Leaders to sign pact on sexual violence
Dec 16, 2011
Leaders of the Great Lakes Region are expected to sign a declaration on how to handle sexual violence and negative forces.
By Henry Mukasa
Leaders of the Great Lakes Region are expected to sign a declaration on how to handle sexual violence and negative forces.
The signing will mark the end of a two day summit at Speke Resort Munyonyo at the shores of Lake Victoria.
Delegates from eleven countries pointed out that militias use sex as a weapon of war during conflict. However they did not exempt national armies, peace keeping forces and civilians who they equally accused of perpetrating acts of sexual based violence.
Rape, defilement, sexual threats, exploitation, humiliation, assault, molestation, incest and female genital mutilation (FGM) were listed as some of the sexual offences commonly committed against women and girls.
Presidents, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Michael Sata (Zambia) Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) and Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) are attending the summit. Sudanese Vice President Alhaj Adam Yusuf is representing indicted President of Sudan, Omar el Bashir.
The summit is organised under the theme; United to prevent, end impunity and provide support to the victims of Sexual and Gender based violence in the Great Lakes Region.