Throughout Colombia’s half  century of civil war, cases of rape and sexual violence committed against women at the hands of armed, non-state actors have long been an under-reported taboo.  Colombian women have suffered in silence within a system that offers impunity to perpetrators and little protection for victims and their families. After sexually-based attacks, women are forced into silence by fear and constant threats by perpetrators and their associated armed groups.  Victims thus fail to secure the legal and pycho-social counseling they deserve, and many face the burden of unplanned pregnancies and/or miscarriages.

However, Colombia has recently made new strides in addressing this grave war crime.  In 2007, only 12 casesof rape/sexual assualt had been filed for review under the National Justice and Peace Law created to address crimes and retribution cases related to the country’s long-standing conflict.   Today, 228 cases of rape and sexually based crimes have been filed.

WCI supports and promotes futher review of the topic of sexually-based war crimes in Colombia and urges government agencies and NGOs to provide as much guidance and protection for victims as possible.  Read More: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0511/p06s10-woam.html