Belgium becomes first country to give sex workers robust labor rights and protections: . — 1 December 2024 (LINK)
— Belgium made history on Sunday as the first country in the world to allow sex workers to sign formal employment contracts — granting them access to sick days, maternity pay and pension. The new law also guarantees fundamental rights for sex workers, including the ability to refuse clients, set the conditions of an act, and stop an act at any moment. Lawmakers passed the law in May but it officially took effect on Sunday.
140 women are murdered every day by relatives, UN Women report reveals. — 25 November 2024 (LINK)
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: 25 November - 10 December 2024 (Human Rights Day). — 25 November 2024 (LINK)
— The campaign was launched by activists at the inaugural Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991, and has since mobilized individuals and organizations, including the United Nations and partners worldwide to advocate for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Trump hush money sentencing delayed indefinitely. — 23 November 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 388 media reports (LINK)
UNESCAP conference calls for renewed, bold efforts to make gender equality commitments a reality in Asia and the Pacific. — 20 November 2024 (LINK)
Top Australian radio host and rugby coach Alan Jones charged with sexually abusing eight people. — 18 November 2024 (LINK)
Colombian Congress votes to end child marriages after 17-year-long campaign. — 15 November 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 58 media reports (LINK)
'Woman of the Hour' is groundbreaking: it's the first feminist true crime film to achieve commercial success since the #MeToo movement gained momentum in 2017. — 4 November 2024 (LINK)
Ex-Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges. — 26 October 2024 (LINK)
Roman Polanski no longer going on trial in L.A. over alleged 1973 rape of 16-year-old — 22 October 2024 (LINK)
— The director's lawyer, Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, told French news agency AFP that the case was "settled in the summer to the parties' mutual satisfaction and has now been formally dismissed." Polanski was set to face trial in August 2025. Gloria Allred, the lawyer of the anonymous plaintiff, confirmed to Variety that "a settlement of claims was agreed to by the parties to their mutual satisfaction." The lawsuit was filed in June 2023.
— Polanski has been a fugitive from the U.S. since 1978, so would not have been able to attend the trial in person and would have needed to appear via live video feed. Polanski fled the country on the eve of sentencing for the rape of a 13-year-old girl, and has been unable to return to the country since then without fear of arrest. Over the following decades, efforts to resolve the criminal case and extradite him have been unsuccessful.
— Polanski had also recently faced a defamation trial in Paris from actor Charlotte Lewis, who alleged that he had sexually assaulted her when she was 16. In a 2019 interview with French magazine Paris Match, Polanski called Lewis' claim a "heinous lie", causing Lewis to sue him for defamation. In May, Polanski was acquitted of the charges.
Attorney says 120 accusers allege sexual misconduct against Sean 'Diddy' Combs — 1 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 141 media reports (LINK)
Ex-Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes by staff — 19 September 2024 (LINK)
— "The women we have spoken to say his portrayal as pleasant and gregarious was far from the truth.
"He was vile," says one of the women, Sophia, who worked as his personal assistant from 1988 to 1991. She says he tried to rape her more than once.'That makes me angry, people shouldn't remember him like that. It's not how he was.'"
— Harrods told the BBC in a statement these had been the actions of an individual "intent on abusing his power" which it condemned in the strongest terms. It said: "The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do."
— The BBC has spoken to 13 women who say Fayed sexually assaulted them at 60 Park Lane. Four of them, including Rachel, say they were raped. "Eight other women have also told us they were sexually assaulted by Fayed at his properties in Paris. Five women described the assaults as an attempted rape."
— "The abuse of women, I was aware of it when I was on the shop floor," says Tony Leeming, a Harrods department manager from 1994 to 2004. It "wasn't even a secret", recalls Mr Leeming, who says he did not know about more serious allegations of assault or rape. "And I think if I knew, everybody knew. Anyone who says they didn't are lying, I'm sorry". Mr Leeming's testimony is backed up by former members of Fayed's security team.
"We were aware that he had this very strong interest in young girls," says Eamon Coyle, who joined Harrods in 1979 as a store detective, then became deputy director of security from 1989-95.
