Latest news with #sexualviolence
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Women and girls ‘not safe anywhere' as Darfur suffers surge in sexual violence
As Sudan's Darfur region has been overrun by militias, women are facing the constant threat of sexual violence, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported. The medical charity said in the South Darfur region alone its workers treated 659 sexual violence survivors between January and March this year, more than two-thirds of whom had been raped. 'Women and girls do not feel safe anywhere. They are attacked in their own homes, when fleeing violence, getting food, collecting firewood, working in the fields. They tell us they feel trapped,' said Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency coordinator, who called on the warring parties to hold their fighters to account. 'These attacks are heinous and cruel, often involving multiple perpetrators. This must stop. Sexual violence is not a natural or inevitable consequence of war, it can constitute a war crime, a form of torture, and a crime against humanity.' Several women who gave testimonies to MSF described raids where fighters killed all the boys and men in a place before raping women and girls. A 27-year-old nurse said she was raped last year by fighters who accused her of treating Sudanese army soldiers. 'I want protection now; I don't want to be raped again … I was too afraid to go to the hospital. My family told me, 'Don't tell anybody'. I don't have any more pain. But I have nightmares about it,' she said. MSF said that 56% of the sexual violence they documented was perpetrated by non-civilians. Women and girls having to walk long distances to gather food and water put them in particular danger, the report said. A third of women and girls were attacked while travelling to or working in fields. Since April 2023, Darfur has witnessed a surge in human rights abuses as it has been taken over by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary and allied militias as they fight for control against the government's Sudanese armed forces. The fighting has recently been concentrated around the city of El Fasher, where conditions have deteriorated rapidly for civilians. The RSF's seizure of the nearby Zamzam displacement camp led to further reports of increased sexual violence. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (Siha), a coalition of women's rights groups, said it has verified 14 cases of rape but had received reports of many more, during the Zamzam attack and in the weeks since, as well as dozens of reports of women disappearing or being abducted by RSF fighters. 'Sexual violence has become an everyday reality for women and girls in Darfur, along with the rise in sexually transmitted diseases,' said Siha's head, Hala al-Karib, who said the international community had abandoned women in Darfur. Karib said the violence had been escalating since before the current conflict because of the withdrawa of a UN and African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur that had provided some protection to local communities. 'The peacekeeping mission primarily contributed to the safety and security of women by patrolling roads and enabling them to access their farmlands, while also securing displaced camps,' said Karib. 'The level of neglect toward women in Darfur is staggering. This region is experiencing active genocidal acts, horrific war crimes, and famine due to a siege on livelihoods by all actors. There is no dedicated support for women survivors … this crisis is unfolding amid complete silence and utter neglect from international actors.'
Free Malaysia Today
16 hours ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-Guatemalan paramilitaries jailed for raping indigenous women
The former paramilitaries were found guilty of raping six indigenous women between 1981 and 1983. (EPA Images pic) GUATEMALA CITY : A top Guatemalan court today sentenced three former paramilitaries each to 40 years in prison after they were found guilty of raping six indigenous women between 1981 and 1983, the bloodiest period of the Central American nation's civil war. The trial against the former members of the so-called civil self-defence patrol, armed groups recruited by the army, began four months ago. 'The soldiers arrived late at night, threw me onto the ground and raped me,' Paulina Ixpata, a Maya Achi woman, said during the trial. Prosecutors presented more than 160 pieces of evidence against the men. 'That's how the whole night went,' Ixpata said, recounting how she was held for 25 days by the military patrol. Judge Maria Eugenia Castellanos sentenced the three for crimes against humanity in the form of sexual violence. 'The women recognised the perpetrators, they recognised the places where the events took place. They were victims of crimes against humanity,' she said. This is the second trial in the so-called Maya Achi case, and follows reports of sexual violence filed between 2011 and 2015 by 36 victims against former military personnel, military commissioners and civilian self-defence patrol members. The first trial, which took place in January 2022, saw five former patrol members sentenced to 30 years in prison. They remain incarcerated. In 2016, a Guatemalan court sentenced two former military officers for holding 15 women from the Q'eqchi community, who are also of Maya origin, as sex slaves at the Sepur Zarco military base, a landmark case that marked the first convictions in Guatemala of military officers for wartime rape. Both officers were sentenced to a combined 360 years in prison, where they remain incarcerated. The court also stipulated a reparations programme, whose progress remains limited despite advocacy by the 15 women who were at the trial, known as the 'Grandmothers of Sepur Zarco'.
