Unmil Probes Soldier for Rape

November 30, 2005 (The Inquirer) The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has launched an investigation into a rape case involving one of its soldiers. According to an UNMIL release, on 26 November, a member of the mission's military contingents was accused of committing rape.

In accordance with the United Nations' zero-tolerance policy for any kind of sexual exploitation and abuse, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) to Liberia, Mr. Alan Doss has ordered an immediate investigation, which is being conducted in cooperation with Liberian authorities.

In another development, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) has called for the abolishment of the death penalty in rape bill currently before the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA).The female lawyers made the pronouncement during the official launching of the 16th days activisms for violence against women.

The lawyers said, the reason for which they are calling on the abolition of the death penalty is because they believe such penalty is too much for the crime and they have agreed to amend the bill.The program, which was officially launched at the Ministry of Gender, brought together prominent women from both local and international organizations.

In remarks, the acting Minister of the Ministry of Gender, Mrs.Lorpu Kandakia called for the immediate passage of the bill, stressing that the passing of the bill is very important to the women of Liberia The Acting Minister called on the NTLA to consider the bill during the plenary while discussing other important issues of the state.Minister Kandakia said that the passing of the bill was necessary because on a daily basis their children were being raped to the extent that they were also being "gang rape'.

Mrs .Kandakia noted that they are planning to stage a match in December, to draw attention to the passage of the bill. She told reporters that the bill is the people's bills and must be passed for the people.The Acting Minister said they started the awareness through the sponsorship of UNICEF and for more than four years people do not want to admit that they were being raped.

The AFELL observed that the reason for which the bill is being delayed was because of selfishness and perpetuation of male dominance.AFELL also added that the definition has been expanded for rape, because rape is not only limited to forcing of the penis against the will of the victim, but also the use of other instruments or even the finger.
For marriage, the group of female lawyers said, if the husband and wife are not living together and the man sees the wife on the street and demands that the wife goes to bed with him against her will, it is a rape and the law will take it course.

They added that submission does not mean force, thus if a husband forcefully makes love to his wife it is considered a rape.