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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
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Results for sexual harassment
50 results foundAuthor: Cook, Paul J. Title: Service Academy 2005 Sexual Harassment and Assault Survey Summary: This report provides results of a servey designed to assess the incidence of sexual assault and harassment and related issues at the U.S.Service Academies. Details: Arlington, VA: Defense Manpower Data Center, Survey & Program Evaluation Division, 2005 Source: SRA International, Inc; Defense Manpower Data Center; DMDC Report: no. 2005-018 Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117610 Keywords: Sex OffensesSexual HarassmentViolence Against Women |
Author: Gaber, Milica Antic, ed. Title: Violence in the EU Examined: Policies on Violence Against Women, Children and Youth in 2004 EU Accession Countries Summary: This report presents the results of a 2-year project conducted by a research team of 10 partner organizations from 10 countries that accessed the EU in 2004. Papers in the report all address the issue of violence against women, children and youth from different theoretical perspectives and analyzed using different methodological approaches. Some of the issues discussed include : sexual harassment; trafficking in persons; sexual exploitation in prostitution and pornography; children as victims of violence in the family; mail-order brides; and labor exploitation. Details: Ljubljana: University of Ljuljana, Faculty of Arts, 2009. 199p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 118683 Keywords: Forced LaborHuman TraffickingMail-Order BridesPornographyProstitutionSexual ExploitationSexual HarassmentViolence Against Women |
Author: Harrell, Margaret C. Title: A Compendium of Sexual Assault Research Summary: This volume summarizes recent studies on sexual assault that are deemed useful and relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense and other policymakers interested in sexual assault issues. Entries include a brief overview of the prevalence and effects of sexual assault, and of important events and laws pertaining to sexual assault in both the civilian and military sectors. The compendium's annotated bibliography includes summaries of more than 450 studies of sexual assault. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2009. 319p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2009/RAND_TR617.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2009/RAND_TR617.pdf Shelf Number: 117555 Keywords: Date RapeRapeSex OffendersSex OffensesSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Overseas Development Institute Title: Increasing Visibility and Promoting Policy Action to Tackle Sexual Exploitation In and Around Schools in Africa Summary: Sexual exploitation and sexual violence in or around schools is a serious and pressing problem throughout West Africa2 that necessitates greater policy attention. In a global report on all settings (not just schools), the World Health Organization estimates that 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 years have experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual violence around the world. This, combined with the fact that such violence is generally carried out by offenders known to the child (relatives and authority figures, including teachers and school authorities), provides a hint of the magnitude of the problem of school-based sexual violence. Examining what little quantitative information exists for West Africa reinforces this. According to a 2006 survey of 10 villages in Benin, 34% of school children interviewed confirmed that sexual violence occurs within their schools and 15% of teachers acknowledged that sexual harassment takes place within the school and yet rarely are such incidences reported or perpetrators held accountable. In Ghana, a study conducted in 2003 suggested that 6% of the girls surveyed had been victims of sexual blackmail over their class grades, 14% of rape cases had been perpetrated by school comrades, while 24% of boys in the study admitted to having raped a girl or to have taken part in a collective rape (UNICEF Bureau Regional Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre 2008). As the 2006 United Nations Study on Violence against Children (hereafter UNVAC) demonstrated, the long-term consequences of such high incidence of sexual abuse and exploitation are profound; above all sexual exploitation at and around schools compromises the rights to education, freedom from oppression and equality as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. For girls, sexual exploitation also undermines gender equality and prevents girls and women from obtaining equal educational and public sphere opportunities - as outlined in Millennium Development Goal (MDG). Being denied access to quality education, or feeling intimidated in or en route to the classroom, can also reinforce poverty by lowering school attendance rates. This not only threatens the achievement of MDG 2 (universal primary education) (Action Aid 2004), but also in the longer term risks lowering human development levels and potential contributions to broader national development goals as students are discouraged from pursing their studies and thereby progressing to higher education and qualified employment. Sexual abuse may also result in serious health effects, such as the transmission of sexual infections, particularly HIV, unwanted pregnancies and psychological trauma. This briefing paper seeks to raise awareness of the problem of sexual exploitation in and around schools in the West African region. It also highlights problems with regards to limited evidence and explores policy implications. It aims to support Plan’s regional ‘Learn Without Fear’ campaign and contributes evidence to the global debate on sexual exploitation in and around schools and children in general. Details: Dakar, Ponty, West Africa: Plan International, 2008. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2010 at: http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/Rapport_plan_LWF_web_(3).pdf Year: 2008 Country: Africa URL: http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/Rapport_plan_LWF_web_(3).pdf Shelf Number: 119831 Keywords: RapeSchool CrimeSchool ViolenceSexual ExploitationSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Kharboush, Ibrahim F. Title: Spousal Violence in Egypt Summary: One-third of Egyptian women have been physically abused by their husbands, according to the 2005 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey; and 7 percent said they are beaten “often.” These women mostly suffered silently and did not seek help. Violence against women is a costly and pervasive public health problem and a violation of human rights. It is often referred to as “gender-based violence” because it stems from women’s subordinate status in the family and society. The abuse can take many forms. Violence against women, whether perpetrated by husbands or others, and whether it happens inside or outside the home, undermines women’s health and well-being. It can also have far-reaching and long-term consequences for the women’s children and for society. Today, patriarchal norms continue to relegate many Egyptian women to a subordinate position relative to men, providing fertile ground for men’s abusive and damaging behaviors at home and in public. Harassment of women in public has escalated to the point where Egypt’s national economy may be affected: A recent World Bank study showed that 15 percent of men and 12 percent of women in Cairo who oppose the idea of women working outside the home cite potential sexual harassment as the reason. This policy brief presents an analysis of the 2005 and 2008 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys and the latest research on spousal violence conducted in the Alexandria Governorate by the Suzanne Mubarak Regional Centre for Women’s Health and Development. These studies reveal that violence against women is widespread and alarming, and highlight the urgent need for government and civil society to address the issue and end this scourge that hinders progress toward Egypt’s development goals. Details: Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau, 2010. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.prb.org/pdf10/spousalviolence-egypt.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Egypt URL: http://www.prb.org/pdf10/spousalviolence-egypt.pdf Shelf Number: 119935 Keywords: Battered WomenDomestic ViolenceSexual HarassmentSpouse AbuseViolence Against Women |
Author: National Center for Victims of Crime, Stalking Resource Center Title: Model Campus Stalking Policy Summary: Stalking behaviors on campus can be difficult to recognize and ameliorate. It is important to remember that stalking is not a one-time event, but a series of incidents that can escalate and lead to violence. And, although much progress had been made in addressing domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault on campus, stalking is neither adequately discussed under many existing campus policies nor addressed in prevention efforts. Given the prevalence of stalking on campuses and its impact on victims, a dedicated effort to address stalking on campus is necessary. National prevalence rates on stalking are startling. The 2009 Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, Stalking Victimization in the United States, estimated that 3.4 million people were stalked during a 12-month period. Persons ages 18 to 24 (average age of college students) experienced the highest rates of stalking victimization. Research also shows that stalking is a significant problem on college campuses and these studies find higher rates of stalking victimization among college-aged women than that of the general population. The National College Women Sexual Victimization Study found that over 13 percent of college women had been stalked in the academic year prior to the study. Though stalking behavior is often prolonged and ongoing, the majority of stalking incidents (over 83 percent) were not reported to police or campus law enforcement. Three in ten college women reported being injured emotionally or psychologically from being stalked. It is important to note that stalking often occurs in the context of both dating violence and sexual assault. In one study, researchers found that 43 percent of victims were stalked by a current/ former boyfriend and in 10 percent of incidents, the victim reported that the stalker forced or attempted sexual contact. Other research on sexual assault on college campuses found that perpetrators of these assaults were premeditating, repeat offenders, who used strategies we identify as classic stalking strategies (such as surveillance and information gathering) to select and ensure the vulnerability of their victims. The Stalking Resource Center recommends the development of a collaborative and comprehensive response to stalking on campus that includes creating a campus stalking policy. A university or college stalking policy is one of the best ways to address the significant problem of stalking on campus. A policy demonstrates institutional commitment to the issue and serves as an authoritative mechanism to inform the campus community about this serious crime. A policy on stalking can create guidelines for students, informs the campus body that stalking behaviors will not be tolerated, and can be a proactive measure in guiding student behavior on campus. Details: Washington, DC: National Center for Victims of Crime, 2011. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 29, 2011 at: http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/AGP.Net/Components/documentViewer/Download.aspxnz?DocumentID=48282 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/AGP.Net/Components/documentViewer/Download.aspxnz?DocumentID=48282 Shelf Number: 121891 Keywords: Campus CrimeCampus SafetyColleges and UniversitiesSexual HarassmentStalking (U.S.)Victimization |
Author: Heiskanen, Markku Title: Men's Experiences of Violence in Finland Summary: This report describes violence committed against men in Finland. The study was financed by the European Commission, the Finnish Ministry of Justice and the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The initial objective of the project was to pilot the Safety Survey of the EU (EU-SASU). Thus, the study deals both with men’s and women’s experiences of violence. Although the main focus of the report is on violence experienced by men, data on women are presented for comparison. DATA. The study targeted the 15-74-year-old Finnish-speaking population who were permanent residents of Finland. The sample comprised 7,171 persons, randomly selected by Statistics Finland from their population register. Statistics Finland collected the data between October 2009 and January 2010. The response rate was 45 per cent, hence the data consist of 3,201 interviews. Of the respondents, 1,918 were men. The study was a mixed-mode survey, meaning that the data were collected by three modes: face-to-face interview, telephone interview and internet survey. The low response rate is in the first place due to the non-response (75 %) of the internet survey. Experiences of violence were assessed for two time periods: since the respondent’s 15th birthday and during the 12 months prior to the interview. In addition, this survey explores violence committed by four types of perpetrators: strangers, acquaintances, current partners and ex-partners. Furthermore, there were questions about the consequences of the violence, such as physical injuries and psychological harm. Finally, the questionnaire addressed sexual harassment and fear of violence. THE MEN. More than one-half, or 55 per cent of all men between 15 and 74 years had experienced violence or threats since the age of 15. In the course of the last 12 months, 16 per cent of men had been victims of violence or threats. The victimisation experiences of men are dominated by physical violence. A total of 47 per cent of the men had experienced physical violence after their 15th birthday. Men were most often victims of violence committed by strangers (42 % since the age of 15 and 10 % over the last 12 months). This violence is predominantly physical violence and threats thereof. Sexual violence against men was rare. Since their 15th birthday, one-fourth of the men had been victims of violence by a person known to them. In the last 12 months, this had happened to 5 per cent. In this study, acquaintances comprise persons known to the victim, friends, relatives and family members apart from partners and ex-partners. The majority of this type of violence was committed by friends (37 %) or other acquaintances (24 %). 17 per cent of the perpetrators were clients, patients, workmates or persons in the workplace. 15 per cent of the perpetrators known to the victim belonged to the family circle or were relatives but not partners. The violence by a person known to the victim was mostly physical violence or threats thereof. In both violence committed by strangers and by persons, the perpetrators were almost always other men (about 95 % in both categories). Of men living in a partner relationship, 16 per cent had after their 15th birthday been victimised to violence or threats by their partner; six per cent had such experiences in the last year. More than one man out of five had been victimised to violence by an ex-partner. MEN AND WOMEN. Violence committed by partners was equally common among men and women. The same was true also for violence by a current partner, both during the entire partnership and in the course of the last 12 months. There was no difference regarding victimisation to physical violence, but women had experienced more often threats and sexual violence in a partner relationship. Men had experienced violence by an ex-partner much less frequently than women (22 % vs. 42 %). Men received physical injuries from violence by strangers much more frequently than women, but in the other perpetrator categories women had received injuries more often than men. This was particularly accentuated in partner violence. Men told much less often than women that the violence had caused psychological consequences such as anger, fear or depression. When comparing men’s and women’s violence experiences across perpetrator categories, a traditional profile of Finnish violence emerges. In the violence by strangers and acquaintances – for instance in regards of beating with a fist or still more serious forms of violence – the victims are mostly men. On the other hand, in particular in previous partner relationships, beating, strangling, beating the head against something, and sexual violence were directed at women more often than at men. HARASSMENT AND CONCERN. Ten per cent of the men had experienced sexual harassment in the last 12 months, and 26 per cent after their 15th birthday. The most common forms of harassment of men were passes, touching, or attempts to kiss the man against his will. More than one-half of the incidents of sexual harassment of men were committed by women. Although the risk of becoming a victim of violence committed by strangers is rather high for men, they are not worried about becoming victims of violence when walking alone in their area after dark: less than five percent of men said they felt unsafe. Victimisation to violence increases feelings of insecurity: 15 per cent of male victims of violence felt unsafe. Even though men were not worried about their personal safety, 22 per cent of them were worried about their family members or close friends being physically attacked by strangers. Details: Helsinki: European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations (HEUNI), 2011. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Publication Series No. 71: Accessed November 5, 2011 at: http://www.heuni.fi/Satellite?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&SSURIapptype=BlobServer&SSURIcontainer=Default&SSURIsession=false&blobkey=id&blobheadervalue1=inline;%20filename=HEUNI%20report%2071%20Men's%20experiences%20of%20violence.pdf&SSURIsscontext=Satellite%20Server&blobwhere=1296734018191&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&ssbinary=true&blobheader=application/pdf Year: 2011 Country: Finland URL: http://www.heuni.fi/Satellite?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&SSURIapptype=BlobServer&SSURIcontainer=Default&SSURIsession=false&blobkey=id&blobheadervalue1=inline;%20filename=HEUNI%20report%2071%20Men's%20experiences%20o Shelf Number: 123235 Keywords: Family ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceSexual HarassmentViolence Against Men (Finland) |
