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Round Up Conflict and Crisis Settings
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A 2008 Reproductive Health Matters. All rights reserved. Reproductive Health Matters 2008;16(31):220 0968-8080/08 $ – see front matter PII: S 0 9 6 8 - 8 0 8 0 ( 0 8 ) 31 3 6 3 - 9
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ROUND UP
Conflict and Crisis Settings Peace and security undermined by parliamentary suspension, Afghanistan Malalai Joya entered the Lower House of Afghanistan’s new Parliament in September 2005. A staunch critic of the warlords and defender of women’s rights, she has consistently been stopped from speaking in Parliament or had speeches cut short. She has survived assassination attempts and sleeps in different places every night to stay alive. In May 2007, she was suspended from Parliament for an interview in which she lamented that the Afghan Parliament was worse than a stable of animals. She wrote directly to the Supreme Court to protest her suspension but as of October 2007, she remained suspended with no official indication of how or when her case would be dealt with. Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghan women have been calling for equal rights. Afghanistan ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in March 2003 and adopted a new Constitution in 2004, which provides for equal rights for women before the law. Systematic abuse of women’s rights continues, however, including forced prostitution, forced marriage, rape, kidnapping and sexual assault.1 1. Afghanistan: Peace and security undermined: suspension of Malalai Joya from Parliament. Equality Now Women’s Action 21.5. Update October 2007.
Violence against women in Burundi In early January 2008, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) submitted a shadow report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in collaboration with the Burundian Christians Association for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) to be considered alongside the State report. This report denounced serious violations of women’s rights in Burundi, and emphasised that the end of armed conflict has not stopped women 220
consistently being victims of violence. The perpetrators of these crimes enjoy impunity before all state authorities. The report proposes a series of measures to fight this impunity and end the discrimination against women that is institutionalised in Burundian law and custom. These address sexual violence, domestic violence, supervision of women in detention, trafficking of women, prostitution, and laws that are discriminatory towards women. CEDAW has welcomed Burundi’s adoption of a National Gender Policy and has urged Burundi to implement all its recommendations, in order to comply with international obligations.1 1. Violence against women in Burundi: the UN confirms concerns of OMCT and ACAT Burundi. OMCT press release. Geneva-Bujumbura, 7 February 2008.
Rape and post-conflict justice in Sierra Leone The Special Court for Sierra Leone has handed down lengthy prison terms for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war, including rape. The sentencing of senior military leaders for sexual crimes is an historic achievement and reaffirms that rape is among the gravest violations of international law. Yet during 11 years of civil war, more than 50% of the country’s women suffered sexual violence, and only 11 suspects were indicted. Thousands of women will never see their rapists brought to justice, but they look to the Special Court for hope of ending the impunity. International support for the rehabilitation of justice systems has not prioritised women’s access to justice. It is hoped that the capacity of local courts will be strengthened to convict lower-ranking rapists who are still walking free.1 1. Heyzer N. Rape and post-conflict justice. The Star (Canada). 2 August 2007.
A 2008 Reproductive Health Matters. All rights reserved. Reproductive Health Matters 2008;16(31):220 0968-8080/08 $ – see front matter PII: S 0 9 6 8 - 8 0 8 0 ( 0 8 ) 31 3 6 3 - 9
www.rhmjournal.org.uk
ROUND UP
Conflict and Crisis Settings Peace and security undermined by parliamentary suspension, Afghanistan Malalai Joya entered the Lower House of Afghanistan’s new Parliament in September 2005. A staunch critic of the warlords and defender of women’s rights, she has consistently been stopped from speaking in Parliament or had speeches cut short. She has survived assassination attempts and sleeps in different places every night to stay alive. In May 2007, she was suspended from Parliament for an interview in which she lamented that the Afghan Parliament was worse than a stable of animals. She wrote directly to the Supreme Court to protest her suspension but as of October 2007, she remained suspended with no official indication of how or when her case would be dealt with. Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghan women have been calling for equal rights. Afghanistan ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in March 2003 and adopted a new Constitution in 2004, which provides for equal rights for women before the law. Systematic abuse of women’s rights continues, however, including forced prostitution, forced marriage, rape, kidnapping and sexual assault.1 1. Afghanistan: Peace and security undermined: suspension of Malalai Joya from Parliament. Equality Now Women’s Action 21.5. Update October 2007.
Violence against women in Burundi In early January 2008, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) submitted a shadow report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in collaboration with the Burundian Christians Association for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) to be considered alongside the State report. This report denounced serious violations of women’s rights in Burundi, and emphasised that the end of armed conflict has not stopped women 220
consistently being victims of violence. The perpetrators of these crimes enjoy impunity before all state authorities. The report proposes a series of measures to fight this impunity and end the discrimination against women that is institutionalised in Burundian law and custom. These address sexual violence, domestic violence, supervision of women in detention, trafficking of women, prostitution, and laws that are discriminatory towards women. CEDAW has welcomed Burundi’s adoption of a National Gender Policy and has urged Burundi to implement all its recommendations, in order to comply with international obligations.1 1. Violence against women in Burundi: the UN confirms concerns of OMCT and ACAT Burundi. OMCT press release. Geneva-Bujumbura, 7 February 2008.
Rape and post-conflict justice in Sierra Leone The Special Court for Sierra Leone has handed down lengthy prison terms for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war, including rape. The sentencing of senior military leaders for sexual crimes is an historic achievement and reaffirms that rape is among the gravest violations of international law. Yet during 11 years of civil war, more than 50% of the country’s women suffered sexual violence, and only 11 suspects were indicted. Thousands of women will never see their rapists brought to justice, but they look to the Special Court for hope of ending the impunity. International support for the rehabilitation of justice systems has not prioritised women’s access to justice. It is hoped that the capacity of local courts will be strengthened to convict lower-ranking rapists who are still walking free.1 1. Heyzer N. Rape and post-conflict justice. The Star (Canada). 2 August 2007.