five minutes to midnight     - - -    August 1, 2003
volume 1, issue 2

Table of Contents

     Letter From the Editor

     Sexual Exploitation of Refugees by Aid Workers
     Afghanistan - A Forgotten Cause

     Letters to the Editor

     Comment: Israel's New Racist Law
     Remember! Send all comments, editorials, and queries to gryc@rogers.com!

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Letter From the Editor

Sexual Exploitation of Refugees by Aid Workers by Wojciech Gryc

     As conflicts develop and reach climactic stages in different parts of the world, it is disturbing to think that those victimized by war, now living in displaced persons and refugee camps, are subjected to a different form of physical and emotional pain and suffering: sexual exploitation and abuse by those who are meant to help them.

     This article is by no means written to undermine the efforts of the thousands of workers and volunteers who support refugee camps, as without their help and support, those camps - places of rest and relative security for those living through massive conflicts - would not be possible. However, it is also important to view the establishments, in some cases permanent homes for thousands upon thousands of people, with scrutiny and an analytical mind for this is the only way to improve the quality of life for people in those areas.

     On May 22, 2003, the General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled "Investigation into sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa." A disturbing title, to say the least and one that was spurred by the publication of a report carrying the same name in October 2002. The report, centered on refugee camps Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, raised to people's attention the issues of unfair and sexist power structures, gender-based violence, and lack of support systems for refugees, especially women and children, which help exacerbate the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse. Although the article's and resolution's focus is on the three aforementioned countries, it is important to note they are not isolated problem areas - these problems occur all over the world and must be addressed.

     "A 14-year-old refugee girl from Sierra Leone was raped in a refugee camp in Guinea early in 2002. The Investigation Team established that the offenders, a Sierra Lenonean refugee and a Guinean NGO staff member, were responsible. In the course of her interview, the victim described in detail how the Guinean NGO offender while on duty in the refugee camp spotted her and requested his friend, the Sierra Leonean, to approach her on his behalf to solicit her for a sexual relationship. She declined the solicitation. Later that day, the Sierra Leonean refugee called to her as she was walking past his hut, saying he had a message for her. When she paused, he pushed her inside his hut where the NGO offender was waiting. She was restrained and violently raped by the NGO worker." (A/57/465 paragraph 20, Case 2, a)

     Such events, unfortunately, are not rare in refugee camps. Though the above case was extremely serious, a lot more happens on a lower scale due to camp structure, sexism, and refugees' inability to report when such events occur.

     First and foremost, almost all jobs and positions of authority in refugee camps are given to males. This creates an imbalanced power structure, allowing males to take advantage of their superiority. In fact, such problems have been known to occur. In educational establishments created in refugee camps, most teachers are males and there have been instances where teachers threatened to fail students unless they agreed to have sex with them. Since teachers tend to get some sort of pay for their work, they can also use money or material goods to solicit students for sexual relationships. One example stated in the UN report deals with "a relationship between a refugee girl and her teacher, himself a refugee. … [S]he had to consent to the relationship because of the material benefits accruing from it."

     Another problem regarding education is the fact that past primary school, there is a fee associated with attending classes. Since women tend to be unemployed, they cannot afford to educate themselves. There are scholarships awarded to students, but most are given to males. This makes it difficult for women to educate themselves and move upwards in the camp hierarchy.

     Males usually govern the distribution and storage of food, as well. In cases where there is an excess amount of food after distribution, it is stored in the camp and though records are kept on where the excess food goes, the report states "it is clear that there is some discretionary power among the men who control the ultimate distribution of any excess rations." Again, this food can be used to bribe women into sexual relationships.

     The fact that women rarely receive employment, coupled with the lack of extra food, is a devastating combination for women - one that is severely detrimental to their health and quality of life. Beds that go beyond the standard piles of straw found in most shelters, appropriate amounts of clothing, and food such as meat or fish all require money to be acquired. How can women support themselves or their children if they cannot buy any of these items?

     The resolution adopted on May 22 reflects these problems and calls for action. Luckily, some steps have already been taken to solve the problem. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has taken steps to hire more staff members, including female ones. Females have also been included in the food distribution process, as well as other tasks. Counseling services are also being offered to refugees, either in person or over the phone. Additionally, notices stating refugees' rights, responsibilities, and where they can go to for help and support have been posted and finally, the UNHCR is continuing to fund women's NGOs working in refugee camps.

