Impunity Watch: Special Features

Rape and Sexual Violence Continue in Sudan

By: Gabie Hart

Sexual violence and rape continue to occur in Sudan. IGOs and NGOs have been monitoring the situation over the past few years, and have helped make the world aware of the situation as it has been ongoing since 2003. Most recently, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report in August following up on a report released in April, focusing on the issue of sexual violence and rape in Sudan.

The April report revealed that women have been targets of sexual violence in Sudan for several reasons, including: being perceived to support opposing factions of the rebel movement, the suspension of “firewood patrols,” as well as the withdrawal of AMIS following internally displaced persons demonstrations and attacks.1

The August report entitled “Women abducted, raped and kept as sex slaves following the December 2006 attacks on Deribat” details a particular incident where women were abducted from Deribat and systematically raped.

Women were abducted in small groups and taken to a nearby stream, where they were held for approximately one month before some were able to escape.2 These women totaled as many as 50 and were systematically raped, given inadequate food, and received no medical attention.3

These rapes have led in some instances to pregnancy.4 Pregnancies can be especially dangerous when access to proper health care is not an option. Furthermore some women who have become pregnant have sought abortions, which have also put these women at risk.5

These attackers were identified as being from the Abu Gasim faction who are from the Fur tribe who are currently aligned with the Government. The April report reveals that the Government’s response has been in some instances inadequate—the police are not taking proper action in their treatment of the victims or in the investigation of the cases.6

When serious sexual violence forms part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians, it can constitute a crime against humanity—in the case of Darfur, such crimes could be prosecuted under the jurisdiction of the ICC.7

On August 22, 2007 Human Rights Watch called for international peacekeepers to protect women from widespread rape and other acts of sexual violence.8 Now that attention has been brought to the situation in Sudan, steps should be taken to ensure that these perpetrators do not continue to receive impunity and to protect women against these acts of violence.

Sources:

1. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Deepening Crisis in Darfur Two Months After the Darfur Peace Agreement: An Assessment,” Fourth periodic report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, April 2007.
2. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Women abducted, raped and kept as sex slaves following the December 2006 attacks on Deribat,” Eighth periodic report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in the Sudan, 20 August 2007.
3. Id.
4. Id.
5. Id.
6. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Deepening Crisis in Darfur Two Months After the Darfur Peace Agreement: An Assessment,” Fourth periodic report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, April 2007.
7. Human Rights Watch, “Darfur: Urgent Measures Needed to Address Sexual Violence,” 22 Aug 2007.
8. Id.

Venezuela: Sexual health remains unaddressed

There is no question male chauvinism remains a cornerstone of patriarchal Latino societies. The  question is: what role, if any, should it play in deciding public health policies. In Venezuela, since 1998 Hugo Chavez’s “Bolivarian Revolution,” through the redistribution of oil revenues, implemented broad public health reforms that resulted in increased access to healthcare. Mision Barrio Adentro, a national program launched in 2003, expanded access to primary care and preventative health services. It is considered a success in several respects; it has decreased infant and maternal mortality and has increased access to those who before could not afford to participate in basic prevention and could not receive even the most basic treatment. However, despite advances in these indicators, burden of disease and mortality affects poor women the most.

Among the rate of diseases that deserves attention is the incidence of HPV. Rates of cervical cancer among poor women in Venezuela are among the highest of the continent, despite improvement in other areas. For one, accumulated social debt has led to gaps in diagnosis and treatment. Even if diagnosis is prompt, treatment often takes months to be delivered and few are informed about the gravity of their illness. Very often women prefer not to be diagnosed rather than know about their condition and wait months for treatment. 

Articles 83 and 84 of the constitution guarantees access to healthcare and new laws also guarantee universal access to birth control and sexual education. However, underfunding of these programs results in a disconnection between policy and practice. Poor and illiterate women disproportionately suffer the results of this mismatch. For educated, higher-income women, access to sexual health treatments is possible and knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases results in the application of more preventative measures being taken by this population. Even though much of this inequality lingers from pre-Chavez governments, a comprehensive health policy demands that more be done to address sexual health problems. The truth is; sex remains taboo. Until policy makers recognize that sex too is a matter of health and decide to close the gap between poor and wealthy women, and women and men, improvements in the healthcare system will continue to be undermined.

