Amnesty International classifies Taiz leaders as war criminals for not punishing child rapists
English - Thursday 17 October 2019 الساعة 06:43 pm
Amnesty International has held the security authorities in Taiz responsible for protecting the families of children who have been raped, calling for thorough investigations, intolerance of these crimes, and for the protection of families of children from reprisals.
These victims and their families find themselves alone unprotected in the face of the horrific plight of sexual abuse and its consequences, said Heba Morayef, director of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office.
“The painful testimonies of these young people who have been raped, and the testimonies of their families, reveal how the ongoing conflict makes children vulnerable to sexual exploitation in a city that is suffering from security and institutional weakness.
Amnesty International called for the suspects, including members of the warring forces and community leaders, to be brought to justice for a fair trial.
Amnesty International said rape and sexual assault committed in the context of armed conflict are war crimes, and leaders who do not end these heinous acts may themselves be responsible for war crimes.