Gisele Pelicot, 'drugged by husband and raped by strangers', walks out of French court amid thunderous applause — 17 September 2024 (LINK)
More men accuse ex-Abercrombie boss over sex events — 14 September 2024 (LINK)
White House gets voluntary commitments from AI companies to curb deepfake porn: Adobe, Anthropic, Cohere, Common Crawl, Microsoft and OpenAI — 12 September 2024 (LINK)
Harvey Weinstein indicted on additional sex crimes in New York: Prosecutors presented evidence of three additional allegations dating back to the 2000s against the movie producer — 12 September 2024 (LINK)
King Charles will force Prince Andrew out of Royal Lodge if needed: report — 12 September 2024 (LINK)
— In 2019, Andrew was forced to step down as a working royal after his friendship with the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
Taliban publish vice laws that ban women's voices and bare faces in public — 22 August 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 39 media reports (LINK)
Harley-Davidson is dropping diversity initiatives after right-wing anti-DEI campaign — 19 August 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK)
Phil Donahue, the U.S. TV talk show host who just died at 88, pioneered an approach was unique for its time, often inviting audience participation and focusing on controversial or taboo subjects. He was an unsung LGBTQ+ ally, who talked about being gay — and AIDS — when no one else would — 18 August 2024 (LINK)
Mandisa Maya appointed as South Africa's first woman Chief Justice — 26 July 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK)
Pope Francis accepts the resignation of a Colombian bishop mentioned in a book on sexual abuse — 21 July 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 26 media reports (LINK)
Gambia parliament rejects bill to end ban on female genital mutilation — 16 July 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 57 media reports — (LINK)
Taliban delegation attends UN meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan, women excluded (video) — france24 — 30 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 26 media reports — (LINK)
The University of Geneva orchestra has, as of September 2024, its first female conductor. Judith Baubérot is an assistant lecturer at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève — slippedisc — 22 June 2024 (LINK)
Harvey Weinstein, 72, faces New York retrial in September after 2020 rape conviction overturned — ground.news: 41 media reports — 1 May 2024 (LINK)
Actor Gérard Depardieu will be tried for alleged sexual assaults on a film set, prosecutors say — ground.news: 73 media reports — 29 April 2024 (LINK)
New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial — AP — 25 April 2024 (LINK)
— In a stinging dissent, Judge Madeline Singas wrote that the majority was "whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative", and said the Court of Appeals was continuing a "disturbing trend of overturning juries' guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence."
— Weinstein, 72, has been serving a 23-year sentence in a New York prison following his conviction on charges of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013. He will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Report — Former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar's sexual assault victims to get $100M from Justice Dept. — ESPN — 18 April 2024 (LINK)
France becomes first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional right: vote 780-72 — ground.news: 309 media reports — 4 March 2024 (LINK)
How to end female genital mutilation? UN seeks to eradicate practice by 2030 — france24 — 2 February 2024 (LINK)
Cameron Diaz breaks her silence after being named in Jeffrey Epstein documents: "Cameron never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor was she ever in the same place as him or had any association with him whatsoever, regardless of the fact he may or may not have mentioned her name or implied that he knew her." — marieclaire — 7 January 2024 (LINK)
Lenore Blum: the ‘accidental activist’ who changed the face of mathematics — quantamagazine — 3 January 2024 (LINK)
Jeffrey Epstein documents unsealed, naming Prince Andrew and former President Clinton — ground.news: 343 media reports — 2 January 2024 (LINK)
— Court documents reveal that Ghislaine Maxwell confirmed former President Bill Clinton had traveled on Epstein's private jet, although it is unknown how many times. Epstein's email to Maxwell referenced a "Clinton dinner" and alleged involvement of Stephen Hawking in an underage orgy, as reported in the unsealed documents. The released documents provide details from a lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused Epstein of sexually abusing her as a minor and alleged that Maxwell aided in the abuse. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls and is now appealing her conviction.
Jeffrey Epstein said Bill Clinton 'likes them young,' accuser testified in newly unsealed deposition — (LINK)
Epstein accuser says Prince Andrew groped her, documents show — (LINK)
Jeffrey Epstein documents: Here's what we know so far — AP — 4 January 2024 (LINK)
How a man's world systematically neglects women — thegenevaobserver — 17 December 2023 (LINK)
It's taking longer to schedule abortions in the US since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Doctors fear riskier, more complex procedures — ground.news main source: AP, 20 media reports — 9 December 2023 (LINK)
LGBTQ couple in Nepal becomes 1st to receive official same-sex marriage status — ground.news: 48 media reports — 29 November 2023 (LINK)
Russian authorities ask Supreme Court to declare the LGBTQ 'movement' extremist — ground.news: 120 media reports — 17 November 2023 (LINK)
Jesús Ociel Baena, Mexico's first nonbinary judge, and partner found dead in apparent knife attack — ground.news: media reports — 13 November 2023 (LINK)
Fashion mogul Peter Nygard found guilty of 4 counts of sexual assault — cnn — 12 November 2023 (LINK)
Japan court rules it is 'unconstitutional' to require transgender sterilization in landmark case — CNN — 26 October 2023 (LINK)
QAnon hero who inspired "Sound of Freedom" film accused of sexually assaulting five women — boingboing.net — 11 October 2023 (LINK)
The Lauren Boebert date story just got super weird — new republic / news.yahoo.com — 19 September 2023 (LINK)
— "All future date nights have been canceled, and I learned to check party affiliations before you go on a date," Boebert jokingly told TMZ on Monday.
