Darfur Refugees Raped in Chad Camps

A new Amnesty International report draws a shocking picture of the fate of women and girls who fled the violence in Darfur to neighboring Chad: Instead of finding safety in refugee camps across the border, many become victims of sexual violence. Chadian police, trained and supported by UN forces, do little to protect women from sexual attacks in and outside the camps. In a statement to the Associated Press, a spokesman for the Chadian government denied any responsibility for protecting the refugees: “If there are cases of rape in the camps we cannot prevent them. The government is not responsible for security in the camps.”

The conclusion of the report – titled No place for us here. Violence against refugee women in eastern Chad (pdf) – is devastating and speaks for itself:

Refugee women and girls continue to face the risk of rape and other serious violence in and outside refugee camps in eastern Chad despite the presence of the MINURCAT and the full deployment of the DIS [Detachement Integre de Securite; UN trained Chadian police force] in the 12 refugee camps in eastern Chad.

Outside refugee camps, women and girls face a range of abuses, from harassment and threats of physical attacks to rape and other forms of violence. Within the camps there is little safety from rape and other violence at the hands of other refugees, including members of their own families. In some cases women and girls even face the risk of rape and other violence from staff of humanitarian organizations, whose task is to provide them with assistance and support.

Perpetrators of rape and other forms of violence against refugee women and girls are very rarely brought to justice. This is the case even when survivors report instances of rape and other violence to the local Chadian authorities, the DIS or to refugee camps leaders. There is a deeply entrenched culture of impunity throughout eastern Chad when it comes to rape and other forms of violence against women.

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13 thoughts on “Darfur Refugees Raped in Chad Camps

  1. I am so saddend by this report I can barley see through the tears. I became involved with AI, and Women for Women international due to the reports of rape and other obuses in war torn Darfur and Congo (DRC). Ive read reports throughout the years of Women be used as weapons of war, not only are the beaten, raped and used as sexual slaves but have been abused and raped by the peacekeepers as well, including UN peacekeepers. When is it going to end.

  2. I am so saddend by this report I can barley see through the tears. I became involved with AI, and Women for Women international due to the reports of rape and other obuses in war torn Darfur and Congo (DRC). Ive read reports throughout the years of Women be used as weapons of war, not only are the beaten, raped and used as sexual slaves but have been abused and raped by the peacekeepers as well, including UN peacekeepers. When is it going to end.

  3. This is a huge problem in Darfur as well as other parts of Africa. It's tragic and disgusting that the "government" turns a blind eye to such unnecessary brutal violence against girls and women. Part of the reason the violence occurs is due to the government and so called "higher ups' not doing anything to stop it. There is no reason or excuse for violence and sexual violence against girls and women. This makes me sick to my stomach. Someone should do something immediately. All those in power to end this should definitely do so. These girls and woman are our daughters, sisters, mothers, cousins, best friends, girlfriends, wives. End this now!

  4. This is a huge problem in Darfur as well as other parts of Africa. It’s tragic and disgusting that the “government” turns a blind eye to such unnecessary brutal violence against girls and women. Part of the reason the violence occurs is due to the government and so called “higher ups’ not doing anything to stop it. There is no reason or excuse for violence and sexual violence against girls and women. This makes me sick to my stomach. Someone should do something immediately. All those in power to end this should definitely do so. These girls and woman are our daughters, sisters, mothers, cousins, best friends, girlfriends, wives. End this now!

  5. im doing a report in school and we can stop this we can force chadian police to do something about this. we can put a stop to this think of all ur children kids their age are being raped and some watch their mothers get raped, all we got to do is care.

  6. im doing a report in school and we can stop this we can force chadian police to do something about this. we can put a stop to this think of all ur children kids their age are being raped and some watch their mothers get raped, all we got to do is care.

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