Michael Jackson lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against boys revived by appeals court
Michael Jackson lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against boys revived by appeals court Sky News
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Two Men Alleging Sexual Abuse by Michael Jackson Allowed to Pursue Lawsuits
Two men who claim they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson when they were boys have been given permission by judges at a US court to pursue their lawsuits against companies owned by the late singer. This decision comes after their cases were previously dismissed and then brought back. The allegations of abuse were detailed in the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland.
Image:
James Safechuck is pictured aged 10 with Jackson
Background and Allegations
- Wade Robson, a 40-year-old choreographer, met Jackson when he was five years old and appeared in three of his music videos. He alleges that Jackson molested him over a seven-year period.
- James Safechuck, now 45, claims that he was nine when he met Jackson while filming a Pepsi commercial. He states that Jackson called him often, showered him with gifts, and then sexually abused him.
Legal Decision and Sustainable Development Goals
A three-judge panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal has determined that the lawsuits should not have been dismissed by a lower court. This decision emphasizes the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The judges found that the corporations owned by Jackson had a responsibility to protect the two men from abuse, even though they were solely owned by the perpetrator. The court stated that “a corporation that facilitates the sexual abuse of children by one of its employees is not excused from an affirmative duty to protect those children merely because it is solely owned by the perpetrator of the abuse.”
Response and Future Trial
The attorney for the Jackson estate expressed disappointment with the decision and maintained that Michael Jackson is innocent of the allegations. The attorneys for Robson and Safechuck welcomed the court’s ruling and expressed their confidence in the upcoming trial. The judges did not rule on the truth of the allegations themselves, as that will be determined in the forthcoming jury trial in Los Angeles.
It is important to note that Michael Jackson denied any involvement in abusing underage boys. His Neverland Ranch, located in California, was sold in December 2020.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses allegations of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson, which are connected to the issues of health and well-being (SDG 3) for the victims, gender equality (SDG 5) as the victims are male, reduced inequalities (SDG 10) as the abuse involved a power imbalance, and peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16) as the court is involved in the legal proceedings.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
Based on the article, the identified targets are related to providing access to healthcare services (Target 3.7), eliminating violence against women and girls (Target 5.2), promoting social inclusion (Target 10.2), and ending abuse and violence against children (Target 16.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
- Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.
- Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation.
The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but these indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. They include measuring the proportion of women with access to family planning (Indicator 3.7.1), the prevalence of violence against women (Indicator 5.2.1), the proportion of people living below a certain income threshold (Indicator 10.2.1), and the number of victims of human trafficking (Indicator 16.2.2).
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes. | Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and persons with disabilities. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation. |
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Source: news.sky.com
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