Author: U.S. Department of Defense Title: Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies: Academic Program Year 2010–2011 Summary: Section 532 of Public Law Number 109-364, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, requires an assessment at the Military Service Academies (MSA) during each Academic Program Year (APY). This assessment is to determine the effectiveness of the policies, training, and procedures of the academy with respect to sexual harassment and assault involving academy personnel. In APYs beginning in even-numbered years (e.g., APY 10-11), the Report is comprised of the Department’s assessment, statistical data on sexual assault, and results of focus groups of cadets and midshipmen conducted by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). The Department of Defense (DoD) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) and the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) use this annual assessment as an oversight tool to monitor improvement of the Department’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) and Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Programs. To that end, the assessment of the SAPR and POSH Programs was organized by the priorities established in the DoD-wide SAPR Strategic Plan approved in December 2009. For APY 10-11, the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point is overall partially in compliance with the Department’s policies regarding sexual harassment and assault. Actions undertaken by USMA will ensure compliance with Department Policy for sexual harassment and assault, as well as enhance the program. USMA will ensure all cadets and Sexual Assault Response Coordinators are trained in accordance with the Department’s policies; reporting options are clear and in line with Policy; and provide effective oversight of the SAPR and POSH Programs. USMA did demonstrate one commendable practice that should be considered for replication by other MSAs. The Department will reassess USMA before the next Report to Congress in order to document improvement in the program. Overall, the United States Naval Academy (USNA) is in compliance with the Department’s policies regarding sexual harassment and assault for APY 10-11. USNA put considerable time and effort into the Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention and Education training program to prevent sexual harassment and assault. Additionally, USNA has a well-organized SAPR staff to train midshipmen and support victims. However, there are areas for improvement to USNA’s program and initiatives pertaining to training effectiveness. Additionally, USNA demonstrated four commendable practices that should be considered for replication by other MSAs. The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is in compliance with the Department’s policies regarding sexual harassment and assault for APY 10-11. USAFA’s SAPR and POSH Programs are mature and robust. These programs were taken seriously and given the appropriate attention at the Academy. USAFA has implemented innovative and unique ideas to draw awareness to this issue and provided support to victims. However, there are areas for continued improvement of USAFA’s program. Additionally, USAFA demonstrated nine commendable practices that should be considered for replication by other MSAs. One of the Department’s strategic priorities is to build a climate of confidence that brings more victims forward to report sexual assault and to obtain needed support and services. During APY 10-11, there were a total of 65 reports of sexual assault; 38 Unrestricted Reports and 27 Restricted Reports. Initially, the MSAs received a total of 37 Restricted Reports, but 10 converted to Unrestricted Reports at the victims’ request. The 65 reports represent an increase from the 41 reports made in APY 09-10. The Department does not have the ability to conclusively identify the reasons for this increase in reporting behavior. However, in prior years’ assessments, the Department identified steps the academies could take to encourage more victims to report. Some of the increased reporting of sexual assault may be attributed to these efforts as well as many other factors. DMDC conducted focus groups at all three MSAs in the Spring of APY 10-11 covering topics such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, reporting, leadership response, training, and bystander intervention. Although focus group results are not able to be generalized to all students at each of the MSAs, the themes serve as illustrations of situations and attitudes for consideration in the assessment of the SAPR and POSH Programs. The academies should analyze focus group responses to improve SAPR and POSH Programs. Areas include reasons for not reporting a sexual assault, training improvements and the issue of sexual assault victim collateral misconduct. The MSAs did not complete all the recommendations from the APY 08-09 Report. The academies must implement the remaining 18 recommendations from the APY 08-09 Report, and the necessary actions items put forth in the APY 10-11 Report in a timely manner. Additionally, the academies will provide an update on implementation before the end of the APY. The Department will follow up with the academies every 6 months thereafter to ensure all actions are completed. While a number of challenges remain, the Department believes the greatest of these pertain to the prevention and reporting of sexual assault. Using survey and focus group data, the Department encourages the academies to employ their considerable academic and programmatic resources to implement meaningful, evidence-based prevention and reporting interventions. In addition, identifying and tracking key measurements over time will be critical to demonstrate to stakeholders the efforts underway at the MSAs. Preventing sexual harassment and assault at the MSAs, as well as in all aspects of military service, remains a top priority for the Department. The APY 10-11 report demonstrates some progress towards that goal. However, more can be done in the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Defense, 2011. 126p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2012 at: http://www.sapr.mil/media/pdf/reports/FINAL_APY_10-11_MSA_Report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.sapr.mil/media/pdf/reports/FINAL_APY_10-11_MSA_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 123555 Keywords: Military AcademiesSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentVictims of Crimes |
Author: Moumneh, Rasha Title: “They Hunt Us Down for Fun”: Discrimination and Police Violence Against Transgender Women in Kuwait Summary: In 2007 the Kuwaiti parliament outlawed “imitating the opposite sex”, paving the way for police to arbitrarily detain, torture, and sexually harass and abuse transgender women in Kuwait with impunity. Despite a formal state recognition of Gender Identity Disorder, arrests of transgender women continue unabated. The police often take advantage of the law to blackmail transgender women for sex, and redress for police abuse is difficult, if not impossible, for fear of reprisal and re-arrest. The law does not criminalize any specific act or behavior, but rather an appearance whose interpretation is left entirely up to the whims of the police, giving them free reign to decide who is breaking the law and how it is broken. This report documents the abuse, violence, and persecution faced by transgender women at the hands of the police as well as the discrimination they face on a daily basis as a result of this law. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2012. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/kuwait0112ForUpload.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Kuwait URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/kuwait0112ForUpload.pdf Shelf Number: 123645 Keywords: Bias CrimesHate CrimesPolice Use of ForceSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceTransgenderViolence Against Women (Kuwait) |
Author: Meng, Grace Title: Cultivating Fear: The Vulnerability of Immigrant Farmworkers in the US to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Summary: Producing food consumed throughout the country, hundreds of thousands of immigrant women and girls in the United States today work in fields, packing houses, and other agricultural workplaces where they face a real and significant risk of sexual violence and sexual harassment. Cultivating Fear, based on interviews with over 50 farmworkers and 110 advocates, agricultural industry representatives, and government officials, documents cases of rape, stalking, unwanted touching, exhibitionism, and verbal harassment, perpetrated by supervisors, co-workers, employers, and others in positions of power. Although farmworkers are protected in theory from workplace sexual violence and harassment under US civil and criminal law, farmworker women and girls face systemic barriers—as farmworkers and often as unauthorized immigrants—to reporting abuses and helping bring perpetrators to justice. Human Rights Watch calls on employers to take responsibility for the safety of their workers and on local police to ensure unauthorized immigrant victims are able to report crimes without fear of deportation. Most critically, Human Rights Watch calls on the US government to reform immigration and labor law and policy, at the federal and state levels, to ensure that the workers whose labor sustains US agriculture are able to fully assert their rights to protection from workplace sexual violence and harassment. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2012. 101p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us0512ForUpload_1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us0512ForUpload_1.pdf Shelf Number: 125258 Keywords: Immigrants (U.S.)RapeSex OffensesSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Title: The Bully-Sexual Violence Pathway in Early Adolescence Summary: The focus of this ASAP is to highlight the early findings from a three-year study aimed to examine the overlap between bullying and sexual violence victimization and perpetration in five middle schools in a Midwest state. The first two waves of the study have shown that bullying perpetration and homophobic teasing were significant predictors of sexual harassment perpetration over time. While these findings are preliminary, they do suggest that homophobic teasing may be a component of bullying that may increase the potential for sexual harassment later. In other words, a bully perpetrator who also used homophobic teasing may later turn to sexual harassment. Details: Washington, DC: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012. 4p. Source: ASAP Brief: Internet Resource: Accessed June 13, 2012 at http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/ASAP_BullyingSV-a.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/ASAP_BullyingSV-a.pdf Shelf Number: 125348 Keywords: BullyingHomophobiaJuvenile OffendersSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceVictimization |
Author: Bartlett, Helen Title: Sexual Violence Against People with Disabilities: Data Collection and Barriers to Disclosure Summary: The report focuses on analysing data on experience of sexual violence by people with disabilities collected in the RCNI Database over 2008-2010; understanding barriers to disclosure for people with disabilities; and reviewing and analysing relevant database models used to record incidents of sexual violence as experienced by people with disabilities. The report analyses data from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland Database. Incidents of sexual violence reported by people with disabilities in the Republic of Ireland in the three years from 2008 to 2010 were analysed from this dataset. Findings from this analysis will inform broader policy on providing appropriate and accessible disclosure support and abuse monitoring structures for people with disabilities. We elicited input from people with disabilities through an anonymous online survey. People with disabilities are best placed to contribute to policy development by identifying barriers that limit their access to information and supports concerning sexual violence. Their insights will progress policy on how sensitive data is captured, while protecting privacy and ensuring easy access to people with any form of disability. Barriers were identified and solutions to challenges proposed by the survey respondents. The analysis of the survey will be of interest to a wide range of stakeholders including those who support people with disabilities and those who support survivors of sexual violence. The research also reviews existing data collection mechanisms in order to identify international models of good practice and makes practical recommendations for nationally coordinated data collection on sexual violence experienced by people with disabilities. The recommendations also have relevance for monitoring other forms of abuse against people with disabilities. Details: Galway: Rape Crisis Network Ireland, 2011. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at: http://www.rcni.ie//uploads/SexualViolenceAgainstPeopleWithDisabilities2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.rcni.ie//uploads/SexualViolenceAgainstPeopleWithDisabilities2011.pdf Shelf Number: 126008 Keywords: Adults with DisabilitiesPeople with DisabilitiesRapeSexual HarassmentSexual Violence (Ireland) |
Author: Bluett-Boyd, Nicole Title: The Role of Emerging Communication Technologies in Experiences of Sexual Violence: A New Legal Frontier? Summary: This research study investigates how communication technologies facilitate sexual violence against young people and what challenges this presents for the Victorian criminal justice system. Based on interviews with young people and professionals working with young people, it examines the effects of technology on the lives of young people, the interface between emerging communication technologies and experiences of sexual violence, and the factors that enable or hinder appropriate legal responses. Communication technologies such as online social networking sites and mobile phones are considered, and their use in identifying and grooming potential victims, blackmail and intimation, sexting, harassment, and pornography. The key messages identified by the study included: - Young people's engagement with emerging communication technologies (such as social networking and mobile phone technology) is an essential method of socialisation. Given the constant accessibility offered by these technologies, and the blurring between online and offline social spheres, emerging communication technologies afford diverse opportunities for the perpetration of sexual violence. The study found that emerging communication technologies help facilitate sexually violent acts, before, during and after an offence. Specifically, technologies help to increase the accessibility of potential victims: Before a sexually violent act. Social networking in particular can provide a false sense of connection between offender and victim. For example, the act of 'friending' enhances the feeling of 'trust'. •During the act of sexual violence, technologies can be used to record non-consensual sexual activity. Threats to distribute this material can be used to further coerce and victimise. After an act of either consensual or non-consensual sexual activity, offenders can distribute images to cause further harm to victims. Technologies are also used post-assault to contact, threaten or abuse victims. - A lack of clarity on how a range of online behaviours should be conceptualised has hampered the development of appropriate and effective responses to the issue. While the law has a role to play in addressing such issues, appropriate conduct for using technologies is better addressed through a primary prevention approach to the promotion of personal ethics and respect. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2013. 127p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. 23: Accessed February 28, 2013 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport23/index.html Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport23/index.html Shelf Number: 127554 Keywords: Communication TechnologiesPornographySex CrimesSextingSexual HarassmentSexual Violence (Australia)Technology and Crime |
