News, 12/15/25

[Angeline Binick]

I.     GLOBAL NEWS
II.    REGIONAL NEWS

III.   FORENSIC EVIDENCE

IV.   SEX TRAFFICKING

V.    ARMED CONFLICT

VI.   CLERGY ABUSE
VII.  ARTS & CULTURE

VIII. ONLINE ABUSE

IX.   COMMENTARY

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL NEWS

UN completes investigation into ICC prosecutor's alleged sexual misconduct

https://www.reuters.com/world/un-completes-investigation-into-icc-prosecutors-alleged-sexual-misconduct-2025-12-12/

France's first lady Brigitte Macron apologizes after slur sparks feminist backlash

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20251215-french-first-lady-slur-feminist-macron 

Netherlands: Amsterdam joins cities using special officers to fight sexual harassment in public

https://nltimes.nl/2025/12/13/amsterdam-joins-cities-using-special-officers-fight-sexual-harassment-public 

Prosecutors detain suspects accused of sexually harassing young interns at Turkish parliament

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-parliament-sexual-harassment-interns-ozel-dincer-748474264a2647d4f1f480c4776dc8dc 

Orbán’s rival leads protest over alleged child abuse in Hungary’s state-run institutions

https://apnews.com/article/hungary-orban-opposition-protest-child-abuse-41613fa6cad30006efcb4181e3fc6aba 

Spain's Socialists face backlash over handling of sexual harassment claims

https://www.reuters.com/world/spains-socialists-face-backlash-over-handling-sexual-harassment-claims-2025-12-12/

UK: Government’s process behind tackling violence against women ‘worse than under the Tories’

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/12/labour-strategy-tackling-violence-against-women-tories

Police face super-complaint in England and Wales over lengthy delays in sexual offence investigations

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/dec/15/super-complaint-police-england-wales-delays-sexual-offence-cases 

Police forces in England and Wales to get units that tackle violence against women

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/13/police-forces-in-england-and-wales-to-get-units-that-tackle-violence-against-women

Call for system that frees rape suspects as alternative to bail to be scrapped in England and Wales

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/15/call-for-system-that-frees-suspects-as-alternative-to-bail-to-be-scrapped-in-england-and-wales

South Africa: “Corrective Rape” Hate Crime Case Shakes Eastern Cape as Bail Hearing Continues

(Trigger warning)

https://www.mambaonline.com/2025/12/15/eastern-cape-hate-crime-rape-case-bail-hearing-continues-amid-community-outrage-and-fear/ 

Kenya: Step-up fight against GBV, Igembe North residents urged

https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/step-up-fight-against-gbv-igembe-north-residents-urged/ 

Australia: Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence prompts $674 million response

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/sa-premier-hands-down-government-response-to-dv-royal-comission/106134746 

REGIONAL NEWS

York man accused of threatening to kill alleged rape victim, flee the country

https://www.abc27.com/local-news/york-man-accused-of-threatening-to-kill-alleged-rape-victim-flee-the-country/ 

Lebanon doctor sentenced after 2nd sexual abuse of minors conviction

https://local21news.com/news/local/lebanon-doctor-sentenced-of-2nd-sexual-abuse-of-minors-conviction-samuel-rashid-pa-pennsylvania-lebanon-county-district-attorneys-office-sex-offender 

Carlisle man charged with rape of 11-year-old

(Trigger warning)

https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/cumberland-county/jatsuer-polanco-arrest-child-rape-carlisle-police-cumberland-county/521-404731ee-67e1-40ba-8c09-253432939178 

FORENSIC EVIDENCE

Tennessee: Sexual Assault Center explains why Nashville has backlog of sexual assault kits

https://www.wsmv.com/video/2025/12/15/sexual-assault-center-explains-why-nashville-has-backlog-sexual-assault-kits/ 

SEX TRAFFICKING

UK police won't investigate Andrew bodyguard claim

https://www.dw.com/en/uk-police-wont-investigate-andrew-bodyguard-claim/a-75147968 

UK: Giuffre family ‘disappointed’ Met police not investigating claims against Andrew

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/dec/13/met-will-not-investigate-claims-andrew-asked-bodyguard-to-investigate-virginia-giuffre 

ARMED CONFLICT

UK sanctions RSF commanders over links to mass killings in Sudan

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk-sanctions-rsf-commanders-over-links-mass-killings-sudan-2025-12-12/ 

French court jails Congo ex-rebel leader for 30 years

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/french-court-jails-congo-ex-rebel-leader-30-years-2025-12-15/ 

Girls and women fleeing Mali describe sexual violence by Russian forces

(Trigger warning)

https://apnews.com/article/mali-russia-africa-corps-refugees-rape-assault-28f34205d837dad8a323c3a034f96636 

CLERGY ABUSE

Michigan: 51 priests named in AG’s report detailing sexual abuse in Diocese of Grand Rapids

https://www.wilx.com/2025/12/15/51-priests-named-ags-report-detailing-sexual-abuse-diocese-grand-rapids/ 

California: Oakland Diocese's latest offer to abuse survivors hits $242 million

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/oakland-diocese-latest-offer-abuse-survivors/3996005/ 

Anglican archbishop accused of sexual misconduct faces a church trial

https://apnews.com/article/anglican-church-north-america-stephen-wood-d67983aa4cac5338a59e1384ee86edeb 

ARTS & CULTURE

A podcast investigates alleged sexual abuse in one of Louisville's schools

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/14/nx-s1-5640127/a-podcast-investigates-alleged-sexual-abuse-in-one-of-louisvilles-schools 

Shiori Ito sees ‘most reactive screening’ in Japan to her film on sexual assault

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/15/japan/society/black-box-diaries-shiori-ito/ 

ONLINE ABUSE

Exiled Hong Kong democracy activists say they're targeted by fake sexualised images

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/exiled-hong-kong-democracy-activists-say-theyre-targeted-by-fake-sexualised-2025-12-12/ 

COMMENTARY

The story queer survivors aren't allowed to tell

https://www.advocate.com/voices/lgbtq-sexual-assault 

Migrant women at risk of violence and exploitation

https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/migrant-women-at-risk-of-violence-and-exploitation 

Epstein’s victims deserve more attention than his ‘client list’

https://theconversation.com/epsteins-victims-deserve-more-attention-than-his-client-list-270244