Libya: Justice Minister Details Plan for Compensation to Rape Victims
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Version 0 of 1. Women raped during the 2011 uprising that toppled Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi will be offered compensation, Libya’s justice minister, Salah al-Marghani, said on Wednesday. Though an exact number of rapes was not available, the International Criminal Court has collected evidence that pro-Qaddafi forces used rape to spread fear among their opponents. Human rights activists have pushed for compensation, but victims are often ostracized in the conservative Muslim country, where discussion of the crime remains taboo. Mr. Marghani said that the women would be recognized as war victims, putting them on the same level as former rebel fighters requiring medical treatment. Benefits for other war victims may include medical care, havens and financial assistance. |