Sexual violence reportedly rising in the north

Many women and girls amongst the thousands of people in the north who flee their homes each night to seek shelter in town centres fearing attacks and abduction by Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels are sexually abused, an advocacy group has reported. The New York-based Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children (WCRWC) said in a statement that the "night commuter" girls and women had reported that those sexually abusing and harassing them were mainly youths and government soldiers. But the northern regional police commander, Jerome Baryayanga, told IRIN by telephone from Gulu on Tuesday that he had received no reports of such abuse. "We guard the 'night commuters'. At night the girls stay alone, when they go home they are in groups," he said. The WCRWC said there was no central reporting system, few services for survivors, and cases were rarely followed up. "The girls also fear public shame should they choose to come forward. Some parents seek cash payments from perpetrators, thereby making the assault public knowledge," it said. The advocacy group said it had also received reports from the girls that some schools in Kitgum were being used as venues for rape in the evenings. "Without adequate security, adolescent girls and women are forced to choose between their fear of an LRA attack at home and their fear of rape during their nightly flight into town," said Matthew Emry, the WCRWC's childrens' and adolescents' project, who travelled to northern Uganda in December. "Many of these ‘night commuters', as they are known, walk as far as six miles every night and again each morning. Night commuting is increasing and is touching most major towns in war-affected areas," he said. According to the WCRWC, at least 50,000 people, most of them children and adolescents, caught up in the 18-year war between the government and the rebels, flee their homes each night for the relative safety of town centres. Night commuting started about a year and a half ago after the government launched its Operation Iron Fist military offensive against the LRA. The WCRWC said that as well as facing the threat of sexual violence, the night commuters, were also suffering from harsh conditions in sleeping spaces. "There are not enough shelters to accommodate them, and many are forced to sleep outdoors, exposed to rain, wind, mosquitoes and unsanitary conditions. Consequently, many contract respiratory tract infections, malaria, diarrhoea and scabies. Young night commuters also face an increased risk of HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy as a result of sexual violence or unprotected sex," WCRWC said. It called on the government and aid agencies to protect the internally displaced and night commuters, especially girls and women, in the north.