中国裁判所、初のＭｅＴｏｏ訴訟を棄却

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】中国で起こされていた画期的なセクシュアルハラスメント（性的嫌がらせ）訴訟で、北京の裁判所は１４日、証拠が不十分だとして、原告女性の訴えを棄却した。同国で芽生えたばかりのセクハラ告発運動「＃ＭｅＴｏｏ（私も）」に打撃を与える判決だ。（写真は中国・北京の裁判所での審理を前に、支持者や記者と話す周暁●（●はおうへんに旋）さん）
　訴えを起こしていたのは、周暁●（●はおうへんに旋）さん（２８）。国営テレビ局でインターンをしていた２０１４年、司会者の朱軍氏に無理やりキスをされたり体を触られたりしたとして、２０１８年に被害を告発した。
　周さんの告発はソーシャルメディアで話題を呼び、多くの女性が自分の性的暴行被害を公にするきっかけとなった。しかし３年間にわたる法廷闘争の末、北京市海淀区人民法院は１４日夜、周さんの訴えを証拠不十分として棄却すると発表した。
　周さん側は当初、個人の健康や身体に関する権利を定めた「人格権」法に基づいて訴訟を起こしたが、昨年に新たなセクハラ法が成立したことを受け、この新法に基づく審理を求めていた。
　中国女性の多くは新法の制定後もハラスメントの告発に消極的で、裁判になることはまれ。弦子というペンネームで知られる周さんは、朱氏からの公式な謝罪と５万元（約８５万円）の損害賠償を求めて提訴していた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/09/15-10:15）

A Chinese court on Tuesday threw out a landmark sexual harassment case on the basis of insufficient evidence, in a blow to the country's fledgling #MeToo movement.
Zhou Xiaoxuan, now 28, came forward in 2018 to accuse former state TV host Zhu Jun of forcibly kissing and groping her during her 2014 internship at the broadcaster.
Her claims ignited a social media storm and inspired many women to share their experiences of sexual assault publicly.
But after a three-year legal battle, the court ruled there was not enough evidence to proceed.
The evidence provided by the plaintiff Zhou was insufficient to prove her argument that she was sexually harassed by the defendant Zhu, Beijing Haidian District People's Court said in a statement late Tuesday, adding that the case would not proceed to trial.
Zhou's case against Zhu was originally filed under the personality rights law -- covering rights relating to an individual's health and body -- but her lawyers later asked for it to be considered under new sexual harassment legislation that was passed last year.
Despite the new law, many women in China are still reluctant to come forward with harassment charges, and it is rare for cases to make it to court.
Zhou, also known by the pseudonym Xianzi, was suing for a public apology from Zhu and 50,000 yuan ($7,600) in damages.
No matter whether I win or lose, I am very honoured to have experienced these three years... with everyone, Zhou told supporters and media on her way into the Beijing court.
Her first hearing in December drew a large crowd and a significant police presence with reporters from several foreign media outlets, including AFP, dragged away by police.
On Tuesday, police had cordoned off the road outside the court.
Zhu did not attend either hearing.
I hope that, no matter what, Xianzi knows that she has done something very meaningful, said one supporter outside the court, who identified herself only as Lucy.
Beijing has increasingly tightened the space for civil society, and China's #MeToo movement has been restrained by online censorship.
Zhou's own Weibo account has been blocked, while several prominent women's rights accounts appeared to have been deleted after sharing posts about the case.
However, several well-known individuals have come under fire over allegations of sexual misconduct, including the former head of the government-run Buddhist association and Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu, who was arrested in Beijing last month on suspicion of rape.