U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is hosting a talk with the UN today on the state of Zimbabwe, the importance of transparent election, and the urgency to address how rape is used as a weapon of war, and what measures need to be taken.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the council’s discussion on women would send an important signal to the world just by discussing the systematic use of rape and mutilation as a weapon of war in conflict or post-conflict situations.
‘We believe it is very important that a message is sent that there is no impunity for such crimes,’ he said.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the council’s discussion on women would send an important signal to the world just by discussing the systematic use of rape and mutilation as a weapon of war in conflict or post-conflict situations.The simple acknowledgment of rape as a weapon of war is a great accomplishment, as its very existence has only really begun to be documented recently – but I’m also looking forward to seeing what strategic plans might come out of the meeting to really do something about violence against women in conflict and post-conflict situations.