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By Phuong TranA human rights group is accusing pro-government and rebel forces in the Ivory Coast of subjecting thousands of women and girls to rape1 and other forms of sexual assault. In a report issued Thursday, Human Rights Watch says although both sides in Ivory Coast's conflict have agreed to a peace accord earlier this year, it fails to address the widespread sexual violence that has taken place in the country or the need to bring those responsible to account. Phuong Tran has more from VOA's West Africa Bureau in Dakar.
The report's author, Etelle Higonnet, documents the cases of more than 150 women in Ivory Coast who say they have suffered rape, slavery and sex bondage2 by rebel or government forces.
Higonnet says there is no doubt many other women in Ivory Coast have been sexually abused, but she says they are afraid to say anything.
"Women are terrified, terrified that if they speak out in public to ask for justice, or ask for medical services, or psychological services they will end up divorced, homeless, abandoned by their families, rejected by their communities, ostracized," she said.
One problem is that it costs $60 in Ivory Coast to get medical certification of a rape. The report recommends making the certification free so women can pursue legal action more easily.
Other recommendations in the Human Rights Watch report include a government-led inquiry3 into sexual violence in Ivory Coast and an investigation4 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to determine whether people can be brought to trial for war crimes.
reconciliation5 ceremony, 30 Jul7 2007" hspace="2" src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/070804/1035230.jpg" width="209" vspace="2" border="0" /> |
Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo (2ndL) and PM Guillaume Soro (2ndR) pose with the rifles they were given, during a disarmament and reconciliation ceremony, 30 Jul 2007 |
There has not yet been a formal government response to the report.
The head of the Africa section of the U.N. Women's Fund, Micheline Ravololonarisoa, says the women's ministry7 in the Ivory Coast government has in the past tried to combat sexual violence. But she says even with political will, it takes time.
"We cannot talk about violence in a linear way [narrow way]. There is the whole issue of women's status. It is not something we can change overnight," she added.
Ivory Coast's civil war erupted in 2002 and divided the country for almost five years. President Gbagbo and Mr. Soro signed a peace accord in March aimed at reuniting the country.
Nationwide elections, called for in the March accord, have been postponed8 twice. They are now scheduled for early 2008.
1 rape | |
n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸 | |
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2 bondage | |
n.奴役,束缚 | |
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3 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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4 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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5 reconciliation | |
n.和解,和谐,一致 | |
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6 forthrightly | |
ad.言行坦诚地,直率地 | |
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7 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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8 postponed | |
vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发) | |
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