February 26, 2010

This week in the news (February 19-26, 2010)

Posted in Child Sexual Abuse, Current Events, Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (Rape Drugs), Intimate Partner Violence, Men's role in sexual assault, movies, Rape Culture at 8:08 pm by sacetalks

The following is a list of news articles and editorials on sexual assault in communities across the globe (over the past 7 days). Many of the articles below may contain victim-blaming language, distortion of information which supports sexual assault myths, and/or triggering content. What these articles do showcase is the prevalence of sexual assault (given that only a small percentage of the 1 in 10 sexual assaults in Canada which are reported receive media attention, several articles on sexual assault within one week indicate a huge number of assaults), what kinds of sexual assaults are reported and how rampant sexual assault myths are. Please be aware that SACE does not support the content or delivery of any of the following news pieces.

Edmonton

Edmonton police search for sexual assault suspect

Man charged in alleged summer sex assault

Alberta

HIV disclosure a slippery slope

Plea made for pervert

Innocence lost

Canada

Raise strong boys

Naming names

Olympics cops, soldiers dismissed

Whitehorse cabbie gets house arrest for sexual assault

Attempted murder suspect to remain in custody

Repeat rapist faces trial for Vancouver assaults

Vancouver Police warn public about sexual assault

Man charged with sexual assault of two teen girls in Saskatoon

Teens suspended after alleged sex assault

Incest charges stayed after numerous trial delays

Man pleads guilty to child porn possession

Allegation against military chaplain not reported to police

Ontario killer says victim abused him

Trenton man sentenced for sexual assault and assaults

Man to be sentenced in sexual assault case involving senior citizen

81-year-old charged with sex assault

Lahey trial delayed until 2011

Diocese increases support for male sexual assault victims

Woman, 28, forced to perform sex acts, York Region police say

Soldier released on bail

Sex assault investigation expands

Man jailed for not revealing HIV status

Toronto man charged with human trafficking

Police seek sex assault suspect

Former chaplain charged with assault

Complaint results in several sexual-related charges against Bothwell man

Long-delayed hearing opens

Plastic surgeon barred from practising

Wolfville man gets four years in custody for sexual assault, eight counts of assault

Former NB priest faces another sex charge

Grant Tapper gets extra year in prison for touching young girl for sexual purpose

Man pleads guilty to pair of sex charges

Clachers wants a new lawyer

Sex charges require two preliminary inquiries

First Nations pipe carrier Dennis Buffalo off to prison for ‘ceremony’ that was sexual assault

Matter adjourned

Woman’s dreams dashed, murder trial told

Military not victims in Williams case – Column by Ruth Farquhar

New charge for child groper

Testimony dismantled

Trafficking in humans

International

US pediatrician indicted on more than 470 counts of sex abuse involving 103 children

Date-rape drug needs more control: report

Horrifying online kiddie porn case

Film on rape of women by Peru’s military nominated for Academy Award

Sodomy case aquittal for NYC cops

Teen gets 15 years for Facebook sex blackmail

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February 22, 2010

Sexual Assault Awareness Week: April 12th – 16th, 2010

Posted in News Release, SACE Events at 12:08 am by sacetalks

The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton is proud to announce the launching of Sexual Assault Awareness Week, from April 12th-16th, 2010. Download the PDF flyer here.

In Canada, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience sexual assault in their lifetime. These startling numbers demonstrate a need to call for the public to take action against this violence. As such, SACE is hosting a variety of events throughout the week to encourage community dialogue on, and action against, sexualized violence.

Timetable of events:

Monday, April 12th, 2010
Opening Reception
City Hall
7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Screening of No! The Rape Documentary
Stanley A. Milner Library
Time TBA (evening)

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
SACE Open House and Meet and Greet
Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton
6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 15th, 2010
1 in 3: A Call for Action – Art Show and open mic
Call for Artists
ARTery
7:00 p.m.

Friday, February 16th, 2010 – CANCELLED!
Let’s Talk About Consent, Baby: A Retro Dance Party – CANCELLED!!!
Strathcona Community Hall – CANCELLED!
7:30 p.m. – CANCELLED!

For more information, please contact Pragya at 780 423 4102 or pragyas@sace.ab.ca.