Author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women ) Title: Study on Ways and Methods to Eliminate Sexual Harassment in Egypt Summary: This study aims to achieve one main objective, and that is to identify ways and methods for reducing sexual harassment in Egypt. However this does not exclude other secondary objectives of the research which are considered complementary and will help in general to solve the problem and to identify the harassers and the victims, and particularly the impact harassment has on each of them. There were, therefore, other secondary objectives, namely: 1. Verifying the extent of the respondents’ knowledge, both male and female, of the meaning of harassment and the source of information. 2. Identifying the characteristics of the harasser, such as age/ level of education/ status/ economic situation of the family etc…. 3. Identifying the characteristics of the harassed (victim) such as age/ level of education/ status/ economic situation of the family etc…. 4. Specifying the different forms of sexual harassment and their frequency. 5. Specifying the most significant times and places where harassment occurs. 6. Finding out the views of the respondents on some factors that help towards the occurrence of harassment, such as way of dressing and walking etc.. 7. Identifying the psychological, economic and social impact of sexual harassment, whether on the victim or on the harasser. 8. Learning how to deal with the victim, both on the part of passers-by and security personnel whether on the street or in police stations. Thus, this study has eight secondary objectives in addition to the main one, which is to identify ways and methods to eliminate sexual harassment in Egypt. Details: New York: UN Women, 2013. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2013 at: http://www.dgvn.de/fileadmin/user_upload/DOKUMENTE/English_Documents/Sexual-Harassment-Study-Egypt-Final-EN.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Egypt URL: http://www.dgvn.de/fileadmin/user_upload/DOKUMENTE/English_Documents/Sexual-Harassment-Study-Egypt-Final-EN.pdf Shelf Number: 129601 Keywords: Sex Crimes (Egypt)Sexual Harassment |
Author: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Title: Sexual Assault in the Military Summary: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights chose to focus on sexual assault in the U.S. military for its annual 2013 Statutory Enforcement Report. This report examines how the Department of Defense and its Armed Services - the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force (the Services) - respond to Service members who report having been sexually assaulted ("victims") and how it investigates and disciplines Service members accused of perpetrating sexual assault ("perpetrators"). This report also reviews how the military educates Service members and trains military criminal investigators and military lawyers about sexual assault offenses. The topic is both relevant and timely, as Congress is currently considering ways to address this issue. The Commission has authority to examine questions related to sexual assault in the military because the issues involve both sex discrimination and the denial of equal protection in the administration of justice. The issue of sex discrimination involves female Service members, who represent 14 percent of the military population, but are disproportionately likely to be victims at a rate five times that of their male counterparts. The questions related to a possible denial of equal protection in the administration of justice led the Commission to examine cases in which sexual assault victims, as well as Service members accused of sexual assault, claim unfair treatment in the military justice system. Through this report, the Commission sheds light on the scope, response, investigation, and discipline of sexual assault in the U.S. military. The Commission held a briefing on January 11, 2013 to hear the testimony of military officials, scholars, advocacy groups, and practitioners on the topic of sexual assault in the military. In response to written questions from the Commission, the Department of Defense and its Armed Services provided documents and other materials, including data on investigated sexual assault allegations, which the Commission analyzed. The results of these efforts are memorialized in this report. The report reveals that the Department of Defense may benefit from greater data collection to better understand trends in sexual assault cases and to implement improvements in future initiatives. Although the Department of Defense has already implemented policies to reduce sexual and sexist material from the military workplace in an effort to reduce sexual harassment, the effects of such recent efforts have yet to be measured. The Department of Defense also has a plan to standardize sexual assault response and prevention training across the Services to promote best practices. There will be a need to track the success of such policies over time. Greater commander accountability for leadership failures to implement such policies, especially in cases where victims claim sexual assault at the hands of superiors within the chain of command, should also be considered. Without increased data collection, however, it is difficult to measure the effects of any new changes the military chooses to implement. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Commission Civil Rights, 2013. 238p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 11, 2013 at: http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/09242013_Statutory_Enforcement_Report_Sexual_Assault_in_the_Military.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/09242013_Statutory_Enforcement_Report_Sexual_Assault_in_the_Military.pdf Shelf Number: 131639 Keywords: MilitaryMilitary Justice SystemRapeSex Crimes (U.S)Sex DiscriminationSexual AssaultSexual harassmentVictims of Sexual Assaults |
Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Title: Violence Against Women: An EU-Wide Survey. Main Results Summary: This FRA survey is the first of its kind on violence against women across the 28 Member States of the European Union (EU). It is based on interviews with 42,000 women across the EU, who were asked about their experiences of physical, sexual and psychological violence, including incidents of intimate partner violence ('domestic violence'). The survey also included questions on stalking, sexual harassment, and the role played by new technologies in women's experiences of abuse. In addition, it asked about their experiences of violence in childhood. Based on the detailed findings, FRA suggests courses of action in different areas that are touched by violence against women and go beyond the narrow confines of criminal law, ranging from employment and health to the medium of new technologies. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014. 198p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 8, 2014 at: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-vaw-survey-main-results_en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-vaw-survey-main-results_en.pdf Shelf Number: 132048 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceStalkingViolence Against Women |
Author: Beck, Allen J. Title: Sexual Victimization Reported by Adult Correctional Authorities, 2009-2011 Summary: This report presents counts of nonconsensual sexual acts, abusive sexual contacts, staff sexual misconduct, and staff sexual harassment reported to correctional authorities in adult prisons, jails, and other adult correctional facilities in 2009, 2010, and 2011. An in-depth examination of substantiated incidents is also presented, covering the number and characteristics of victims and perpetrators, location, time of day, nature of the injuries, impact on the victims, and sanctions imposed on the perpetrators. Companion tables in Survey of Sexual Violence in Adult Correctional Facilities, 2009-11 - Statistical Tables, include counts of types of sexual victimization reported for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, state prison systems, facilities operated by the U.S. military and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sampled jail jurisdictions, privately operated jails and prisons, and jails in Indian country. Data are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Survey of Sexual Violence (SSV), which has annually collected official records on allegations and substantiated incidents of inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate sexual victimization since 2004. Highlights: Correctional administrators reported 8,763 allegations of sexual victimization in prisons, jails, and other adult correctional facilities in 2011, a statistically significant increase over the number of allegations reported in 2009 (7,855) and 2010 (8,404). About half of all allegations (51%) involved nonconsensual sexual acts (the most serious, including penetration) or abusive sexual contacts (less serious, including unwanted touching, grabbing, and groping) of inmates with other inmates. Nearly half (49%) involved staff sexual misconduct (any sexual act directed toward an inmate by staff) or sexual harassment (demeaning verbal statements of a sexual nature) directed toward inmates. In 2011, 902 allegations of sexual victimization (10%) were substantiated (i.e., determined to have occurred upon investigation). The total number of substantiated incidents has not changed significantly since 2005 (885). Victims were physically injured in 18% of substantiated incidents of inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization, compared to less than 1% of incidents of staff-on-inmate victimization. More than half (54%) of all substantiated incidents of staff sexual misconduct and a quarter (26%) of all incidents of staff sexual harassment were committed by female staff. Overall, more than three-quarters (78%) of staff perpetrators were fired or resigned. Nearly half (45%) were arrested, referred for prosecution, or convicted. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2014 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svraca0911.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svraca0911.pdf Shelf Number: 132156 Keywords: InmatesJailsPrison RapePrisoners, Sexual VictimizationPrisonsSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Mitchell, Kimberly J. Title: Trends in Unwanted Online Experiences and Sexting: Final Report Summary: This bulletin summarizes findings from the Third Youth Internet Safety Survey (YISS]3). Topics include youth reports of unwanted sexual solicitations, online harassment, unwanted exposure to sexual material, and "sexting." Details: Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, 2014. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2014 at: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/Full%20Trends%20Report%20Feb%202014%20with%20tables.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/Full%20Trends%20Report%20Feb%202014%20with%20tables.pdf Shelf Number: 147747 Keywords: Internet CrimesInternet SafetyOnline CommunicationsPornographySex CrimesSextingSexual Harassment |
Author: Harvey, Shannon Title: Barriers Faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in Accessing Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, and Sexual Violence Services Summary: In 2012, the Welsh Government began consultation on legislation to end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. Stakeholders, in early White Paper consultations, suggested that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people may experience specific barriers when seeking support (Faraz Bhula, 2012). Alongside the development of Wales' men's domestic abuse service, some research has been conducted around gay and bisexual men's experiences of domestic abuse. However, LGBT people remain under-represented in referrals to the All Wales Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Helpline and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) across Wales, despite evidence suggesting that they experience domestic and sexual abuse at similar rates to heterosexual, cis women (Donovan et al, 2006; Henderson, 2003). Service provision in Wales and elsewhere in the UK has remained focused on the needs of heterosexual, cis women and knowledge of any differences in LGBT people's support needs is limited. Seeking to further develop policy-making and legislation in this area, the Welsh Government (2013) committed to identifying barriers faced by LGBT people in accessing domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, and sexual violence services. NatCen Social Research was commissioned in January 2014 to conduct this research. Details: Cardiff, Wales: Welsh Government Social Research, 2014. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/caecd/research/2014/140604-barriers-faced-lgbt-accessing-domestic-abuse-services-en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/caecd/research/2014/140604-barriers-faced-lgbt-accessing-domestic-abuse-services-en.pdf Shelf Number: 132489 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesDiscriminationDomestic ViolenceGays, Crime AgainstGays, Lesbians and Bisexuals, Crime AgainstHate CrimesMinority GroupsSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceStalkingVictim Services |
Author: Espelage, Dorothy L. Title: Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories From Early to Late Adolescence Summary: Youth aggression and bullying, sexual harassment and dating violence are widespread public health concerns that create negative consequences for victims. The present study included a longitudinal examination of the impact of family abuse and conflict, self-reported delinquency, and peer delinquency on the development of bullying perpetration, sexual harassment perpetration, and teen dating violence perpetration among a large sample of early adolescents. While a few studies have examined the co-occurrence of bullying, sexual harassment, and/or dating violence among high school students, there are no studies to date to simultaneously consider all three forms of violence using a comprehensive, developmentally-sensitive design. Quantitative self-report survey data were collected from 1162 high school students who were part of the University of Illinois Study of Bullying and Sexual Violence Study funded by the Centers for Disease Control (1U49CE001268-01; 2007-2010). Participants included in the results presented here were from four Midwestern middle schools (grades 5 - 7; three cohorts) who were followed into three high schools; 49% female; 58% African American, and 26% White. At Wave 1, students ranged in age from 10 to 15 years of age (M = 11.81; SD = 1.09). Sixty-percent of the sample was eligible for free/reduced lunch. Participants were in middle school (waves 1 - 4) during the initial Bullying and Sexual Violence Study. At waves 6 and 7, youth were in high school; and sexual harassment and teen dating violence measures were added to the survey packet. Boys reported more bully perpetration during middle school, whereas girls reported more family conflict and sibling aggression than boys. In high school, sexual harassment perpetration was higher for boys than girls. Verbal emotional abuse and physical teen dating violence perpetration was higher for girls than boys, but boys reported greater levels of sexual teen dating violence perpetration in high school. Boys reported a greater mean scale score than girls on self-reported sexual harassment perpetration during middle school. In high school, 68% of girls reported having at least one sexual harassment victimization experience compared to 55% of boys. Verbal emotional dating abuse was the most common experience for these youth, 73% of girls versus 66% of boys reported any verbal emotional abuse victimization. In addition, 64% of girls reported perpetrating verbal emotional abuse with a dating partner compared to 45% of boys. Physical teen dating violence behaviors were reported by fewer youth, but still at a high rate (35-36%). Sexual coercion victimization was reported by 23-25% girls and 13-14% of boys. Longitudinal path analyses were modeled separately for girls and boys. Consistent with the proposed theoretical model, family conflict, sibling aggression, and delinquent friends were significant predictors of bullying perpetration during middle school for girls. In high school, bully perpetration predicted sexual harassment/violence perpetration, verbal emotional abuse teen dating violence perpetration, and sexual coercive teen dating violence perpetration. Consistent with the proposed model, sibling aggression predicted bullying perpetration for boys, ike the girls model; however family conflict did not emerge as a significant predictor of bullying perpetration or delinquency. In contrast to the girls' model, sibling aggression and self-reported delinquency also predicted sexually coercive teen dating violence perpetration and verbal emotional abuse perpetration. Also, bully perpetration predicted sexual harassment/violence perpetration, verbal emotional abuse and physical teen dating violence perpetration. Thus, interventions should address exposure to family violence and include opportunities to learn healthy relationships and conflict management skills. Prevention efforts should consider developmental timing of aggression and violence. Given that bullying declines in high school, it may be necessary to shift the focus to aggression and violence as they manifest in dating and romantic relationships. Finally, there needs to be increased research attention given to sexual coercion in dating relationships in high school, especially when considering the experience of girls. Details: Urbana-Champaign, IL: University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, 2014. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/246830.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/246830.pdf Shelf Number: 132576 Keywords: BullyingDating ViolenceFamily ViolenceSexual Harassment |
