Davis (D-CA) requested Monday that the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of past and existing campus climate surveys used to collect data on the incidence of sexual violence on college campuses in order to provide recommendations to Congress for developing a standard, nationwide survey.
Talks of Reparations for South Korean “Comfort Women” End
South Korea announced that it will not be pursuing renegotiations with the Japanese government over reparations for South Koreans victimized by the Imperial Japanese Army sex slave trade during World War II.
Civil Rights Icon Recy Taylor Dies at 97
Recy Taylor, a civil rights icon who was one of many black women victimized with impunity in the Jim Crow Era, died in her sleep at a nursing home in Abbeville, Alabama on December 28, 2017, just three days before her 98th birthday.
Time’s Up on Workplace Sexual Harassment at Golden Globe Awards
On Sunday evening, attendees of the 75th Golden Globe Awards honoring achievement in film and television dressed in black and wore Time’s Up pins to participate in a blackout that showed support and solidarity for the movement to combat workplace sexual harassment.
Senate Candidate Roy Moore Accused of Sexual Assault by Several Women
Last week, the Washington Post published an article sharing the stories of four women who have accused Roy Moore, Republican nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, of initiating unwanted sexual contact. Leigh Corfman, one of the women interviewed by the Post, was only 14 years old when she was approached by Roy Moore […]
#MeToo Movement Raises Awareness on Sexual Assault and Harassment
The statement “Me too” has spread across internet in the last 48 hours as survivors of sexual assault and harassment take to their social media accounts to raise awareness about the prevalence of violence against women.
Over a Dozen Women Allege Sexual Harassment or Assault by Harvey Weinstein
Over a dozen women have come forward accusing Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, and multiple women have alleged they were also sexually assaulted by the media mogul. Since the story of Weinstein’s decades long record of sexual harassment was brought to light by the New York Times last week, Weinstein has been fired from the company that bears his name, and four members of his all-male board have resigned.
Feminist Majority Foundation Condemns Department of Education Over New Title IX Guidance
This week the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) and other women’s rights advocates commandeered a hearing held by the Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) in order to express grievance over the Department’s rescinding of Title IX guidance documents that served to protect victims of sexual assault on college campuses.
Temple University Feminists Protest Board of Trustees Chairman
In September, the Temple University group Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) announced their campaign to try to remove the name Patrick O’Connor, lawyer for Bill Cosby, from one of the university plazas as well as oust him from his role as chairman of the Board of Trustees. FMLA is affiliated with the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Feminist Campus program.
Women & Girls Comprise 71% of Those Impacted by Modern Slavery
In the past year, an estimated 40 million people were victims of modern slavery, according to a report published last week by The Walk Free Foundation, International Labour Organization, and International Organization for Migration. The report estimates that of these 40 million individuals 71% of those enslaved are women.
Lebanon Repeals Legal Loopholes for Rapists
Last week, the Lebanese Parliament voted to repeal Article 522 of the government’s penal code which halts the prosecution or conviction of an alleged rapist if the perpetrator marries their victim. Lebanon joins Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia on the list of countries to recently repeal similar legislation.
DeVos Meets with Men’s Rights Activists Trying to Dismantle Title IX
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos met for 90 minutes with survivors of campus sexual assault last week, and then went on to a meeting with men’s rights activists to discuss dismantling Title IX enforcement guidelines that combat campus sexual assault. The men meeting with DeVos claim to be victims of false accusations of campus assault.
Women’s March Organizes Peaceful Protest in Response to NRA Videos
Last Friday, the Women’s March and several other organizations participated in a 17-mile, two-day rally in the Washington, D.C. area to protest the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) promotion of violence against progressive activists—especially women and people of color—in two recent incendiary videos, as well as the lack of action the NRA took in response to the shooting death of Philando Castile.
After 45 Years of Title IX, Advocates Hold Briefing on Law’s Successes and Failures
Last week, Title IX – the 1972 legal provision which prevents sex and gender-based discrimination in education – turned 45 years old. In honor of the anniversary, feminist groups briefed Congress on the victories Title IX has won, as well as the ways in which the law continues to fall short.
Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day
“Every credible scientific study of women and guns in the last two decades strongly indicates that a firearm in a woman’s home is far more likely to be used against her or her family than to defend against an outside attacker.”
Boko Haram Releases 82 Chibok Girls 3 Years After Kidnapping
Last week the Nigerian government announced that 82 of the nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok that were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram in April of 2014 had been released in exchange for five Boko Haram commanders. The kidnapping has been an ongoing subject of public concern, prompting the massive #BringBackOurGirls movement on social media.
Feminist Majority Foundations Sues University of Mary Washington For Title IX Violation
The university’s administration, including President Hurley, was aware of the over 700 “Yaks”, many of which directly threatened the women with physical harm, including rape, and yet failed to take any action to enforce Title IX and ensure the women’s safety, citing misguided First Amendment concerns.
Bill O’Reilly is Out
Bill O’Reilly has been forced out of Fox News after widespread national condemnation over sexual harassment allegations led to more than 70 companies pulling their advertisements from The O’Reilly Factor.
