Voldtægt er et våben flittigt brugt i voldelige konflikter i Colombia. Men myndighederne ser igennem fingre med det og derved fortsætter voldelige grupper med at sprede frygt og undertrykke lokalbefolkninger, anfører Amnesty.

COLOMBIA, October 5, 2012: The Colombian authorities have failed to make real progress in bringing to justice those responsible for conflict-related sexual crimes, said Amnesty International in a new report today.

The report 'Colombia: Hidden from justice. Impunity for conflict-related sexual violence', a follow-up report examines efforts made by the authorities over the past year to ensure those suspected of criminal responsibility for sexual violence in the country’s long-running armed conflict face justice.

“By failing to investigate effectively sexual violence against women, the Colombian authorities are sending a dangerous message to perpetrators that they can continue to rape and sexually abuse without fear of the consequences,” said Marcelo Pollack, Colombia researcher at Amnesty International.

“Respect for human rights must be at the top of the agenda in the forthcoming peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Without a clear commitment from all the parties to the conflict to end sexual violence and other human rights abuses there can be no lasting and stable peace in Colombia.”

Grupper spreder frygt

In the context of Colombia’s armed conflict, women are targets of sexual violence to sow terror within communities to force them to flee their land, wreak revenge on the enemy, control the sexual and reproductive rights of female combatants or exploit women and girls as sexual slaves.

An increasing number of women human rights activists working to denounce and fight abuses have themselves been targets of threats and attacks.

Sexual violence, particularly in the context of the conflict, is often not reported to the authorities as women are frequently too scared to talk, fear the stigmatization attached to being a survivor of sexual violence or believe the crime will not be effectively investigated.

Mangel på sikkerhed for ofre

Obstacles to justice include a lack of effective security for survivors and for those involved in legal proceedings; discrimination and stigmatization of women survivors by judicial officials; and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to combat impunity in such cases. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, underfunding and the infiltration of local state institutions by illegal armed groups also impede the ability of the civilian justice system to deliver justice.

Domstole nøler med at håndhæve lovgivningen

“The problem in Colombia has not primarily been the lack of relatively good laws, resolutions, decrees, protocols and directives, these exist in abundance, but rather the failure to implement them effectively and consistently across the country,” said Pollack.

A number of high level officials – including Vice-President Angelino Garzón and the Attorney General – have publicly expressed their commitment to find justice for the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.

Several legislative initiatives have also been presented over the past year that could, if implemented effectively, have a positive impact with regards to victims’ right to truth, justice and reparation.

Læs videre her:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/colombian-authorities-fail-stop-or-punish...

Gå direkte til rapporten her:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR23/031/2012/en/8779cba6-f18f...