Raising awareness of rape on US college campuses

Insight

In the United States, it’s that time of year when many teenagers are preparing for college.

Right now, they’re finding out which colleges have accepted their applications and then it’s up to them to decide which one to attend.

But there’s a major issue awaiting some of them on campus: sexual assault. CCTV’s Lorna Shaddick reports from New York.

More schools have been talking openly about sexual assaults since the U.S. Department of Education began releasing the names of universities being investigated for mishandling such cases.

Some estimates show that as many as one in five women are assaulted during their college years. At New York University, students say it’s clear the university is trying to improve its approach to the issue.

There’s such concern about the issue that, in 2014, the White House launched an initiative to end sexual assault on campuses. Vice President Biden has taken up the cause, encouraging students to intervene when they know consent hasn’t been given. Activists say that’s one good way of helping but more needs to be done.

A new report from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that reports of sex crimes on campus increased by nearly 1,000 from 2012 to 2013.


Mexico begins campaign against female harassment

When it comes to crimes against women, one of the worst countries in the Americas is Mexico.

The Mexican government has started a new campaign against female harassment. As a part, it plans to install new emergency centers in the subway. CCTV America’s Martin Markovits reports.
Follow Martin Markovits on Twitter @MartinMarkovits

Nations estimates that between 1997 and 2014, 15,000 rapes were reported in Mexico. Of those, only 20 percent of them saw any legal action.

Responding to the crisis just last week, thousands of women across the country marched to protest violence against women and demanded justice from the authorities.

The Mexico City government has taken steps to help women from this abuse. In the last decade, they have launched women only passenger cars and platforms in the city’s subway system.

The Mexican City government has also announced that it would implement new emergency areas and phones in the subways in hopes to ease this harassment.

But, for most Mexican women, real change will happen only after the government prosecutes criminals.


Adriana Quinones on violence against women in Mexico

CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to Adriana Quinones. She’s an advisor to U.N. Women, with a particular focus on the Americas and Caribbean.
Follow Mike Walter on Twitter @mikewaltercctv