Even condoms, the most basic contraceptive measure are not readily available in these clinics and poverty prevents the poor to gain access any other way. Moreover, machismo remains an obstacle for women who ask their partners to use them. The machismo still existing in these more traditional societies puts a stigma on these women and ultimately, men still dominate decisions about sexual health.

The rapid spread of healthcare services to undeserved populations must be accompanied by a comprehensive educational campaign and sexual health services in all levels of society. Sexual education that is now mandatory must be accompanied by a more aggressive prevention campaign and access to basic prevention methods and treatment must be included as part of any healthcare program. Also, along with a coordinated sexual education program, domestic and sexual violence, and gender inequalities must be addressed. Matters of health must include all aspects that affect everyone. A one-sided, narrow approach to health will only result in superficial short-term achievements.

For more information see:
Upside Down World
Talking Dirty About Revolution: Sexual Health and Gender Inequality in Venezuela
http://upsidedownworld.org

Enriching Urainium Instead of Ensuring World Security

Nuclear Defiance

by Jeff Nelson

 

Everyday Iran gets closer to establishing nuclear weapons. The current estimate is that Iran is only three to eight years away from developing a usable nuclear weapon. But the big question is whether Iran is really using its nuclear program for developing weapons or as it claims for peaceful purposes?

 

Iran signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but it kept the construction of the heavy water reactor at Arak and the enrichment facility at Natanz a secret from the IAEA. The heavy water reactor is the type used to produce plutonium that type of reactor is not needed to produce electricity. They continue to enrich uranium at Natanz also. The facility can produce the less enriched fuel for the reactors that produce electricity, but the only working reactor for that purpose right now is a Russian reactor that is supplied with Russian fuel. Why do they need a heavy water reactor and need to continue enriching Uranium if their nuclear program is only for peaceful means?

 

International pressure has repeatedly tried and failed to get Iran to stop the enrichment of uranium. The U.N. Security Council has demanded that Iran halt its uranium enrichment program going so far as to impose two different sets of sanctions. The last sanctions came in a Security Council resolution last March. Since then the Iranian nuclear program has expanded causing the EU and U.S. to seek other avenues of approach.

 

A large incentives and disincentives package was put together and approved by all of the permanent members of the Security Council and Germany. The offer included help from the EU with building a light water reactor (used to produce civilian power without plutonium waste) and nuclear fuel supplied by EU members. Surprisingly to make the package even more enticing, the U.S. agreed to negotiate directly with Iran on a wide range of subjects if Iran accepted the deal. Iran did not accept.

 

After all of this, Iran continues to enrich uranium in violation of U.N. directives claiming rights under the NPT. They claim to be pursuing peaceful means and working on a civilian energy program. I think claims of peaceful pursuits are not credible. Iran is being stubborn with their declarations and unwillingness to halt the enrichment program because they are trying to develop nuclear weapons to solidify its place as a power center in the region.

 

Iran should not be allowed to continue enriching uranium and most of the world agrees with me on that one. Look at the loss of support in the Security Council for example by Russia and China who both approved the sanctions placed on Iran for not complying with the directive to halt enrichment. I am not the only skeptic of Iran’s claims of a peaceful nuclear program. The concessions offered to Iran were almost too good to be true, but Iran may not have accepted because it did not give enough concessions focused on allowing the leadership to save face.  The offer is still on the table and may see some revising in the future.

 

Military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program has not been ruled out either. The U.S. and Israel are still keeping that option on the back burner as a last resort, and that is an end result that I personally do not want to see materialize. But then again no one wants to see Iran develop nuclear weapons. More sanctions may be the cure to the situation until Iran is willing to make more strides with the IAEA and giving up its nuclear pursuits.

 

See:

The Economist :  “The Revolution Strikes Back : A special report on  Iran."  21 Jul. 2007.

 

BBC.com: “UN welcomes ‘positive’ Iran moves.” 18 Jul. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6904211.stm>

 

 

BBC.com: “IAEA chief in Iran  attack warning.” 14 June 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6753017.stm>

 

BBC.com: “Iran continues nuclear defiance.” 31 May 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6710435.stm>

 

BBC.com: “UN warns on  Iran nuclear schedule.” 24 May 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6687137.stm> 

 

BBC.com: “’Third way’ on  Iran’s nuclear program?” 24 May 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6684761.stm> 

 

BBC.com: “UN reports ongoing Iran defiance.” 23 May 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6684775.stm>

 

BBC.com: “West ‘fails’ on  Iran nuclear fuel” 15 May 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6657243.stm>

 

BBC.com: “Iran ‘enters new nuclear phase.’” 9 Apr. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6538957.stm>

 

BBC.com: “Iran nuclear offer bid ‘progress.’” 24 May 2006 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5011176.stm>

Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Cote d'Ivoire

By: Gabie Hart

In 2002 a conflict involving the Ivorian government and northern based rebel groups broke out in Cote d’Ivoire.  As so often occurs in warfare, bystanders—innocent bystanders often become targeted by the forces at war. In Cote d’Ivoire this is exactly what has happened as women and young girls have been targeted by the Ivorian government and northern based rebel groups in cases of sexual violence.

