CW: sexual violence Just two weeks preceding Russia’s 2022 invasion, Vladimir Putin branded Ukraine ‘mine’. (1) He then suggested that Volodymyr Zelensky should allow for Russia’s acquirement of Kyiv through sexual violence rhetoric, translated as either ‘like it or not, it’s your duty, my beauty’, (2) or ‘like it or not, bear with it, my beauty’; (1) both of which provoke connotations of cohesive rape. Although this statement is now two years old, the rhetoric reflects a b

CW: sexual violence The horrific case of Dominique Pelicot sent shockwaves across France and the rest of the globe at the beginning of September. Dominique, a husband, father, and grandfather was brought to trial, accused of enlisting over 70 men to rape his wife whilst she was unconscious. Dominique Pelicot, 72, was initially arrested in 2020 when he was caught upskirting three women in a shopping centre in the South of France. This led to the discovery of nearly 4000 sh

CW: sexual violence Gisèle Pelicot, a 71-year-old French woman living in the small town of Mazan in the South of France, discovered in November 2020 that her husband, Dominique Pelicot, had been caught upskirting women at a local supermarket. This led to the police engaging in an investigation, confiscating Mr Pelicot’s computer among other devices. Upon further examination, they had found that Dominique had been documenting the non-consensual abuse of his wife’s sedated bo

On the 29th of July, Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were murdered by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana during a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga event in Southport. Eight children as well as two adults were also seriously injured during the violence. While it is not confirmed whether the motive behind the attack was misogynistic, it cannot be ruled out; especially given the rise in “incel culture” among young men in t

Music festivals are a key piece of British summer events, but their unique characteristics, such as crowded stage areas, have made them ‘hotbeds’ for sexual harassment, according to The Telegraph. A study by Durham University Law School reveals that festivals often foster a toxic, laddish culture marked by heavy alcohol and drug use. Combined with crowded areas, shared campsites in dimly lit spaces, and inadequate surveillance, this environment has been described as 'conduciv

Amidst the excitement of supporting England in the football European Championship, there is an underlying problem which is exacerbated during this competition. Domestic violence reports increase during major football matches, while the EUROs are happening there even more of a need to spread awareness. The competitive nature and boisterous lad culture surrounding the football heightens emotions amongst fans, combined with the addition of alcohol there is an increased risk of

"Baby Reindeer," a powerful autobiographical Netflix show by Richard Gadd, offers a raw and unflinching look into the complexities of male sexual abuse and the lingering effects of trauma. Gadd recounts his harrowing experience with a female stalker who initially appeared in his life as a supportive presence during a vulnerable moment. However, this relationship quickly devolved into a nightmare as her obsession grew increasingly intrusive and violent. Furthermore, it also sh

Miraculously, when the Online Safety Act was first produced as a Bill, it had not a single mention of women and girls. The reaction led to intense campaigning from well-known organisations including The End Violence Against Women Coalition, Refuge, NSPCC, and Glitch. The result? The Online Safety Act, passed in October 2023, has now been described as “landmark guidance” and a “historic moment for women’s rights,” aimed at helping protect women and girls from the dispropor

In November it was revealed, through the publication of former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries’ book, that an MP had committed sexual offences against up to five individuals, with two of these offences being rape. Furthermore, in a letter included in Dorries’ book, former Chairman Sir Jake Berry stated that a number of these offences were made known to the party, but that limited action had taken place in response. He goes on to make the very serious claim that the party had

In the last few years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing aspects of everyday life have moved online, whether grocery shopping, teaching, or working. This trend of individuals leading their lives virtually naturally comes with numerous positives. However, the virtual world also introduces new concerns, particularly for children. In 2021, Mark Zuckerberg, the owner and founder of Facebook, announced the release of his new brand 'Meta', providing an online spa

We've read it so you don't have to. The Victims and Prisoners Bill was originally sponsored by Dominic Raab 29 March 2023. It came in response to previous public consultations surrounding victim experiences and the parole system. The Bill will introduce procedures relating to victims of criminal conduct and victims of major incidents. Further, it will bring reforms to the parole system, and put restrictions on marriage for prisoners with life sentences. Now in the Committee

The fear of false accusations of sexual assault and violence seems bizarrely ever-present in the minds of men across Western civilisation. Most frustratingly, I’ve most often seen the topic brought up in response to concerns about sexual assault, and it tends to be used as a method to speak over those coming forward. Instead of showing empathy to those subjected to sexual assault, they ask, “What about the men who have their life and careers ruined by false accusations? Those

Kirsty Brimelow KC, the chair of the Criminal Bar Association, highlights there is a “crisis in the criminal justice system”, further explaining that “barristers have left, courts are in disrepair and complainants, witnesses and defendants suffer”. Figures released show that there are 65,000 cases which await trial in the Crown Court, an increase of 25,000 since the Covid-19 Pandemic. A report published by Rape Crisis England and Wales(2023), specified that of this backlog of

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. I wanted to come on here to talk about a very unhelpful thought cycle that can make navigating life after sexual abuse or violence even more difficult. I’m talking about the worry that what you were subjected to was not ‘bad enough’ to justify the impact it’s having on you and your life. These feelings can turn into an uncomfortable internal battle and leave us feeling out of touch with ourselves. On the one side, no one understands better

The number of students subjected to sexual violence at UK universities has remained at significant levels in recent years. In 2021, student website The Tab found that 59% of female students had been subjected to sexual assault while at university, with 7% of sexual assault cases were reported to their institution (1). The failures within the complaints processes and support systems at UK universities has meant that hundreds of sexual assault cases are not being adequately inv

Women make up about 11% of the UK military (1), however, there is limited investigation on the impact of adversity women experience during their service, and even more so in reference to sexual harassment and assault. Sexual harassment, violence, and abuse continue to be very prominent issues in the military. Until systematic change is applied, the institutional failures will only contribute to the issue. Anonymous research with 750 women veterans found that 22.5% reported se

The hotly anticipated fourth and final season of Sex Education was released on Netflix last week. Fans have been patiently awaiting answers for two years. Would Moordale Secondary rise from the ashes following its Season 3 bankruptcy? How would Jean (Gillian Anderson) tackle life as a single mother? And would we finally see Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Maeve (Emma Mackey) live happily ever after? As ever, this season continues to teach us more about sexual assault and consent t

Note in support of the women subjected to sexual harassment, violence & abuse by Russell Brand: Brand wasn’t the first and won’t be the last male public figure from that era to be exposed for being predatory and abusive. Right now, we need to rally around and support the women who have had the courage to speak out, especially when speaking out against powerful public figures with a fanbase that is ready to weaponise. Speaking out about sexual violence is one of the hardest th

Between 2017 and 2022, 35 000 cases of sexual misconduct were reported in the NHS, and recent research conducted by the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery (WPSMS) has correlated this finding, highlighting high rates of sexual violence in the surgical workforce, perpetrated by colleagues. A recent analysis of NHS staff by WPSMS has shown that female surgeons are being subjected to sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by colleagues, with nearly two thirds of fe

The absolute hostility and disdain with which many men treat women’s football has always baffled me, and it becomes especially apparent whenever there’s an important women’s football tournament. It’s gotten better in recent years, but it’s not hard to find men who still scoff at the game and don’t take it seriously, while they go feral over the exact same sport when men play it. A few seem to take offense at the idea that women could ever play; in their minds, football is ‘a