Abuse

Abused RSE workers in Australia too afraid to speak out

The stark findings are the result of an extensive survey by Australia's Anti-Slavery Taskforce.

The Taskforce's Executive Officer, Alison Rahill, said the Australian government needs greater scrutiny of the Pacific Labour Mobility scheme and that better support is needed for its seasonal workers.

The Taskforce is a social agency established by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, providing support for potential victims of slavery-like practices.

Ms Rahill said isolation and other factors increases the risk of abuse.

R. Kelly accused of abusing teenage boy he met in McDonald's

Prosecutors allege the singer abused the teenager after meeting him at a Chicago McDonald's in 2006.

They want evidence of this, and other alleged but uncharged crimes, to be heard at Kelly's trial in August.

Kelly denies ever abusing anyone, and his lawyers have not responded to the latest allegations.

The Grammy-winner, real name Robert Kelly, is set to face trial in New York next month on charges including child sexual exploitation, making indecent images of minors, racketeering and obstruction of justice.

The charges involve six unnamed women and girls.

Australian gymnastics inquiry uncovers 'culture of abuse'

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) found that bullying and body-shaming were prevalent at elite levels.

The report highlighted a win-at-all-costs culture that created a risk of harm and abuse.

Gymnastics Australia, which commissioned the review last year, called the findings "confronting".

"Gymnastics Australia unreservedly apologises to all athletes and family members who have experienced any form of abuse participating in the sport," it said in a statement.

Olympic champion empowered by speaking out over sexual abuse

In January 2018 Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years after nearly 160 women accused him of sexual abuse.

Biles, 21, then told her own story of how she was one of those victims.

"It was very hard but I figured out that if I can tell my story then it might encourage other people to tell theirs," she said.

Biles, who won four gold medals and a bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016, said she wanted to speak out about the reaction to her revelation and her responsibility as a role model.

Mel B's ex strongly denies 'years of abuse'

Lawyers for Stephen Belafonte released a statement after the ex-Spice Girl was given a temporary restraining order.

She claims she was the victim of "multiple physical beatings" and that her ex threatened to destroy her career by releasing a sex tape.

Stephen Belafonte's legal team calls the claims "outrageous and unfounded".

They say: "When the degree to which Ms Brown has gone to create a false depiction of her marriage to Mr Belafonte is uncovered, real victims and survivors of domestic violence will be understandably offended, angry and upset."

Jane Fonda reveals rape and child abuse

In an interview with fellow Oscar winner Brie Larson for The Edit, the 79-year-old also said she had once lost a job because she refused her boss's sexual advances.

The star added she thought being a young actress now was "terrifying" because of female sexualisation.

"You have to get naked so much. There is even more emphasis on how you look."

Fonda said she "felt diminished" growing up because the men in her life were "victims of a [patriarchal] belief system".

UK child migrant so hungry she 'ate grain meant for pigs'

Marcelle O'Brien was sent to a home in Pinjarra, western Australia, run by the Fairbridge Society, at the age of four.

The then-Queen, wife of George VI, later intervened to ask whether she could return to the UK to be adopted.

But Fairbridge said it would not be in her "best interests", the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse heard.

Mrs O'Brien said she suffered "mental cruelty" and "sadistic" treatment at the home where she was forced to do "slave labour".

She was molested by her school's deputy principal and caned, the hearing was told.

Saudi social media users break silence on violence against women

The hashtag #Break_Your_Silence_Speak_Up went viral among Saudi women who started sharing their bitter stories that often go untold.

One woman said that she has been locked up for a year inside the house after her mother learned that her father had raped her over three years. She now needs to be treated for depression as a result of the psychological damage she endured.

Pakistan singer stops show to rescue harassed girl

A video of Atif Aslam interrupting his live performance in Karachi on Saturday has been shared thousands of times.

The popular singer told the alleged harassers: "Have you ever seen a girl? She could be your mother or a sister."

Pakistani media said the venue was overcrowded and that several girls reported being harassed.

Pope urges 'zero tolerance' of abuse in letter

In a letter sent on 28 December but released by the Vatican on Monday, the pope said he begged forgiveness for "a sin that shames us".

"I would like us to renew our complete commitment to ensuring that these atrocities will no longer take place in our midst."

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has taken some steps to root out sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and introduce practices to protect children. But victims' groups say he has not done enough, particularly to hold to account bishops who tolerated sexual abuse or covered it up.