NEWS
Systematic sexual torture in Zimbabwe
IRCT Media Release 13 February 2002

A new and very disturbing form of torture has emerged in Zimbabwe - systematic sexual torture, whose perpetrators include youth militia.

The forms of sexual torture include forced rape by men, witnessed both by the perpetrators of the violence and others, with victims being forced to have sexual intercourse with each other either heterosexual or homosexual, while the perpetrators "supervise" the act.

The human rights situation continues to deteriorate as Zimbabwe prepares for the Presidential election, to be held 9-10 March, 2002. Over the past few months, there has been increasing evidence of the youth militia involved in organised violence, evidently having received formal training in torture techniques.

Amani Trust, a health professional organisation treating victims of political violence in Zimbabwe, has documented the sexual torture. Amani Trust is part of the network of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). Reports of sexual torture received from Zimbabwean human rights organisations have been consistently verified by experts from international organisations, in particular the IRCT, Amnesty International, and most recently the report (Zimbabwe 2002. The presidential election: 44 days to go), published 24 January by Physicians for Human Rights, Denmark.

Secretary General of the IRCT, Jens Modvig, MD PhD, says: "The IRCT condemns in the strongest possible terms these latest developments. According to the UN Convention against Torture "each state party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction". The Government of Zimbabwe has consistently failed to act in the prevention and prosecution of such crimes."

The IRCT remains gravely concerned at the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe and calls again on the international community to not be dissuaded from taking diplomatic and political action against the Government of Zimbabwe.

The result of sexual torture in each documented case has been a victim with a severe genital infection, with marked psychological trauma. The long-term consequence will be men and women unable to function within their marriage, or within their communities. The long-term consequences to each of these victims, both partners in the forced sexual act, is life threatening, to both of them, their spouse and their future children. There is an inherent risk of the victims contracting HIV/AIDS. Reproductive ability is also threatened, as one of the complications of untreated genital infections is infertility.

All the cases documented to date have been in the Mashonaland Central area (Muzarabani) except for one case from Muhrewa. In the Muhrewa case the woman who was raped was subsequently murdered a few days later by the perpetrators. In all of the cases documented to date, the victims indicated that there were others being subjected to this vile torture. The indications that torture techniques are spreading across the country must strongly suggest that training in these methods is taking place.

For further information, please contact Poul Struve Nielsen, Media Co-ordinator, 33 76 06 49 or 23 34 55 09.
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), Borgergade 13, P.O. Box 9049 DK-1022 København K
Tel: (+45) 33 76 06 00
Fax: (+45) 33 76 05 00
http://www.irct.org

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