Amnesty International reported this week that Columbian authorities are not making much progress in bringing the perpetrators of extreme sexual violence crimes against women to justice. There has been great conflict between the government of Columbia and the FARC, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia. Many believe that if these two parties do not come together and reach a consensus on how to handle the violence and many other fundamental human rights in Columbia, there will never be peace. With an increase in armed conflict, women have become the targets of this sexual violence for the purpose of scaring communities, revenge against enemy nations, and to exploited as as sexual slaves. Many of these women and young girls are then sold into human trafficking and shipped around the world. Women very rarely report this violence due to the stigmas and stereotypes that come along with it. They feel that they may be ostracized by their families and communities, and that the perpetrators will never actually be brought to justice so there is no point in reporting it. In order to keep their reputations in tact, many of these men’s crimes are overlooked by the government and law enforcement. The problem in Columbia, and many other nations worldwide, is not a lack of laws, but rather a lack of enforcement of them. However, there are some new legislative initiatives that have been proposed in the country that could have a very positive impact on justice being served, if they are implemented correctly.
This article presented the facts very informationally and clearly to the reader. The main focus of the article was the steps being taken by legislature to bring justice for these victims of sexual violence. This is very important and should have been stressed, but I believe there could have been a bit more focus on the victims, their stories, and how they are coping with the violence. Overall, this article was very interesting and informative and had a call for justice worldwide that should be heard.
10/5/12 1:35 PM
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