     Of course, there are other recommendations that have not been implemented yet. One that seems increasingly important deals with a universal code of conduct and statement of rights and responsibilities for humanitarian aid workers. Presently, there is no such thing; most NGOs take it upon themselves to instruct their staff and volunteers what to do and how to act while doing it. They should, however, have some guidelines or instructions from the UN regarding their responsibilities. Moreover, NGOs should keep track of workers in the field by keeping their pictures and contact information on record for easy identification of wrongdoers.

     The sexual exploitation of refugees is a very serious issue and one that is slowly being addressed by the UN and its affiliates. In its conclusion, the "Investigation into sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa" states that cases of sexual abuse and exploitation caused by the UN's and other NGOs' staff members is not a widespread issue but that the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse in refugee camps in general is something that must be dealt with. There are many causes to this problem and a few solutions are being implemented, though more could be done. It is a problem that must be dealt with as soon as possible: the need to protect women and children from sex-related crimes is of the utmost importance, especially in places already ravaged by war and other human rights violations.

[Sources...]

Afghanistan - A Forgotten Cause by Joshua Concessao

     It has been almost two years since 9/11. What followed was a War on Terror that was and still is waged around the world. Since then the war has remained a hot topic, though Afghanistan has disappeared off the map. Much has happened since the initial talks in Bonn, Germany. The Taliban no longer controls Afghanistan and the US constantly hunts what remains of Al Qaeda. There is a new government and a new president ruling Afghanistan, but the country remains fractured and Karzai's influence does not extend beyond Kabul. To add to that, rival warlords control various pieces of the country and continue to fight amongst themselves. Amid all these troubles, it seems that the initial eagerness with which countries lined up to offer financial aid has all but fizzled out. With recent developments on the international stage, countries have found more attractive causes to support while Afghanistan has been left behind.

     In spite of all that has been achieved up until this point there is much that remains to be done. Two main areas that need immediate attention are security and government legitimacy. As it stands now, security forces along with the government are confined to the city of Kabul. The rest of the country is governed by various warlords who run their regions of control as they see fit without having to answer to the central government. As a result, it is extremely difficult to carry out humanitarian work anywhere outside of Kabul. If Afghanistan harbors any hope of rebuilding itself these issues must be addressed in a swift manner.

     Current coalition efforts in creating a secure Afghanistan are divided into two distinct areas. The first is a peacekeeping operation designed to maintain a fragile peace and assist in the rebuilding of necessary infrastructure and Afghanistan's national police force. It is a 5000 strong force lead by NATO. The second is a mainly US effort in combating what remains of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Contributing to this effort are various countries. While the NATO contingent concerns itself with police duties, US forces are in essence fighting a war. In spite of the differences in US and NATO objectives, the two operations are partly responsible for the current deficiencies in Afghan security.

     The original mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stated that it was responsible for providing security to the city of Kabul and its surrounding areas. Initially, the US offered the UN this job in an effort to pacify their requests of a greater role in Afghanistan. Fearing that the ISAF would interfere in their military operations, the mandate was confined to Kabul. Recently various critics have called on the Security Council to expand the area of responsibility for the ISAF, however not much has changed. There are many reasons for this. Some of which include powerful warlords who do not wish to see their military power dissolve along with their strangleholds on various parts of Afghanistan. Additionally, a US government that conducts military operations all over Afghanistan with little or no oversight from the Afghan government has much to lose as it has to adhere to Afghan laws. Finally, there is an appalling attitude of general apathy and a total lack of commitment from the international community when it comes to issues dealing with Afghanistan. In any case, for as long as the ISAF limits itself to Kabul, the true borders of Afghanistan will never extend any farther than the city gates.

     The fact that the ISAF should play a greater role in Afghanistan is obvious. However, the question that needs to be asked is "Why?". The answer is found in the mandate of the ISAF: the force was authorized to operate in Kabul in order to maintain law and order and to assist the government in enforcing its authority. However, it is not enough that the government's authority is only enforced in Kabul. 

     Throughout the country, various warlords have managed to establish control over different regions. In turn, these warlords establish their own "legal systems" and government, and run their respective areas as separate countries. This has created many problems. In certain cases, it has created a new resurgence in fundamentalism that has led to numerous human rights abuses that were a hallmark of the Taliban regime. Farmers have found it more profitable to grow poppies again because the warlords themselves facilitate the drug trade in and around Afghanistan. In many areas, aid workers have been forced to stop providing aid to the local populations because the situation is just too dangerous for them. This is just a fraction of the problems that affect the areas outside of Kabul and they will not be resolved unless the ISAF fulfills its mission in helping the government tackle these issues.

