Children

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” - Shel Silverstein

Photo: Danny Wilcox Frazier
“Dreaming”, Conesville, Iowa.

Dream child dream…dream big, dream loud, dream proud…never, ever stop dreaming my child. For once you stop dreaming you are no longer alive. It is dreams that give us life, give us hope, and dreams that pave the way for the future. Dreams bring freedom, cure pain, end loneliness…dreams are the power of life the power of hope and peace. So dream child, dream!

Earlier this month in a recent op-ed for the Washington post, Council on Foreign Affairs writer Michael J. Gerson asked, “What does rule of law can mean for women and children in Africa?” His answer, Justice for the Poorest . is what the International Justice Mission (IJM) hopes and works for. ‘The founder of IJM, Gary Haugen, argues that the legal empowerment of the poor is an essential precondition for development.’

While to most in the west when we think of legal empowerment, we think big or corporate, but in many developing nations rule of law is about protection of their basic rights. Women are especially marginalized in the developing world, and thus most have their rights to things such as property, easily violated with little option for legal recourse. Rule of law is absent in many cases of gender based violence, including sex trafficking and the use of rape as a weapon of war. The nature of most of these crimes makes reporting difficult, however it is the continuous impunity over such crimes that leaves most women with a feeling of hopelessness. As impunity only fuels violence and gender inequality for women and girls, it is time states and the international community took a stand. The silence of so many women and children’s pain must be broken, and appropriate justice must be served.

Thus we must end the perception that violations such as violence, slavery, and rape are common, and make it unacceptable for gender inequality to continue to thrive. In order to do this there are three main areas of focus; One the issue of gender inequality and bias must be removed in all countries, when such programs are in place at peace time it will significantly reduce the stigma and use of rape and GBV in times of conflict. Two, there must be a unified international response against such acts as the use of rape as a weapon of war, and thus strategies of prevention and awareness must be put into place, including in IDP camps and in times of post conflict. Three, impunity must end or victims will continue to remain silent and not seek medical, psychological or legal attention if they feel there is no retribution or care for which they are safe to receive.

If no one is listening, no one will talk. If one is to step forward and ask victims to come out then they must be willing to not only listen to their stories, but to provide them with care and support in both the short and long term, including providing physical and financial access to such services. Many are currently fixated on the trial of a Former Slave who is suing the State of Niger, which could set precedent for many other gender based violence and victims of slavery across Western Africa. Thus let up that rule of law is truly on its way to the women and girls across the developing world.

For women in northern Uganda, family planning services elusive, even impossible. Getting access to contraceptives and other family planning services can be difficult for most African women, but in war-torn northern Uganda it is nearly impossible, IPS reports. Women face widespread sexual abuse in this region long haunted by brutal rebel forces, and in the refugee camps the small amounts of contraceptives available quickly get used up.

No condoms for Anambra State, as it is now illegal to encourage the use of condoms in southeast Nigeria’s Anambra State. The state government has also banned the advocacy and distribution of other forms of contraceptives including IUDs (intrauterine device) and any other “un-natural” birth control. “Instead of teaching children how to use condoms to enjoy sex they should be taught total abstinence,” the state commissioner for health, Amobi Ilika said when announcing the measures in late March. “The use of condoms has greatly encouraged immorality,” he said. More than 3 million people - 3.9 percent of the adult population - are living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Infants are suffering serious bouts of diarrhea, and in some cases dying, from infant formula provided in emergency situations, according to a coalition that includes the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children (UK), Mercy Corps, Care, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) International Organization for Migration, HOPE, Medecins Sans Frontieres and health officials from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. They are urging all UN agencies, aid groups, and governments to ensure that women are not automatically given infant formula during an emergency and are encouraged to continue breast-feeding.

United Nations refugee officials are calling for more humanitarian and development funding in Georgia to help support an estimated 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees living in the Caucasus country. Johanna Langenkamp, head of the donor relations and resource mobilization service of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the extra funding was needed to meet the needs of the displaced, including Chechen refugees who have been living in the Pankisi Valley for nearly a decade.

