VAWnet News Blog

In the past, hospital staff had pamphlets and cards — designed to be discreet — they could give to individuals they believed were in a domestic violence situation, but no method to determine if they were in immediate danger, according to Yingling. “Now they know we’re asking,” she said. “Now they know we care.”

Last month, a taxi driver in Fez ejected a customer from his cab, shouting that he was a “khanit,” slang for gay. A mob then beat the man, who was wearing a wig and a white dress. In a video that circulated widely online, the victim can be seen rolling on the ground while his attackers strike and insult him.

Providing free or subsidized legal representation to victims, the report concludes, may reduce domestic violence and would be cost-effective as it would likely result in lower associated health care and legal costs.

“We’ve seen over the last year the rise of a new movement against racism and police brutality with Black Lives Matter, and I believe that we’re going to have to establish more organizations, more movements, and get organized if we want to have any victories for women’s rights,” said organizer Lauren Bianchi.

German newspapers including Berlin’s “tageszeitung” and the “Hannover Allgemeine Zeitung” reported on Monday that sexual abuse “by taking advantage of special circumstances” will be condemned under an alteration of paragraph 179 of Germany’s penal code. More specifically, the draft legislation will address sexual abuse which exploits a victim’s fear of a “perceived menace.”

Now, the legislature wants to start a task force that would prevent these tragedies. Part of it would be a call for more training for judges.