This past weekend, Jeffery Epstein, who was convicted of prostitution charges and was recently charged for sex-trafficking, was found dead by apparent suicide in federal jail; however, accusers are still seeking justice through civil cases against Epstein’s estate. Geoffery S. Berman, chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan, ensured the public that the investigation will continue. He […]
New York Strengthens Sexual Harassment Laws
On Wednesday, the New York state legislature passed landmark legislation that provide stronger protections for survivors of sexual harassment, making it easier to bring sexual harassment claims forward. Governor Cuomo has promised to sign both bills into law. The first of the two bills removes the standard that harassment in the workplace must be “severe […]
Tarana Burke Discusses Intersectional Issues of the Me Too Movement at Time 100 Summit
Tarana Burke, the founder of the Me Too Movement, spoke as a part of this year’s inaugural Time 100 Most Influential People Summit on Tuesday. Included in her speech Burke pointed out the need for more conversations about the untold stories of minority women, and the inclusion of survivors of all genders. In her reflection, […]
Congress Introduces BE HEARD Act
The BE HEARD Act, a comprehensive bill meant to address and prevent workplace sexual harassment, was introduced in Congress on Tuesday by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and other co-sponsors. The bill is intended to close loopholes within federal discrimination laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of […]
Superior Court Judge Faces Suspension for Questioning Sexual Assault Survivor in Court
New Jersey Superior Court Judge John F. Russo Jr. is expected to be suspended from his position for three months without pay, per recommendation of the state’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct after it became public that he suggested a sexual assault survivor close her legs. Superior Judge Russo has been on administrative leave since […]
Students Protest Kavanaugh Teaching at George Mason University
This summer, Brett Kavanaugh will be teaching a course on the origins of the U.S. Constitution at George Mason’s Antonin Scalia School of Law campus in London. Jennifer Mascott, an assistant professor of law at George Mason and a former clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals in the D.C. Circuit, will be joining him […]
Pope Issues New Mandate Regarding Children and Abuse Survivors
On Friday, Pope Francis issued a new requirement mandating that Vatican officials report suspected sexual abuse to the Vatican judicial authorities. If they fail to do so, they will face fines or jail time. Francis says that this cooperation is absolutely necessary “in the activities of prevention.” This comes after the Pope admitted last month […]
New UK Bill Seeks to Incorporate Economic Abuse into Domestic Violence Legislation
A proposed domestic violence bill in the UK is the first legislation to include economic abuse and its clear legal definition, which will better serve victims as well as prosecute offenders. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice submitted the bill in late January that also includes a “domestic abuse commissioner” to oversee and develop […]
Judge Allows Alleged Baylor Rapist to Serve no Time
Former Baylor University fraternity president, Jacob Anderson, will not serve jail time or be put on the sex offender registry even though he allegedly raped a fellow Baylor student in 2016 at his fraternity’s, Phi Delta Theta, party. Anderson was initially charged with four counts of sexual assault but will only have to pay a […]
New DeVos Rules on Title IX Will Hurt Survivors
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has proposed harmful new regulations that would make it easier for schools to ignore student survivors of sexual violence and sweep allegations of sexual harassment and assault under the rug. Already, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men will be sexually assaulted in college, and around 1 in 4 […]
Protests Erupt across Ireland after Underwear is used as Evidence of Consent
Women across Ireland are protesting how rape trials conduct after a recent trial used a woman’s underwear as evidence of consent, leading to a man being acquitted of rape. Protesters this week in Ireland, and abroad, are using the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsent and sharing photos of women’s underwear. A social media movement began when people started […]
Harsh Anti-Abortion Laws in El Salvador Criminalize Survivors
On Monday, a criminal trial against Imelda Cortez, a 20-year-old woman charged with attempted murder after she gave birth to her abuser’s baby in El Salvador, began. Cortez has been in custody since April 2017 and may face up to 20 years in jail because doctors believe she attempted an abortion. The court ruling is […]
#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.