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February 12, 2010

This week in the news (February 5 – 12, 2010)

Posted in Child Sexual Abuse, Current Events, Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault (Rape Drugs), Intimate Partner Violence, Men's role in sexual assault, Rape Culture, Victim Blaming at 8:07 pm by sacetalks

Edmonton

Locked courtroom door leads to mistrial

Man bit stump of pregnant girlfriend’s amputated arm

Alberta

Man wanted for sex assault turns himself in

Victim still haunted by sex assault, court told

Calgary police seek sex assault suspect

‘The issue here is consent’

Crown wants jail for Alberta man who lured, sexually assaulted young teen

Trial to be set in Calgary for sexual assault case

Sex offender pleads guilty to breaches of release

Sex deviant not dangerous offender: lawyer

Sex with stepdaughter nets jail term

Canada

Thompson man charged for sexual assaults

7 Canadian children rescued from porn ring

Criminal checks for NWT volunteers still in the works

Gas station rape case delayed

School volunteer sentenced to six months

Abuser scaled balcony to confront his ex-girlfriend

Family hopes Lewis remains in jail

Rose Blanche man going to prison for sex-related offences

Lawyer files to stay sex charges due to delays

Accused rapist wants to see a judge as soon as possible

Sentence reduced by appeal court

Kids molested at Oshawa daycare, Crown alleges

Cab driver charged with sexually assaulting passenger

Rules cloak some of B.C.’s most serious criminal cases

St. Stephen man found guilty of sex charges

Guilty verdict in Wolfe murder

Judge acquits man he doesn’t believe

Ontario fugitive arrested at shelter

Ex-cop guilty of molesting girl

Held for bail

View Royal man charged with confinement, sexual assault of teenage girl to appear in court

Alleged sex assault may have lasted 4 hours

Man raped her while she slept, woman testifies

Tait took advantage of vulnerable victim: Lawyer

Speaker hoping to engage men in anti-violence struggle

Prominent NL hockey coach charged with sex crimes

Hearing date set in Buchanan case

VPD warns of sex offender

Slain man called abuser

Man charged in sexual assaults

Preliminary inquiry to be set in sex assault case

Man guilty of molesting girl

Taking steps to healing

Lalo victim awarded $375k

Hit on the head with wrench

Sex offender pleads guilty to assaulting NWT children

Assault, Sexual Assault and Death Threat

St. Catherines Punks Ignite Controversy over Band Name Sexual Assault

Rejected house arrest goes to appeal

Police issue warning after woman sexually assaulted

Former Windsor teacher jailed for sex assaults

Man charged in sexual assault case

Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Child At Sleep Clinic

Gitsegukla Boy Charged With Sexual Assault

Toronto man faces four charges in sexual assault investigation

HIV-positive man appeals Manitoba conviction

57-year-old man facing old sexual assault charges

Base commander ruled out as suspect in earlier Trenton murder

Colonel’s arrest sparks review of other unsolved cases

Unusual suspects

Ontario women were asphyxiated, source says

Portrait of an accused predator

The case against the colonel: ‘Lingerie break-ins’ and a ‘treasure trove’ of photo evidence

Police probing if Williams could be linked to cold cases

International

Michael Irvin being sued on sexual assault claims

Man pleads not guilty in US Craigslist rape case, says he thought he was playing out fantasy

Traveling child molester sent to jail for 30 years

Facebook debate over Goa official’s remarks on girl’s rape

Webcam user jailed for inciting US woman to abuse child

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February 10, 2010

One in Three: A Call for Action – Call for Artists

Posted in News Release, SACE Events at 4:32 pm by sacetalks

In Canada, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience sexual assault in their lifetime.

This is an open call to artists to submit artwork for the upcoming art show and open mic session, One in Three: A Call for Action. This event is on Thursday, April 15th, 2010 and is part of Sexual Assault Awareness Week. We are calling on all members of Edmonton communities to recognize and respond to the astounding rates of sexual violence.

All pieces related to sexual violence are welcome. Artists may choose whether or not to offer their art for sale (provided that a negotiable portion of proceeds is directed to the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton).

Suggested themes include, but are not limited to: coercion, consent, survivor vs. victim, violation, sexual exploitation, effects of sexual assault, hope after sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault and oppression, sexual assault as a hate crime…

Submit your artwork to The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. Deadline is April 1st, 2010. With your help, we can work toward ending sexual violence.

For more information, please contact Pragya Sharma at 780 423 4102, or email pragyas@sace.ab.ca.

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February 8, 2010

Getting it right

Posted in Child Sexual Abuse, Current Events, Rape Culture, Victim Blaming at 9:51 pm by sacetalks

Reading through news stories about sexual violence, the number of negative stories can be overwhelming. Sometimes it’s hard to see where we will ever find an end to rape culture when everyone from reporters and columnists to police and judges can make blaming, shaming comments about survivors. Sometimes, the voices of people who get it are drowned out by those who don’t.

That’s why it’s so refreshing to read a story where someone got it right. Judge Patricia Cumming is one of those people. In a recent court case in Burton, NB, she addressed the nine-year-old survivor directly:

“You are not responsible for anything that happened. You were nine years old … Telling was the right thing to do.”

“I don’t want you to just hear these words. I want you to understand and accept them.”

In a world where so many people tell survivors of sexual violence that what happened to them was somehow their fault, these are potent words, particularly from someone who holds a position vested with so much power and authority. Her words have the potential for resonance and healing, not only for the girl in this case but for other survivors who might read Cumming’s statement. With so many situations where people in authority do it wrong, it’s refreshing to read a reminder that there are also people who recognize that survivors are not to blame for what other people do.

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