Red Cross says women must be better protected

"One of the greatest challenges for the humanitarian community is to improve the lot of women, who should be better supported, protected and assisted when confronted with war," said the report presented in Geneva by ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger.

"The lack of respect for international law primarily affects women and children," said Kellenberger who echoed the report in saying that although women were protected by the Geneva Convention against rape, enforced prostitution and indecent assault, the rules were increasingly not being observed.

"Rape, forced prostitution, sexual slavery and forced impregnation are all criminal means and methods of warfare that have attracted more and more attention in recent years," said the report.

The ICRC is helping beleaguered civilians in 25 major conflict centres and looks after more than five million displaced persons worldwide, 80 per cent of them women and children, said Kellenberger. The ICRC has commissioned an in-depth study on the consequences for women of armed conflict and this is due to be published soon.

The ICRC report emphasized that women were not just victims, saying many were involved in worthwhile local projects, repairing the environment and communities blighted by war. When men are killed in war it is the women who suddenly have to fend for the family without having been prepared for the role, said the report.

"International women's day is an occasion to commemorate the courage, resilience and strength of women," said the ICRC.

(kil/sda)