Human Rights Watch recently released a report “My Heart Is Cut” Sexual Violence by Rebels and Pro-Government Forces in Cote d’Ivoire.  In this report Human Rights Watch documented over 180 cases of sexual violence in Cote d’Ivoire, including individual and gang rape, sexual slavery, forced incest and egregious sexual assault.1  Many of these documented cases of sexual violence have gone unpunished.

Government and rebel authorities appear to have directly or indirectly authorized sexual violence since the war began in 2002; the prevailing impunity for these crimes has emboldened the perpetrators at all levels.2  Apparently, the sexual assaults are not as frequent now as they were during the height of the conflict, (from 2002 through 2004), but it has been stated that hundreds if not thousands are victims to these assaults.3   

International attention needs to be drawn to these atrocities.  International human rights and humanitarian law requires Ivorian authorities to put an immediate end to impunity for perpetrators and to provide adequate services to survivors.4  The lack of prosecutions appears to be due to a number of factors including the unwillingness or inability to pursue cases; inefficiency and the collapse of the legal system; lack of political will to prosecute sexual violence; and prevalent cultural attitudes that devalue the seriousness of sexual violence and marginalize its victims.5 

The impunity received by these attackers and perpetrators, no matter what the cause, needs to cease.  These attackers and perpetrators need to be held accountable so that an end can be put to this vicious cycle of abuse.  Innocent women and young girls need to be protected from these horrendous acts of sexual violence being instilled upon them. 

Unfortunately, for many of these women and girls, justice will never be seen as their lives have been forever changed, and the memories of what happened will never be erased—the scars and sexually transmitted diseases that the perpetrators have left some of these women and girls with will be a constant reminder of what happened.  Nevertheless, actions must be taken to ensure that these perpetrators stop receiving impunity in order to prevent these atrocities from happening to thousands more, and to make sure that those who must suffer through the lasting effects of what has happened to them, will at a minimum receive the proper medical attention and care needed. 

Sources:
1.    Human Rights Watch Report: “‘My Heart Is Cut’ Sexual Violence by Rebels and Pro-Government Forces in Cote d’Ivoire,” Volume 19, No. 11(A), August 2007, (www.hrw.org). 
2.    Id.
3.     BBC News: “Ivorian women ‘forgotten victims,’” March 15, 2007. (www.bbc.co.uk.com)
4.    Human Rights Watch Report: “‘My Heart Is Cut’ Sexual Violence by Rebels and Pro-Government Forces in Cote d’Ivoire,” Volume 19, No. 11(A), August 2007, (www.hrw.org). 
5.    Id.

Oil-for-Genocide

Is "Black Gold" the new "Blood Diamonds"?
By Jeff Nelson

China is geared up for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and that is a great thing because it is proving to be a large bargaining chip for pressuring Chinese-Sudan relations.  The most recent developments include Steven Spielberg and a 26,000 soldier peacekeeping force being sent to Darfur. 

Currently, ties between China and Sudan are very close. Those close ties have been under criticism for some years now.  As the Western Nations were forced to pull support from areas of Africa fostering gross human rights violations, China swooped in to provide multiple facets of support.  Sudan is one of those countries that received large trade deals from China.  China has invested heavily in the oil industry in Sudan because China's need for oil is ever increasing as its economy swells.  Billions of dollars have been pumped into developing the oil industry in Sudan in exchange for billions of barrels of oil being sent to China.  China financed the Oil Pipeline that runs from southern Sudan to Port Sudan on the Red Sea where nearly eighty percent of that oil is shipped directly to China's thirsty economy. 

