Caritas Laments Plight of Women Refugees Requests Resources to
Protect and Heal Victims | 2980 hits VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2009
(Zenit.org).- Caritas is decrying the lack of protection for
women and girls in conflict zones, and is calling on governments
and international organizations to act against these injustices.
The aid agency stated this today in a message sent for World
Refugee Day, which will take place Saturday. It highlighted the
plight of female refugees who are often targets of violence in
war and noted a "collective failure" to protect women and girls
from rape and other forms of exploitation. Martina Liebsch,
coordinator of the migration and trafficking advocacy team,
stated: "Humiliating women through violence and abuse is a
common feature in armed conflicts around the world today. "Women
are often the last to leave as they stay to look after their
families. This makes them vulnerable and subject to violence."
The communiqué reported that in Colombia, 17.7% of women who
flee their homes reporte