Arabic version: ناندي تحذّر من احتمال استمرار الانتهاكات في الإعلام

According to BBC News, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said sexual abuse in the media industry is probably still happening and that organisations are not doing enough to protect women. Her comments followed Russell Brand’s conviction for rape and sexual assault.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Nandy said she could not say “hand on heart” that abuse was not happening today. “In fact, if I had to wager, I would say it is,” she said. Nandy added that many people within the industry had contacted her since she entered government to allege that things had happened to them.

Brand was found guilty after a four-week trial of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The case involved allegations from six women, spanning the period between 1999 and 2009. During the trial, the women described how Brand used his fame to force them into sexual activity.

Nandy said she did not see much change in how institutions in media, politics and other areas of public life dealt with women who came forward to allege abuse. She cited power imbalances and short-term contracts, saying there could be little protection and a heavy cost for those who speak up. She called on the industry to take the issue seriously.

Nandy said people had come forward from within the BBC, but described the corporation as an “exemplar” for joining the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, which is intended to protect whistleblowers. The BBC said there could be no place for abuse of power and restated its apology to staff who felt unable to raise concerns about Brand’s behaviour while he worked there between 2006 and 2008 because he was seen as too influential.