Does Boebert vape near (and then tell off) pregnant women on all of her first dates? If her date's a Democrat, why would he go on a date with Boebert? And why would she go on a date with him?
Luis Rubiales resigns as president of Spanish FA over Jenni Hermoso kiss — ground.news: 262 media reports — 10 September 2023 (LINK)
US TV star Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes at height of fame in 2001-3 after drugging women — www.bbc.com — 7 September 2023 (LINK)
— Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the Church of Scientology had helped cover up the assaults — an allegation the organisation has categorically denied. At the time of the attacks, Masterson and all three of his accusers were Scientologists. Several of the women said it took them years to come forward because Church of Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the rape to police. In its statement after the verdict in May, the Church of Scientology said there was "not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers".
Mexico supreme court decriminalizes abortion across country — ground.news: 140 media reports — 6 September 2023 (LINK)
Mexico's next president will be a woman — ground.news main source: AP, 20 media reports — 6 September 2023 (LINK)
Spain's Hermoso files criminal complaint over Rubiales kiss, prosecutor says — ground.news main source: Reuters, 177 media reports — 6 September 2023 (LINK)
Women working in Antarctica say they were left to fend for themselves against sexual harassers: 59% of women experienced harassment or assault — ground.news main source: AP, 17 media reports — 27 August 2023 (LINK)
FIFA suspends Spain soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for 90 days after World Cup final kiss — ground.news: 175 media reports — 26 August 2023 (LINK)
Monaco ends corruption probe of Lebanon's Mikati for lack of evidence — ground.news: 15 media reports — 25 August 2023 (LINK)
Scores of women and girls were sexually assaulted after peace deal in Ethiopia's Tigray, study shows — ground.news main source: AP, 15 media reports — 24 August 2023 (LINK)
FIFA opens case against Spanish soccer official who a kissed player on the lips at Women's World Cup — ground.news: 165 media reports — 24 August 2023 (LINK)
FIFA head Infantino says Women's World Cup breaks even but plays down calls for equal prize money: $110m for women, $440m for men — ground.news: 14 media reports — 18 August 2023 (LINK)
— FIFA President Gianni Infantino says women should "pick the right battles" to "convince us, men, what we have to do" over equality issues in soccer.
Michael Jackson sexual abuse lawsuits revived by appeals court — ground.news: 91 media reports — 18 August 2023 (LINK)
Australian megachurch founder Brian Houston acquitted of covering up father's child sex crimes: followed the wishes of his father's victim — CNN — 17 August 2023 (LINK)
Jury awards Texas woman $1.2 billion in 'revenge porn' lawsuit — ground.news 1 main source: nyt, 30 media reports — 16 August 2023 (LINK)
Afghan women demand education rights in UN appeal — ground.news 1 main source: afp , 13 media reports — 16 August 2023 (LINK)
Australian ex-priest, jailed since 1994, has prison sentence extended to 40 years for molesting 72nd child victim — ground.news: 17 media reports — 15 August 2023 (LINK)
Miss Universe Organisation cuts Indonesia ties over sex abuse claims — ground.news: 67 media reports — 12 August 2023 (LINK)
Malaysia makes owning an LGBTQ+ Swatch punishable by up to 3 years in jail — AP — 10 August 2023 (LINK)
6 Miss Indonesia Universe contestants lodge sexual harassment complaint against organizers — wionews — 9 August 2023 (LINK)
Influencer Andrew Tate released from Romanian house arrest while he awaits human trafficking and rape trial — ground.news: 16 media reports — 4 August 2023 (LINK)
Kevin Spacey found not guilty on all charges in U.K. sexual assault trial — ground.news: 343 media reports — 26 July 2023 (LINK)
Iranian chess player who removed hijab gets Spanish citizenship — ground.news: media reports — 26 July 2023 (LINK)
Women burn down houses of two accused of parading women from the Kuki tribal group naked on Manipur streets last May: four arrests after video appeared on social media in northeastern region of inter-ethnic violence — ground.news: 33 media reports — 21 July 2023 (LINK)
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the situation in the state for the first time on 20 July, saying: "My heart is filled with grief and anger. The incident in Manipur is shameful for any civil society. What happened with the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," adding the "law will take its course with all its might."