Author: Stop Street Harassment Title: Unsafe and Harassed in Public Spaces: A National Street Harassment Report Summary: From "hey baby" to "stupid fag," from flashing to groping, sexual harassment in public spaces, or "street harassment," is a problem many people experience, some with profound consequences. Since 2008, Stop Street Harassment (SSH) has collected thousands of street harassment stories. This groundbreaking study confirms what the stories suggest: Across all age, races, income levels, sexual orientations, and geographic locations, most women in the United States experience street harassment. Some men, especially men who identify as gay, bisexual, queer, or transgender, do as well. Methodology This report presents the findings of a 2,000-person, nationally representative survey (approximately 1,000 women and 1,000 men, ages 18 and up). GfK, a top surveying firm, conducted the Internet-based survey in February and March 2014. Additionally, SSH conducted 10 focus groups across the nation from August 2012 to March 2014. What is street harassment? "Street harassment" describes unwanted interactions in public spaces between strangers that are motivated by a person's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, or gender expression and make the harassee feel annoyed, angry, humiliated, or scared. Street harassment can take place on the streets, in stores, on public transportation, in parks, and at beaches. It ranges from verbal harassment to flashing, following, groping, and rape. It differs from issues like sexual harassment in school and the workplace or dating or domestic violence because it happens between strangers in a public place, which at present means there is less legal recourse. Why does this issue matter? Street harassment is a human rights violation and a form of gender violence. It causes many harassed persons, especially women, to feel less safe in public places and limit their time there. It can also cause people emotional and psychological harm. Everyone deserves to be safe and free from harassment as they go about their day. Details: Reston, VA: Stop Street Harassment, 2014. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 21, 2014 at: http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2014-National-SSH-Street-Harassment-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2014-National-SSH-Street-Harassment-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132724 Keywords: Bias-Related CrimesFear of CrimeGenderHate CrimeHuman Rights AbusesPublic SpaceSexual Harassment |
Author: Willman, Alys Title: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: What is the World Bank Doing, and What Have We Learned? A Strategic Review Summary: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is the most egregious manifestation of gender inequality. At least 35% of the world's women have experienced some form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and numerous men have been victimized as well. Even in contexts of open warfare, the scale of injuries and deaths due to SGBV far eclipses that seen on the battleground. SGBV involves a range of perpetrators and takes many different forms, from workplace harassment, domestic and intimate partner violence, to sexual violence, female genital mutilation, sex-selective abortion, trafficking, and in the most extreme cases, femicide. The impacts of such violence extend far beyond the individual survivors, affecting households, communities and spanning across generations. They can range from physical injuries, to psychological trauma and loss of livelihood or employment. Economically, survivors of SGBV not only have reduced short-term income potential, they may have immediate and long-term medical expenses or have injuries that reduce long-term income and productivity. Details: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2014 at: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/12/09/000461832_20131209163906/Rendered/PDF/832090WP0sexua0Box0382076B00PUBLIC0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/12/09/000461832_20131209163906/Rendered/PDF/832090WP0sexua0Box0382076B00PUBLIC0.pdf Shelf Number: 132737 Keywords: Children Exposed to ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFemicideGender-Based ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Laxton, Clare Title: Virtual world, real fear: Women's Aid report into online abuse, harassment and stalking. Summary: In September 2013 Women's Aid hosted a conference to discuss the impact of online stalking and harassment on women - thank you to all members who attended and contributed to the conference. The conference aimed to demonstrate the intrinsic link between online abuse, harassment and stalking, and domestic violence as part of a pattern of behaviours by perpetrators. The conference also explored the fear that online abuse, harassment and stalking created and the impact it had on women. This report draws out the key themes from the conference and makes recommendations for Government, social media providers and criminal justice agencies. Key messages from the report - The violence women experience from online abuse, stalking and harassment is completely unacceptable; - The impact that this online abuse has on women's lives has been underestimated by all statutory services. It is vital that online abuse, harassment and stalking is seen and dealt with as part of the spectrum of domestic violence; - Women's Aid believes that the responses that women victims of online abuse, harassment and stalking receive from the police, criminal justice system and social media providers are currently inadequate. Key recommendations: - The update of the Government Action Plan on VAWG should emphasise that online abuse is a key part of violence against women, and state that what is a crime offline is a crime online. - Social media providers should ensure that any perpetrator of online abuse, harassment and stalking of women through their platforms is curtailed as soon as possible. This should be done through the development of online abuse, stalking and harassment policies and protocols, and creating easier reporting and blocking mechanisms to safeguard victims of abuse. - Guidance and training for all professionals engaged in VAWG cases in criminal justice agencies including the police and the Crown Prosecution Service on the nature and impact of online abuse, harassment and stalking and the need to recognise it as part of the spectrum of domestic violence perpetrated against women by men. Details: Bristol, UK: Women's Aid Federation of England, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/page.asp?section=00010001001400130007ionTitle=Virtual+World+Real+Fear Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/page.asp?section=00010001001400130007§ionTitle=Virtual+World+Real+Fear Shelf Number: 131889 Keywords: Online VictimizationSexual HarassmentStalkingViolence Against Women (U.K.) |
Author: Greene, Margaret Eleanor Title: A Girl's Right to Learn Without Fear: Working to End-Gender-Based Violence at School Summary: Education is a fundamental human right for every child but it is too often denied, especially to girls. Plan Canada's latest report, A Girl's Right to Learn Without Fear, produced in partnership with the University of Toronto's International Human Rights Program, and in collaboration with the Canadian Women's Foundation, Native Women's Association of Canada, and White Ribbon Campaign, finds that gender-based violence is a major and critical factor threatening the education of children, and particularly girls, in many countries of the world, including Canada. School-related gender-based violence School-related gender-based violence refers to acts of sexual, physical or psychological violence inflicted on children in and around schools because of stereotypes and roles or norms attributed to or expected of them because of their sex or gender identity. There are immediate and long-term consequences of school-related gender-based violence including health consequences (STDs, HIV infection, unwanted early pregnancies); psychological suffering; poor performance at school; absenteeism; and high dropout rates. - Between 500 million and 1.5 billion children experience violence every year, many in and around the institutions we trust most: our schools. - The World Health Organization ranked Canada as one of the worst countries for its bullying victimization rates. Canada was ranked 27th out of 35 comparable countries - Nearly a quarter of Canadian girls and, at least 15% of boys, have experienced sexual violence before they reach 16. - Female victims of sexual harassment report a loss of interest in school activities, increased absenteeism, lower grades, and increased tardiness and truancy. Ending the violence While violence against children is unjustifiable, it is also preventable. Therefore, the report also focuses on solutions with recommendations for all governments, including Canada's, to put an end to violence against children, with a special focus on girls. The report does not just highlight problems, but is focused on solutions drawn from the experiences of countries leading on these issues. It includes specific recommendations for the Canadian government that are consistent with recent observations on Canada made by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. Details: Toronto: Plan Canada, 2012. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed October 20, 2014 at: https://plancanada.ca/document.doc?id=325 Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: https://plancanada.ca/document.doc?id=325 Shelf Number: 133781 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence (Canada)School Based ViolenceSchool BullyingSchool CrimeSchool ViolenceSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceViolence Against Girls |
Author: Pew Research Center Title: Online Harassment Summary: Harassment-from garden-variety name calling to more threatening behavior- is a common part of online life that colors the experiences of many web users. Fully 73% of adult internet users have seen someone be harassed in some way online and 40% have personally experienced it, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Pew Research asked respondents about six different forms of online harassment. Those who witnessed harassment said they had seen at least one of the following occur to others online: - 60% of internet users said they had witnessed someone being called offensive names - 53% had seen efforts to purposefully embarrass someone - 25% had seen someone being physically threatened - 24% witnessed someone being harassed for a sustained period of time - 19% said they witnessed someone being sexually harassed - 18% said they had seen someone be stalked Those who have personally experienced online harassment said they were the target of at least one of the following online: - 27% of internet users have been called offensive names - 22% have had someone try to purposefully embarrass them - 8% have been physically threatened - 8% have been stalked - 7% have been harassed for a sustained period - 6% have been sexually harassed In Pew Research Center's first survey devoted to the subject, two distinct but overlapping categories of online harassment occur to internet users. The first set of experiences is somewhat less severe: it includes name-calling and embarrassment. It is a layer of annoyance so common that those who see or experience it say they often ignore it. The second category of harassment targets a smaller segment of the online public, but involves more severe experiences such as being the target of physical threats, harassment over a sustained period of time, stalking, and sexual harassment. Of those who have been harassed online, 55% (or 22% of all internet users) have exclusively experienced the "less severe" kinds of harassment while 45% (or 18% of all internet users) have fallen victim to any of the "more severe" kinds of harassment Details: Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 23, 2014 at: http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2014/10/PI_OnlineHarassment_102214_pdf.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2014/10/PI_OnlineHarassment_102214_pdf.pdf Shelf Number: 133808 Keywords: HarassmentInternet CrimesOnline VictimizationSexual HarassmentStalking |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: License to Harm: Violence and Harassment against LGBT People and Activists in Russia Summary: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has become the target of physical violence and everyday harassment. In the past two years there has been a surge of attacks by individuals and vigilante groups against LGBT people and activists. Russian law enforcement agencies appear to lack the will to take homophobic violence seriously and have done little to hold assailants accountable. This inaction has perpetuated the cycle of discrimination, harassment, and violence. In June 2013 Russia effectively entrenched legalized discrimination against LGBT people by adopting a federal law - the anti-LGBT "propaganda" law - banning distribution of information in the presence of children about LGBT relationships. License to Harm: Violence and Harassment against LGBT People and Activists in Russia documents the spread of homophobic and transphobic violence and everyday harassment against LGBT people and activists in the lead-up to and since the adoption of the 2013 anti-LGBT law. The report is based on dozens of interviews with LGBT people and activists from 16 cities and towns in Russia. Human Rights Watch deplores the wholly inadequate efforts by Russian law enforcement to effectively investigate anti-LGBT violence and curb its spread. Human Rights Watch urges Russian authorities to address the escalation of anti-LGBT violence in the country, prosecute homophobic attacks as hate crimes, and repeal the anti-LGBT "propaganda" law. Details: New York: HRW, 2014. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 15, 2015 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/russia1214_ForUpload_2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Russia URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/russia1214_ForUpload_2.pdf Shelf Number: 134404 Keywords: Bias-Motivated CrimesGays, Crime Against Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals, Crime AgainstHate CrimesHomophobic Violence (Russia)Sexual DiscriminationSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions Title: Violence and harassment in European workplaces: Extent, impacts and policies Summary: Violence and harassment are attacks on personal dignity, the right to equal and non-discriminatory treatment and often a person's health. Workers affected by it feel insecure about their work; they are more frequently absent and may even be unable to work, with consequent impacts on productivity and corporate and public costs. Some national-level surveys point to a long-standing increase in reported violence and harassment. Certain European countries, such as the Scandinavian countries, have more coordinated, established policies on preventing and tackling violence and harassment. Awareness of the topic at the national level, its inclusion in legislation and the degree of the social partners' involvement in policies and interventions all contribute to the effectiveness of policies to address it. Details: Dublin: Eurofound, 2015. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 26, 2015 at: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef1473en_violence_and_harassment_in_european_workplaces_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef1473en_violence_and_harassment_in_european_workplaces_0.pdf Shelf Number: 134684 Keywords: Sexual HarassmentWorkplace CrimeWorkplace Violence (Europe) |
Author: Caslen, Robert L., Jr. Title: Getting to the Left of SHARP: Lessons Learned from West Point's Efforts to Combat Sexual Harassment and Assault Summary: On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, ending the practice of segregating the military services by race. That same year, the Army allowed women to join the services on an equal basis with men. Both of these steps preceded the larger societal changes that allowed fully equal treatment of all types of American citizens in military service. Just over 2 years ago, Congress repealed the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, allowing for gays and lesbians to openly take their place in the military. Our procedures and policies for successful gender integration have grown and evolved. The authors share five principles for leaders and commanders on the prevention of sexual harassment and assault, as well as associated Tips for implementation: (1) Leaders identify and break chains of circumstance; (2) Education is preferable to litigation; (3) Whats electronic is public; (4) Dont ignore pornography; and, (5) Unit climate is the commanders responsibility. These principles and their associated tips are not panaceas, and these recommendations are submitted for discussion and feedback. Details: Carlisle Barracks, PA: United States Army War College Press, 2015. