Dear Editor,
I am aware of the debate regarding gender-based violence (“GBV”) and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
I have been reluctant to comm-ent up to this point, as prosecutor Andrew Cayley accurately set out the record in terms of the Office of Co-Prosecutor’s policy and the results of the investigation by the Office of Co-Investigating Judges.
However, following your publicat-ion of two letters to the editor by Silke Studzinsky, I am compelled to respond.
In her first letter (“Tribunal has failed victims of sex crimes”), Ms Studzinsky states: “It is evident that, since the beginning of the cases before the ECCC, sexual violence was not part of the prosecutorial strategy. This has been confirmed by Cayley’s predecessor, Robert Petit.”
That statement is a complete and utter fabrication.
It has no basis in reality, and I am surprised that a member of a Bar, which I assume Ms Studzinsky is, would risk making such a statement.
To be clear: my very first investig-ative request after having been sworn in July, 2006 was to ask the staff of the OCP about GBV.
In all the conflict situations that I have worked in, GBV is a fact that must be addressed if the evidence supports it.
That’s why all the indictments I have ever drafted, in all the tribunals I have worked in, have had GBV recognised.
In the case of Cambodia, however, the research, done by a credible gender researcher, showed GBV was widespread but not part of the policy of the Khmer Rouge leadership, and that whenever perpetrators became known to the hierarchy, they were sanctioned and, more often than not, executed for their crimes.
Based on that information, I concluded, as did the Co-Investigating Judges in their Closing Order, that the senior leaders over whom we had jurisdiction could not be held liable.
Respect for the victims of any crimes entails respect for the truth of their ordeal. The victims of gender violence in Cambodia deserve no less.
Gender-based violence far from overlooked
Labels: News
This entry was Posted by Stars and posted on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at 4:58 PM and is filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the Comments Rss feed.
Popular Posts
-
Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, star of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Pict...
-
7 steps to make your skin whiter 1. Increase your Vitamin C intake. This enhances skin color and suppleness. This will help keep your skin...
-
You know it’s summer because of the girls on bikes. They’re all pumping their bare legs wearing windblown little numbers and get...
-
This is the latest sex scandal to hit the Korean entertainment industry. Korean superstar trading sexual favours for opportunities. The sex...
-
Guang Ming Daily reported that Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau followed Hong Kong traditions of holding a 100-day party for his daughter Heung...
-
Exercise . Working out helps to develop shapely and toned legs. Some basic exercises you can do for great stems include: Jumping (wi...
-
Recently there was a rumor that the relationship between Sok Somavatey and her rich boyfriend is fragile becasue they are rarely seen to b...
-
This is again the third week set of Risa Yoshiki ’s 吉木りさ June version for Visual Web.S . In this section, Risa Yoshiki models in a colour...
-
Spain will defend their title in the final after collecting a hard-fought shootout win against neighbors Por...
-
A Taiwan model used an eye-catching way to cheer up her nation’s athletes after the national flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was r...
Powered by Blogger.
0 comments To "Gender-based violence far from overlooked"
Post a Comment