Italy starts removing lesbian mothers' names from children's birth certificates, in Padua — edition.cnn.com — 21 July 2023 (LINK)
— The birth certificates belong to 33 children of Italian women who underwent artificial insemination abroad and then registered their children under the city's center-left government, led by Sergio Giordani, in 2017.
World cycling's governing body bans female transgender athletes from women's event — ground.news: 78 media reports — 15 July 2023 (LINK)
— The UCI's decision is based on the current state of scientific knowledge, which does not guarantee equal opportunities between transgender female athletes and cisgender female participants.
The UCI is open to changing these rules in the future as scientific knowledge evolves and will initiate discussions with other members of the international sporting movement to fund research on the physical performance of transgender athletes undergoing hormonal treatment.
For the 1st time, each of the 732 players at the Women's World Cup will be paid at least $30K — ground.news: main source: apmews, 45 media reports — 12 July 2023 (LINK)
Switzerland bans photographers taking 'suggestive' photos of gymnasts — petapixel.com — 10 July 2023 (LINK)
Rikkie Kolle, 22, has become the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Universe Netherlands: she will represent the Netherlands in the upcoming Miss Universe competition, making her the first trans woman to do so since 2018 — ground.news: 26 media reports — 8 July 2023 (LINK)
US religious conservatives lobby to restrict abortion in Africa — ground.news: main source:ap, 19 media reports — 2 July 2023 (LINK)
Embattled Tennessee bishop resigns after allegations he mishandled sex abuse accusations — ground.news: 48 media reports — factuality: high27 June 2023 (LINK)
The state of abortion access in America a year after Roe's reversal (video 7:56) — pbsnewshour — 25 June 2023 (LINK)
The state of abortion access in America a year after Roe's reversal (video) — pbsnewshour — 25 June 2023 (LINK)
Mother of three (44) who took abortion pill after UK term limit (10 weeks) sentenced to 28 months — edition.cnn.com — 13 June 2023 (LINK)
British Cycling bars transgender women from competing in female category — ground.news: 45 media reports — 26 May 2023 (LINK)
Jeffrey Epstein Appeared to Threaten Bill Gates Over Microsoft Co-Founder's Affair With 20-year-old Russian Bridge Player — ground.news: 44 media reports — 21 May 2023 (LINK)
Mexico withdraws prison sentence against of woman who killed her rapist in self defense — ground.news: 12 reports — 20 May 2023 (LINK)
WHO dismisses lead COVID origins investigator for sexual misconduct — ground.news: 40 media reports — 3 May 2023 (LINK)
U.K. Met police officers arrested in rape and kidnap inquiry — ground.news: 9 media reports — 3 May 2023 (LINK)
Former UCLA gynecologist sentenced to 11 years on sex–related charges involving patients — abc7.com — 27 April 2023 (LINK)
How much substance is there to the UN's gender parity goal? Gender parity in the UN has been progressing at a snail pace — genevasolutions — 25 April 2023 (LINK)
How to fix the UN's sex abuse problem? Interview with Christian Saunders, the UN's special coordinator on improving its response to sexual exploitation and abuse — thenewhumanitarian.org — 24 April 2023 (LINK)
Conservative posts misrepresent UN position on sex between adults and minors — factcheck.afp.com — 24 April 2023 (LINK)
Taliban close education centers in southern Afghanistan — ground.news: 17 reports — 17 April 2023 (LINK)
Iran Makes Fresh Push to Force Women to Wear Hijab — ground.news: 15 reports — 17 April 2023 (LINK)
Thirteen women accuse Gérard Depardieu of sexual violence — ground.news: 102 reports — 13 April 2023 (LINK)
Pope Francis expands sex abuse law, covers lay Catholic leaders and reaffirms adults can be victims — cbsnews — 25 March 2023 (LINK)
10 groundbreaking female artists shamefully overlooked by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — faroutmagazine.co.uk — 24 March 2023 (LINK)