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2015 at: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=1244 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=1244 Shelf Number: 135144 Keywords: Military (U.S.) Rape Sexual Assault Sexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections Division Title: The Handling of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Allegations by the Department's Law Enforcement Components Summary: The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to assess how the Department of Justice's (Department) four law enforcement components respond to sexual misconduct and harassment allegations made against their employees. This review examined the nature, frequency, reporting, investigation, and adjudication of such allegations in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and the United States Marshals Service (USMS). The findings in today's report include: - Component supervisors did not always report allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct to their respective internal affairs offices as required by component policies. In several instances, these supervisors were not disciplined for their failure to report. Additionally, at the FBI and USMS, the internal affairs offices chose not to investigate some allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct despite significant evidence that misconduct had occurred, and DEA's internal affairs office did not always fully investigate allegations of sexual misconduct related to prostitution. - At ATF, DEA, and USMS, we found a lack of coordination between the internal affairs offices and security personnel. As a result, security departments at these components were sometimes unaware of allegations that may impact an employee's eligibility to hold a security clearance and access classified information. In contrast, we found that the FBI's internal affairs office alerts the FBI security department to any such misconduct allegations it receives. - All of the components we reviewed either did not have adequate offense tables or did not properly use their offense tables for charging employees with sexual harassment and sexual misconduct offenses. The offense tables at ATF, DEA, and USMS did not contain adequate language to address the solicitation of prostitutes in jurisdictions where the conduct is legal or tolerated. The FBI offense table contains such a category, but we found instances where general offense categories were applied instead of the specific category. - All four components have weaknesses in detecting the transmission of sexually explicit text messages and images by employees. Although the FBI archives and proactively monitors its employees' text messages, there are limitations to its ability to use this information, and misconduct investigators at ATF, DEA, and USMS cannot easily obtain such text message evidence. These issues may hamper the components' ability to conduct misconduct investigations, fulfill their discovery obligations, and deter misconduct. Finally, today's report notes that the OIG's ability to conduct this review was significantly impacted and unnecessarily delayed by repeated difficulties we had in obtaining relevant information from both the FBI and DEA. Specifically, the FBI and DEA initially refused to provide the OIG with unredacted information which the OIG was entitled to receive under the Inspector General Act. When they finally did provide the information without extensive redactions, we found that it still was incomplete. We were also concerned by an apparent decision by DEA to withhold information regarding a particular open misconduct case despite the fact that the OIG was authorized to receive the information. Because of these difficulties, we cannot be completely confident that the FBI and DEA provided us with all information relevant to this review. Our report reflects the findings and conclusions we reached based on the information made available to us. The report makes eight recommendations to improve the law enforcement components' disciplinary and security processes relating to allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment. The DOJ and the four components reviewed concurred with all of the recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2015. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2015 at: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2015/e1504.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2015/e1504.pdf Shelf Number: 135145 Keywords: Child PornographyLaw Enforcement InvestigationsMilitary (U.S.)ProstitutionRapeSextingSexual AbuseSexual HarassmentSexual Misconduct |
Author: Saferworld Title: "How can you be a marda if you beat your wife?" Notions of masculinities and violence in Eastern Nepal Summary: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remains one of the biggest safety and security challenges in Nepal. Many programmes and policies seeking to reduce and prevent SGBV focus on the needs and rights of girls and women. However, there is a very limited understanding of the role of masculinities in the contexts, and whether and how they link to violence, particularly SGBV. Saferworld, in collaboration with The Society Touch and Youth Development Centre, with funding from the Foundation to Promote Open Society, has carried out participatory learning research in selected districts in Eastern Nepal, exploring notions of masculinities among young men and boys, how these notions shape their relationships towards others, and young men's experiences and attitudes towards violence, including SGBV. The research process had a strong focus on allowing learning and reflection among the participants. Our findings show that young men feel huge pressures and frustrations negotiating their positions in society. The tension between expectations and what is achievable give rise to complicated responses in young men as they live lives in an uncertain and changing context. The research also shows that the association of violence, including SGBV, with masculinities needs to be approached with great care. Most respondents did not see violence, including SGBV, as a part of the masculinity they would aspire to. However, they did see various forms of violence as a consequence of certain situations, pressures and expectations from society, which are themselves in part created by ideas of masculinity. Our research findings led to several recommendations, including: - Men are part of the gender equation, and young men can and should be effectively involved in efforts to address gender inequality and SGBV. Effectiveness might increase by bringing men, women and sexual and gender minorities (SGM) together, rather than working with one gender group in isolation. - Further efforts are required to reduce social stigmatisation of survivors of sexual violence, who are often blamed for inviting sexual violence upon themselves, and to address their needs. All forms of SGBV, including against SGM, need to be challenged, including 'eve-teasing' and sexual harassment through mobile phones and social media. - Security provision and implementation of legislation that prohibits sexual harassment and other forms of SGBV should be strengthened, and security providers and other agencies should be enabled to address SGBV in a more proactive and gender-sensitive way. Details: Kathmandu: Saferworld, 2014. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2015 at: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/836-ldquohow-can-you-be-a-marda-if-you-beat-your-wiferdquo Year: 2014 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/836-ldquohow-can-you-be-a-marda-if-you-beat-your-wiferdquo Shelf Number: 135260 Keywords: Gender-Based ViolenceSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women (Nepal) |
Author: Gillibrand, Kirsten Title: Snapshot Review of Sexual Assault Report Files at the Four Largest U.S. Military Bases in 2013 Summary: On February 10, 2014, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, in her oversight role as Chairman of the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, requested the Department of Defense (DoD) provide her office with files pertaining to the investigation and adjudication of sexual assault cases, from 2009 to 2013, at the largest U.S. base for each military service. These installations are the Army's Fort Hood in Texas, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. On December 15, 2014, 308 days after the initial request, the Department of Defense provided 107 redacted sexual assault case files from the year 2013. Senator Gillibrand had requested "all reports and allegations of rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault, sex in the barracks, adultery and attempts, conspiracies, or solicitations to commit these crimes" for the last five years. Despite two separate assurances from then-Secretary of Defense Hagel directly to Senator Gillibrand that all files would expeditiously be provided, the DoD reluctantly agreed to provide just one year's worth of files after then-Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin intervened. The larger request remains unfulfilled. This refusal from the DoD to provide basic information pertaining to sexual violence and military justice to the former Personnel Subcommittee chair with oversight duties calls into question the Department's commitment to transparency and getting to the root of the problem. While the case files do shed some light on how the military has dealt with the scourge of sexual assault on bases, with many findings consistent with the Associated Press's accounts of sexual assaults at American military bases in Japan, it is important to note that the files are redacted, incomplete, and often do not contain all relevant data pertaining to the cases. Our review of the 107 case files provided by the Department of Defense sheds further light on the true scope of sexual violence in military communities, including two large but overlooked segments of the military population - military spouses, and civilian women living near military bases - that are not counted in the DoD's surveys on sexual assault prevalence. The documents analyzed by our office suggest that civilians (including spouses) are especially vulnerable, and that the military justice system continues to struggle to provide justice. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, 2015. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2015 at: http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Gillibrand_Sexual%20Assault%20Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Gillibrand_Sexual%20Assault%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135536 Keywords: Military (U.S.)RapeSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentViolence Against Women |
Author: University of Memphis. Center for Research on Women Title: Nowhere to Hide: A Look at the Pervasive Atmosphere of Sexual Harassment in Memphis Area Middle and High Schools Summary: According to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (2001), "Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment of a student can deny or limit, on the basis of sex, the student's ability to participate in or to receive benefits, services, or opportunities in the school's program. Sexual harassment of students is, therefore, a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX under the circumstances described in this guidance." In two national surveys, the American Association of University Women (AAUW, 1993, 2001) found that approximately 81% of middle and high school students in public schools experienced harassment from peers or school personnel. Our Study CROW designed a study to examine the extent to which students were being sexually harassed in local schools, and how this might be affecting their academic, psychological and social well being. Sexual harassment was defined and measured by grouping specific behaviors into four categories: gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion, and sexual assault. Participants included 590 adolescents in Memphis area middle and high schools, recruited through several local agencies, organizations, and church youth groups that serve adolescents. - 70.4% girls, 29.6% boys - 71.9% African‐American , 23.7% White - 89.5% public schools, 10.5% private/ parochial schools - Average age 15, Range 11 to 19 Results How prevalent is sexual harassment in our schools? - Student‐to‐student sexual harassment, particularly gender harassment, is pervasive in Memphis area middle and high schools with over 90% of students in this study reported being sexually harassed at least once while in their current school. - This pattern holds in both public and private schools. 91.3% of public school students and 85.5% of private school students reported being sexually harassed by a student at least once while in their current school. Details: Memphis: Center for Research on Women, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://memphis.edu/crow/pdfs/Sexual_Harassment_Report_2009_REV_CROW.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://memphis.edu/crow/pdfs/Sexual_Harassment_Report_2009_REV_CROW.pdf Shelf Number: 135628 Keywords: School CrimeSchool SecuritySex CrimesSex DiscriminationSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentStudents, Crimes Against |
Author: Marroushi, Nadine Title: Violence against Women in Egypt: Prospects for improving police response Summary: During celebrations for Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's victory in the presidential race in June 2014, at least nine women were violently sexually assaulted by mobs of men in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Shortly after, Sisi made a statement in which he instructed the minister of interior to "vigorously enforce the law and take all necessary measures to combat sexual harassment". Within days of the president's statement, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced plans to expand nationally the Violence Against Women (VAW) Unit that had been established in the Ministry in mid-2013. This paper discusses the context and the political events that led to the establishment of the VAW unit, the unit's work since 2013 and the key challenges it faces, and the deeper institutional changes that are needed. The paper concludes with recommendations to the MOI for ways to improve Egypt's policing response to violence against women. Key recommendations include committing to ongoing high-level government support to the VAW unit; ensuring all police officers are trained to deal appropriately with VAW cases; increasing the representation of women in the police force; and adopting a wider set of reforms to ensure accountability and democratic governance in the security sector. Details: London: Saferworld, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/904-violence-against-women-in-egypt-prospects-for-improving-police-response Year: 2015 Country: Egypt URL: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/904-violence-against-women-in-egypt-prospects-for-improving-police-response Shelf Number: 136276 Keywords: Police ResponseSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Kelly, Maura Title: Evaluation of the Potential for Adapting the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program for the Construction Trades in Oregon Summary: This project was conducted by researchers from the Department of Sociology at Portland State University (PSU) in partnership with the staff of Oregon Tradeswomen Inc (OTI), Green Dot etc Inc (Green Dot), and Portland Community College (PCC). The goal of the project was to evaluate the potential for adapting the Green Dot bystander intervention program for the construction trades in Oregon in order to reduce harassment on construction job sites. The intent of bystander interventions is to encourage people to intervene when they see harassment occurring and, ultimately, to change the social norms so that harassment is viewed as unacceptable (see Box 1 on Green Dot Strategy). The Green Dot program has primarily been used on college campuses but Green Dot has also developed adaptations for community and statewide organizations and for the military. In order to assess the potential for the Green Dot program for the trades in Oregon, staff from PSU, OTI, Green Dot, and PCC worked together to plan and implement focus groups with stakeholders in the construction trades. Ten qualitative focus groups were held to over a two day period in February 2015. There were a total of 42 participants in the focus groups, representing tradespeople, supervisors/ foremen, contractor staff, union staff, apprenticeship program staff, as well as staff of other community organizations. In the focus groups, participants were asked about harassing behaviors they had observed or heard about as well as questions aimed as assessing how the Green Dot strategy might best be implemented in the trades. In this report, we first review the findings from the focus groups. We then discuss the May 2015 report written by Green Dot staff: "Preventing Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying in Oregon's Trades: Findings and Recommendations." We provide our response to the Green Dot report and suggestions for implementation. Finally, we offer a discussion of our main findings and recommendations. Details: Portland, OR: Department of Sociology, Portland State University, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2015 at: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=soc_fac Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=soc_fac Shelf Number: 136741 Keywords: Bystander InterventionSexual HarassmentViolence Prevention |
