UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said women in media, entertainment and politics can face career penalties for reporting abuse, days after Russell Brand was convicted of sexual offenses against four women.
In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Nandy pointed to insecure employment and the influence of professional reputation as factors that can discourage women from reporting abuse. She also said media and entertainment organizations had not done enough to protect women from sexual assault and rape, Sky News reported. Nandy urged media and entertainment organizations to sign up to the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). The BBC reported that Nandy called the BBC an “exemplar” for joining CIISA and urged other organizations to follow suit.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Brand guilty Nov. 5 of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. The offenses took place between 2004 and 2009. Brand is due to be sentenced Monday, Nov. 9.
