Stop the Violence against Women in the Near East

Special Rapporteur on Women’s Concerns from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks out against violence against women in Libya, Egypt, and Iran

Vienna – There has been significant progress over the past years and key changes of opinions among the international community particularly concerning violence against women in conflict zones. An example of this is that the systematic use of rape and sexual violence has been acknowledged as a war crime and crime against humanity by the international criminal court and is proscribed by international law.

“It is shocking to see the current examples of structural violence against women from our neighbors in the South and the Near East,” stated Ursula Plassnik, Special Rapporteur for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Women’s Concerns.

“The murder of women’s rights activist Haleh Sahabi, virginity tests for demonstrators arrested in Egypt, and Qadaffi’s suspected use of special forces sanctioned to use rape as a weapon must be a wake-up call for the international community to continue pushing for women’s rights and human rights in the region,” demands Plassnik. “The UN, the EU, and the Arab League must urgently speak out on this matter. The disregard for the most fundamental human and women’s rights should not stain the ‘Arab Spring’.”

“Luis Moreno Ocampo, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, told the UN that there is convincing evidence of mass rape by the Libyan army. Qaddafi is using this incomprehensible cruelty as a weapon of war for the clear purpose of demoralizing his enemies. The international community of states must ensure that Qaddafi and others taking part in these actions will be held responsible for these war crimes,” says Passnik.

“The time when these acts could be committed with impunity is over. This was clearly demonstrated by the extradition of a high officer in the Congolese army who was been arrested and handed over to UN troops in October of 2010,” concluded the Special Rapporteur.

For the original German, click here.

Translation: Arseh Sevom