Author: Cantor, David Title: Report on the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct Summary: Members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) are working to combat sexual assault and misconduct on their campuses. As an association of research universities, AAU decided in 2014 that the best way to help its members address this issue was to develop and implement a scientific survey to better understand the attitudes and experiences of their students with respect to sexual assault and sexual misconduct. The survey's primary goal was to provide participating institutions of higher education (IHEs) with information to inform their policies to prevent and respond to sexual assault and misconduct. In addition, members hoped that the survey would provide useful information to policymakers as well as make a significant contribution to the body of academic research on this complex issue. In the fall of 2014, AAU contracted with Westat, a research firm, to work with a university team of researchers and administrators to design and implement the survey, entitled the AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. The survey was administered at the end of the spring 2015 semester on the campuses of 27 IHEs, 26 of which are AAU member universities. This report provides a description of the survey methodology and key results. The survey was designed to assess the incidence, prevalence and characteristics of incidents of sexual assault and misconduct. It also assessed the overall campus climate with respect to perceptions of risk, knowledge of resources available to victims, and perceived reactions to an incident of sexual assault or misconduct. The report provides selected results for five questions: - How extensive is nonconsensual sexual contact? - How extensive is sexual harassment, stalking and intimate partner violence? - Who are the victims? - To whom do students report or talk about the incidents? - What is the campus climate around sexual assault and sexual misconduct? This study is one of the first to provide an empirical assessment of these questions across a wide range of IHEs. Prior studies of campus sexual assault and misconduct have been implemented for a small number of IHEs or for a national sample of students with relatively small samples for any particular IHE. To date, comparisons across surveys have been problematic because of different methodologies and different definitions. The AAU study is one of the first to implement a uniform methodology across multiple IHEs and to produce statistically reliable estimates for each IHE. It was designed to provide separate estimates for incidents involving two types of sexual contact (penetration and sexual touching) and four tactics (physical force, drugs and alcohol, coercion, absence of affirmative consent), as well as behaviors such as sexual harassment, stalking, and intimate partner violence. Providing this level of detail allows campus administrators to tailor policies by these very different types of sexual assault and misconduct. Details: Rockville, MD: Westat, 2015. 288p. Source: Internet Resource: Prepared for: The Association of American Universities: Accessed September 21, 2015 at: https://www.aau.edu/uploadedFiles/AAU_Publications/AAU_Reports/Sexual_Assault_Campus_Survey/Report%20on%20the%20AAU%20Campus%20Climate%20Survey%20on%20Sexual%20Assault%20and%20Sexual%20Misconduct.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.aau.edu/uploadedFiles/AAU_Publications/AAU_Reports/Sexual_Assault_Campus_Survey/Report%20on%20the%20AAU%20Campus%20Climate%20Survey%20on%20Sexual%20Assault%20and%20Sexual%20Misconduct.pdf Shelf Number: 136848 Keywords: Campus CrimesColleges and UniversitiesIntimate Partner ViolenceRapeSexual AssaultsSexual HarassmentSexual MisconductStalking |
Author: California State Auditor, Bureau of State Audits Title: Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence. California Universities Must Better Protect Students by Doing More to Prevent, Respond to, and Resolve Incidents Summary: Sexual harassment and sexual violence against university students is an issue of critical importance. In May 2014 the U.S. Department of Education published a list of 55 universities, including the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), that it is investigating for their handling of sexual violence complaints. Further, according to a report prepared in 2007 for the National Institute of Justice, one-in-five women is sexually assaulted while in college. The federal government recognizes that sexual harassment of students, which includes sexual violence, interferes with students' rights to receive an education free from discrimination and, in the case of sexual violence, is a crime. Sexual harassment and sexual violence are forms of discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). The issue of sexual violence was highlighted in January 2014 when the president of the United States announced the creation of a White House task force to develop a coordinated federal response to campus rape and sexual assault. The task force issued its initial report in April 2014. Th e universities we reviewed - UC Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); California State University, Chico (Chico State); and San Diego State University (San Diego State) - do not ensure that all faculty and staff are sufficiently trained on responding to and reporting student incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence to appropriate officials. In addition, although the Title IX coordinators and staff involved in key roles of the incident-reporting process receive adequate training, certain other university employees who are likely to be the first point of contact, such as resident advisors and athletic coaches, are not sufficiently trained on responding to and reporting these incidents. By not ensuring that all university employees are adequately and routinely trained on responding to and reporting incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence, and by not providing practical information on how to identify incidents, universities risk having their employees mishandle student reports of the incidents. Further, when they are not sufficiently trained, employees may not know how to interact appropriately with students in these situations and may do something that would discourage students from engaging in the reporting process. In addition, the universities must do more to appropriately educate students on sexual harassment and sexual violence. State law requires universities within the California State University (CSU)system and requests those within the University of California (UC) system to provide educational and preventive information about sexual violence to all incoming students as part of established campus orientations, although it does not specify exactly when new student orientations must occur. We believe that the universities should provide this education to incoming students near the time that they arrive on campus, as they may be the most vulnerable to experiencing an incident of sexual harassment or sexual violence in their first weeks on campus. Additionally, universities should ensure that all continuing students receive periodic refresher training, at least annually, on this subject. We also noted that the content of the education did not always cover the topics outlined in statute. Further, the universities must review and modify as needed their incoming student and employee educational programs because of recent changes to federal law and federal guidance. The four universities did not always comply with requirements in state law for distribution of relevant policies. The distribution of these policies is important to inform students and university employees of how to appropriately handle and respond to incidents. In addition, the universities did not post their policies in certain places on campus where they might be seen by large numbers of students. To ensure that students are informed and reminded of the policies, it is important for the universities to prominently post them in locations frequented by students. Further, it is important that the Legislature amend state law to require universities to provide such information in certain prominent locations that are not currently specified in law, such as residence halls and other university housing and athletic facilities. Our review determined that all four universities maintain adequate information at each department involved in the reporting process in the form of brochures and flyers describing the resources available to students who have experienced an incident of sexual harassment or sexual violence, in addition to resources listed online. However, 46 of the 208 students who participated in a survey we conducted, or 22 percent, stated that they were not aware of resources available on campus should they or someone they know experience sexual harassment or sexual violence, indicating that the brochures and flyers, by themselves, may not always be effective in informing students of available resources. The survey also revealed that from 2009 through early March 2014, 73 of the 208 students, or 35 percent, reported experiencing 85 incidents of sexual harassment or sexual violence by another member of the campus community. The students reported that they did not file a Title IX complaint for 74, or 87 percent, of the 85 incidents. Each university we reviewed has an adequate overall process for responding to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. However, our review of 80 case files at the four universities revealed that the universities need to improve these processes in some key areas. Specifically, the universities should do more to demonstrate that a student who may have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence is informed of his or her reporting options and what to expect regarding the university's subsequent actions. The universities then need to better inform students who file a complaint of the status of the investigation and to notify them of the eventual outcome. Additionally, the universities need to evaluate summary data related to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. Evaluation of these data would allow them to identify trends, such as the timing and location of incidents, that could then inform their outreach and protection efforts. The four universities have created or are in the process of creating multidisciplinary committees, which is recognized as a best practice, to address sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention. These multidisciplinary committees can evaluate data on the number and types of incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence and aid in the discussion of potential solutions. Details: Sacramento: California State Auditor, 2014. 113p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: http://auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2013-124.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2013-124.pdf Shelf Number: 137788 Keywords: Campus CrimesColleges and UniversitiesRapeSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Taylor, Bruce Title: Assessing Different Levels and Dosages of the Shifting Boundaries Intervention to Prevent Youth Dating Violence in New York City Middle Schools: A Randomized Control Trial Summary: In this report we present the results of an experimental evaluation based on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a dating violence and sexual harassment (DV/H) prevention program - called the Shifting Boundaries (SB) Program. We randomly assigned 23 public middle schools in New York City to one of four treatment conditions of SB varying by dosage and saturation levels. The project includes a baseline and two follow-up surveys with 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to assess short to medium term impact on rates of DV/H. The intervention we tested had two main components. First, we had an SB classroom curriculum (SBC), covering the consequences for perpetrators of DV/H, laws and penalties for DV/H, and respectful relationships. Second, we had an SB school (building-level) (SBS) component which included the use of school-based restraining orders, higher levels of faculty and security presence in areas identified through student mapping of safe/unsafe "hot spots," and the use of posters to increase awareness and reporting of DV/H. We examined (1) the effects of saturating a school environment by providing the SB intervention to all three middle school grades compared to only two grades or one grade and (2) the effects of two dosages of SB across two years compared to one dosage of the SB intervention across one year. Participating students ranged in age from 10 to 15, with a nearly 50% split between boys and girls. Our sample was 26% Hispanic, 37% African American, 16% Asian, 14% White and 7% "other." Over 40% of the sample had prior experience with a violence prevention educational program. Nearly half reported at least one experience of being in a dating relationship. At baseline, about one in five respondents reported having ever been the victim of any physical dating violence, with a similar number reporting perpetrating any physical dating violence. One in ten respondents reported having been the victim of any sexual dating violence ever (6.4% for perpetration of this act). Almost 60% of the sample reported having ever been the victim of any physical peer violence at some point in time (45% perpetration), and 18.1% were ever the victim of sexual peer violence (8% perpetration). Also, 49% reported experiencing sexual harassment (SH) at some point in time (23% perpetration). Our overall results indicate that providing the SB treatment to only one grade level in middle school does just as well in terms of peer violence and dating violence outcomes as a more saturated process of treating multiple grades. At both the 6-month and the 12-month assessments, however, there was evidence that additional saturation beyond one grade is associated with reductions in sexual harassment victimization. Schools that delivered SB to both 6th and 7th graders (compared to just 6th graders) showed reductions SH victimization reports at 6 months post treatment, an effect that was still significant at the 12-month assessment. Also at 12 months post treatment, schools that delivered SB to all middle school grades (6th - 8th) showed reductions in self-report of SH victimization. However, we also found that greater saturation of the SB program (delivered to 6th & 7th graders or to all three grades levels) was unexpectedly associated with more reported perpetration of sexual violence against peers at 12 month post treatment compared to the 6th grade only group, a finding in contrast with the additional borderline statistically significant findings (p<.10) at the 6-month assessment suggesting that receiving SB saturation for two grades rather than only one was associated with reduced frequency of peer physical victimization frequency and peer sexual violence perpetration. There were no results indicating that offering the SB program to a grade of students in two successive years (the 6th grade longitudinal design) resulted in statistically differential effects (p <.05) compared to a one-time dosage of SB in 6th grade. However, one borderline (p <.10) statistically significant effect (SB program delivered to 6th graders in year 1 and again to the same students, as 7th graders, in year 2 was associated with less SH victimization frequency compared to the 6th grade only intervention) highlights the potential potency of multiple dosages of the SB program for SH prevention work. These results largely support a minimalistic approach, in that SB effectiveness for peer and DV/H outcomes may be achieved by delivery to only one grade level in middle schools. However, taking these results in the context of our earlier work (NYC-1), there is a rationale for considering saturated delivery of the school wide (SBS) component of SB. In earlier research, SBS was effective at reducing DV/H outcome independent of the classroom curriculum (SBC). Because the SBS program can be introduced to an entire middle school at low-cost, and our current research shows positive effects of exposing more than just a single grade to the SB program, these results taken together suggest policy and administrative consideration of a saturated delivery of the SBS program. Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2015. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249587.pdf?ed2f26df2d9c416fbddddd2330a778c6=kvbjxsxivv-kxvljjsv Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249587.pdf?ed2f26df2d9c416fbddddd2330a778c6=kvbjxsxivv-kxvljjsv Shelf Number: 138207 Keywords: Dating ViolenceSexual HarassmentTeen Dating ViolenceViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Jagori Title: Safe City Free of Violence Against Women and Girls Initiative: A Study of Delhi Police Help Lines Summary: This study is part of the Safe City free From Violence against Women and Girls Initiative, Delhi of Jagori in partnership with UN Women, UN HABITAT and the Department of Women and Child Development, Delhi Government. Women and girls are vulnerable to violence both within and outside the home and we recognize that the continuum of violence continues from personal/private to public space. We have been working on this issue since 2005 and have completed several surveys and safety audits in order to understand the problem in detail and in all its diversity. A baseline survey was conducted in Delhi in 2010 to focus on violence against women including sexual harassment, staring, touching, sexual assault, attempted rape, stalking and lewd comments, in a wide range of public spaces. The sample was 5010 men and women above the age of 16 covering all nine districts of Delhi. Conducted to research into factors that create greater safety and inclusion for women in public spaces around the city, the survey gathered and analyzed information about the following: (a) nature and forms of gender‐based violence and/or harassment faced by women, (b) spots where these incidents happen and that are perceived to be unsafe and inaccessible to women, (c) strategies adopted by women to defend themselves, (d) role of governing agencies and the police in safeguarding women's rights, and (e) societal perceptions and attitudes towards rights of women and girls. After conducting interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders, both government and non government, a draft strategic framework document was drawn up in 2010. This document identified several key areas of intervention in order to have a sustainable impact on reducing vulnerability and increasing safety. These include: - Urban planning and design of public spaces - Provision and management of urban infrastructure and services - Public transport - Policing - Legislation, justice and support to victims - Education - Civic awareness and participation This study has been carried out by Multiple Action Research Group (MARG) and provides data on the gaps in the functioning of Delhi Police helplines which are a first point contact for most people. Further the study also provides recommendations on addressing these gaps. Details: New Delhi: Safe Delhi, 2012. