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We have been hearing the name

Harvey Weinstein quite frequently in the past few years. Weinstein has been sentenced on 24th March, 2021 to 20 years in prison for the sexual assaults on two women in New York. However, he has been accused by more than 90 women of sexual abuse and harassment, and lawsuits in that context are still underway Harvey Weinstein.

Despite the many accusations against him, Weinstein continues to deny any such assaults saying they were all consensual.

Afterglow of the #metoo movement

The #metoo movement began in 2018 against the background of Weinstein's ongoing trial. More than 90 women have accused Weinstein of various forms of abuse, ranging from rape to sexual assault and harassment. It's no wonder that his conviction in New York on 23rd Feb, 2021 has sent shockwaves throughout the world. After nearly three years of awaiting trial in New York, Weinstein was put on trial in Los Angeles in 2022 for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a European model and actor, who testified anonymously under the name "Jane Doe 1".

Four other female accusers showcased their trauma during the trial, with the most prominent being Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of the Governor of California. Of these five accusers, the jury only convicted Weinstein for the crimes towards Jane Doe 1. They found him not guilty of the accusations against Jennifer Siebel Neusom, and could not come to a conclusion on the claims of the other two.

At the sentencing, only Jane Doe 1 is expected to give a statement. Weinstein may have avoided an even harsher sentence of up to 24 years as jurors were unable to decide on whether or not his crimes involved aggravating factors.

The conviction in Los Angeles, regardless of any potential appeals of the New York conviction, will ensure Weinstein stays in prison. Despite the many women who courageously spoke up and testified, Weinstein's defense team tried to discredit their accounts with the use of tactics such as gendered slurs.

This trial was a stark reminder of the issues in our society, and of the rampant use of gender-based discrimination. As Jennifer Siebel Newsom put it in a statement: "Throughout the trial, Weinstein's lawyers used sexism, misogyny, and bullying tactics to intimidate, demean, and ridicule us survivors."

What does this trial hold for the future?

Harvey Weinstein's potential sentence of up to 18 years in prison shows that society is taking a stance against these kinds of abuses and making an example of those who commit them. Hopefully, this will lead to greater awareness and a decrease in instances of sexual and physical abuse in the future.