Hillary Clinton leads UN fight against rape in war

[joeycola]

She makes me pround. Thanks Hillary for leading the cause.


(its a few days old but worth repeating if posted already)

http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSN30208287

Hillary Clinton leads UN fight against rape in war

Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:37pm EDT Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page<-> Text <+>
* UN Security Council asks for envoy to fight rapes in war

* Clinton and UN's Ban say rapists act with impunity

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 30 (Reuters) - More than 60 countries, led by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asked the United Nations on Wednesday to appoint a special envoy for a global fight against the rape of women and children during war.

The U.N. Security Council, chaired by Clinton because the United States holds the revolving presidency, unanimously passed a resolution in a bid to stop sexual violence during conflicts and to end impunity.

"Even though women and children are rarely responsible for initiating armed conflict, they are often war's most vulnerable and violated victims," said Clinton, who visited the Democratic Republic of Congo in August and met with rape victims.

"The dehumanizing nature of sexual violence doesn't just harm a single individual or a single family or even a single village or a single group, it shreds the fabric that weaves us together as human beings," she said..............

[karynnj]

1. This is a great effort on the part of the Obama administration, in conjunction with the SFRC

This is an important very comprehensive effort that has involved many people. Senator Boxer was given jurisdiction on this officially, when that role was explicitly added to her subcommittee's title when the subcommittees were announced this year. Senator Kerry will be introducing legislation on the International rights of women (dealing with our foreign policy obviously). I was surprised that neither Clinton's work or the SFRC work on this has gotten much attention here. The most attention on this issue was given due to the intense coverage of HRC's annoyance with a question on a different subject that mentioned almost, as if in passing, why she was there. (It is sad that after being posted a half hour, I may be the only one who recommended this - even though I hope most here think this effort important.)

Here is a link to my thread, that coincidentally contains the link you cite, along with a later link on the resolution passed at the UN. It also includes links to hearings where you can see the work done by Senators Boxer, Feingold, Kerry and Kaufman. Last week's hearing had Clinton's person, who has done a huge amount on this testifying. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8684793&mesg_id=8684793

This is a beautiful well coordinated effort between the Obama administration and the Senate. The entire story is better than the one piece. It is also significant that what the SFRC and the State department are doing is working to give this issue the support structure and framework that will allow them to make sure that this issue informs things like how they provide aid.

[joeycola]

2. Agree.

[ProSense]

10. It's an important and well-coordinated effort. n/t

[JohnnyLib2]

3. Good.

:thumbsup:

[Skidmore]

4. One good step towards accomplishing this would be to end the wars.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. No war, no war rape.

:think:

[ProSense]

9. You're right, which makes me wonder why someone who is constantly

criticizing Obama for not ending both wars yesterday is posting this with:

"She makes me pround. Thanks Hillary for leading the cause."

[joeycola]

11. yes, yes and yes.

[HamdenRice]

5. "In other news, anonymous blogger, HamdenRice continues to swoon for nation's Secretary of State"

nt

[demmiblue]

6. K&R

I loved this comment: "The dehumanizing nature of sexual violence doesn't just harm a single individual or a single family or even a single village or a single group, it shreds the fabric that weaves us together as human beings."

[Voice for Peace]

7. this is a nice idea but seems totally implausible to me.

war and rape go hand in hand. what are you going to do if you're spending all day hating and killing people? you have to find somebody to rape. It's a hideous use of human life.

[Better Today]

12. It should be rape by military/insurgent/any related personnel, so as to

include the rapes of others by our soldiers as well during peaceful "occupations" such as seen in Asia by our soldiers, by Blackwater and the like in the ME, and so on.

Seems easiest to just call for a resolution against armed rape of anyone. . . woman, child, or man . . . with any personal body parts or non-human insertion . . . broom handles, fists, tazers, electrodes.

[MasonJar]

13. Thank you, Secretary Clinton.

[Beacool]

14. Good for Hillary!!!

Rape is being used as a weapon of war in Africa and elsewhere. What is going on, particularly in places like the DRC, is absolutely horrendous. There has also been an increase in attacks on men and boys, albeit in much lesser numbers than on females.

It's about time that the world face up to this epidemic of violence against women and children and take action.

[Forkboy]

15. K&R