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2016 at: http://safedelhi.in/sites/default/files/reports/Delhi%20Police%20Helpline%20Study_Jagori_Marg_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: India URL: http://safedelhi.in/sites/default/files/reports/Delhi%20Police%20Helpline%20Study_Jagori_Marg_final.pdf Shelf Number: 138262 Keywords: Gender-Based ViolencePolice HelplinesPublic SpacesRapeSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentStalkingViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Jagori Title: Report of the Baseline Survey Delhi 2010 Summary: It is a truism that women in the national capital of Delhi feel unsafe in many public spaces, and at all times of the day and night. Cutting across class, profession, they face continuous and different forms of sexual harassment in crowded as well as secluded places, including public transport, cars, markets, roads, public toilets and parks. School and college students are most vulnerable to harassment, particularly rampant in public transport, particularly buses. Unlike men, women experience the city differently and have to devise their own safety strategies to negotiate public spaces during day and night. To address the issue, a joint action research initiative was undertaken by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Delhi, JAGORI, UNIFEM South Asia Regional Office and UN Habitat titled Safe City Free of Violence for Women and Girls, this baseline survey is based on a sample of 5010 women and men, conducted by during the period January - March 2010 by New Concept Information Systems, New Delhi. Conducted to research into factors that create greater safety and inclusion for women in public spaces around the city, the survey gathered and analyzed information about the following: (a) nature and forms of gender-based violence and/or harassment faced by women, (b) spots where these incidents happen and that are perceived to be unsafe and inaccessible to women, (c) strategies adopted by women to defend themselves, (d) role of governing agencies and the police in safeguarding women's rights, and (e) societal perceptions and attitudes to sexual harassment. Some of the findings supported the results of the previous surveys undertaken by Jagori (2007 and 2009). However, there are some new insights as well. The findings of the survey and its recommendations (including interactions with key stakeholders) are part of the strategic framework that will guide interventions to make Delhi a safer city for women, especially those from vulnerable groups. The outcome of the study is expected to feed into further dialogue and planning for improved gender-sensitive infrastructure, mechanisms and programming. Hopefully, this would enable women from diverse backgrounds to realize their fundamental right to work, study and move around without violence and fear. Details: New Delhi: Jagori, 2011. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls Initiative: March 17, 2016 at: http://www.jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Baseline-Survey_layout_for-Print_12_03_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: India URL: http://www.jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Baseline-Survey_layout_for-Print_12_03_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 138307 Keywords: Fear of CrimeGender-Based ViolencePublic PlacesPublic SafetySexual HarassmentViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Booted: Lack of Recourse for Wrongfully Discharged US Military Rape Survivors Summary: Over the years thousands of service members who reported sexual assaults or harassment in the US military found their careers cut short involuntarily. Those suffering from trauma were unfairly discharged for a "personality disorder" or a pre-existing mental health condition that makes them ineligible for benefits. Others were given "Other Than Honorable" discharges for misconduct that shut them out of the Veterans Affairs system and a broad range of educational and financial assistance. Recently, the US defense department has introduced reforms to improve protection for service members who are sexually assaulted. However, these changes have not redressed existing wrongs. Booted: Lack of Recourse for Wrongfully Discharged US Military Rape Survivors draws on interviews with 163 sexual assault survivors from all branches of the US military from the Vietnam War era to the present. The report shows that the consequences for veterans and their families of having "bad paper" (any less than honorable discharge) or being labeled with a personality disorder are far-reaching, impacting employment, child custody, health care, disability payments, and even burial rights-virtually all aspects of life. Despite the high stakes, veterans can do little to fix an unjust discharge. Service members are prohibited from suing the military for service-related harm. Administrative structures meant to correct injustices, the Boards for Correction of Military Records, are overwhelmed. Well over 90 percent of those applying to the Boards to change their discharge are rejected with almost no opportunity to be heard or for meaningful review. Judicial oversight of the Boards is virtually non-existent. Human Rights Watch calls on Congress and the defense secretary to take measures to correct wrongful discharges of sexual assault survivors and strengthen administrative mechanisms to ensure all veterans receive an opportunity to be heard and meaningful, independent review of any injustices in their records. Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 8, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/us0516_militaryweb_1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/us0516_militaryweb_1.pdf Shelf Number: 139331 Keywords: Military VeteransRape VictimsSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentVictim Services |
Author: Deutsche Sportjugend im Deutschen Olympischen Sportbund e.V. Title: Prevention of sexual and gender harassment and abuse in sports Initiatives in Europe and beyond Summary: Sport is currently a disputed social terrain: on the one hand it exposes individuals and society to positive values, but at the same time it also bears the potential to be harmful. Therefore, we believe that one of the main tasks of the European sporting movement is to work towards safeguarding the integrity of sport. Focusing on preventive measures and investing continuously into the education of European sportsmen and women, especially in our European youth sector, plays a vital role in accomplishing this long-term goal. Concerted European action is required to effectively promote the ethical values inherent to sport and in order to truly offer all individuals and groups in society equal opportunities to participate in and enjoy the benefits of sport. Bringing together a European project network and finding common denominators between various actors and bodies at different levels of the European sporting, social and scientific environments is a challenging task that is easily underestimated in terms of the resources necessary for such a project to run smoothly. Despite the fact that European coordination often means compromising, adjusting and adapting in previously unforeseen ways, initiating and being involved in projects such as this one always allows an organisation to grow and develop its capacities, networks and know-how. The November 2012 conference "Safer, better, stronger - Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse in sports" is the final stage of the EU-funded project "Prevention of sexualised violence in sports - Impulses for an open, secure and sound sporting environment in Europe" and a contribution to provide a platform not only for strengthening transnational and crosssector cooperation, but also for sensitising and raising awareness at all levels of the complex social environment that surrounds the problem of harassment and abuse. Bringing together individuals and organisations with differing competences is an ideal occasion to foster networking among experienced actors and beginners alike, to link European resources, to learn from and support each other as well as to encourage future collaboration. As a main outcome of this project, this catalogue of initiatives from Europe and beyond will support this intercultural learning to develop Details: Frankfurt am Main: Deutsche Sportjugend, 2012. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2016 at: http://www.whiteribbon.at/documents/227622494.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://www.whiteribbon.at/documents/227622494.pdf Shelf Number: 139821 Keywords: Gender-Based ViolenceSexual AbuseSexual HarassmentSporting EventsSports Violence |
Author: Hamel, Christelle Title: Rape and sexual assault in France: initial findings of the VIRAGE survey Summary: How common are rape and other forms of sexual assault in France today? In what contexts, and at what ages do they occur? In 2015, the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) conducted a large-scale survey of violence and gender relations (Violence et rapports de genre, VIRAGE), on a large sample of respondents representative of the French population aged 20- 69. Their answers to the survey questions provide a detailed picture of the sexual violence experienced by women and men in France. Details: Paris: French Institute for Demographic Studies, 2016. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Population & Societies no. 537: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.ined.fr/fichier/s_rubrique/25953/538.population.societies.2016.november.rape.agression.sexual.en.pdf Year: 2016 Country: France URL: https://www.ined.fr/fichier/s_rubrique/25953/538.population.societies.2016.november.rape.agression.sexual.en.pdf Shelf Number: 147925 Keywords: RapeSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Lenhart, Amanda Title: Nonconsensual Image Sharing: One in 25 Americans Has Been A Victim of "Revenge Porn" Summary: Nonconsensual image sharing, also commonly called 'revenge porn,' is when someone shows, sends, or posts nude or nearly nude photos or videos of someone else without the consent of the person pictured. In some cases, the images are created consensually, such as when romantic partners take pictures for each other or together. In other cases, these images may be created nonconsensually, such as when someone is secretly or forcibly photographed or taped. These images are also posted online in different ways. Images are sometimes posted by a romantic partner in the aftermath of a break up or during a fight, or may be obtained by someone hacking into a private online space and stealing the images. In all cases, these sensitive images are shared with third parties without the consent of the person pictured. In 2014, nonconsensual image sharing made headlines when dozens of celebrities’ private photos were exposed. An Illinois man published over 500 photos of celebrities (almost all of them women) that he had stolen from their email and online storage accounts. He had obtained targets' login credentials through a series of phishing attacks over the course of almost a year. Victims of this hack included actresses, models, and athletes; many of the celebrities targeted have spoken out about the emotional distress they have experienced from this invasion of privacy. More recently, a Saturday Night Live castmember was targeted by hackers and trolls, who mounted a campaign of racist and sexist attacks against the comedian on social media. Later, hackers stole private information from her online storage accounts—including nude photos and images of sensitive documents, such as her driver’s license and passport. The hackers also compromised the comedian's private website, then published the stolen material and racist images on her site. The exposure of her private materials was one component of a campaign of intimidation and retribution for speaking out against her previous harassment. The harms from nonconsensual image sharing can be substantial; a single act of posting sensitive images can cause lasting and ongoing reputational damage to victims. These images are often posted alongside personally-identifying information about the victim when they are posted in online spaces, which can lead to additional harassment and threats from third parties. Even if the images are never actually posted publically, the perpetrator may use threats to post such images as a method of controlling or intimidating the victim. Until recently, victims of nonconsensual pornography often faced difficulty pursuing legal action against perpetrators. Some perpetrators and operators of "revenge porn" websites have been prosecuted under existing laws, such as the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), for hacking, impersonation, identify theft, and extortion. Legal scholar Amanda Levendowski has also written that because most of the images in question were originally taken by the victims themselves, they may be able to seek protection under copyright laws;12 some victims have submitted take-down requests to websites under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). In response to the lack of specific criminal laws against nonconsensual pornography and a growing public awareness of the issue, more than 30 states have passed legislation over the past three years attempting to define and criminalize "revenge porn" and other types of nonconsensual pornography, according to George Washington University Law professor Orin Kerr. While national legislation has yet to be passed, U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) introduced a bill criminalizing revenge porn in mid-2016. Details: New York: Data & Society Research Institute; San Clemente, CA: Center for Innovative Public Health Research, 2016. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Data Memo 12.13.2016: Accessed March 4, 2016 at: https://datasociety.net/pubs/oh/Nonconsensual_Image_Sharing_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://datasociety.net/pubs/oh/Nonconsensual_Image_Sharing_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 146408 Keywords: Image SharingOnline VictimizationPornographyRevenge PornSexual HarassmentSocial Media |
Author: Scotland. Parliament. Equalities and Human Rights Committee Title: It is not Cool to be Cruel: Prejudice-based bullying and harassment of children and young people in schools Summary: Scotland is on an ambitious journey to build a more equal, fair and accepting society for all of its people. The cornerstone of this ambition must be to ensure equality for the children and young people of Scotland. How we help to shape their experience of Scotland today, will dictate how fair and equal the Scotland of tomorrow is. To do this, we must place the voices of our children and young people at the centre of our efforts to deliver their human rights. Over the last eight months the Equalities and Human Rights Committee of the Scottish Parliament has been listening to the voices of our children and young people, and their advocates, as part of our inquiry into prejudice-based bullying and harassment in schools. The story they have told us is a troubling one. In this report we have sought to shine a light on the reality of children's experiences of prejudice-based bullying and harassment and the enormous risks posed to their health and wellbeing. We have listened to their ambitions for a school life that helps them learn and grow, supports them to find out who they are, and sets them on the path to achieve their full potential. But for too many children and young people this is not the reality of their education. For them school is becoming a battle against prejudice, bullying and sexual harassment, one fought daily in classrooms, corridors, playing fields and online. Their primary goal is simply to survive their education, emotionally, psychologically, and now more than ever, literally, with 27% of LGBTI children attempting suicide. Our education system plays a vital role in addressing prejudice and harassment. Protecting the human rights of children is central to their developmental experience. We welcome the refresh of Respect for All, Scotland's national approach to anti-bullying by the Scottish Government. We thank the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney MSP, for pausing the refresh process so as to allow us to set out the actions we believe are necessary to properly address prejudice-based bullying and harassment in schools. We believe Respect for All has a vital role to play in proactively placing a human rights-based ethos at the centre of our education system. However, it is only part of a wider approach which must be adopted to ensure key strategies and tools work effectively together to achieve the success we all want to see. This includes - recognising the prevalence of prejudice-based bullying and sexual harassment in schools, and the need for urgent action; moving away from a reactionary approach which deals with the consequences of bullying and harassment, to a proactive education system which seeks to prevent them; ensuring national policies in areas such as mental health, hate crimes, school leadership, and the curriculum, properly promote children's rights, early intervention and a whole school approach to inclusive environments; ensuring we educate children on issues such as consent and healthy relationships from the earliest age; delivering mandatory teacher training and CPD on equalities, children's rights and the impacts of prejudice-based bullying, and establishing a duty to report all prejudice-based bullying and sexual harassment in schools. Our report elaborates on these, and other key issues relating to prejudice-based bullying and harassment. The time is now for all those who help to shape, deliver and support education in Scotland to act effectively together to ensure children and young people can develop and learn in a school environment free from the fear and cruelty of prejudice. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Parliament, 2017. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2017 at: https://sp-bpr-en-prod-cdnep.azureedge.net/published/EHRiC/2017/7/6/It-is-not-Cool-to-be-Cruel--Prejudice-based-bullying-and-harassment-of-children-and-young-people-in-schools/5th%20Report%202017.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://sp-bpr-en-prod-cdnep.azureedge.net/published/EHRiC/2017/7/6/It-is-not-Cool-to-be-Cruel--Prejudice-based-bullying-and-harassment-of-children-and-young-people-in-schools/5th%20Report%202017.pdf Shelf Number: 146713 Keywords: BullyingPrejudiceSchool BullyingSchool CrimesSexual Harassment |
