Fragile flower, Telegraph Hill, San Francisco.
At last the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council unanimously agree on something: rape is a weapon of war. The UN resolution adopted on Thursday refers to rape as "a tactic in war and a threat to international security."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told the Council that violence against women has reached "unspeakable proportions" in some societies recovering from conflict. "Responding to this silent war against women and girls requires leadership at the national level," he said. Speakers at the council session identified the former Yugoslavia, Sudan's Darfur region, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Liberia as regions where deliberate sexual violence has been widespread. In the DRC, 40 women a day are raped.
On June 21, 2006 I wrote a poem Esperance, esperanza and hope about these women warriors. Nearly two years later, not much has changed. Still, they fight for survival.
What took them so long???!!!
Pardon me for being disgusted. I have zero tolerance for rape.
Now let's see if it will make one iota of difference. Rape in any context is a crime of violence, but this wartime thing is as old as the hills and should have been condemned and legislated against the minute humanity declared itself "civilized."
Posted by: Colette | 21 June 2008 at 17:17
Shudder.
I cannot believe what goes on in our world.
Glad the UN is recognizing that. 40 women a day? I'll bet it's more than that.
Posted by: Gillian | 20 June 2008 at 22:43
The fact that they even have to do this makes me very sad. But I guess it's a step in the right direction. So little, so late.
Posted by: tangobaby | 20 June 2008 at 21:13
Di takes the words right out of my mouth. Thank you for keeping me in the loop. I would not have know this info if not for you.
Beautiful Agapanthus.
Thanks for stopping by yesterday.
Your presence always makes me feel happy.
xox
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 20 June 2008 at 14:10
About time too!
Posted by: Di Overton | 20 June 2008 at 11:53