     The greatest obstacle faced by the current Afghan government is achieving legitimacy in the eyes of the people. Previous governments such as those that were backed by the British and the Soviets were welcomed at first but were quickly regarded as puppets under the control of the ruling powers of the times. What usually followed was a series of violent actions that eventually led to the downfall of those governments. If Hamid Karzai is to avoid this fate, he should seek to bring the government to the people. At the moment, Afghans living in remote areas have virtually no connection with the government. To add to the confusion, every part of Afghanistan has its own "government" which is controlled by the most powerful warlord in the area. The people are confronted with so many "official" authorities that one is as good as the other. In most cases, none are very good. Karzai's first priority should be to eliminate these warlords and establish the authority of the government throughout Afghanistan. The longer it takes to get rid of the self-appointed governors, the harder it is going to be in the long run.

     While Afghanistan had a huge amount of problems, there is one underlying cause at the root of these problems. In the beginning, the international community was extremely eager to participate in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Billions of dollars had been pledged in support of the effort and it seemed as if there was no end to offers of military support. However, in recent times, that support has died out. With Iraq and North Korea currently on the minds of decision-makers, the world has conveniently forgotten their earlier promises. When about 30 to 40 billion dollars is required over the span of 15 to 20 years, only 5 to 8 billion have been received to date. The UN has numerous humanitarian missions planned for Afghanistan but none of them can be implemented due to a severe lack of funds. Even the United States' commitment to the region may be questioned. Though there is a large number of US forces in Afghanistan, they are mainly concerned with fighting the War on Terror. Tasks such as peacekeeping are handed out to other countries because it is seen as a burden.

     In any case, unless the international community begins to support the Afghan government through financial aid and military forces, Afghanistan risks becoming a failed state once again.

[Sources...]

Letters to the Editor

Peace in Congo: A Four-Phase Plan: 
I just had one comment about Josh's article. It was a great read, and your research was clearly evident, but the one problem I have with it is what I see as neglect to pay any attention to the underlying motives that spawned the crisis. What I mean is that I get a little turned off when there are proposed plans to forcefully disarm and effectively shut down rebel factions without addressing what they're rebelling against, and if their rebellion is legitimate (obviously the violence they use is never legitimate, but their motivation may be). Basically, a concern of mine is that if you neglect to address the underlying motives, then it is merely a band-aid solution because the frustration and discontent that gave birth to the rebellion remains, and will likely re-group and re-arm - or simply settle for throwing rocks and such. - Brendan Kennedy

Send all comments, opinions, and suggestions to gryc@rogers.com!

Comment: Israel's New Racist Law by Wojciech Gryc

     Israel passed a new law on July 31 that denies Palestinians married to Israelis the right to live in Israel. According to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, the law is meant to disallow family unification for mixed marriages. The center says “Since 1967, Israelis who married residents of the Occupied Territories could apply to the Ministry of Interior for family unification to obtain a legal status in Israel for their spouse.” Most applications, after a fairly long waiting period, would be approved, but the new law now denies citizens the right to do this.

     On the same page, the human rights center says, “The new law is racist and contravenes the principle that citizens are to be treated equally. It is thus patently unconstitutional.” I fully agree. Recent developments in the conflict between Palestine and Israel are very disturbing. The building of the controversial barrier, which separates Palestine and Israel by a long wall and the passing of the aforementioned law seem like incredibly archaic solutions to present problems. Although the main reason being voiced by supporters of both of these things relates to protecting Israel from terrorist actions and other security threats, all it may really do is instigate them – how can a country be promoting peace by creating ways to divide the people involved? All it may end up doing is fuelling the terrorists' rage or giving them a reason to fight.

[Sources...]

Sources for "Sexual Exploitation of Refugees by Aid Workers"

Sources for "Afghanistan - A Forgotten Cause"

Resolution 1386. United Nations - Security Council. 20 December 2001. 30 July 2003. <http://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/3335876.html>

"Afghanistan and Pakistan." The Economist, July 19th-25, pg 32.

"Afghanistan." The Economist, July 19th-25th 2003, pg 31.

Mackenzie, Maj-Gen. Lewis. "Let's be clear about our Afghan mission." The National Post. (Toronto), 24 July 2003, p. A16.

"Peacekeeping in Afghanistan." The Economist, June 14th - 20th 2003, pg. 39.

Sources for "Comment: Israel's New Racist Law"

"Adallah Submits a Petition to the High Court of Justice Challenging Racist Law." The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. 3 August 2003. 3 August 2003. <http://www.betselem.org/English/Family_Reunification/030803_Law_Approved.asp>

"Israeli Law a Hurdle for Mixed Marriages." The Globe and Mail, 1 August 2003, p. A14.

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Note: some UN documents are documented as web pages to make it easier for people to access them. The URL is also where the article's authors took the source from.