Comments on: Rape’s vast toll in Iraq war remains largely ignored http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/ Promoting a fierce but respectful dialogue among the highly diverse youth of the Middle East Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:56:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Gwinnahttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-284151 Gwinna Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:54:51 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-284151 I am actually a psychosocial worker who has been doing work with Iraqi women in Syria and Egypt for over a year now. Rape has occurred extensively--by Iraqi militias, the Iraqi police forces, Coalition forces and lay people. It is important to recognize that rape is an act of aggression, shame and domination as much as it is sexual. It is a tactic that has been used in war since time immemorial, and it is sadly very very common, especially as the social order breaks down and there is no regular and reliable recourse for the action. If people can get away with it unpunished, it becomes more frequent, and the more frequent it becomes, the more it is seen as "normal". And I would like to note that, although it more commonly happens to women, it does happen to men as well, particularly in torture situations.I think that the take-home message from this article though is that there are not enough psychosocial resources available to support the survivors. Until an asylum-seeker has been officially recognized as a "refugee" by UNHCR, they are not eligible for any services or protection. This is extremely problematic, especially with the added fear of deportation by the local government, which hinders those seeking help. The problem is systemic and needs to be addressed in terms of international policy concerning service provision for asylum seekers and national laws providing safety for all those seeking refuge within their borders. For those who really want to help, educate yourselves and others about the situation of the 30million+ refugees currently displaced in the world, and volunteer with your local IRC or another NGO, or lobby the UN (who recently cut their budget and suspended psychosocial services for Iraqis in Jordan) for asylum-seeker's rights. It can take up to a year to be recognized as a refugee after entering a country of refuge--what are people supposed to do in the meantime without the legal ability to work or send their children to school, and without any official or legal support? I am actually a psychosocial worker who has been doing work with Iraqi women in Syria and Egypt for over a year now. Rape has occurred extensively–by Iraqi militias, the Iraqi police forces, Coalition forces and lay people. It is important to recognize that rape is an act of aggression, shame and domination as much as it is sexual. It is a tactic that has been used in war since time immemorial, and it is sadly very very common, especially as the social order breaks down and there is no regular and reliable recourse for the action. If people can get away with it unpunished, it becomes more frequent, and the more frequent it becomes, the more it is seen as “normal”. And I would like to note that, although it more commonly happens to women, it does happen to men as well, particularly in torture situations.

I think that the take-home message from this article though is that there are not enough psychosocial resources available to support the survivors. Until an asylum-seeker has been officially recognized as a “refugee” by UNHCR, they are not eligible for any services or protection. This is extremely problematic, especially with the added fear of deportation by the local government, which hinders those seeking help. The problem is systemic and needs to be addressed in terms of international policy concerning service provision for asylum seekers and national laws providing safety for all those seeking refuge within their borders. For those who really want to help, educate yourselves and others about the situation of the 30million+ refugees currently displaced in the world, and volunteer with your local IRC or another NGO, or lobby the UN (who recently cut their budget and suspended psychosocial services for Iraqis in Jordan) for asylum-seeker’s rights. It can take up to a year to be recognized as a refugee after entering a country of refuge–what are people supposed to do in the meantime without the legal ability to work or send their children to school, and without any official or legal support?

]]> By: Torhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-282563 Tor Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:52:26 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-282563 <blockquote>Rape is being used as a tactic by all sides.</blockquote>Care to provide a citation to back the allegation that coalition forces (one of the sides) is perpetrating rape as a tactic?Tor

Rape is being used as a tactic by all sides.

Care to provide a citation to back the allegation that coalition forces (one of the sides) is perpetrating rape as a tactic?

Tor

]]> By: Tormenthttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-277094 Torment Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:10:46 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-277094 Rape is being used as a tactic by all sides. It's not hard to round up and weed out the most disgusting and sadomasochistic people and give them a paycheck. Governments are breeding this mentality in their backyards. Rape is being used as a tactic by all sides. It’s not hard to round up and weed out the most disgusting and sadomasochistic people and give them a paycheck.
Governments are breeding this mentality in their backyards.

]]> By: hazemhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-257036 hazem Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:56:09 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-257036 "I’m sure that 14 year Iraqi girl 4 yank terrorists gang raped"what do u mean?..does this realy happen? “I’m sure that 14 year Iraqi girl 4 yank terrorists gang raped”

what do u mean?..does this realy happen?

]]> By: hazemhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-257035 hazem Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:54:51 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-257035 first of all......LOL for patb calling jina the daughter of society....and its not patb's fault..lolsecondly, i feel so bad for khalida being raped and all other iraqi women who have been raped from the war....and what kind of sick bastard leaves his wife and 2 kids after finding out his wife was raped....and in a way its also the womens fault,,for being away and alone from her family...and no offense but jina is a girls name...lol....im so sorry man...lolanyways...is there anything i can do to help these women who have been raped in iraq/jordan?i feel sorry for the children and women...and all the innocent ones of the war first of all……LOL for patb calling jina the daughter of society….and its not patb’s fault..lol

secondly, i feel so bad for khalida being raped and all other iraqi women who have been raped from the war….and what kind of sick bastard leaves his wife and 2 kids after finding out his wife was raped….and in a way its also the womens fault,,for being away and alone from her family…

and no offense but jina is a girls name…lol….im so sorry man…lol

anyways…is there anything i can do to help these women who have been raped in iraq/jordan?

