Tragedy beyond belief - rape of Rohingya women

[razz]

Sexual assault is a huge problem world-wide, but when aid is denied, the tragedy is so much worse. While I can appreciate efforts to reduce expenses and cut costs, denying aid to the sexually assaulted women refugees of the world is really evil in the extreme.

From the Christian Science Monitor: 2017-11-24 issue
"As bad as conditions are for the Rohingya generally, they are worse for their women and girls. The United Nations recently concluded that nearly all of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim females fleeing what it has called “ethnic cleansing” in Myanmar have either survived or witnessed sexual assault, including rape and gang rape. Thousands of the displaced women, most of whom have fled to sprawling camps in neighboring Bangladesh, are pregnant and face the prospect of giving birth in life-threatening conditions. Some human rights experts say the horrendous conditions are being exacerbated by US cuts in funding for UN programs that provide women-specific services to displaced populations. “We’re barred from getting any money from the US government, and that is having a significant impact,” says Ugochi Daniels, chief of humanitarian response at the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The withdrawal of what before this year was UNFPA’s No. 1 funding source “means that women and girls are not getting the services they require,” she says.
By Howard LaFranchi"

[Lainey]

I'm reading this to mean that the U.S. has withdrawn any aid to organizations that offer abortions. It's really a double assault because now the victims will be forced to bear their attacker's offspring.
Reminds me of the book, "Against Their Will" by Susan Brownmiller which came out in 1975. The first real detailed non-fiction book about rape, including rape across history, and the deliberate use of rape by soldiers to forcibly intimidate a population.

I agree that denying aid to these women is evil - another consequence of the November election.

[Yppej]

This funding was also cut in the past by the Reagan and both Bush administrations with the claim that it funded coerced abortions and sterilizations in China.

[iris lilies]

Perhaps Canada can step up to close this funding gap?

[JaneV2.0]

Perhaps Canada can step up to close this funding gap?

Because we need to funnel our tax dollars to the needy Koch brothers and their peers.

[razz]

Perhaps Canada can step up to close this funding gap?

It is not just funding but essential leadership that is lacking. Sec of State Tillerson is trying his best after visiting Myanmar and Bangladesh and deeming conditions as "horrific".


"The State Department says the cut in funding was based on a directive signed by President Trump in January banning funding for international organizations or nongovernmental groups that provide abortion services or advice that includes abortion as an option. UNFPA said at the time that it does not provide abortion services, but the State Department said that UNFPA provides family-planning services in China, a country that does resort to coercive abortions."

These women are needing midwives and support after rape, gang rape - not abortions.

"But Coquelin says the staggering number of victims of sexual violence has overwhelmed the agency’s ability to provide medical and counseling services. The agency estimates there are 87,000 pregnant and lactating women in the displaced population, requiring services ranging from prenatal obstetrics to post-birth care and counseling.

Some human rights experts who have visited the camps of displaced Rohingya say that clearly the rapid displacement of so many women and girls is a key reason they are not getting the services they need.

“No, I would not say their specific needs are being met, and part of that is the sheer scale of this displacement,” says Daniel Sullivan, senior advocate for human rights at Refugees International in Washington. “This is the most rapid scale we’ve seen since perhaps Kosovo” in 1998, he says.

But the other key factor in the unmet needs of women and girls “is certainly the staggering extent of the sexual violence they experienced and witnessed,” he says.

But on the other hand, he does say that a retreat by the US on human-rights issues has had a noticeable impact on the ground in crises like that of the Rohingya.

“The US voice has been missing under this administration, and humanitarian experts on the ground are very much aware – and the people affected by these crises are very much aware – of a vacuum left by the loss of this voice,” he says. “This missing strong leadership is having a broad impact, including on an issue like women and girls.”

"Pope Francis on Monday begins a six-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh. While attention will focus on whether he will directly address the Rohingya Muslim crisis, the trip also holds huge significance for the tiny Catholic communities in each country." -source is CBC News.

[iris lilies]

Can Canada step up for the needed leadership as well? Is that possible?

I mean, if that is what is needed.

The U.S. doesnt own this problem. I realize that a large hole may be left if the U.S. vacates services that it previously porivded, but what an opportunity for other countries to provide humanitarian aid for other communities. Yes, this is an opportunity.

[Alan]

The UNFPA has a budget of nearly a Billion dollars and the US has cut back by $32 Million, resulting in a budgetary hit of approximately 3.5%.
I can only suppose that given the notoriety of this lack of funding, that 3.5% is the part that makes all the UNFPA's efforts possible.

Perhaps the UN could redirect all UNFPA resources towards combating these women's oppressors in the hope of cutting off the problem at it's source. That may do the most good.

[Yppej]

Maybe the oil rich Gulf States could fund the gap to help out their fellow Muslims.

[razz]

I am not hearing concern for the magnitude of this crisis especially for the women and girls but partisan defensiveness. But since allegations of rape and sexual assault is to be tolerated in US political leadership, why am I surprised? Silly me to expect horrific sexual abuse to be publicly condemned elsewhere.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trud...lims-1.4295723
"It was released publicly Monday after the prime minister made reference to it in a joint news conference in Ottawa with British Prime Minister Theresa May."
"As the de facto democratic leader of Myanmar and as a renowned advocate for human rights, you have a particular moral and political obligation to speak out against this appalling cruelty, and to do whatever is in your power to stop it," he wrote.

Canada provides $2.5M in funding for Rohingya refugees
"By publicly condemning the violence and taking immediate steps to protect and defend the rights of all minorities, you can help guide the people of Myanmar to surmount these deep ethnic divisions."

Trudeau also outlined further steps he would like the Myanmar government and military to take, calling on the Myanmar security forces to end the violence and bring the perpetrators to justice through independent and impartial investigations."