UN Security Council Declares Rape a Weapon of War

The UN Security Council passed a resolution last week classifying rape as a weapon of war. The resolution was unanimous and describes rape as "a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instill fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate civilian members of a community or ethnic group.” In the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, approximately forty women are raped each day, sometimes by the peacekeepers who are supposed to be protecting them. In addition to harming the health and safety of women, sexual violence also destroys the economic and social stability of war-torn nations.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7464462.stm
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/20/1213770867927.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=91692457&m=91692436

Sierra Leone rape victims neglected

In Sierra Leone, violations of women’s rights continue unabated. Nearly six years after the end of civil conflict, violence against girls and women is still rampant. Amnesty International has called on the government of Sierra Leone to provide justice and reparations for the victims of sexual abuse. Click here for more.

Afghan Women Jailed for Safety

Women in Afghanistan who have been jailed for “moral crimes” such as adultery or being in the company of a man who is not a relative are believed to be safer in prison. The annual festival of Eid, that brings the prospect of presidential pardons, puts these women at risk of being released and put in the custody of relatives who may carry out “honor killings” and other serve punishments. Warnings from international organizations about the risk of releasing these women follows an early September report by the U.N. that found at least half the women in Afghanistan's largest jail are there for so-called moral crimes. Please click here for more information.

NEW: VAWA Passed in Senate

After allowing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expire, the Senate passed its version of VAWA 2005 earlier this week. While the Senate version includes many of the provisions excluded in the House version of the Act, it dropped a key program that would have extended unemployment insurance coverage to domestic violence survivors. As we have reported in earlier MISSING pieces, the issue of unemployment insurance is critical to those seeking to leave situations of domestic violence, and, in most states, individuals are ineligible for unemployment benefits if they leave work voluntarily without "good cause" or if they are discharged for "misconduct". Adding such a provision to VAWA 2005 would be a step towards addressing this problem.

MISSING: ATTENTION TO GENDER IN HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS

Women's eNews today featured this report on missing rape reporting procedures in New Orleans. Women's organizations, like NCRW member center Ms. Foundation, have also been working to set up relief funds targeting women, and specifically low-income women of color.

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE


UPDATE: Loretta Ross offers a feminist perspective on Katrina. To read her article, click here.