RAPE IN SIERRA LEONE'S CIVIL WAR

Early day motion 555, tabled 22 January 2003 by Tony Colman (Labour). Signed by 50 members.

That this House notes the Human Rights Watch report 'We'll Kill You if You Cry' and commends the organisation for revealing the extent of the problem of rape in contemporary civil wars; further notes that thousands of people were brutally raped in the 1991 to 2000 civil war in Sierra Leone; and believes that those military and rebel leaders who allowed rape to be used as a weapon of war should face prosecution for war crimes or crimes against humanity in the new Special Court fo War Crimes in Sierra Leone headed by Geoffrey Robertson and Bankole Thompson; and calls on Her Majesty's Government and other donors to ensure that the court has the funding to try alleged war criminals swiftly and justly and that rehabilitation services are made available to victims of rape and violence.

Signatures by party: Labour 34, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2, Scottish National Party 1.