by Reta Raymond
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda – Earlier this year, with the help of  the U.S. Army in Iraq, eleven Ugandan women escaped from domestic slavery and were repatriated by the International Organization for Migration. These women are now suing the firm that sold them, Uganda Veteran’s Development Limited (UVDL), the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecution, and the Inspector General of Police for failure to protect and failure to prosecute. One of the women plaintiffs, identified only as “W,” called and “informed [Inspector General of Police, Kale Kaihura] about our situation of slavery in Iraq and he promised to rescue us but did nothing to that effect.”

In 2008, UVDL promised these women jobs as secretaries, nurses, supermarket clerks to earn as much as $700 per month including allowances. But the women had to pay approximately $1000 for a visa, application,airplane ticket and medical examination. Women were flown to Baghdad in groups of a dozen, and delivered to Abu Sami, who took their passports and sold them as servants for $3500. Abu Sami “yelled at us that we were his slaves he had purchased us with his money and we would have to work as housemaids for the people who were waiting for us in his office,” states Y in her affidavit.

Y was forced to clean a Sheik’s mansion from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. After six days, Y refused to work and the Sheik held her at gunpoint and “threatened to throw me in a well of petrol.” Y was returned to Abu Sami, who kept her in a dark room with others until she could be resold. “Abu Sami said I would stay in the room locked up for the period of my contract of 2 years without food,” stated Y.

Z was beaten, raped six times, and given a venereal disease by the man who bought her. She was hospitalized four times for stress and a heart attack. “I could not escape because the family had my passport and I had spent my little salary on hospital bills, telephone calls …  in spite of my sickness I continued to work,” stated Z.

In July of 2009 eight Ugandan women sold by UVDL were rescued by U.S. Marines in Iraq. One of the women, Rachel Malagala testified before Parliament that she “was held in a dark room with three other women some of whom complained that their Iraqi masters sexually harassed them.” Shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Labour revoked  UVDL’s license to export labor, but they were relicensed in December 2010.

For more information, please see:

The Observer – Ugandan Iraq ‘slaves’ sue state – 8 June, 2011

BBC – Ugandan women tricked into domestic slavery in Iraq – 31 March, 2011

All Africa – Uganda: U.S. Marines Rescue Eight Ugandan Slaves in Iraq – 11 July, 2009

by Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – In a new documentary, Le Crime Invisible “The Invisible Crime“, Etelle Higonnet and Raynald Lellouche depict the sexual violence that occurred between 2002 and 2007 during the civil war in Côte d’Ivoire.  The film was released in French on May 18, 2011, and its English premier will take place in the upcoming months.

As tensions in Côte d’Ivoire rise after Laurent Gvbagbo’s capture in April 2011, this film has become increasingly relevant.  After the 2010 election, violence sparked, and women were the first victims of the dispute between the Alassane Ouattara, the UN-certified winner, and Gbagbo, who refused to leave power.

Rape is commonly used as a weapon of war in conflicts around the world.  During the civil war in Côte d’Ivoire, estimates show that one in ten women were raped.  Throughout the five year conflict, tens of thousands of women became victims of rape regardless of economic status, religious belief, or ethnic affiliation.  Author Isabelle Hanne observes after the rape, the women struggle with a cruel punishment: “for the rape and pain, just loneliness, a child born of rape, a husband who denies.”  She continues “because they are denied justice and care, locked in their trauma, these women are also invisible”.

Twelve female journalists worked on The Invisible Crime to give voices to the victims of rape: Aline, Marianne, Aminata, Helen and Rose.  After being raped by the rebels in front of her parents, Aline fled to Liberia.  Marianne feared contracting HIV after she was a sex slave by her torturers.  Africamix, Le Monde Newspaper’s Africa blog, commented: “[the women] all chose to speak on camera, openly, despite the shame, pain, fear.  Compared to other countries such as Guatemala, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Iraq, where sexual violence is used in wartime, the response to the sexual violence in Côte d’Ivoire is alarmingly silent.  The journalists worked on this documentary to highlight the need for information and respect for human life.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on June 19, 2008, that declared rape constitutes a war crime.  In 2007, China, Russia, and South Africa each blocked a similar resolution.  Higonnet comments on their stance by saying: “These three countries have justified their position by citing the risk of further inflaming the region. But how to make peace without justice and transparency? I would like the media coverage of [The Invisible Crime] UN to publish this report, but also to investigate the sponsors of these rapes.”

