Gender Across Borders

photo from Open Parachute

Well, I never had a very favorable opinion of embattled Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, to say the least.  But a new report from Aids-Free World documents nearly 400 cases of politically motivated rapes committed by Mugabe’s supporters against women supporting Mugabe’s opponent in Zimbabwe’s flawed election last year.  (Remember that one?  Morgan Tsvangirai won, but Mugabe just couldn’t let go?)

Well things just keep getting more despicable.  Most of the women gang raped by Mugabe’s supporters cum militia believe they may have been infected with HIV.  Now Aids-Free World is demanding action from African Governments, asking that Mugabe’s supporters be prosecuted for their heinous war crimes.  I have to scoff, like that’ll ever happen but I vociferously agree.

In spite of Mugabe’s hideous record on women’s rights, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), a heroic women’s rights group, recently won the RFK Human Rights Award recently.  Emily posted about it here.  WOZA’s mission is to enable the voice and empowerment of women countrywide.  Seems like they have their work cut out for them.

It’s critical that these crimes against women continue to get international media coverage.  Hopefully international shame can help push accountability.

Related posts:

1. Global Feminism in the News: Rape
2. HIV in Marriage: a short documentary
3. Corrective rape in South Africa
4. HIV laws don’t protect women
5. Women of Zimbabwe Arise Awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award