National Post
21 hours ago
- General
- National Post
Zion Williamson accused of sexual violence against woman in lawsuit
Article content Zion Williamson is being sued by a woman describing herself as a former dating partner and who alleges the New Orleans Pelicans star committed repeated sexual violence against her. Article content Article content The civil lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday night, identifies the plaintiff as 'Jane Doe.' She claims she began dating Williamson in 2018, when he played at Duke, and alleges that he engaged in abusive behaviour toward her in California, Louisiana and Texas from 2020 until their relationship ended in 2023. Article content Article content Williamson's New Orleans-based attorney, Michael Balascio, called the claims in the lawsuit 'categorically false and reckless,' and accused the plaintiff of extortion, which he said has been reported to law enforcement. Article content 'We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,' Balascio said in a written statement provided to The Associated Press. 'This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.' Article content The lawsuit alleges that the first instance of sexual violence occurred in a home Williamson had rented in Beverly Hills, California. Article content The lawsuit also alleges that Williamson temporarily took the plaintiff's mobile phone from her after the first two instances of forced intercourse and also took her laptop after the second. Article content The complaint includes accusations of strangulation, death threats to the plaintiff and her family, and physical abuse, including being kicked, slammed with a car door, and suffocated until she lost consciousness. Article content Article content 'We're going to be very cautious about litigating this in the press,' said the plaintiff's attorney, Sam Taylor II, who is with the Lanier Law Firm in Los Angeles. Article content 'This is a very serious case as reflected in the allegations in the complaint, which are pretty detailed,' Taylor continued, adding that his client 'genuinely looks forward to her day in court when she can tell a jury of her peers what happened to her and seek justice.' Article content The lawsuit seeks monetary damages — including punitive damages — for emotional distress. Article content Balascio said Williamson and the plaintiff 'never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago,' when Williamson was 18. Article content 'At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns,' Balascio said, adding that 'only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars.' Article content Williamson also intends to file counterclaims and 'seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit,' Balascio said. Article content Williamson was the first player picked in the 2019 draft. In six years as a pro, he has averaged 24.7 points per game. But has played in only 214 of 472 regular season games — and no playoff games — during that span because of a series of injuries, one of which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season. Article content
CNN
a day ago
- Politics
- CNN
Zion Williamson sued by a woman alleging the Pelicans star committed sexual violence against her
Zion Williamson is being sued by a woman describing herself as a former dating partner and who alleges the New Orleans Pelicans star committed repeated sexual violence against her. The civil lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday night, identifies the plaintiff as 'Jane Doe.' She claims she began dating Williamson in 2018, when he played at Duke, and alleges that he engaged in abusive behavior toward her in California, Louisiana and Texas from 2020 until their relationship ended in 2023. Williamson's New Orleans-based attorney, Michael Balascio, called the claims in the lawsuit 'categorically false and reckless,' and accused the plaintiff of extortion, which he said has been reported to law enforcement. 'We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,' Balascio said in a written statement provided to The Associated Press. 'This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.' The lawsuit alleges that the first instance of sexual violence occurred in a home Williamson had rented in Beverly Hills, California. The lawsuit also alleges that Williamson temporarily took the plaintiff's mobile phone from her after the first two instances of forced intercourse and also took her laptop after the second. The complaint includes accusations of strangulation, death threats to the plaintiff and her family, and physical abuse, including being kicked, slammed with a car door, and suffocated until she lost consciousness. 'We're going to be very cautious about litigating this in the press,' said the plaintiff's attorney, Sam Taylor II, who is with the Lanier Law Firm in Los Angeles. 'This is a very serious case as reflected in the allegations in the complaint, which are pretty detailed,' Taylor continued, adding that his client 'genuinely looks forward to her day in court when she can tell a jury of her peers what happened to her and seek justice.' The lawsuit seeks monetary damages — including punitive damages — for emotional distress. Balascio said Williamson and the plaintiff 'never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago,' when Williamson was 18. 'At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns,' Balascio said, adding that 'only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars.' Williamson also intends to file counterclaims and 'seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit,' Balascio said. A Pelicans spokesman said the club was aware of the matter but deferred comment to Williamson's lawyer. Williamson was the first player picked in the 2019 draft. In six years as a pro, he has averaged 24.7 points per game. But has played in only 214 of 472 regular season games — and no playoff games — during that span because of a series of injuries, one of which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season.
CNN
a day ago
- Politics
- CNN
Zion Williamson sued by a woman alleging the Pelicans star committed sexual violence against her
Zion Williamson is being sued by a woman describing herself as a former dating partner and who alleges the New Orleans Pelicans star committed repeated sexual violence against her. The civil lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday night, identifies the plaintiff as 'Jane Doe.' She claims she began dating Williamson in 2018, when he played at Duke, and alleges that he engaged in abusive behavior toward her in California, Louisiana and Texas from 2020 until their relationship ended in 2023. Williamson's New Orleans-based attorney, Michael Balascio, called the claims in the lawsuit 'categorically false and reckless,' and accused the plaintiff of extortion, which he said has been reported to law enforcement. 'We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,' Balascio said in a written statement provided to The Associated Press. 'This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.' The lawsuit alleges that the first instance of sexual violence occurred in a home Williamson had rented in Beverly Hills, California. The lawsuit also alleges that Williamson temporarily took the plaintiff's mobile phone from her after the first two instances of forced intercourse and also took her laptop after the second. The complaint includes accusations of strangulation, death threats to the plaintiff and her family, and physical abuse, including being kicked, slammed with a car door, and suffocated until she lost consciousness. 'We're going to be very cautious about litigating this in the press,' said the plaintiff's attorney, Sam Taylor II, who is with the Lanier Law Firm in Los Angeles. 'This is a very serious case as reflected in the allegations in the complaint, which are pretty detailed,' Taylor continued, adding that his client 'genuinely looks forward to her day in court when she can tell a jury of her peers what happened to her and seek justice.' The lawsuit seeks monetary damages — including punitive damages — for emotional distress. Balascio said Williamson and the plaintiff 'never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago,' when Williamson was 18. 'At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns,' Balascio said, adding that 'only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars.' Williamson also intends to file counterclaims and 'seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit,' Balascio said. A Pelicans spokesman said the club was aware of the matter but deferred comment to Williamson's lawyer. Williamson was the first player picked in the 2019 draft. In six years as a pro, he has averaged 24.7 points per game. But has played in only 214 of 472 regular season games — and no playoff games — during that span because of a series of injuries, one of which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season.
