Stop rape now - against sexual violence in conflict

(ES)

A UN initiative to end sexual violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict and other crises.

http://www.stoprapenow.org/

As stated in the Africa Plan 2009-2012 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC)

[...] the promotion of gender equality is one of the basic principles of the AU (African Union) as stated in Article 4 of its constitution and reflected in the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, attached to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and in force since 2005. To comply with this principle, the AU created the Directorate of Women, Gender and Development, reporting directly to the President of the Commission, and launched an ambitious program of Gender. [...]

That is why I refer to the Directorate of Women, Gender and Development and the Chairman of the AU Commission the following letter which can be downloaded from the web:

http://www.stoprapenow.org/

To:dgender@africa-union.org

Cc:chairperson@africa-union.org

Sir/Madam,

I am writing to ask you to intensify your efforts to end sexual violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict and other crises. Sexual violence is a human rights violation and is unacceptable. I am concerned, in particular, about the use of rape as a weapon of war. In numerous conflicts worldwide, rape is used as a weapon to destroy the lives of women and girls, to undermine the welfare and recovery of entire communities.

In response to this crime, I ask that you:

Legislate to prevent and to end sexual violence.
Ensure that all legislation promotes equality between women and men in all spheres of life, in accordance with international standards. Determine the effectiveness, at the national and local levels, of the enforcement of laws on the perpetration of sexual violence in armed conflict or other crises. In all legislation relating to foreign policy and international security, ensure protection of women and girls and prevention of sexual violence against women and children.

Budget for the needs of women and girls.
Ensure the use of gender-responsive budgeting tools that assess the impact of public expenditure and revenue from a gender perspective, identifying their impact on and responsiveness to women, men, girls, and boys.

Provide resources for survivors of sexual violence.
Ensure that sufficient resources are earmarked in national and state budgets and allocated for strategies to eradicate violence against women in armed conflict and other crises and to facilitate universal access to reproductive healthcare and services.

Support legislative and judicial means of ending impunity for sexual violence in conflict.
Ensure that local and national courts eliminate barriers that impede the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence.

I urge you to prioritize ending sexual violence in armed conflict and other crises.

Sincerely, [name]

TAKE ACTION:

Download this letter asking your elected official to increase efforts to address sexual violence in conflict.

Download letter in WORD format from http://stoprapenow.org/take-action/ or copy it directly from this post.

To find contact information for your elected official, visit:
Inter-Parliamentary Union's PARLINE database

The PARLINE database contains information on the structure and working methods of 265 parliamentary chambers in all of the 188 countries where a national legislature exists.