'One in three' female Darfur refugees raped
Human rights group claims women fleeing Darfur are serious risk of being raped or sexually attacked
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Monday, 01, Jun 2009 05:39
Research from an influential human rights group has warned that women fleeing Darfur are at a serious risk of being raped or sexually assaulted.
The report by Physicians For Human Rights (PHR) said there was no one responsible stopping the rapes in and around refugee camps in Chad and nowhere for the victims to turn to.
PHR's deputy director Susannah Sirkin said: "Many Darfuri women refugees live in a nightmare of memories of past trauma compounded by the constant threat of sexual violence around the camps now.
"Women who report being raped are stigmatised, and remain trapped in place of perpetual insecurity."
The charity interviewed 88 women and found 32 had made "confirmed or highly probable" accusations of rape.
Of the 32 reports, 17 occurred in Darfur while 15 happened in Chad, the majority of the later occurred when the women left the camps to gather firewood.
Commenting on the interviews with the woman, Dr Sondra Crosby said: "The atmosphere of intimidation was palpable as we listened to women describing their profound suffering and fear, and their yearning to return safely and with dignity to their former lives."
PHR has called for rape to be recognised as a war crime, while the Sudanese government has denied the regular attacks are taking place.