CARE International is, today, calling on the UK Government to use its presidency of the United Nations Security Council
to end the abomination of rape in armed conflict. In a new report, launched today CARE laid down four steps the UN must take to meet its commitment to end the horror of sexual
violence that is tearing apart the lives of women, girls and communities in conflict every day. The report, Rape as a Weapon, draws on evidence collected from countries in conflict or post conflict
situations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Uganda.One grandmother describes how the rape of her daughter has destroyed her family. “My daughter was 17 and the
youngest in our family. She met a group of Mai-mai militia - they raped her brutally. When she came back home, she told me what had happened. I went to get her examined and we were told she had become
pregnant. The birth was difficult - my daughter died due to complications.”Marie-Claire, 50, was raped by four men in front of her husband and children. “They took my
children and raped them as well, next to my son-in-law’s dead body”, she said.UN discussions on how to implement Security Council Resolution 1820 – its commitment to end
sexual violence in conflict - are scheduled this month, under the UK Presidency. “The UK Government has a unique opportunity to ensure that UN discussions result in clear, decisive
and urgent action,” said Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive of CARE International UK. “For each day that is wasted in discussion, another 40 women in just one district of the
Democratic Republic of Congo will have their lives destroyed by rape.” [1] Drawing on its work in conflict zones worldwide, CARE has made four recommendations necessary for the UN
to end sexual violence in conflict:• Better coordination: including establishing a Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on Women, Peace and Security to lead reform and
coordination of UN efforts. • Better services: many women who have survived rape go without even basic health and psychosocial care. Unacceptable gaps in services occur both by sector and
geographically. For example, in parts of Northern Uganda, women must travel for more than ten hours to reach the nearest police station or clinic. • Better prevention: including more female
military, police and UN staff for women to turn to for assistance on a safe and accessible basis, and reform of UN peace operations to enable them to intervene more effectively in security matters
inside camps for displaced people. • Better data collection: global and country-level systems to monitor and report on sexual violence should prioritise clearer links to timely remedial
action, as opposed to informing diplomatic debates on the severity of a given conflict. Despite recognition of the impact of armed conflict on women, protection and support for women survivors
are often woefully inadequate. Access to services and legal redress is limited by ongoing violence, poverty and social stigma.Until now, the UN discussions have laboured on the important
issues of impunity and security but neglected how they will ensure the health, safety and dignity of survivors. “Women must be helped to regain emotional and physical wellbeing, and provide
for their families again, if justice is to be achieved," said Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive of CARE International UK.Ends –For more information, interviews or a copy
of the report, Rape as a Weapon please contact: Deborah Underdown, Press Officer, 020 7934 9417 or underdown@careinternational.orgNotes to editors:The United Nations adopted
Security Council Resolution 1820 in June 2008.The UK starts its Presidency of the UN Security Council on Saturday 1st August.[1] 40 women raped every day in South Kivu: Rodriguez,
Claudia, ‘Sexual Violence in South Kivu’, Forced Migration Review, 2007 (27), p.45. http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/peace_security/facts_figures.php#5
CARE supporter
Paul Board used his 9-10am on slot on the 4th plinth, Trafalgar Square on 30th July to raise awareness of CARE’s campaign ‘Voices Against Violence’ which is calling on supporters to
write to David Miliband to demand that the UK Government uses its presidency of the UN Security Council in August to act on Resolution 1820.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
A man returns to find his house destroyed in Gojra, a village in central Pakistan's Punjab province August 2, 2009, one day after the Christian community in the town was attacked ...
