Mick Hartley

No doubt it’s progress of a kind to have this officially confirmed, but still…

Rape is being used as a weapon of war in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region, a United Nations report says.

Anyone who’s followed the news from Darfur has known this for a couple of years at least. We’ve had countless reports and eye-witness accounts.

And their recommendations?

[T]he High Commissioner is calling on Government authorities to conduct an impartial, timely, and transparent investigation into the attacks , with particular focus on the allegations of rape and other gross violations of international human rights law. ” The investigation should aim to collect evidence to identify and prosecute those who planned, orchestrated, and/or conducted the attacks”, the High Commissioner said following the release of the reports. ” The results of the investigation should be made public, legal action should be taken against those found to be responsible and the victims of the attacks should be compensated”

Yeah, that’ll do it. No doubt Sudanese President Bashir is already pulling together a team of crack investigators. “Remember the key words here”, he’ll be telling them (maybe he’ll have put together a PowerPoint presentation), “impartial: timely: transparent. And you in the back – stop sniggering.”