Cheers and Jeers of the Week

CHEERS AND JEERS OF THE WEEK
Pakistan Boosts Pols; Rape Widespread in Colombia


Cheers

Pakistan's women's ministry announced a new program this week to educate and train female
leaders and representatives of local government across the country. The Women's Political
School project, a joint effort between Pakistan's government and the United Nations
Development Program, will target about 40,000 women, according to a U.N. press statement.

The project "will help empower Pakistan's female politicians to use their public offices
to raise women's issues directly into the policy agenda," said Nilofar Bakhtiyar, an
advisor to the prime minister of women's development, in an interview with Reuters.

Bakhtiyar added that the program will usher in many changes within local political
leadership, which should bolster female candidates in 2005 local elections.

Jeers

Rape and sexual violence against Colombian women perpetrated by guerillas, paramilitaries
and government forces continue to be widespread and underreported, according to a new
report by Amnesty International.

The report, "Colombia: Scarred bodies, hidden crimes, sexual violence against women in the
armed conflict," was part of the second phase of the organization's Stop Violence Against
Women campaign, which focuses on human rights violations committed against women and girls
in conflict and post-conflict situations.

"By sowing terror and exploiting and manipulating women for military gain, bodies have
been turned into a battleground," the report said. The abuses remain hidden "behind a wall
of silence," it alleged, and few perpetrators are ever brought to justice for these and
many other human rights violations.

-- Robin Hindery.

Amnesty International USA-- - Colombia: Scarred bodies, hidden crimes, sexual violence
against women in the armed conflict: -
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=34AA01C4A3274ECA80256EF900423197

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