In order for the film to be suitable for a wide audience, more severe and violent accounts were removed.  The film is also in French for the viewing of Côte d’Ivoirians and residents of francophone countries.  Finally, Higonnet adds “We must break the silence and confront the political elites, legal, media to this reality.”

For more information, please see:
Sencontinent – Documentary – 10 Years of “Invisible Crime”, these women raped in Côte d’Ivoire – 19 May 2011
Liberation – “The Invisible Crime”, a blindness Ivorian – 18 May 2011
Newen Content – “The Invisible Crime”, May 18, 8:40pm on Planet (CAPA) – 18 May 2011
AfricaMix – Ivorian women victims of “crimes invisible” unpunished – 17 May 2011
Foreign Policy Blogs – War Crimes Against Women and Children – 21 June 2008

By Reta Raymond
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NEBBI, Uganda- Protests were staged on Wednesday, June 1 during the swearing in of newly elected district chairperson Robert Okumu of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Nebbi, northwest of Kampala. Protesters in support of candidate Estom William Alenyo lit tires to block the Nebbi-Kampala road to interfere with the procession. Police dispelled crowds using tear gas and live ammunition, and the protesters fought back using stones. Protesters complain  that Okumu’s swearing in is premature because of an unresolved election petition of the recount results in the High Court. A protester told New Vision that “we cannot allow this, Okumu wants to use illegal means to lead us when he is not our choice.” Eighteen protesters were arrested and have been remanded to prison after having been denied bail. Two were injured during the protest.

Estom William Alenyo (Ind) was declared the winner of the election earlier this year, but after  Okumu sued Alenyo and the Electoral Commission, a recount was ordered and Okumu was declared the winner on May 30.

This protest is the most recent in a string of police brutality incidents related to civil unrest in Uganda since April. In the capital city of Kampala, the activist group, Activists for Change (A4C), organized the “Walk to Work” campaign.  Protesters walked from their homes to their offices to call attention to the high fuel and commodity prices. Security forces used tear gas, live ammunition and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of protesters.

One of the prominent faces of A4C’s campaign, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kizza Besigye, was arrested numerous times, was shot in the hand, and tear gassed at point blank,which blinded him temporarily. Besigye was confined to his home for most of May, except to leave the country to receive medical treatment for his injuries.  He told reporters “I have no idea what the conditions of my house arrest are… they didn’t say for how long.” The force’s use of live ammunition and other measures were used against bystanders and protesters alike, injuring three hundred and killing at least nine, including two children.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for a probe into human rights violations which took place during the Walk to Work campaign, citing nine indiscriminate killings and other gross violations. Additionally, on Wednesday the East African Law Society (EALS) filed a lawsuit against Uganda in the East African Court (EAC) of Justice in Tanzania for the human rights violations. Vice President of the EALS, Mr. Aggrey Mwamu, told reporters that “as the atrocities were committed in Uganda, neither the EAC secretary general nor any of the five members of the Community raised concern. They all kept quiet… this is against the EAC Treaty.”

For more information, please see;

Daily Monitor – Live Bullets, Teargas as police battle Nebbi protesters – 2 June, 2011

The New Vision – Nebbi LC5 sworn in amidst demo – 2 June 2011

All Africa – Uganda: Nebbi Court Remands 18 Youth Over Protest – 3 June 2011

BBC – Uganda’s Kizza Besigye ‘put under house arrest’ – 19 May 2011

Human Rights Watch – Uganda: Launch Independent Inquiry into Killings – 8 May 2011

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya – On Monday the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled Kenya failed to prove it was investigating the six suspects responsible for provoking the 2008 post-election violence.  The Kenyan government moved to prosecute the suspects with governmental reforms and a new constitution.  Of the twenty-four attachments the Kenya government submitted to support their case, the ICC found only three attachments were relevant. 

