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world news Diabierna 11 December 2020

Kenya to compensate rape victims from violence 13 years ago

(AP) — A Kenyan high the gruesome ordeal of the
court on Thursday or- 2007-2008 post-election
dered the government to sexual violence,” the eight
compensate four victims victims in the case said in a
of sexual attacks by secu- statement.
rity agents during post- “We have endured long-term
election violence 13 years physical, psychological, and
ago. social scars – which will only
continue until the Govern-
Rights activist say the judg- ment of Kenya fulfills its
ment sets a precedent and basic legal and human rights
clears the way for hundreds, duties to acknowledge the
possibly thousands, of other harm we have suffered, en-
victims to seek redress. sure accountability, and give
Eight victims of sexual vio- us reparation,” the statement
lence — six women and said.
two men — had sued the Kenya’s government claims
government for neglect on that there actions have been
behalf of thousands of sex taken and that it prosecuted
abuse victims during the hundreds of cases, but has re-
post-election violence after a fused to give evidence of the
flawed presidential election prosecutions
in Dec 27, 2007. Their cases More than 1,000 people were tors. It sends a message that other Most of the survivors were
were backed by several rights killed and 600,000 displaced Korir, however, did not find survivors can use this avenue, raped — several gang-raped
groups. from their homes during the enough evidence that the said Naitore Nyamu, head of — and some were forcefully
Justice Weldon Korir award- violence. Some 900 people government failed to address Physicians for Human Rights circumcised in front of their
ed four of the eight vic- reported being sexually as- crimes against other victims in Kenya, which helped the relatives, Nyamu said.
tims $36,000 compensation saulted, but human rights of sexual and gender based eight victims seek justice. She added that they have
Thursday after he found groups say the number runs violence during the post- She said it also sends a mes- been living with the conse-
their rights to life and secu- into thousands and many election violence, and de- sage to police that they have quences of their ordeals, such
rity — as well as prohibitions could not report the attacks clined to issue orders direct- a responsibility to conduct as being infected with HIV,
against torture, inhuman and to police because the police ing them to do so. genuine investigations that losing their livelihoods, being
degrading treatment — were themselves were perpetra- Human rights groups in- will lead to prosecutions abandoned by their spouses
violated as a result of govern- tors, or because they were too volved in the case hailed it as “We have had no other av- or stigmatized by their com-
ment failure to act. afraid to report the perpetra- a landmark ruling. enues to obtain justice since munities.

Argentine congress debates abortion rights; activists gather

guay, are among the few plac-
es in the region where wom-
en can undergo abortions
during the first 12 weeks of
pregnancy regardless of the
circumstances.
Currently, many women who
have an abortion in Argenti-
na, as well as people who as-
sist them with the procedure,
can face prosecution. Exemp-
tions are only considered in
cases of rape or if pregnancy
poses a risk to the mother’s
(AP) — Argentine law- “I’m so excited. It is a historic health. The bill being debat-
makers on Thursday de- demand and it has to do with ed would allow abortions to congress and followed the ing days.
bated a bill that would solving a public health prob- be carried out up to the 14th lawmakers’ debate on large In hopes of winning more
legalize abortion in most lem,” Laura Salomé, an abor- week of pregnancy. video screens set up outside votes, legislators who sup-
cases as demonstrators tion rights activist, said out- One of Fernández’s promises the building. They wore port the bill made last-min-
for and against the initia- side congress. She said she during his election campaign green, in contrast with anti- ute changes to the text that
tive gathered in separate was hopeful the bill would last year was to push for the abortion activists who often would allow private clinics
areas outside the congress become law this time because legalization of abortion. He wear blue. in which all medical work-
building. of the support of Fernández. took office in December Abortion rights and anti- ers oppose abortion rights
The Roman Catholic Church 2019. abortion demonstrators gath- to refrain from providing
The bill, backed by President in Argentina appealed to Several thousand women ered in separate, designated the procedure. Such clinics,
Alberto Fernández, appeared legislators for “a second of seeking abortions have died areas under tight security. though, would be required to
headed for approval by rul- reflection on what respect during unsafe, clandestine They wore masks as part of refer women to another facil-
ing party lawmakers in the for life means,” echoing the procedures in Argentina efforts to curb the spread of ity that does abortion proce-
lower house, but the out- position of Pope Francis, an since 1983, and about 38,000 COVID-19. dures.
look in the Senate was less Argentine, that abortion is women are hospitalized every The bill would pass in the Minors under 16 years old
clear. Two years ago, during part of today’s “throwaway year because of botched pro- lower house if just over half who seek an abortion can ex-
the administration of more culture” that doesn’t respect cedures conducted in secrecy, of the 257 lawmakers ap- ercise “their rights through
conservative President Mau- the dignity of the unborn, the according to the government. prove it in a vote expected their legal representatives,”
ricio Macri, the Senate voted weak or elderly. On Thursday, dozens of early Friday. More than half according to the bill. They
against a similar bill to legal- Latin America has some of members of a group called of the 72 lawmakers in the can seek “legal assistance” in
ize abortion after it was nar- the world’s most restrictive the National Campaign for Senate must then approve the cases of “conflict of interest”
rowly approved by the lower abortion laws. Mexico City, the Right to Free and Safe bill for it to become law; they with those representatives, it
house. along with Cuba and Uru- Legal Abortion gathered near are expected to vote in com- says.