MAYNOOTH, Ireland, MARCH 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Marking today’s 100th International Women’s Day, the Irish bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace is focusing attention on the wartime crime of sexual violence.
A statement from the Irish Episcopal Conference appealed «for renewed efforts by the new government and the international community to protect women from sexual violence in war.»
The statement urged government financial support for agencies, such as the Catholic Trócaire agency, which are working for women’s equality.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Field of Dublin, chair of the Council for Justice and Peace, said today that there is greater recognition of «gender-based violence in armed conflict,» but that little has been done to protect women or bring perpetrators to justice.
The bishops’ statement referenced a briefing given to the U.N. Human Rights Council by Margot Wallström, a U.N. special representative on sexual violence in conflict.
She spoke about sexual violence in Africa and said that it is increasingly being used «to influence the outcome of elections.»
But, Wallström emphasized, the phenomenon is not restricted to Africa. She cited the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying that only 12 convictions have been gained for an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 rapes during the 1992-1995 conflict.
Imperative
On this centenary of International Women’s Day, Bishop Field lauded «the progress that has been made in terms of women’s rights and the economic, social and political achievements of women.»
But he recalled that «responding to gender-based violence is a moral imperative, deeply rooted in our belief that every human person, male and female, is made in the image of God.»
“We emphasize that the issue of sexual violence against women and girls in zones of conflict must also be considered in the context of wider manifestations of such violence throughout the world, including domestic violence and human trafficking,» the bishop said. «It needs to be recognized that violence against women has a negative impact on society as a whole. It affects everyone and we all have a responsibility to work towards the eradication of these crimes.”
