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[30 November 2007] - The Ugandan justice system is tacitly condoning sexual violence against women and girls in the north of the country, Amnesty International says in a report. The vast majority of sexual abuse cases were not reported because most victims had lost hope that perpetrators would be jailed, the human rights group said. "Violence against women is endemic throughout Uganda," a spokesman said. The 21-year conflict in the north with Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels had exacerbated the problem, he said. The LRA built a reputation for mutilating their victims and kidnapping thousands of children to serve as fighters, porters and sex slaves. Despite last year's truce between the army and LRA, the region remains insecure and an estimated 1.5m people still remain in displacement camps. 'Insult to injury' Forms of violence that Amnesty reports include rape, child sexual abuse and physical assault - perpetrated especially in camps. The victims told Amnesty researchers that the abusers included government forces, law enforcement officers, official authorities, local council leaders, spouses and relatives. "The situation remains grim, despite the recent cessation of hostilities," said Godfrey Odongo, Amnesty's researcher in Kampala. "The horrific violence committed during the many years of conflict in northern Uganda continues to aggravate discrimination against women and girls in the area today," he said. The report says police are often reluctant to investigate cases involving soldiers and Ugandan law does not recognise marital rape as a criminal offence. "Adding insult to injury, the justice system operating in northern Uganda is grossly inadequate in ensuring the protection of these women and girls - almost always allowing the perpetrators to walk free," Mr Odongo said. Police sometimes demand money to investigate cases and victims are can be asked to pay costs such as providing lunch for investigating officers or to feed the suspect in detention, the report says. Amnesty called for immediate government action to ensure that justice was served in cases of sexual violence. [Source: BBC] Further information
pdf: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR590052007