Sexual Assault
How protestors won the battle to save kink spaces
United in leather — Last week, Tower Hamlets council removed its nudity-restricting licensing conditions. It represents a huge win for London’s kink community, reports Bella Saltiel.
Written by: Bella Saltiel
In Belarus, victims of sexual assault have nowhere to turn
Human cost — The government’s brutal crackdown on NGOs has left victims of rape without anywhere to seek help. And now, as the country plays a key role is Russia’s war, things are only getting worse.
Written by: Anna Conkling
How whisper networks are protecting university students
‘It’s about survival‘ — With many UK universities failing to take sufficient action over sexual assault, students are finding ways to talk about their experiences and warn others about predators.
Written by: Katie Tobin
Why left-wing groups aren’t exempt from sexual assault
Hidden abuse — Isolated incidences of rape culture threaten the very ideology that unites activists and the building of a better society. Why then has there been a failure among some leftist groups to look inwards at the cultures they may be perpetrating?
Written by: Katie Tobin
Uni ‘confession‘ pages: a space to discuss sexual assault?
Speaking up — Liberated by anonymity, students across the country are sharing stories of sexual assault online – but just how effective are these spaces in helping survivors overcome their trauma and addressing systemic misogyny?
Written by: Serena Smith
We must learn how to talk about queer sexual assault
Speaking out — LGBTQ+ people are statistically more likely to experience sexual violence, but the topic seldom receives mainstream coverage. It's time we discussed the issue with the nuance it deserves, argues writer Jake Hall.
Written by: Jake Hall
Why we hacked the UK’s sexual violence in schools policy
#EveryBodyCounts — Last week, BodyCount, a campaign group of five south London teens, hacked the government's official site to fix its policy on sexual violence in schools – they explain why.
Written by: BodyCount
Why don’t women report rape? Take a look at the news
#WhyIDidntReport — From the Brett Kavanaugh scandal to the Belfast rugby trial: the routine disbelief aimed at women is shocking, writes Megan Nolan. It shows what society really thinks of us.
Written by: Megan Nolan
Jenny Wilson on revenge, trauma and survival
‘Making music doesn't cure you’ — With her brutally upfront new album, EXORCISM, the Swedish artist tackles her experiences with sexual assault – using music and songwriting as a cathartic tool. ‘I want you to dance, I want you to use your body,’ she explains. ‘It doesn’t cure you. But it can make you feel better.’
Written by: Biju Belinky
Parliament is rife with sleazy sexual predators drunk on power
From Where I Stand — From late night drinking to Parliamentary whips keen to dig up dirt on MPs for political capital, there’s a culture in Westminster that allows sexual assault to go unchecked. The Commons needs a shakeup, writes Dawn Foster, but it’s unlikely to happen.
Written by: Dawn Foster
The culture of shame around sexual assault is not just Hollywood’s problem
From Where I Stand — It’s taken years for Harvey Weinstein’s victims to come forward with their stories of sexual assault. But that shouldn’t come as a shock. The problem is pervasive, says Abi Wilkinson. And she speaks from experience.
Written by: Abi Wilkinson
Stop applauding a rapist for admitting he raped someone
You’re applauding a rapist — A worrying precedent is set in the viral TED Talk and upcoming book starring a survivor of rape and the man who abused her; if a rapist shows up at your door it's their right to be forgiven. Now he's being given a platform at an International Women's Day event in London. Liv Wynter explains her issue with the idea of a 'Good' and 'Bad' survivor.
Written by: Liv Wynter