Women and the hell of war
Dewi Cooke; 28/6/08
Women and girls are often caught in the crossfire of conflict, violated by men who have the power to do so. A new report argues legal changes to protect them are crucial in the fight against poverty. Young women occupy a strange space in most cultures. As mothers, sisters and daughters, their strength and resilience help hold their communities together. But in times of war they are often the first and most vulnerable targets. That is how it was for Bintu and Rumenia. Bintu is from Liberia, where she was captured by rebels during the civil war. Rumenia is from East Timor and lost her 20-year-old older brother in the 2006 uprising when he was shot outside her family home.
See: http://www.theage.com.au/world/women-and-the-hell-of-war-20080627-2y3t.html