i feel sorry for the children and women…and all the innocent ones of the war

]]> By: Unimpressedhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-246255 Unimpressed Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:46:14 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-246255 The breakdown in law and order thanks to the criminal American invasion Iraq is what led to this. Of course patb and other cretinous yanks will never owe up to the crimes of their government. I'm sure that 14 year Iraqi girl 4 yank terrorists gang raped and murdered along with her whole family were asking for it as well. The bastards will be eligible for payroll within 10 years. Bravo! The breakdown in law and order thanks to the criminal American invasion Iraq is what led to this. Of course patb and other cretinous yanks will never owe up to the crimes of their government. I’m sure that 14 year Iraqi girl 4 yank terrorists gang raped and murdered along with her whole family were asking for it as well. The bastards will be eligible for payroll within 10 years. Bravo!

]]> By: Andyhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242911 Andy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:51:40 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242911 I think there should be a government-side solution for the rape problem in Iraq.NGO's work is just a relief. But no NGO can bring punishment to the perpetrators... That is, is those NGOs are not militia...-Andy http://myarabicstories.blogspot.com I think there should be a government-side solution for the rape problem in Iraq.

NGO’s work is just a relief. But no NGO can bring punishment to the perpetrators… That is, is those NGOs are not militia…

-Andy
http://myarabicstories.blogspot.com

]]> By: Jinahttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242194 Jina Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:17:08 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242194 And the fact that you didn't get the sarcasm in what I wrote is even more sad. And the fact that you didn’t get the sarcasm in what I wrote is even more sad.

]]> By: Jinahttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242193 Jina Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:15:04 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242193 <blockquote>You are a daughter of your society.</blockquote> I am a guy you retarded ignoramus and I am not an Arab.

You are a daughter of your society.

I am a guy you retarded ignoramus and I am not an Arab.

]]> By: patbhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242182 patb Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:10:33 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242182 Jina, You are a daughter of your society. Don't you realize that your comments are much the same as the men in your society..."she was raped because she was outside alone and not dressed modestly enough" so it isn't the rapists fault it's hers. It's not an individual crime but a societal issue beyond the criminal. Rapes existed in Iraq prior too, during, and will exist after all US personnel are gone. Blaming it on an outside entity relieves the rapists just as in the comment above..."politics had something to do with it?" I know you will continue to grind your axe but please think thru your process as you sound very familiar...not the cutting edge 'new ME guy/gal you'd like to be'. Jina,
You are a daughter of your society.
Don’t you realize that your comments are much the same as the men in your society…”she was raped because she was outside alone and not dressed modestly enough” so it isn’t the rapists fault it’s hers. It’s not an individual crime but a societal issue beyond the criminal.
Rapes existed in Iraq prior too, during, and will exist after all US personnel are gone.
Blaming it on an outside entity relieves the rapists just as in the comment above…”politics had something to do with it?”
I know you will continue to grind your axe but please think thru your process as you sound very familiar…not the cutting edge ‘new ME guy/gal you’d like to be’.

]]> By: patbhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242016 patb Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:08:47 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-242016 Of course I agree Jina, why should you or anyone else accept any personal responsibility when another abstract entity can be blamed. I suspect each and everyone of your own personal problems, issues and needs can be placed at the foot of another. That must make life very.....what word am I searching for Jina? Of course I agree Jina, why should you or anyone else accept any personal responsibility when another abstract entity can be blamed.
I suspect each and everyone of your own personal problems, issues and needs can be placed at the foot of another.
That must make life very…..what word am I searching for Jina?

]]> By: Global Voices Online » Iraq: Rape Victims Ignoredhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241598 Global Voices Online » Iraq: Rape Victims Ignored Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:56:06 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241598 [...] blogger Wameeth links to an article on Mideast Youth on how rape victims in the Iraq war continue to remain without treatment and counseling. Posted [...] [...] blogger Wameeth links to an article on Mideast Youth on how rape victims in the Iraq war continue to remain without treatment and counseling. Posted [...]

]]> By: Jinahttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241412 Jina Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:52:11 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241412 I am glad you agree I am glad you agree

]]> By: patbhttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241391 patb Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:37:51 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241391 Jina, Of course it's America's doing that Iraqi men rape Iraqi women and that Jordanian men rape a woman just because it is known she's defensless. It is also our doing that ME society condemns the victim for the crime perpetrated upon her. It is also our fault that an arab man would leave his wife out of shame, instead of comforting and protecting her..... Of course. Jina,
Of course it’s America’s doing that Iraqi men rape Iraqi women and that Jordanian men rape a woman just because it is known she’s defensless.
It is also our doing that ME society condemns the victim for the crime perpetrated upon her.
It is also our fault that an arab man would leave his wife out of shame, instead of comforting and protecting her…..
Of course.

]]> By: Jinahttp://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241363 Jina Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:35:23 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/11/26/rapes-vast-toll-in-iraq-war-remains-largely-ignored/#comment-241363 Another American import along with McDonald, Exxon, Freedom™ and... Another American import along with McDonald, Exxon, Freedom™ and…

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