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| The Victims picture credit, AP |
March 1st was the day for the much awaited victory for Guatemalan
women who were subjected to sexual slavery by military officers.
The 36 year civil war in
Guatemala was greatly marred with the use of rape and bondage. The convicted
officers had between them 120-240 years in imprisonment.
Democratic Republic of Congo,
Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Central African Republic, Liberia, Sudan, Rwanda. Sierra
Leone have all used rape as a weapon during their armed conflicts. The list
goes on, hardly any violent conflict emerges without rape being used as a tool.
Let us not forget that currently, Isis, Boko haram are also using rape as a
weapon.
Guatemala has set a great precedent
for other countries by including rape as a form of weapon of war. I do hope
African countries would borrow a leaf from this and bring justice to all rape
victims irrespective of whom committed the crime.
There is also the need to
implement and enforce laws to protect women. Women and children have been the
major causalities of armed conflicts and this needs to stop, as well as the systematic
violence against women and girls.
Such a horrible situation. what has the world turned into?
ReplyDeleteMan (humans) and his greed and many vices have become our own worst enemy....
ReplyDeleteRape is an abominable act. It is happening too often this days or better put... people are opening up more. Is such a devilish and wicked act cos I can't understand how someone derives pleasure in it
ReplyDeleteIt's great that justice was served. Guatemala has shown a goos example and hopefully the rest of the world will follow. But more than anything else, legislation and implementation should really be enforced across the world particularly in the global south where the rule of law can be weak often times. Such a tragedy.
ReplyDelete