Harvey Weinstein’s conviction is a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement

Editorial: The bravery shown by the women coming forward to tell their stories will benefit societies all over the world

The movie mogul arrives at court in New York yesterday (AFP/Getty)

We have come a long way from the days when lawyers, often with the best of motives, would shake their heads and say how hard it is to secure convictions in sexual assault cases. “It’s all a matter of his word against hers,” they would say, and often they were right. It could be hard to persuade a jury to believe her and disbelieve him.

That is changing and the verdict in the trial of Harvey Weinstein, the movie mogul, marks a significant step towards a new dispensation of justice.

This is not just a matter of changing social attitudes and the consequent determination of 12 New York jurors to see justice done. It is the result of the bravery of many women, individually and together, who have spoken out about being abused, standing up for their rights and for the rights of all who will come after them.