The ICC also wanted to protect witnesses involved in the cases and ensure the right witnesses are called to testify.  Records did not indicate Kenya has questioned relevant witnesses.  Furthermore, Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asserted campaigns in Kenya promote a “climate of fear”, which intimidates witnesses.  He stated “They are pursuing regional and political campaigns to stop the case.  Not only is this sending the wrong signal, but it is also promoting a growing climate of fear that is intimidating potential witnesses and ultimately undermining national and international investigations”.  Last year, the ICC warned the Kenyan government it would request arrest warrants for and identify anyone intimidating witnesses, including family members.  Mr. Mutula Kilonzo, a liaison of Kenya to the ICC, responded “I am surprised, because that is not true.  I am not aware of any attempt to create fear.  If anything, we are working round the clock to make sure the country goes through healing in preparation for next year’s elections.”

The charges against the “Ocampo Six”, named after Chief Prosecutor Ocampo, stemmed from demonstrations and riots that became violent following the December 2008 election.  Over 1,300 people died in the fighting, and hundreds of thousands were displaced as a result them.  This violence placed Kenya on the brink of civil war after supporters of current president Mr. Mwai Kibaki were accused of rigging the election.

Once the violence quelled, the two candidates agreed to share power.  Mr. Kibaki remained president, and Mr. Railia Odinga became the prime minister.  The men agreed to hold the parties responsible for the violence in Kenya’s courts or the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands.

In April, the Ocampo Six appeared before the ICC.  Three suspects supported Mr. Kibaki: Uhuru Kenyatta (deputy prime minister and finance minister and son of Kenya’s founding president), Francis Muthaura (head of civil service and cabinet secretary), and Hussein Ali (police chief during the violence).  The other three suspects supported Mr. Odinga: William Ruto (former minister of higher education), Henry Kosgey (former minister of industrialization and chairman of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement), and Joshua Arap Sang (reporter and executive of radio station Kass FM).

In September, the ICC will hold hearings for the confirmation of charges for the Ocampo Six.  If found guilty for their roles in the 2008 post-election violence, the defendants face life sentences.

For more information, please see:
BBC – ICC rejects Kenya bid to halt election violence probe – 30 May 2011
Daily Nation – Judges reject Kenya bid to save suspects – 30 May 2011
Reuters – Kenya government loses bid to stop Hague trials – 30 May 2011
Voice of America – Kenya denies undermining International Criminal Court – 30 May 2011

by Tamara Alfred

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria —  On Saturday, May 28, in the southeast city of Aba, Nigerian police took into custody 32 young women and a doctor during a raid on The Cross Foundation, believed to be a so-called “baby factory.”  The girls, aged between 15 and 17 years old and usually poor or desperate teenagers with unplanned pregnancies, were reportedly being kept locked up and forced to get pregnant.  There are reports that some had come to the clinic believing it was an adoption agency.  Upon selling their babies to the doctor, the newborns were then resold for illegal adoption or to be used for ritual witchcraft.

The girls would sell their babies to the head of the clinic, who would then resell the newborns for anywhere between 100,000 naira ($640) to one million naira ($6,400).  According to the BBC, male babies were more prized and sold for a higher price.  After the sale of the newborns, the girls were given approximately $170 by the clinic owner.

Buying or selling of babies is illegal in Nigeria and can carry a 14-year jail sentence.  The proprietor of The Cross Foundation, Dr. Hyacinth Orikara, is currently being questioned and is likely to face charges of child abuse and human trafficking.  Dr. Orikara is currently denying all charges, saying it was only a foundation to help teenagers with unwanted pregnancies.  The young women will either be charged or handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation.

Human trafficking is ranked the third most common crime in Nigeria behind economic fraud and drug trafficking.  The United Nations estimates that at least 10 children are sold across the country each day.  Some children are bought for use as labor in plantations, mines, or factories, while others are sold into prostitution.  Others are used in witchcraft rituals believed to bring riches to families.  Many are also sold in illegal adoptions.

“We have so many cases going on in court right now,” Ijeoma Okoronkwo, the regional head of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, told AFP.  “There is a problem of illicit adoption and people not knowing the right way to adopt children.”

A few news agencies reported that some young children were also found at the clinic.  It was not known if they were related to the girls.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Nigeria police break suspected baby-trafficking ring – 2 June 2011

CNN – Nigerian police free 30 girls in alleged ‘baby industry’ – 2 June 2011

BBC News – Nigeria ‘baby farm’ girls rescued by Abia state police – 1 June 2011

Global Post – Nigeria: “baby factory” raided, 32 pregnant girls rescued – 2 June 2011

AFP – Nigerian ‘baby factory’ raided, 32 teenage girls freed – 1 June 2011