Local AM condemns sexual violence in Darfur

3.24.01pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Dec 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has tabled a Statement of Opinion at the National Assembly for Wales, to draw attention to the systematic use of rape against the women of the Darfur region of Sudan.

The Statement was jointly tabled by all three female Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Members, and condemns the utilisation of rape as a weapon of war.

Ms Williams said: "The atrocities being committed in Darfur are beyond imagining. The systematic use of sexual violence against civilians in this way constitutes a war crime and must not be ignored by the outside world. The Sudanese government is entirely unable to protect its people and must with all speed now fully implement the Darfur Peace Agreement and accept a peacekeeping force. This humanitarian crisis has already cost over 200,000 lives and placed a further four million at risk; the international community must do all it can to improve the situation."

Notes:

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Members Kirsty Williams, Eleanor Burnham and Jenny Randerson have jointly tabled a Statement of Opinion which reads: "The National Assembly for Wales abhors the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon, particularly being used against women and children in the Darfur region of Sudan, and recognises such action as constituting a war crime. The National Assembly for Wales calls upon its members to condemn the Sudanese government for failing to protect its own most vulnerable people. This Assembly calls upon the UK government to place the strongest effective pressure on the Sudanese government to implement the investigation of all cases of rape and sexual violence by specialist gender units as the Darfur Peace Agreement demands."

Statements of Opinion are the Assembly's equivalent to an Early Day Motion in Parliament, and are a mechanism for Members to draw attention to issues of concern by putting their views on a subject on record.