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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:31 pm
Time: 10:31 pm
Results for sexual slavery
1 results foundAuthor: Arieff, Alexis Title: Sexual Violence in African Conflicts Summary: Civilians in Africa’s conflict zones — particularly women and children, but also men — are often vulnerable to sexual violence, including rape, mutilation, and sexual slavery, carried out by government security forces and non-state actors, including, rebel groups, militias, and criminal organizations. Some abuses appear to be opportunistic, or the product of a larger breakdown in the rule of law and social order that may occur amid conflict. However, sexual violence has also been employed by combatant groups as a tool of war, seemingly designed to wreak damage on entire communities. While such abuses are by no means limited to Africa, weak justice systems in many African states can mean that victims have little legal redress; survivors are also often shunned by their families and communities. Sexual atrocities have been reported in many African conflicts over the past two decades, including in Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. The issue has been particularly salient in eastern DRC, where security forces, rebel organizations, militias, and other armed groups have inflicted sexual violence upon the civilian population on a massive scale. This report provides a detailed case study of DRC and an index of active U.S. programs there. Multiple U.S. government agencies and implementing partners contribute to efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence in African conflicts. Agencies and departments include the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Justice, and the Department of Defense, among others. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has taken the lead on the Obama Administration’s initiative to address the issue, through speeches, official travel, public remarks, writings, and actions at the United Nations. In August 2009, Clinton traveled to Goma, in eastern DRC, where she pledged $17 million to support U.S. government efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in that country. The pledge includes $10 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF) for “programs and activities to assist victims of gender-based violence” in DRC provided by the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-32). The 111th Congress has repeatedly expressed interest in the issue of sexual violence in African conflicts and support for programs to address it through legislation, hearings, and other congressional actions. Potential issues for Congress include the authorization and appropriation of targeted assistance programs; oversight of Administration and multilateral policies; and oversight of coordination between U.S. government agencies and international donors. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2009. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report to Congress, R40956: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40956.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Africa URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40956.pdf Shelf Number: 119929 Keywords: RapeSex OffensesSexual SlaverySexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |