At a moment the entire world is getting more and more
concerned about the hardships and sufferings of the women in distress, last
Thursday, in London G8 countries held a historic summit on the hot topic which
should have got adequate coverage by the media the subject deserved but didn’t
get it and it got drowned in the avalanche of the fears about a nuclear war
erupting in the Korean Peninsula between the North and South Koreas and USA and
in addition to it the ongoing blood-spilt in Syria which is threatening the
very stability of entire Middle East.
The G8 Summit was held in London to discuss and deliberate
over the hot topic of women being subjected to brutal rape and sexual menace,
torture and murders across the world especially in the war-torn countries.
William Hague, British Foreign Secretary, a week before the
summit had written about the subject which needs immediate and urgent attention
of everybody concerned. It is unfortunate that the Summit couldn’t get adequate
coverage by the media which had got drowned due to the looming war clouds over
North and South Koreas and USA.
William Hague in his article points his fingers to the plight
of women being raped, sexually assaulted, tortured and even murdered across the
war-torn nations, majority of them inhabitants of African continent where poverty, education,
clothes, health and basic amenities of life badly needed by them. They are deprived
of these on account of the devastating wars among different nations.
Mr.Hague had conducted a tour across the African countries to
get first hand information on the trials and tribulations being faced by the
suffering masses especially women and children.
He is very much concerned over the wretched situation
prevailing among the women who always live in panic due to the threat of rape, sexual
abuse and torture inflicted by the war criminals and the anti-social elements.
He travelled from Rwanda to Congo (Democratic Republic of
Congo) and Libya to Sierra Leonne where lakhs and lakhs are undergoing this
trauma. He adds that since 1996 in the Democratic Republic of Congo over 500000
rape cases were reported during the war.
Here he dwells on the immediacy with which these threats are
to be attended to by all countries especially the developed nations like
Britain and US.
He doesn’t hide the tragic fact that, in the search for a
formula to bring to an end to the devastating wars and its aftermaths, the
women’s issues of rape, sexual abuse, torture and murders are being relegated
to the background. He is of the categorical opinion that without finding a
solution to this burning issue which needs to be treated as a case of acute
emergency, no lasting peace in the war torn countries is possible.
Turning a blind eye and deaf ears to the cries for help by
these tragic figures would result in failure and no amount of efforts would
help to bring about a durable solution. Unfortunately the issue of traumatized
women is being overlooked.
Mr.Hague’s cites four reasons why the matter is not being
given a proper attention which is badly needed at this critical juncture.
According to Mr.Hague the first reason is nothing other than
the label of stigma attached to rape and sexual abuse. The womens’ fear of
being ostracized by the society in which they pull on prevents them from coming
forward, mustering courage, determination and will.
The second reason according to Mr.Hague is lack of evidence that
if and when the issues reach a court which is vested with the ultimate
authority to bring the culprits to book. Consequently the culprits always
escape the scene and roam freely through the streets.
And the painful reaction according to Mr.Hague is the lack
of funds to the UN agencies, local organizations and human rights institutions to
extend a helping hand to the hapless women for whom life on earth is a chain of
nightmares.
Besides the women’s issue is being treated as a secondary
issue which should have got urgent and foremost attention. In order to meet
this acute emergency a Summit represented by the foreign secretaries of eight
nations to discuss and deliberate upon how to find a lasting solution to this
perennial problem to cater to the needs of the suffering women whole developed
nations reportedly have decided to create a foundation by generous
contributions and also to create an International protocol with UN co-operation
are essential. Mr.Hague sought a ‘wide set of practical commitments that
include recognizing that rape and serious sexual violence are grave breaches of
Geneva Conventions; greater funding and long term support for survivors and
support for a new International Protocol that will set out agreed standards for
investigating and documenting sexual violence’.
The Summit wound up on a confident note representing eight
foreign secretaries of eight nations (G8). Let’s hope for better results.
No comments:
Post a Comment