Mass rape in the Central African Republic

A 16-day long international campaign against violence against women, focusing on HIV/Aids, begins today. Earlier this month, Amnesty International issued a report documenting mass rape of women and girls in the Central African Republic. So far, the government in the country has done nothing to prosecute and punish the rapists. (25-NOV-04)

Late 2002 and early 2003, hundreds of womenand girls in the Central African Republic were subjected to rape, sexual abuse and other kinds of violence. Most of the offences took place in the northern region of Bangui, especially in the areas PK12 and PK22. Still nearly two years later, no-one has been brought to justice. At the release of its report on these offences, Amnesty International strongly encourages the international community to make sure the government of the Central African Republic protects the women and children who have been subjected to such physically and psychologially traumatic and degrading offences.

Rapes as a deliberate strategy
Amnesty International´s report also establishes who the offenders are. Easily the bigget culprits are soldiers from the Central African Republic itself, but also from Chad, DR Congo and the Congolese Mouvement pour la Libération du Congo (MLC). The latter group was particularly active. Both girls down to the age of eight and women up to 60 were raped, many of them in front of their own husbands and children. Several died as a direct consequence of the injuries inflicted upon them. Those trying to intervene to stop the offences were threatened, attacked or even killed. In some cases, children were forced to have sex with their mothers, sisters or other female relatives. According to sources in Bangui, the MLC soldiers conducted the rapes as punishment against women believed to have supported Bozizé soldiers. It also seems as if the rapes were part of a deliberate strategy to humiliate the husbands for their inability to protect their wives.

Fear of increased violence
The government and Presidet Patassé have done nothing to protect the victims. At the same time, they deny the events altogether. The government´s motiv might be fear of alienating its main ally, the MLC, which, according to the report, must be held responsible for the majority of the offences. Amnesty International is concerned that impunity in cases of rape and other sexual offences may increase the danger of more violence against the most vulnerable women and children. Victims of this particular kinds of offences are often victimised once again through being ostracised by their own families and local communities. Hence, many among them are reluctant to report on what they have been through. The same goes for the male Muslim leaders in these communities. Their women and daughters were also among the victims, but out of concerns for their honour, pride and shame, they are not willing to even answer questions, let alone report themselves.

Cooperation needed
The government of the Central African Republic must make sure that women and chilren subjected to such offences get all the help and support they need. In addition, the country must co-operate with the governments in DR Congo and Chad, and also with the leaders of the MLC. Together, all parties must make sure the offenders are arrested and brought to justice, concludes Amnesty International.          
  
Read the full report here:

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR190012004?open&of=ENG-CAF

See also the website of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM):