UN appoints Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict

Last month the United Nations appointed a Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. She is already hard at work in several African countries. This is a positive, if only symbolic step as rape has only been recognized as a war crime by the International Criminal Court since 2001 and it was only in 2008 that the United Nations recognized rape during conflict as a crime against humanity. It is hoped that having a high level representative will raise the level of consciousness of the issue in the world community.