Chinese involvement in and support for Sudanese politics does not stop with foreign investment.  As a permanent member to the U.N. Security Council, China has vetoed numerous resolutions that would have sanctioned Sudan and pressured them into stopping the killings in Darfur.   The Sudanese government supports the Janjaweed Militia as they systematically kill civilians in the western part of the country.  More than 200,000 people have been killed and estimates of over 2.5 million have been displaced because of the fighting in the region.  Even though the killings continue, China continues to pump money into the Sudanese government's hands without pressuring it to put a stop to the fighting and killing in Darfur. 

The most recent developments came about when international pressure influenced China to allow a 26,000 soldier peacekeeping force to be sent into Darfur to stop the bloodshed. The U.N. resolution was also supported by the Sudanese government who approved the "hybrid force" composed of both U.N. and African Union peacekeepers.  The resolution had to be "watered down" to get approval from China, who probably would have vetoed it being one of Sudan's closest political allies.  Possible economic sanctions and other enforcement measures had to be stripped out of the resolution to slide past a Chinese veto. 

Frankly, I think it is absurd that China continues to look the other way as Sudan continues support the Janjaweed Militia and their warfare in the Darfur region.  China has continued to invest in the oil industry in Sudan and has continued to provide military support to the Sudanese government, selling Sudan tanks, planes, and small arms.  Those same weapons have ended up in the hands of the Janjaweed Militia and continue to kill civilians in Darfur. 

Chinese support for Sudan is obvious for many reasons.  The growing need for oil by an even faster growing economy has to be fulfilled from somewhere.  With large multi-national energy companies in other regions, China has resulted to getting oil where it can.  They built the pipeline, and the Sudanese military protects the Chinese workers and oil stations.  China still exports weapons to Sudan, but on a small scale. How can we expect the military to protect the Chinese interests without weapons?  It provides a cover for supplying the needs of both parties.  China receives oil, and Sudan receives weapons and much needed Foreign Direct Investment. 

What we have to look at is the cost.  In Sierra Leone, Charles Taylor supported the R.U.F. and they maintained control of the diamond fields. Diamonds were mined and sent through Liberia, where Taylor and many others made millions while hundreds of thousands of people were killed.   There may be a small parallel here, but Charles Taylor did not have a veto power in the Security Council to protect his diamond fields.  China is in a position to put pressure on Sudan to stop the massacres in Darfur and reach a peace agreement, but it has not done that yet.  In fact, China has stood in the way of letting the U.N. put international pressure on Sudan to act.   Even though there has been a peacekeeping force approved, China, as the top diplomatic ally to Sudan, needs to make sure that Sudan cooperates and allows the peacekeeping force into Darfur to manage the conflict. 

China will continue to face international pressure as their policies remain stagnant towards Sudan.  The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games have already been branded the "genocide Olympics," by the actress Mia Farrow, which has caused Steven Spielberg to react.  Publicly referred to as a Chinese collaborator because he is working as the artistic director of the Beijing Olympics, Steven Spielberg called on the Chinese president to influence Sudan to accept the peacekeeping force.  The director is on the right track by using the Olympic Games--a large source of pride for the Chinese government--as a bargaining chip to influence Chinese policy on the human rights issues in Darfur. Improving human rights was one of the pledges the Chinese government made when submitting their bid to host the Olympics back in 2001.  So far that pledge has remained as stagnant as their willingness to pressure Sudan.

Sources:

NYTimes.com : "Group: China Cracking Down on Activists" 2 Aug. 2007 <http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-China-Human-Rights.html?_r=1&oref=slogin>
Amnesty International - Press Release : "Sudan: New Darfur deployment must be immediate and fully resourced to protect human rights" 1 Aug. 2007 <http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGAFR540392007>
CNN.com  : "Sudan backs U.N. resolution on Darfur" 1 Aug. 2007 <http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/08/01/un.darfur.ap/index.html>
IHT.com : "UN approves 26,000-strong peacekeeping force for Darfur" 31 Jul. 2007 <http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/01/news/UN-GEN-UN-Sudan-Darfur.php>
BBC.com : "Spielberg 'may quit Olympic role'" 27 Jul. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6919010.stm>
BBC.com :  "China to search for oil in Sudan" 2 July 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6261418.stm>
BBC.com : "China, Russia deny weapons breach" 8 May 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6632959.stm>
BBC.com : "Chinese leader boosts Sudan ties" 2 Feb. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6323017.stm>
WashingtonPost.com : "China Invests Heavily In Sudan's Oil Industry: Beijing Supplies Arms Used on Villagers" 23 Dec. 2004 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21143-2004Dec22.html>