10 women on hunger strike in Paris call for the rapes to become war crimes and for an international investigation

The Vice-president of the Party of the European Left (EL), Maite Mola, met in Paris with 10 women of Djibouti who are on hunger strike since March 25th to denounce the rapes by the army against Afar women. These rapes continue in total impunity since shortly after the start of the civil war, which began in 1991.

Maite Mola, beside to listen to their situation and demands, complained that "once more women become the main victims of all armed conflicts", used as booty and weapon of war. "In addition, these attacks are aggravated by the silence of the families themselves and the society which keeps invisible the problem. With the indifference of the international community, the United Nations and the European Union itself," added the EL Vice-president.

Through this strike the Djiboutian women ask the rapes to be recognized as war crimes and the authors to be judged by an International Penal Court created for the occasion. They also demands the opening of an international investigation on all the abuses committed against women as well as the respect of the regional and international conventions ratified by Djibouti in the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all form of Discrimination Against the Woman).

To break this wall of silence and support the struggle of the "Committee of women of Djibouti against violations and impunity", the EL Vice-president offered collaboration for a coordinated action making visible in Europe the struggle of Djibouti women, denouncing the rapes suffered by women in all the conflict of the world.

She also explained that the European Union shall help women of Djibouti, victims of rapes to regularize their situation as refugees. The same way she congratulated the commendable work made by the Association of Solidarity Women that supports them and helps to make the problem in Europe known.

With this action, the Djiboutian women want to draw attention to the elections which will be held this weekend in the small African country. Maite Mola expressed her desire that democracy prevails so that such attacks will not be repeated.