outrage over kenya rape grows (and the war on women continues apace)

[niyad]

Outrage Over Kenya Rape Grows

People around the world are calling for justice for a 16-year-old Kenyan girl who was brutally beaten, gang-raped, and thrown into a 20-foot latrine by six men in June. The girl, whom
media outlets are calling "Liz," was walking home from her grandfather's funeral in Kenya's northwestern county of Busia when the men attacked her. The attack caused severe spinal cord injuries and fistula, leaving her reliant on a wheelchair to get around and unable to control her bowels.

Liz was found crawling out of the latrine and crying for help by villagers nearby. She knew some of the attackers, so she gave the people helping her their names. They then chased three of the men down and took them to the local police station. There, police ordered the men to to cut grass as their only punishment; the men were then let go--even though under Kenya's Sexual Offences Act they should receive no less than 15 years in prison. In addition, Liz's mother was told to clean her off, destroying potential forensic evidence.

In a statement, the Kenya Coalition on Violence Against Women called the situation "yet another example of blatant impunity and repeated noncompliance by the police and other government authorities. Rape and other gender crimes have consistently been treated as lesser crimes--this is unacceptable."
The attack came to the world's attention thanks to Jared Momanyi, the director of a Kenyan clinic that specializes in treating victims of sexual violence. He was so outraged when Liz's case was referred to him that he called a reporter at the Daily Nation in Nairobi. He said of this case, "This was an attempted murder and it's not an isolated case; it's one among many."

Since then, 4,000 pounds has been raised to pay for an operation to repair Liz's internal injuries, and the global campaigning network Avaaz launched an online petition calling for immediate arrest and prosecution of the rapists and disciplinary action for the police officers. It currently has over 1,270,000 signatures, and that number grows every second. The director of public prosecutions in Kenya has ordered the national police to investigate why the local force did not investigate the rape, but so far there have been no updates.
"My wish is to see justice done," Liz said.

http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=14680

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Do you see

In the article in Ms or any of their linked to articles the organization where I can give money for her operation?

[niyad]

2. from what I could find, the paper that broke the story, the daily nation, was taking donations:

The Nation Media Group initiated a campaign to help the girl get treatment and justice.

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Gender-agency-faults-police-in-gang-rape-case/-/1056/2045898/-/vm48gy/-/index.html

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Thanks you!

Will see what we can do to help her from NJ.

[niyad]

3. . . .

[Blue_Tires]

4. kick

[niyad]

17. thank you

[riderinthestorm]

5. Sigh. Juxtaposing the Adobe photoshop story w tons of views and recs

With this one which should be the #1 on the page...

Big K&R

[niyad]

7. sad, isn't it? one might think the ongoing war against women might garner at least SOME notice.

[theHandpuppet]

12. And this story barely made a blip in the DU radar

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113910520

[niyad]

15. thank you for bringing this to my attention--missed it when posted.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. horrible. Justice for Lize

[niyad]

18. thank you

[csziggy]

8. K&R

[niyad]

19. thank you

[Small Accumulates]

10. K&R

[niyad]

20. thank you

[mythology]

11. It's really sad that this isn't bigger news here in the U.S.

I first heard about this on the BBC, but I would think this is a big enough deal that it should make the news here, even if just for the abominable "sentence" the predators got.

[niyad]

14. apparently, gang-rapes and murder of females, especially children, just isn't that important

[niyad]

13. . . .

[Le Taz Hot]

16. K & R

[niyad]

21. thank you

[theHandpuppet]

22. Kick for the evening crowd

[niyad]

23. thank you

[niyad]

24. . . .

[riderinthestorm]

25. Just have to kick this again. So important. nt

[niyad]

27. thank you. you are correct, it IS important

[Uncle Joe]

26. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, niyad.

[niyad]

28. you are most welcome. I pray for the day when there will be no more of these heinous crimes

[Uncle Joe]

29. It's tragically amazing how barbaric people can be.

Peace to you, niyad.

[niyad]

31. thank you

[niyad]

33. you are correct, and I wish more people understood that.

[lapislzi]

35. Best response.

Wish more people understood this.

[niyad]

34. . . .

[gollygee]

36. It isn't just about the rapists

It's about the culture that makes them think it's OK, in part by not really punishing rapists, and making rape cases seem like small issues.

How horrifying.

[niyad]

37. you are correct--and not just NOT punishing them, but hiding and protecting them.

did you see the horrific story linked in post 12? I missed that one. the sheer hatred and ugliness and violence exhibited against females is almost beyond belief.

[Starry Messenger]

38. k&r

[niyad]

39. . . .

[niyad]

40. . . .

[niyad]

41. kick for sunday crowd

[bettyellen]

42. tks for kicking niyad, it's an important story

[niyad]

43. thank you

did you see the link in post 12? also an almost-ignored and horrific story.

[niyad]

44. . . .

[niyad]

45. . .

[niyad]

46. . . .