Weinstein scandal may raise rape reporting in the West

Outlook

The torrent of sexual harassment allegations against US film industry giant Harvey Weinstein and subsequent social media campaigns have had ripple effects elsewhere. UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon had to resign over harassment claims, while France’s national police reported a 23% rise in sexual violence complaints in October compared with the same month in 2016.

However, the impact of the revelations may be confined to the West. In most countries, reporting sexual violence -- let alone sexual harassment -- is constrained by law or culture. This affects not only victims, but also wider society and economic progress. In Uganda, women lose approximately 11 days a year to violent incidents, costing them nearly half a month’s salary. Globally, 1.5 trillion dollars, or 2% of global GDP, is lost due to violence against women.

Impacts

• Social media have been used to harass women online, but as the Weinstein scandal shows, they can also be used to spread awareness.
• A sharp rise in high-profile protests across Latin America shows the issue is gaining traction.
• Societal belief that sexual immorality is a ‘Western’ import can discourage reporting in Muslim countries.
• While barriers for women to reporting rape are high, cultural barriers for men are even higher.