Naomie Harris has revealed how a famous actor put his hand up her skirt during an audition. The actress recalled how the "huge, huge star" assaulted her in front of colleagues yet nobody said or did anything.

Speaking to the Mail On Sunday's You magazine, Harris said: "What was so shocking about it was the casting director was there and the director, and of course no one said anything because he was – he is – such a huge star.

Read more: Monica Bellucci says she doesn't want daughters to be 'full of hate' for men after #MeToo

"That was my only #MeToo incident, so I felt very lucky given how rife that behaviour was."

Harris said things had since "changed", adding that she had worked on a project where there was an "incident" and there was no "hesitation" with the perpetrator being "immediately" removed.

The 45-year-old got her big break in Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later in 2002, and then went on to star in two Pirates Of The Caribbean films in 2006 and 2007.

She has also played Miss Moneypenny in the Bond franchise since 2012, and won an Oscar nomination for playing a crack addict in Moonlight in 2017. 

In the same interview, Harris – who is set to star in Apple TV's upcoming Swan Song – noted that she was warned her career would decline once she hit the age of 40.

However, she said: "I’ve never worked as much or been in as high demand as I am now."

The star revealed that it felt "amazing" to walk the red carpet for the premiere of No Time To Die earlier this autumn after what's been a "pretty s*** two years".

Harris also gave an insight into her impressively strict 10pm bedtime, noting that she'll happily stay out late, but only 20% of the time.

She said: "I’m open to what life offers me, especially if I’m out with friends.

"But mostly I go to bed early because I love to get up at 5.30 am and have that special morning time to myself, where I get loads done before anyone else is up." By Laurin Clark, Yahoo News

Samia Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania received on Friday the Chairman of the State Council. Photo via Times of Oman

Dodoma: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Khalil, Chairman of the State Council, participated in the celebrations of the 60th Independence Day anniversary of Tanzania.

Samia Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania received on Friday the Chairman of the State Council.

The meeting reviewed the bilateral relations and ways of their enhancement for further development and prosperity of the two countries.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the State Council conveyed His Majesty’s greetings and wishes to the president and for her country’s people further progress and prosperity.

In her turn, President Samia asked Sheikh Al Khalili to convey her greeting and wishes to His Majesty the Sultan and the Government of the Sultanate and for the Omani people further progress and prosperity.

Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Khalil, and his accompanying delegation returned to the Sultanate yesterday after taking part in the Independence Day anniversary celebrations of Tanzania. - Times of Oman

MP Fatuma Ndangiza, Chairperson of the East African Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution, on Saturday, December 11, delivered a solidarity statement during the “special occasion” of the adoption of the Southern African Development Community Model Law on Gender-Based Violence.

Her message of solidarity, delivered on behalf of EALA, was delivered at the 50th SADC Parliamentary forum plenary session. 

The SADC Model Law on Gender-Based Violence, she noted, is “such an important legal instrument” that provides an opportunity to strengthen synergy with the SADC Parliamentary Forum to “outlaw GBV from our respective regions.”

Ndangiza said: “Gender based violence is a serious concern that constitute gross human rights violation of women’s rights and a threat to peace and security in the African Continent and globally. 

“The Model Law is very comprehensive and has best practice provisions that can be adopted by member states or adapted to fit their existing laws.”

The adoption of the SADC Model Law happened a day after the 16 days of activism against gender based violence themed: ’’Orange the world: end violence against women now.”

It also took place after a few weeks when DR Congo President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi  - who is the AU 2021 Chairperson - organized a men’s conference in Kinshasa, on the positive masculinity: Galvanizing to end the scourge of violence in Africa. 

The high level event was attended by a number of African Heads of State including  President Paul Kagame and former Liberian President, Ellen Johnsson Sirlief.

Ndangiza noted that it is well established that sexual and gender-based violence is caused by unequal power relations between men and women, socio-cultural norms that normalize GBV practices and changing gender roles.

Poverty and illiteracy, she said, breakdown of the family unit and support systems, insecurity, crisis and conflict and political instability also contribute to sexual and gender-based violence. 

“It is very important therefore to ensure that we address the root causes of GBV and tackle all its enabling factors,” Ndangiza said.

“To that effect, Parliament should discharge its mandate to advance gender equality through gender-responsive legislation, equal representation in decision-making, governance and holding our governments accountable on gender commitments.”

According to the UN women, globally, one in three women have been subjected to intimate partner violence or both at least once in their life (30% of women aged 15 and above). 

“This figure excludes sexual harassment. Despite a number of interventions against GBV by various stakeholders, the magnitude of GBV, as amplified by the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic remains at a very alarming level. The latest figures of UN women confirm that during the pandemic, levels of violence against women and girls have increased,” she said.

As noted, across 13 countries, almost half of all women reported GBV or saw a woman who experienced GBV during the pandemic and almost a quarter of women reported household conflicts had become more frequent. The same proportion felt less safe at home. 

In the EAC region, a Regional Forum themed Borderless Partnership against Gender Based Violence which was convened to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against GBV observed that Partner States reported a 48 per cent sharp increase in the number of GBV cases due to Covid-19 pandemic.  

The forms of violence include rape, defilement, unwanted pregnancies, increased infection rates of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV as well as injuries and mutilation of body parts. 

Ndangiza said: “We are also aware that these data do not include many unreported cases of GBV for fear of stigmatization and avoidance of family shame.”

The AU categorises violence against women as “one of the most egregious forms” of discrimination and a critical impediment to women’s realization of their fundamental human rights. 

Ending violence and discrimination against women and girls is thus one of the AU priorities so as to achieve full gender equality in all spheres of life on the continent.

Ndangiza assured SADC lawmakers of EALA’s readiness and commitment to partner with them  “as we strive” to achieve effective implementation of regional and national laws against GBV.  

“To that effect, we should explore joint actions to be undertaken within our traditional roles of legislation, representation and oversight. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable, we must join our efforts to tackle the root causes of violence, change patriarchal mindsets and engage men to eliminate violence against women and girls.” - James Karuhanga, The New Times