U.N. To Address Rape As A Tool Of War

UN Forces in Eastern Congo in 2008

From The Washington Times:

Clinton to lead session on humanity threat.

UNITED NATIONS: Beyond climate change, nuclear proliferation and other hot topics of this month's annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, the international body will address another threat to humanity: the epidemic of rape in conflict-afflicted areas, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who appeared genuinely moved after her August visit to rape victims in eastern Congo, is expected to chair a special U.N. Security Council session at the end of the month to review U.N. efforts to curb the epidemic.

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My Comment: I rather have the debate be focused on labeling rape used in conflict zones as a war crime .... rather than a tool of war.

Sigh .... I guess it is better than nothing.

Human Rights Group Raises Alarm Over Congo Rapes

Photo from UN Dispatch/The Great Silence

From Yahoo News/AP:

BRUSSELS – Congo must crack down on rampant sexual violence perpetrated by military generals and other top officers, a prominent international human rights group said Thursday.

Congolese authorities have failed to prevent widespread rapes, Human Rights Watch said in a new report, citing U.N. data showing 7,703 cases of sexual violence by the army were reported last year. Most victims were adolescent girls.

While soldiers now face legal action for rape, senior officers "continue to be untouched," said Juliane Kippenberg, Africa researcher for the group.

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My Comment: What is even worse is that (in the past) UN peacekeepers and officials have been complicit in these rapes and abuse of women and girls. As to sanctioned military rape, I have always been an advocate that this should be treated as a war crime .... and it should be charged against the command and political leadership of the groups that are permitting them.

U.N. Security Council Says Sexual Violence Akin To War Crimes

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice introduced the resolution, saying
rape that other sexual assaults belong on the council's agenda.

From The L.A. Times:

UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council affirmed Thursday that rape and other forms of sexual violence can constitute war crimes, and called for measures to combat such attacks.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice introduced the U.S.-sponsored resolution at a special session attended by diplomats from 60 nations.

Rice said the resolution brought an end to a debate about whether sexual violence was a security issue and belonged on the council's agenda. A similar resolution last year failed to pass, with several members disputing the need for it.

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My Comment: This resolution is more important than banning cluster bombs, land mines, or other weapon systems that activists love to target. Violence against women and children far out weigh the casualties that come from land mines .... by multiple factors. But this resolution is not going anywhere, even though there are thousands of victims everyday.