Women and girls in Sudan’s war torn Darfur region continually face rape and sexual assault, despite increased international awareness in the five years since the start of the conflict. Human Rights Watch calls on government to end sexual violence in Darfur, as neither the Sudanese security forces nor international peacekeepers are doing enough to protect women from attack.
The issue of rape in Sudan is far from new, it is a staple of the conflict, sadly the impunity of the use of rape as a weapon of war in the Sudan is also far from braking news. However thus far out cries over such monstrous crimes have generally fallen on deaf ears, despite reports by aid agencies such HRW and Doctors Without Borders/MSF who released a report on the ‘alarming’ number of rapes in March 2005, The Crushing Burden of Rape, Sexual Violence in Darfur. Nonetheless these reports are just a few of many, however their efforts remain fruitless against the growing impunity and continued instability in Darfur.

Sadly rape is not the end of most victims suffering, as stigma, shame and shame accompany numerous physical and physiological effects long after the rape. Fatima (pictured on the left) was only 15years old when in front of her own mother she was brutally gang-raped. She soon found her self pregnant, but that would not be the end for Fatima, as she was “arrested by Sudanese police and charged with fornication” when she was seven months pregnant (The Age).

Since the dawn of the conflict pro-government militias have continually been accused of using sexually based attacks on women, as a means to terrorize, destabilize and demoralized the civilian population. The Sudanese army has recently criticized a UN report in March which accused soldiers of raping women and girls.

In a report issued April 7, 2008, Five Years On - No Justice for Sexual Violence in Darfur, HRW lays out clear recommendations for both the government of Sudan, rebel forces and aid agencies. Some of the reports recommendations include; the Sudanese government taking a clear stand against sexual assault and rape, the inclusion of female investigators, firewood patrols, better training, awareness and prevention.

The mass scale of rape and sexual assault in Sudan, as in other conflict ridden nations, must be taken seriously and dealt a heavy hand. The impunity must end, and the protection and rebuilding of lives must begin. For the use of rape leaves lasting long term effects on just on the victim, but their families, and community as it erodes the social framework of nations.

Last week a ground braking and historic story broke to international media, the story was Hadijatou Mani legal fight against the African state of Niger. Hadijatou Mani, a former slave who is suing the state of Niger in a landmark legal challenge, claiming that the country failed to protect her from being sold into a life of servitude and sexual slavery. At the age of 12, Hadijatou was sold into slavery for a mere $500.

Now 24, she brought her case to Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). Hadijatou did not take the case to the Niger courts as she “believes she cannot get fair redress at any national court in Niger,” Romana Cacchioli, Africa coordinator of Anti-Slavery International, stated to The Associated Press.

“Despite the criminalization of slavery in 2003, the government of Niger is accused of not only failing to protect Hadijatou Mani from the practice of slavery, but also continuing to legitimize this practice through its customary law, which is discriminatory toward women and in direct conflict with its own criminal code and constitution,” Anti-Slavery International said in a statement.

If Mani’s case is a success it would create president for other slaves to seek retribution with similar claims, as it would then affect all of the 15 West African member states. Slavery is far from over, as there is an estimated 27 million slaves today, and their population is scattered across the globe leaving no nation free from this horrid crime against humanity. “This is a hugely significant case,” said Helen Duffy, legal director of Interights, a non-governmental organization based in London that is sponsoring Ms Mani’s case (Foreign Correspondent).

“I have not had a day off in my life, and I want the suffering of so many women to stop”, Mani stated.

After 10 years of enslavement Mani one can only hope that Mani will see the true value of her life and freedom, and that her fight will pave the way for millions of others across West Africa and the world.

It is fitting that V-Day Fall’s in April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, “V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual slavery.”

V-Day began on February 14, 1998 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom with a sold out benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues ”, that raised $250,0000 for local NYC anti-violence groups. Ten years on and V-Day is continuing to expand the awareness against violence. From one event to came the support of some 700 college campuses and more than 400 cities have now lead to a Worldwide Campaign that spans some 3000 benefits in 58 countries.

This year the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) and V-Day have launched a new partnership to end rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and ensure justice for the victims. Women and girls of all ages, some only infants, continue to be sexually assaulted in the DRC, as the use of rape as a weapon of war continues with impunity.

