Doc. 11186
20 February 2007

Monitoring protection of rape victims

Written question No 521 to the Committee of Ministers
presented by Mrs de Pourbaix-Lundin

Violations of humanitarian law in the aftermath of armed conflicts in the Balkans were frequently occurring news a decade ago. In such conflicts the principal victims are the civilian population, women and children being the most vulnerable. Women became the foremost victims of violations of international humanitarian law such as rape, forced prostitution, sexual slavery and sexual abuse. Rape as a weapon of war in the Balkan conflicts became a public issue and was given much public attention. Such violations are easily forgotten when the news reporting ends. The reality for the victims is different; they have to continue to cope with the painful memories of their suffering for the rest of their lives – provided they survived the horrors.

My question to the Committee of Ministers concerns the follow-up of fates of rape victims in the Balkans. Has the Committee of Ministers access to information concerning these cases, the court procedures, the treatment and protection of the victims? If such information is not available, would it be appropriate to start a procedure of monitoring the fates of the rape victims of the Balkan conflicts.

Signed ¹:

de POURBAIX-LUNDIN, Marietta, Sweden, EPP/CD

¹     SOC: Socialist Group
      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
      ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
      EDG: European Democratic Group
      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
      NR: not registered in a group