Author: Australian Human Rights Commission Title: Change the course: national report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian Universities Summary: At the request of Australia's 39 universities, the Australian Human Rights Commission has conducted a national, independent survey of university students to gain greater insight into the nature, prevalence and reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities. The National university student survey on sexual assault and sexual harassment (the National Survey) also examined the effectiveness of university services and policies that address sexual assault and sexual harassment on campus. The request to conduct this survey follows decades of advocacy on the topic of sexual assault and sexual harassment at universities both within Australia and overseas. The National Survey is the first of its kind and the first attempt to examine in detail the scale and the nature of the problem in Australia. This work builds on the Commission's extensive experience leading projects of this nature, including the Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force and conducting national workplace sexual harassment surveys for the past 12 years. The National Survey measured the experiences of over 30,000 students across all 39 universities and collected information about: - prevalence of sexual assault and sexual harassment among Australian university students in 2015 and 2016 - characteristics of people who experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment - characteristics of perpetrators of sexual assault and sexual harassment - settings where students experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment at university reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment, and - students' recommendations for change. In addition to the quantitative data gathered via the National Survey, a vast amount of qualitative data was gathered through written submissions. The Commission accepted written submissions from 23 August 2016 to 2 December 2016 and received 1849 submissions in total. This report outlines the findings of the National Survey, provides an analysis of the qualitative information received through the submissions, and makes recommendations for areas of action and reform. Details: Sydney: The Commission, 2017. 264p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2017 at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/AHRC_2017_ChangeTheCourse_UniversityReport.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/AHRC_2017_ChangeTheCourse_UniversityReport.pdf Shelf Number: 147006 Keywords: Campus Crime Colleges and Universities Rape Sexual Assault Sexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Milnes, Kate Title: Sexual bullying in young people across five European countries Research report for the Addressing Sexual Bullying Across Europe (ASBAE) project Summary: Our understanding of sexual bullying refers to unwanted sexual behaviour or conduct, and bullying or harassment due to a person's actual/perceived sexual (in)experience, interests or orientation, or due to their gender-related appearance, identity or practices. Sexual bullying often takes place online via smartphones, instant messaging and social networks. It is a growing problem among young people, and can have a serious impact on the person being bullied, including reduced self-esteem, anxiety and depression, and sometimes, suicidal behaviour. Research to date has been limited in terms of methods (mainly survey-based), geographical location (USA; Western Europe), and focus (typically on a single problem, e.g. homophobic bullying). Consequently, our aim was to design a predominantly qualitative research project that was young-people centred and encompassed the full repertoire of sexual bullying practices in under-researched countries. The research -- The ASBAE (Addressing Sexual Bullying Across Europe) project was funded by the European Commission's Daphne III programme, which aims to protect children, young people and women against all forms of violence. The focus of the project was the programme's funding priority of 'empowerment work at grassroots level'. The project was led by Leeds Beckett University in the UK and included partners from NGOs in Bulgaria (Demetra), Italy (Pepita), Latvia (MARTA Centre), Slovenia (Papilot) and the UK (Leap). Over the five countries, 253 young people (aged 13-18) and 37 professionals in child education and protection participated in focus group discussions and completed questionnaires. The voices of young people were prioritised throughout the project, assisted by a Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG) in each country. Our analysis of this dataset helped to inform the development of our peer-to-peer intervention on sexual bullying. Details: West Yorkshire, UK: Leeds Beckett University, 2015. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2018 at: ttps://ec.europa.eu Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: ttps://ec.europa.eu Shelf Number: 148937 Keywords: BullyingSex CrimesSexual Harassment |
Author: Childnet Title: Young people's experiences of online sexual harassment. Project deSHAME Summary: For most young people the internet plays an essential role in their friendships and relationships, providing positive opportunities for communication, connection and self-expression. However, for many young people, online sexual harassment is embedded in their digital lives and to some extent normalised and expected. It emerges as part of the wider dynamic of their peer group and intimate relationships. In this report, online sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual conduct on any digital platform and it is recognised as a form of sexual violence. Online sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviours that use digital content (images, videos, posts, messages, pages) on a variety of different platforms (private or public). It can make a person feel threatened, exploited, coerced, humiliated, upset, sexualised or discriminated against. This report specifically focuses on peer-topeer online sexual harassment taking place between young people. Such harassment takes place in a gendered context, with girls being more likely to be targeted than boys - particularly for some forms of online sexual harassment - and these incidents often resulting in more negative outcomes for girls. In this report online sexual harassment has been categorised in four main types. These different behaviours are often experienced simultaneously and can overlap with offline experiences of sexual harassment. Non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos: A person's sexual images and videos being shared without their consent or taken without their consent. Exploitation, coercion and threats: A person receiving sexual threats, being coerced to participate in sexual behaviour online, or blackmailed with sexual content. Sexualised bullying: A person being targeted by, and systematically excluded from, a group or community with the use of sexual content that humiliates, upsets or discriminates against them. Unwanted sexualisation: A person receiving unwelcome sexual requests, comments and content. The findings of the survey, focus groups and case study analysis demonstrate the prevalence of these forms of online sexual harassment and the short and long term impact on mental health and well-being they can have on young people. The research provides an indication that the experience and impact of online sexual harassment is unique to the individual and dependent on numerous intersecting factors, including actual or perceived gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, special educational need or disability. The report also highlights both the similarities and differences in the experiences of young people in Denmark, Hungary and the UK. Details: s.l.: Project deSHAME , 2017. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed May 18, 2018 at: http://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Project_deSHAME_Dec_2017_Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: http://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Project_deSHAME_Dec_2017_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 150268 Keywords: Computer CrimesInternet CrimesOnline VictimizationSexual ExploitationSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Plan International Title: Unsafe in the City: Sydney Summary: Free to Be is a crowd-mapping website that enables young women to identify and share the location of public spaces that make them feel uneasy and scared or happy and safe, implemented in Sydney in April-May 2018. It was designed in collaboration with Crowdspot, Monash University XYX Lab and young women within the city. Based on Plan International's extensive experience of working with girls and young women in cities through our Safer Cities programme, the research sought to understand more about the experiences of girls and young women. As well as Sydney, Free to Be has been implemented in Delhi, Kampala, Lima, Madrid and Melbourne. The Free to Be tool comprised an interactive map of the city and a survey which allowed girls and young women to drop 'pins' on the map - good or bad - and answer questions about their experiences there, as well as leave comments. A group of young women in Sydney were involved in the design and promotion of the tool, as well as having an opportunity to reflect on the findings to support analysis. In total, 2,083 pins were dropped on spots of the Sydney map, of which 25% denoted good experiences (516) and 75% bad (1,567). Good places were characterised by being busy, often with working people. This was closely followed by the place having a good 'community environment' or being well known to the participant. The threat of sexual harassment with and without physical contact was the main issue identified in connection with bad pins. Over two-thirds of the comments on bad pins included sexual harassment of some kind and 63% of all the pins identified gender-based discrimination as a factor. Discrimination based on ethnicity was identified in 10% of the pins (the highest of all the cities), usually alongside gender discrimination, highlighting the intersectional nature of discrimination and harassment in Sydney. On the street was the most likely location for bad pins, often alongside to/from work or school and public transport. Strong negative clusters tended to form around train stations and bus interchanges. These data demonstrate the compromised freedom for young women and girls moving around their city. Harassment directed at young women and girls, and especially those of the LGBTIQA community, is apparently exacerbated by the lockout laws in Sydney, and the lack of public transport available at corresponding hours. This indicates the complexity of access to, and safety in, the city - an intervention brought in to protect one part of the community increased the pressure on others. Women and girls change their behaviour in response to these challenges: nearly half of those recording bad pins (47%) avoided the area if they were alone and 12% simply never went back to the location. When asked how they responded to bad incidents, 20 participants reported that they stopped studying or quit their job because of their experiences. For more than a third of all the pins (36%), young women were resigned to the fact that such incidents are so frequent that they are used to it. Consequently, they take their own precautions such as walking fast through such areas with their phones at the ready. Reporting of events to the authorities was low at 9%, and in more than two-thirds of these cases (69%), the authorities apparently did nothing. Based on these findings, young women in Sydney made the following recommendations: 1) Behaviour change: - Changing the blame culture: listen to and act upon the stories of women and girls - Challenging toxic masculinity - Allies and bystanders: empowering them to call out harassment and intervene safely 2) Girls' participation in decision-making: listen to and work with girls and young women, respect their experiences and recommendations, and involve them in co-designing their cities. 3) Enforcement and accountability: - Strengthening reporting mechanisms - Improving the responsiveness of security services and the police - Clarification of laws and enforcement regarding street harassment Details: Melbourne: Plan International, 2018. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2018 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/196691/apo-nid196691-1025636.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/196691/apo-nid196691-1025636.pdf Shelf Number: 153246 Keywords: Crime AnalysisCrime HotspotsCrime MappingFear of CrimePublic SafetySexual AssaultSexual HarassmentViolence Against Women |
Author: International Transport Forum Title: Women's Safety and Security: A Public Transport Priority Summary: This compendium assembles voices from the transport sector on the critical issue of safety for women in public transport and transport more generally. Surveys show that most women who use public transport feel exposed to physical or verbal aggression, sexual harassment and other forms of violence or unwelcome behavior, leading to personal stress and physical harm. As women rely on public transport for access to employment, education and other public services, making it hard for them to be mobile also reinforces inequality Details: Paris: The Forum, 2018. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2018 at: https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/womens-safety-security_0.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/womens-safety-security_0.pdf Shelf Number: 153499 Keywords: Sexual HarassmentTransit Crime Transportation Security Violence Against Women |
Author: Basile, Kathleen C. Title: Sexual Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements, Version 2.0 Summary: Sexual violence (SV) is a profound social and public health problem in the United States. The range of experiences that pertain to SV is broad and affects females and males across the lifespan. As will be covered in more detail to follow, SV includes both penetrative and non-penetrative acts as well as non-contact forms. Sexual violence occurs when a perpetrator commits sexual acts without a victim's consent, or when a victim is unable to consent (e.g., due to age, illness) or refuse (e.g., due to physical violence or threats). According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): - 1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 59 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime, defined as penetrating a victim by use of force or through alcohol/drug facilitation; - Approximately 1 in 15 men (6.7%) reported that they were made to penetrate someone else during their lifetime; - An estimated 12.5% of women and 5.8% of men reported sexual coercion in their lifetime (i.e., unwanted sexual penetration after being pressured in a nonphysical way); - More than one-quarter of women (27.3%) and approximately 1 in 9 men (10.8%) have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime; and - Nearly one-third of women (32.1%) and nearly 1 in 8 men (13.3%) experienced some type of noncontact unwanted sexual experience in their lifetime. Despite efforts to reduce the barriers to reporting these sensitive issues (for example, the behaviorally-specific questions, health context, and graduated informed consent used in NISVS), there remains a likelihood of under-reporting due to the sensitive nature of SV. Therefore, many researchers and practitioners in this field believe that existing national statistics underestimate the number of victims of SV. Just as SV is not limited to physically forced penetration, its perpetrators are not limited to strangers. Indeed, perpetrators of SV are more likely to be someone known to the victim. Sexual violence is a problem embedded in our society and includes unwanted acts perpetrated by persons very well known (e.g., family members, intimate partners, and friends), generally known (e.g., acquaintances), not known well or just known by sight (e.g., someone in your neighborhood, person just met) and unknown to the victim (e.g., strangers). The overarching term "sexual violence" is used here to represent many behaviors that may otherwise fall under the rubrics of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and any other sexual violations. In some fields, other umbrella terms are used to describe sexual violations, such as the term "sexual harassment," which is used in studies of the workplace and the school setting. Although many who work in the field of SV use the word "survivor" to describe the person on whom the SV is inflicted, the word "victim" is used in this document in an effort to be consistent with agencies from which most of record-based surveillance information is gathered. For the purposes of survey surveillance, the word "survivor" may be substituted for "victim," as long as "survivor" is defined in the same way "victim" is defined in this document. Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2014. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2019 at: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/sv_surveillance_definitionsl-2009-a.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/sv_surveillance_definitionsl-2009-a.pdf Shelf Number: 155503 Keywords: Crime Statistics Rape Sex Crimes Sexual Assault Sexual HarassmentSexual Violence |