Personally as an abolitionist I am no longer shocked or dismayed about reports of women and young girls mass raped in conflict ridden countries, girls found to have been the victims of trafficking in massage parlors, on craigs list, in newspaper ad’s, on myspace, in strip clubs, etc. More and more reports are found on MSNBC, CNN, and so forth. Even the entertainment industry is cashing in on the heart wrenching stories of victims on such series as Law and Order’, CSI, etc. However local news reports, while increasing do not match the scale of the problem of modern day slavery and human trafficking, either internationally or locally. Slavery did not end 200 years ago, it’s alive and well and one the the most profitable industries in the world. Nonetheless it is movements like V-Day, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month that are the catalyst for change and together we can work to free the 27 million slaves around the world.

For statistical information on gender based violence please see the The World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Office, RAINN -Rape Abuse Incest National Network, The Family Violence Prevention Fund, and The National Human Trafficking Resource Center

See my previous posts on Gender Inequality, Child Trafficking and Slavery. Please also see my pages on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Links, Human Trafficking and Slavery Related Movies and Documentaries, and Slavery and Trafficking Related Books for more information on modern slavery and gender based violence.

Every third woman sexually abused as a child, according to a survey conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which was released this past week. According to the survey, not only has one in three Swazi women experienced a degree of sexual abuse as a child, and additional one in four had experienced physical violence.

This groundbreaking survey was a first to be carried out in a country where ‘anecdotal evidence’ has placed startlingly high numbers of girls are victims of sexual and physical abuse.

The report has not just focused on the current situation, but the frightening look forward for female Swazi children as the number of orphans in the country continue to grow at a substantial rate. The country’s growing number of orphans and vulnerable children are ripe for sexual exploitation, a fear which could soon turn to a reality and show even more girls abused than the current survey has reported. One factor for the large scale number of orphans in the country is do to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which UNICEF estimates will leave some 200,000 Swazi children orphans in the next two years alone, this is more than one-fifth of the country’s current population.

“Disabled children, children out of school and orphans are some of the most vulnerable groups,” said Jama Gulaid, UNICEF representative in Swaziland. “Poverty and the high prevalence of HIV create high numbers of marginalized children.”

Following the release of the survey the Deputy Prime Minister, Constance Simelane, spoke at the dissemination meeting of the surveys preliminary results (UNICEF);

“This is a momentous occasion for children in Swaziland. It is evidenced by what we see in the media each day that children are under siege in Swaziland. This laudable effort by UNICEF and stakeholders will give us confirmation of what needs to be done to protect children and help us chart a way forward to stop violence against children in our country.”

The DPM also added that;

“Rape figures have risen nearly 50% since 2004…The Royal Swaziland Police Force’s Domestic Violence and Child Protection Unit recorded two child abuse offenses each day in 2006. These statistics drive the point home that this issue is serious and must be put on the national agenda.”

The National Study on Violence Against Children and Young Women, concluded that the majority of violence and sexual assault, some 75%, was committed in the home.

“It is not surprising that sexual abuse of girls is a household problem, because Swazis reside in multi-generational homes, usually isolated farms,” said a researcher with the non-governmental organization, Women in Law in Southern Africa’s Swaziland chapter. “Relatively few girls are raped by strangers in towns because less of the population resides in towns, and there is a heightened awareness of security there”.

Education is a must in Swaziland if girls are to see an end to the plague of sexual violence that is haunting generations of women and girls. Girls must be aware that both physical and sexual violence is not a normal way to grow up, and thus increase awareness and educate girls on their rights and where they can report abuse.

The case’s of abuse in Swaziland are not isolated, they plague many developing countries around the world at such alarming rates, however if Swaziland can use this data to make considerable changes to their social care systems, increase public education and awareness, and work for sustainable change; then they can lead the way for many other nations working to overcome gender based violence and gender inequality. While the survey does not change the currently atmosphere for young girls in Swaziland, it is a start that their silence is being broken, however if no solid action is taken then the survey will be another fruitless effort in the fight against gender based sexual violence.

…it’s afterimage imprints itself like an irreversible negative from the camera obscura of dreams.” -Pat Conroy, The Prince of Tides

The rape of anyone is one of the most atrocious crimes that can be committed against a person, especially a child.

The ever increasing use of rape as a weapon of war not only impacts the victim, but their family, community and entire nations. Thus rape effects our entire global community, it shapes our future. Victims are sentenced to a life of shame, silence and fear. Mothers are forced to live in guilt, traumatized by the faces of their own children. Children’s lives are forever changed and molded from the violence of rape, as victims, witnesses and products of rape. Children who feel inevitable guilt over their mothers suffering, their own reason for being.

Rape is not only a crime…it is a crime against humanity. Rape murders ones soul and paralyzes their future.

There is no doubt that the fight against sexual violence has a long way to go, and that victims support and services are considerably lacking. The damage of such violent acts reach much farther than the victim, the scope and depth of such acts effect entire communities and whole nations. The reach of such detrimental acts is global, and it has seemingly become a growing phenomenon of conflict.

However in the Central African Republic (CAR) a group of survivors are struggling to undo the damage of sexual violence, and while the struggle to defeat gender based violence is hard enough on its own, the women are facing another all to common hurdle. They are left to fight this battle on their own with little help from outside agencies and supporters.

“We’ve been left to fend for ourselves. We get little help from outside. Many of our members have died,” said the group’s chairwoman, Pelagie Ndokoyanga.

Sexual assault and rape are not rate in CAR, nor are they new to the country which has had decades of conflict ridden instability. An estimated one million people live in CAR’s conflict ridden region and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates there are some 150,000 internally displaced persons across the country. Other estimates place the total displacement at 300,00, with 212,000 internally displaced more than 70,000 who have sought refuge outside of CAR.

The situation in CAR is also affected by the crisis in neighboring Sudan’s Darfur province, for which it suffers a spillover of violence, displaced people, refugees and rebel groups along the countries eastern border.

In the northwestern region of the country there has been attacks by Chadian armed forces crossing the border and invading villages, where they have been known to rape women and girls during their attacks. When the attacks increased during the increased unrest from early 2006 to early 2007. The ICC opened investigations in May 2007, after a request from the government.

“I was raped by a Chadian soldier in Betoko when our village was raided. Four other girls were raped on the same day. Some of my fellow [rape victims] have left the village; they were ashamed of what happened to us,” 21-year-old Celine Nadima said (Living with rape, harassment in the northwest).

In February 2007, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that “sexual and gender-based violence strikes well over 15% of women and girls” in northern CAR.

“There is a dire need to expand the programmes that support the survivors of sexual violence and help communities to prevent it in the future,” affirmed Toby Lanzer, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the CAR. (OCHA)

It is clear that much needs to be done to prevent, treat, rehabilitate and remove the stigma from survivors of gender based sexual violence and rape in CAR, as it is across the rest of Africa’s conflict ridden countries.

For the millions upon millions, many children, who are the survivors of sexual violence, one must not forget their struggles in this month of awareness, as their battle is never ending. Therefore in conjunction with April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, I wanted to share these words of survival from Nancy Venable Raine, After Silence, Rape and my Journey Back.

I was not only a survivor, but a witness to my own survival. I saw, too, that however painful my feelings of the past year had been, the pain had not, after all, replaced other feelings, but only hidden them from sight. For traumatic experiences, “forgetting” is impossible, yet remembering is the last thing you want to do. I learned that some redemption can come from even the deepest of losses. The victims of rape must carry their memories with them for the rest of their lives. They must not also carry the burden of silence and shame.

Shame and fear leads many victims, especially children to a life of silence, but we must brake the silence on such brutal crimes. As an international society we must not sit idly back and allow such acts to continue. The world is full of armed conflicts and in these conflicts the use of rape as a weapon of war continues, yet the victims live in fear of persecution, they are ostracized by their own families and communities, and healthcare and support systems are far and few in between. Thus as a global community we must take action to see that victims are allowed to become survivors and that they no longer have to live in shame and silence. So let us listen…let us here! The following passage from Charlotte Pierce-Baker’s, Surviving the Silence, illustrates how braking the silence is a major step in healing the wounds of sexual violence.

Still I weep for what I cannot change. Healing is a continuous process. Rape affects all aspect of one’s life and being and one has to work continuously to become whole and intact. Pieces of myself are coming slowly together. I am different, but I accept that. The way out is to tell: Speak of the acts perpetrated upon us, speak the atrocities, speak the injustices, speak the personal violations of the soul. Someone will listen, someone will believe our stories, someone will join us.